Richland County, South CarolinaThe American History & Genealogy Project
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The area that is today known as Richland County, South Carolina, was first settled around 1735/1740 when settlers arrived at the junction of Cane Creek along the Broad River. This was followed by an influx of German and Swiss settlers in the area of Little River, Cane Creek and Kinsler's Creek, who were shortly after joined by English, Scotch and Irish immigrants.
First established as part of the Camden District, on March 12th, 1785, the State Legislature established the Richland District (now called County), taking its name from the "Rich Lands" of the new district. The act stated: "Be it enacted, by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, now met and sitting in General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, That from and immediately after the passing of this Act, the following counties shall be established, with the several names, descriptions and boundaries hereinafter set forth and expressed . . . Seven counties of the district of Camden, that is to say: . . . one other county beginning at the corner of Clarendon County line, at Person's Island, thence up the Congaree River to the mouth of Cedar Creek, thence on a strait line to the mouth of Twenty-Five Mile Creek, thence down the Wateree |
River to the beginning, and shall be called Richland County; . . . In the Senate House, the twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, and in the ninth year of the Independence of the United States of America."
The district (now county) was described by William Gilmore Sims in 1844 as being ". . . nearly equally divided between the primitive and alluvial regions. It lies in the very heart and centre of the state . . . The face of the country is broken, rising into ledges and hills, presenting an undulating and pleasing appearance. The soil is various; along the rivers, rich, deep and highly fertile. Scarcely inferior in quality are the bottom lands of creeks. Next to this are the high, flat, loamy, red lands, such as skirt the Broad River. The sand lands, which comprise the largest portion of the district, are inferior to these, but not unproductive. The low lands contiguous to the rivers are subject to inundation, which greatly lessens their intrinsic value. The products of Richland, like its soil, are numerous, consisting of cotton, corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, potatoes, wine, &c. The climate is mild, and the region generally healthy. In the neighborhood of the rich bottom-lands of creeks and rivers, the usual fevers prevail in autumn; the sand hill country, however, is as salubrious as any in the world; and with health, a fine atmosphere, and springs of the most cooling water, they attract numerous visitors from less favored sections."
CONTENT
The information on this site is divided into sections to make searching for family histories, cemeteries, prominent persons, etc., easier for visitors to the site. The following are those sections:
- Census Records. Census Records of Richland County starting with the first census taken in 1790.
- Cemeteries. A listing of the churchyards, graveyards, cemeteries and burial grounds within Richland County. With histories of the cemeteries and lists of those buried there are included.
- Churches. A listing, with histories, of the various churches and denominations of Richland County from its founding to present.
- Families & Biographies. Histories and brief biographies of the families and people of Richland County, from its founding to present day.
- Maps. Historical maps showing the growth and development of Richland County over the years.
- Marriage Records. Historical marriage records of Richland County residents.
- Military History. The history of those Richland County residents who have served in the Military from its founding to present day. As well as those places and events which have occurred during its history.
- Monuments, Memorials & Markers. A listing of the monuments, memorials and historical markers in Richland County.
- Towns, Cities & Post Offices. The towns, cities and communities that have made up Richland County from their establishment to present.
- Resources. Information about the various historical publications, letters, diaries, documents, websites and other materials relevant to Richland County and its Citizens.
When searching for any particular person, family, etc., on this site, keep in mind when that the spellings of some names have changed or been misspelled in the original records, and as the record was transcribed, take into account human error. If you have any additional information, photo's, artifacts, etc., that you would like to share please contact the Webmaster.
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