Greer Genealogy Records
Greer genealogy research has a distinctive challenge because the city straddles the border between Greenville County and Spartanburg County. Records for Greer residents may be held in either county depending on the specific address and time period. Greer was incorporated in 1876 and developed as a textile and agricultural community in the Upstate. The Greer Heritage Museum serves as the primary local historical resource. Researchers tracing Greer families may need to consult both the Greenville County records in Greenville and the Spartanburg County records in Spartanburg to build a complete picture of their ancestors.
Greer Quick Facts
Greenville and Spartanburg County Records for Greer Genealogy
The Greenville County Probate Court at 301 University Ridge Suite 1100, Greenville, SC 29601 holds marriage licenses and estate records for residents of the Greenville County portion of Greer. Phone: (864) 467-7170. The Spartanburg County Probate Court at 180 Magnolia Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 holds the corresponding records for residents of the Spartanburg County portion of the city. Phone: (864) 596-2556. Both courts hold marriage licenses from July 1, 1911 through June 30, 1950 and estate records dating back to the formation of their respective counties in 1786. For Greer marriages from July 1950 onward, contact the South Carolina Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Phone: 803-898-3630.
The Greenville County Register of Deeds at 301 University Ridge Suite 1300 holds land records for Greer properties on the Greenville County side. Phone: (864) 467-7243. The Spartanburg County Register of Deeds at 366 N Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303 holds property records for the Spartanburg County portion. Phone: (864) 596-2514. When tracing property ownership through Greer's history, determining the county of record for each specific parcel is essential because the two counties maintain separate record systems with no overlap.
Greer Heritage Museum and Local Resources for Genealogy
The Greer Heritage Museum at 106 S Main Street, Greer, SC 29650 is the primary local resource for Greer genealogy research. The museum holds materials specific to Greer and the surrounding community, including photographs, documents, and records from the city's history as a textile and railroad community. The museum's collections span both the Greenville County and Spartanburg County sides of the city, making it a valuable resource for researchers who need to understand the community context before determining which county's official records to search.
The Hughes Main Library South Carolina Collection in Greenville at 25 Heritage Green Place holds local history and genealogy materials for the Greenville County portion of the Greer area. Phone: (864) 527-9220. The Kennedy Room at Spartanburg County Library at 151 S Church Street, Spartanburg holds corresponding materials for the Spartanburg County side. Phone: (864) 596-3505. Both libraries hold census records, local newspaper microfilm, and compiled family histories that researchers can use to trace Greer families regardless of county affiliation. Church records from Greer's Baptist, Methodist, and other congregations are another important source for pre-registration genealogy, and local churches often hold registers covering the full Greer community.
Greer's location on the Greenville-Spartanburg county line makes it one of South Carolina's more challenging cities for genealogy research, but the Greer Heritage Museum and both county libraries provide resources that help researchers navigate the dual-county system.
Greer Vital Records
South Carolina required birth and death registration starting January 1, 1915. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds Greenville and Spartanburg county birth records for 1915 to 1918 online and death records for 1915 to 1963. The South Carolina Department of Public Health holds vital records from 1915 to present at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia. Phone: 803-898-3630.
The free South Carolina death index for genealogy covers both Greenville and Spartanburg county deaths from 1915 through 1967. Records for Greer residents are filed under whichever county the event occurred in. For Greer genealogy before 1915, church records and census data are the primary sources. Greer's textile mill communities maintained active church congregations whose records document births, marriages, and deaths from the city's incorporation period forward. Identifying which specific congregation an ancestor belonged to can help researchers locate church registers that supplement the official county-level records.
SCDAH holds microfilm and digital collections for both Greenville and Spartanburg counties, making it the central repository for Greer genealogy research that spans the county line.
Nearby Cities
Greer spans both Greenville and Spartanburg counties. County genealogy records are held at both the Greenville County Probate Court in Greenville and the Spartanburg County Probate Court in Spartanburg.