Allendale County Genealogy Records
Allendale County genealogy research requires knowledge of the county's relatively recent formation. Created in 1919 from portions of Barnwell and Hampton counties, Allendale County maintains its own records from that year forward. For earlier genealogy research in the Allendale area, researchers must consult Barnwell and Hampton county records. The Allendale County Probate Court, Register of Deeds, and local library are the primary county-level sources, while the South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds broader state and regional genealogy collections.
Allendale County Quick Facts
Allendale County Probate Court Records
The Allendale County Probate Court holds marriage licenses issued from July 1, 1919 through June 30, 1950. Before the county was formed, marriage licenses for the Allendale area were issued by Barnwell or Hampton counties depending on where the couple lived. The Probate Court is at 2920 Main Street, Allendale, SC 29810. Phone: (803) 584-2733.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-20, a written application must be filed with the Probate Court before any marriage license is issued. The Judge of Probate must keep a complete record of all licenses under § 20-1-270. Estate records, wills, and guardianship files held by the Allendale County Probate Court document family relationships and property distribution for Allendale County genealogy research from 1919 forward.
For Allendale County marriage records from July 1950 onward, contact the South Carolina Department of Public Health. For marriage records from 1911 to 1919 in the Allendale area, search Barnwell County records at the Barnwell County Probate Court or contact SCDAH for microfilm copies.
Pre-1919 Allendale Genealogy: Barnwell and Hampton County Records
Allendale County was carved from parts of Barnwell County and Hampton County in 1919. This means all genealogy records for the Allendale area before that year are located in those parent counties. This is a critical fact for any researcher tracing Allendale County families back more than a generation from the county's founding.
Barnwell County records date back to 1785 and are held at the Barnwell County Probate Court, Register of Deeds, and at SCDAH. Hampton County records begin with that county's formation in 1878. Both parent county collections include court records, land documents, probate files, and census materials that cover the territory that became Allendale County. The SCDAH Online Records Index at archivesindex.sc.gov allows name-based searches across all holdings and may return results connected to the Allendale area within the Barnwell or Hampton collections.
Note: The SCDAH Research Room in Columbia holds microfilm of both Barnwell and Hampton county records that predate Allendale County's formation in 1919.
Allendale County Vital Records for Genealogy
South Carolina required birth and death registration starting January 1, 1915, under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-10 and § 44-63-80. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds birth records for 1915 to 1918 online and death records for 1915 to 1963 in Columbia. The South Carolina Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia holds vital records from 1915 to present. Phone: 803-898-3630.
Death certificates become public after 50 years under § 44-63-84. The free South Carolina death index for genealogy covers deaths from 1915 through 1967. For Allendale County deaths during those years, search the index by name to find the record and then request the full certificate from SCDAH or DPH.
SCDAH staff answer queries by mail, email, and phone and can help researchers locate Allendale County and parent county records held in their collections.
Allendale County Register of Deeds and Land Records
The Allendale County Register of Deeds maintains land records from 1919 forward. The office is at 2920 Main Street, Allendale, SC 29810. Phone: (803) 584-7276. Deeds, mortgages, and plats filed since the county's formation are held here and document property ownership across generations. Under Title 30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, counties are required to maintain and preserve these public land records.
For land transactions in the Allendale area before 1919, researchers must consult Barnwell or Hampton county Register of Deeds offices. Barnwell County land records date to 1785. Early land records in the region include state land grant plats from 1784 to 1868 that are indexed at archivesindex.sc.gov. These plats document the original grants of land in the area and are useful for tracing the earliest families in the Allendale region.
Allendale County Library and Local Resources
The Allendale County Library at 212 Main Street, Allendale, SC 29810 maintains local history materials and provides access to genealogical resources. Phone: (803) 584-2816. The library holds materials specific to Allendale County and the surrounding region. Census records, local newspapers, and family history materials available through the library can complement official county genealogy records.
The South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston at 100 Meeting Street holds manuscript collections and genealogy vertical files that may cover Allendale County families and adjacent areas. Phone: (843) 723-3225. Their holdings include plantation records, family papers, and church registers that span the Lowcountry region where Allendale County is located.
The SCGenWeb Archives maintains volunteer-contributed genealogy records for South Carolina counties including the Allendale area. The archives include cemetery transcriptions, census extracts, and family histories that are free to access online. Because Allendale County is small, some of the most useful genealogy resources may be found in the Barnwell County or Hampton County sections of SCGenWeb.
The State Library guide is a practical reference when you are not sure whether to contact the county Probate Court, SCDAH, or the DPH office in Columbia for a specific record.
Digital Resources for Allendale County Genealogy
The SCDAH Digital Collections include Confederate Pension Applications from 1919 to 1938, Will Transcripts from 1782 to 1855, and colonial plats. These free online resources cover the period before and after Allendale County's formation and include materials from both Barnwell and Hampton counties. School Insurance Photographs from 1935 to 1952 may document Allendale County schools and students during that era.
The Library of Congress South Carolina genealogy guide provides a curated directory of resources covering all South Carolina counties including Allendale. The guide links to vital records, census databases, and local history collections. The South Carolina Genealogical Society publishes transcribed records and connects researchers to county-level genealogy resources through local chapters.
Cities in Allendale County
Allendale is the county seat of Allendale County. All county genealogy records are maintained at the Allendale County courthouse offices.
Nearby Counties
Allendale County was formed from Barnwell and Hampton counties. Those parent counties hold genealogy records for the Allendale area before 1919.