Horry County Genealogy Records
Horry County genealogy research draws on records dating back to the county's formation in 1801 from the old Kingston District. The county's name (pronounced "O-ree") reflects its deep Carolina roots, and its geography along the Grand Strand coast and the Waccamaw Neck has shaped a distinct community history. The Horry County Probate Court, Register of Deeds, and Horry County Memorial Library are the primary local sources for genealogy records. The Horry County Historical Society and the Conway Museum also preserve materials relevant to county family history. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History in Columbia holds additional state and county collections that extend Horry County genealogy research across more than two centuries.
Horry County Quick Facts
Horry County Probate Court and Marriage Records
The Horry County Probate Court holds marriage licenses issued from July 1, 1911 through June 30, 1950. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 20-1-20, every marriage in South Carolina requires a written application filed with the Probate Court before a license is issued. The court maintains a permanent record of all licenses as required by § 20-1-270. The Probate Court is at Horry County Courthouse, 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Phone: (843) 915-5360.
Estate records at the Horry County Probate Court include wills, inventories, administration papers, and guardianship files from 1801 forward. These documents name heirs, list property, and define family relationships across more than two centuries. Early nineteenth-century probate inventories from Horry County document the families who farmed the inland areas and those who lived along the coast. These records are primary sources for Horry County genealogy research from the antebellum period through the early twentieth century.
For Horry County marriage records from July 1950 onward, contact the South Carolina Department of Public Health at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201. Phone: 803-898-3630. For marriages in the Horry area before 1801, researchers should search Kingston District records held at SCDAH.
Searching Horry County Genealogy Records
The free South Carolina Archives Online Records Index is the best starting point for Horry County genealogy research online. This database covers will transcripts, land grant plats, Confederate veteran records, and court records held by SCDAH. Search by name to find indexed entries connected to Horry County ancestors. The index covers Horry County records from 1801 and earlier district-level records.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch Public Index at sccourts.org provides access to Horry County court case records. You can search by party name or case number. For full document copies, contact the Horry County Clerk of Court at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. In-person research at the Horry County Courthouse in Conway gives direct access to the full range of genealogy records held by both the Probate Court and Register of Deeds.
The Online Records Index is the best free online starting point for Horry County genealogy research and covers collections held at SCDAH that extend back to the county's early history.
Horry County Vital Records for Genealogy
South Carolina required birth and death registration starting January 1, 1915. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 44-63-10, every birth must be registered within five days. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds Horry 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.
Death certificates become public records 50 years after death under § 44-63-84. The free South Carolina death index for genealogy covers Horry County deaths from 1915 through 1967. For Horry County genealogy before 1915, church records and census data are the primary sources. The county has a number of historic Baptist, Methodist, and other churches whose registers document vital events going back to the nineteenth century. Coastal geography also means some families may appear in maritime records.
Horry County Register of Deeds and Land Records
The Horry County Register of Deeds maintains land records dating back to 1801. The office is at 1301 2nd Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Phone: (843) 915-5153. Deeds, mortgages, and plats document property ownership across more than two centuries. Under Title 30 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, counties are required to maintain and preserve these public land records.
The SCDAH Online Records Index includes state land grant plats from 1784 to 1868 that cover Horry County. These early plats document the original allocation of land along the Waccamaw River, the Intracoastal waterway, and the Grand Strand coast. For land records before Horry County was formed in 1801, researchers should search the Kingston District records at SCDAH, which predate the county's formation.
Horry County Library and Local Resources
The Horry County Memorial Library at 801 Main Street, Conway, SC 29526 maintains local history and genealogy collections. Phone: (843) 248-1520. The library holds materials specific to Horry County and the surrounding Pee Dee Lowcountry region. Census records, local newspapers, and family history materials available through the library can complement official county genealogy records.
The Horry County Historical Society preserves local history and maintains genealogical collections. The Conway Museum preserves the local history of Conway and Horry County and may hold photographs, documents, and artifacts that support genealogy research. Because the Myrtle Beach area has grown significantly in recent decades, the historical society's older collections are particularly valuable for tracing families who lived in the county before tourism became the dominant industry.
The South Carolina Historical Society in Charleston at 100 Meeting Street holds statewide manuscript collections that may include materials relevant to Horry County families. Phone: (843) 723-3225. The SCGenWeb Archives for Horry County provides free volunteer-contributed cemetery transcriptions, census extracts, and family histories.
The State Library guide is a practical reference when determining whether to contact the Horry County Probate Court, SCDAH, or DPH for a specific Horry County genealogy record.
South Carolina Archives Resources for Horry County Genealogy
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds Horry County records including court files, land documents, and census materials. SCDAH is at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223. Phone: (803) 896-6100. The Research Room provides access to microfilm and a research library covering all 46 counties.
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 Horry County's formation and include materials from the Kingston District era. The Library of Congress South Carolina genealogy guide provides resources covering Horry County. The South Carolina Genealogical Society connects researchers to county-level genealogy resources.
Cities in Horry County
Horry County includes Conway as county seat and the city of Myrtle Beach. Genealogy records for all Horry County communities are maintained at the county Probate Court and Register of Deeds in Conway.
Nearby Counties
Horry County borders several South Carolina Pee Dee counties and North Carolina. Ancestors near the state line may have records on both sides.