When was Colleton County founded?

Colleton County was founded in 1800, and named after Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet.

What is the county seat of Colleton County?

The county seat of Colleton County is Walterboro.

Is there an online parcel map for Colleton County?

Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 34,407 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.

Has Colleton County's boundary or name changed?

Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 8 changes for Colleton County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 7 later changes, chiefly involving Charleston County, Bamberg County and Dorchester County.

Is my lot in a flood zone?

We do not have flood maps for Colleton County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

County · code 45029

Colleton CountySouth Carolina

Colleton County is a county in South Carolina, with Walterboro as its seat. It was formed in 1800 and named after Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet.

Founded1800
County seatWalterboro
Named forSir John Colleton, 1st Baronet
Land area1,057 sq mi + 77 sq mi water
Population38,604 2020 Census
Parcels mapped34,407 checked 16 October 2026

Open the free map Click any parcel in Colleton County: acreage, parcel id, address and who publishes the map. No sign-in.

Updated 19 October 2026

Census outline · seat marked

History

Founded in 1800

An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.

Colleton District became Colleton County in 1868 when a new state constitution abolished all judicial districts and Colleton County assumed all functions of local government from both judicial districts and parishes. The county lost territory to the creation of Dorchester County in 1897, to Charleston County in 1911, and to Bamberg County in 1919 and 1920. Colleton County gained territory from Charleston County in 1975 and 1987.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; the 5 that matter most are shown first.

1868
Eliminated Colleton District eliminated, became Colleton County when new state constitution abolished all judicial districts. Colleton County assumed all functions of local government from both judicial districts and parishes. 16 April 1868 · Swindler, 8:497
1897
Lost territory Colleton lost to creation of Dorchester.
to Dorchester
25 February 1897 · S.C. Acts 1897, no. 346, sec. 1/pp. 595-596
1911
Lost territory Colleton lost to Charleston.
to Charleston
16 February 1911 · S.C. Acts 1911, no. 171, sec. 1/p. 327; Acts 1953, no. 165, secs. 1, 3/pp. 211-214
1919
Lost territory Colleton lost to Bamberg.
to Bamberg
10 March 1919 · S.C. Acts 1919, no. 75, sec. 1/pp. 95-97
1920
Lost territory Colleton lost to Bamberg.
to Bamberg
26 February 1920 · S.C. Acts 1920, no. 399, sec. 1/pp. 773-775

Show all 8 changes (3 more)

1868
Eliminated Colleton District eliminated, became Colleton County when new state constitution abolished all judicial districts. Colleton County assumed all functions of local government from both judicial districts and parishes. 16 April 1868 · Swindler, 8:497
1896
Boundary clarified Colleton's boundaries redefined (no change).
no change
9 March 1896 · S.C. Acts 1896, no. 146, secs. 1-2/pp. 309-310
1897
Lost territory Colleton lost to creation of Dorchester.
to Dorchester
25 February 1897 · S.C. Acts 1897, no. 346, sec. 1/pp. 595-596
1911
Lost territory Colleton lost to Charleston.
to Charleston
16 February 1911 · S.C. Acts 1911, no. 171, sec. 1/p. 327; Acts 1953, no. 165, secs. 1, 3/pp. 211-214
1919
Lost territory Colleton lost to Bamberg.
to Bamberg
10 March 1919 · S.C. Acts 1919, no. 75, sec. 1/pp. 95-97
1920
Lost territory Colleton lost to Bamberg.
to Bamberg
26 February 1920 · S.C. Acts 1920, no. 399, sec. 1/pp. 773-775
1975
Gained territory Colleton gained from Charleston.
from Charleston
26 March 1975 · S.C. Acts 1975, no. 81, sec. 1/pp. 88-89
1987
Gained territory Colleton gained from Charleston.
from Charleston
17 March 1987 · S.C. Acts 1987, no. 259, sec. 1/pp. 2324-2327

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Colleton

Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.

Parcels Good enough

Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 34,407 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
edited 17 September 2026 · checked 16 October 2026
Address points Missing

No public address points layer found for Colleton County yet.
Buildings Reference

Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026

Official: from the office that keeps the record
Good enough: a reliable statewide or national copy
Fallback: a guide only; check the official record
Missing: nothing public found yet

People and land

Colleton by the Census

Population

38,604 2020 Census count

Housing units

19,824 2020 Census count

Land area

1,057 square miles

Water area

77 square miles

People per sq mi

37 population ÷ land area

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Rules and offices

Colleton County's official site

We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.

County government

County government
The official website of Colleton County.
colletoncounty.org

See your own lot on these maps

Open Colleton County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.

Open the free map no sign-in Pro early access

Questions

Common questions about Colleton County

When was Colleton County founded?: Colleton County was founded in 1800, and named after Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet.
What is the county seat of Colleton County?: The county seat of Colleton County is Walterboro.
Is there an online parcel map for Colleton County?: Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 34,407 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has Colleton County's boundary or name changed?: Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 8 changes for Colleton County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 7 later changes, chiefly involving Charleston County, Bamberg County and Dorchester County.
Is my lot in a flood zone?: We do not have flood maps for Colleton County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

Nearby