South Carolina Genealogy

Fairfield County was formed in 1785 from the old Camden District. Legend says that Lord Cornwallis referred to the “fair fields” of this area, but it’s unknown if this is the origin of the name of the county. Winnsboro is the county seat and was founded in 1755. Among the early settlers were Scotch-Irish immigrants form the north and English and French Huguenot from the lowcountry of South Carolina. This area was the heart of the Regulator movement. Lord Cornwallis had a headquarters here for four months during the Revolutionary War years of 1780-1781. The Civil War saw Sherman’s Army coming through this area. Winnsboro blue granite and cotton were prominent products of this area.

Fairfield County SCGenweb site

Fairfield County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 696
Winnsboro, SC 29180

Fairfield County Courthouse
P.O. Drawer 60
County Courthouse
Winnsboro, SC 29180

Census

1800 Federal Census Index Link is to the first of four index pages, use your browsers find function as they are ordered by page number.

1800 Federal Census Images Directory opens to listing of image files by page number.

1810 Federal Census Index Link is to the first of four index pages, use your browsers find function as they are ordered by page number.

1810 Federal Census Images Directory opens to listing of image files by page number.

1820 Federal Census transcription Ordered by last name

1820 Federal Census Images Directory opens to listing of image files by page number.

1850 Federal Census Index by last name only

1850 Federal Census Transcription and Index Directory opens to listing of text files, index files and transcription files by page number.

1860 Federal Census Transcription and Index Directory opens to listing of text files, index files and transcription files by page number.

1860 Federal Census Transcription – slave schedule and 1870 African-American surname matches.

1870 Federal Census Transcription and Index Directory opens to listing of text files, index files and transcription files by page number.

Cemeteries

USGS listing of cemeteries in Fairfield County

Query Forums

Fairfield County, SC Forum for Queries

Latest South Carolina Genealogy Query posts for Fairfield County from the Forum:

Fairfield County, SC at genforum

Cities and towns of Fairfield County:

Blair
Greenbrier
Jenkinsville
Longtown
Monticello
Ridgeway
Rion
Smallwood
White Oak
Winnsboro (County Seat)
Winnsboro Mills

News related to Fairfield County, SC