Historical Nuggets: Dorchester County was named for Dorchester, Massachusetts by Congregationalists who, in 1696, moved south and established a new settlement called Dorchester. The settlement was abandoned by 1788 but the parish in which it was located continued to be called St. George Dorchester. The name was formerly adopted upon the county's creation in 1897. The county seat is St. George and it, along with Harleyville, Ridgeville and Reevesville, make up a few of the cities and towns that comprise the 575 square miles known as Dorchester County. The town of Summerville was settled in the late eighteenth century as a summer getaway for plantation owners who hoped to escape the threat of malaria that plagued their rice fields. Dorchester County is home to Middleton Place Gardens, the remains of an old rice plantation, begun in 1741 by Henry Middleton (1717-1784) President of the Continental Congress. Please call the office to schedule an appointment for legal services or to sponsor a seminar.
Population & Demographics: Per the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006-2008 American Community Survey, the county had a total population of 122,708 with 30,894 (25.2%) being African American. Heirs' property is an important issue for many African American families in Dorchester County. The Center for Heirs' Property Preservation offers services to families in Dorchester County. Please call the office to schedule an appointment for legal services or to sponsor a seminar.
To learn more about Dorchester County visit http://www.sciway.net/cnty/dorchester.html or check out the resources shown below.
Dorchester County Genealogy Resource
Donate Now to the Center for Heirs' Property Preservation
