[3] The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has maps that show the boundaries of counties, districts, and parishes starting in 1682.

[5] The 1895 Constitution made no provision for local government, effectively reducing counties to creatures of the state.

[6] From the eighteenth century to 1973, counties in South Carolina performed limited functions such as the provision of law enforcement and the construction of transportation infrastructure.

[5] In 1964, the United States Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims required reapportionment according to the principle of "one man, one vote", which resulted in legislative districts crossing county lines.

[9] Nonetheless, all counties and municipalities in South Carolina lack “fiscal home rule,” meaning they may only enact taxes authorized by the General Assembly.