Orangeburg County Death Records
Orangeburg County sits in the central part of South Carolina with a history stretching back to 1704. Death records for the county begin with statewide registration in January 1915. Searching the Orangeburg County death index gives researchers access to more than a century of mortality records. This guide explains how to find and request Orangeburg County death records through the coroner's office, the local vital records office, and the state system in Columbia.
Orangeburg County Quick Facts
Orangeburg County Death Index History
Orangeburg County has a long history that shapes its death records. The county began as a fur trading post in 1704 and was established as a township in 1730, named for William IV, Prince of Orange. Orangeburg County is one of the counties that lost public records in 1865 during the Civil War. That fire destroyed many pre-1915 county records, which means genealogical research for deaths before 1915 must rely on substitute sources. Church records, cemetery inscriptions, family bibles, and newspaper obituaries are the main alternatives for that earlier period.
Statewide death registration began on January 1, 1915. From that date forward, all deaths in Orangeburg County were recorded and filed with the state. The SC DPH Death Indexes 1915-1967 cover Orangeburg County and are free to search online. This database includes name, sex, age, race, and date of death. It is the fastest way to verify a death and find the record number before ordering a certified copy.
The Orangeburg County government website connects residents to all county departments, including the coroner, probate court, and health department offices that handle death-related records.
The Orangeburg County official website serves as the primary gateway to department contact information and online resources.
Orangeburg County Coroner Death Investigations
The Orangeburg County Coroner is the elected official responsible for investigating all suspicious, violent, and unexpected deaths in the county. Current Coroner Sean Fogle is a native of Holly Hill, South Carolina and a 1991 graduate of Holly Hill-Roberts High School. The coroner's mailing address is PO Box 9000, Orangeburg, SC 29116-9000. The primary phone number is (803) 533-5842.
The coroner investigates homicides, traffic fatalities, workplace accidents, water-related deaths on Lake Marion, and violent crimes. The office works closely with the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Autopsies are conducted when necessary to establish the cause of death. The coroner also investigates deaths on the campuses of South Carolina State University and Claflin University, which are located in Orangeburg. The coroner's office handles deaths involving students and faculty from across the state and nation in those cases.
Under SC Code Title 17, Chapter 5, the Orangeburg County Coroner has authority to conduct inquests and determine the manner of death for all cases under coroner jurisdiction. The coroner signs death certificates and issues burial removal permits. Death certificates are forwarded to DHEC Vital Records and are not issued directly from the coroner's office.
The Orangeburg County Coroner directory lists contact information for the coroner's office and staff.
Note: The Orangeburg County Vital Records office is located at 1550 Carolina Avenue, Orangeburg, SC 29116, phone (803) 533-5480, and can issue death certificates for deaths occurring in the county within the last five years.
Orangeburg County Department Services and Records
The Orangeburg County Department Services page lists all county offices and their functions. County offices that relate to death records include the coroner, probate court, health department, and clerk of court. Each office plays a role in the chain of record-keeping that makes up the Orangeburg County death index.
The Orangeburg County Probate Court maintains estate records that can serve as substitutes for death certificates in research. When someone dies, their estate is often probated through this court. Those records include wills, inventories, and estate settlements that reference the date of death. For pre-1915 deaths where no state certificate exists, probate records are among the best available sources.
Orangeburg County is home to two historically Black universities. Deaths on those campuses are investigated by the county coroner. The county has deep ties to African American history in South Carolina, and researchers tracing African American family lines in the county will find death records essential to that work. The Orangeburg County Historical Society also holds local records and research materials that complement the official death index.
How to Request Orangeburg County Death Records
Certified copies of death certificates for deaths from 1915 forward are issued by the South Carolina Department of Public Health. The state office is at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, phone (803) 898-3630. Mail requests go to: SC Department of Public Health, Vital Records Section, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171.
The standard search fee is $12, with each additional copy at $3. A valid government-issued photo ID is required. Only immediate family members or legal representatives can obtain certified copies of records less than 50 years old. Anyone may request records older than 50 years. The SC DPH vital records page has current fees and forms. South Carolina vital records law is governed by Title 44, Chapter 63, which requires death certificates to be filed within five days of death.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History holds microfilm copies of Orangeburg County death certificates from 1915 through 1963. These are available at lower cost than certified copies and are suitable for genealogical research that does not require official certification.
| Orangeburg Vital Records |
1550 Carolina Avenue Orangeburg, SC 29116 Phone: (803) 533-5480 |
|---|---|
| County Mailing Address | PO Box 9000, Orangeburg, SC 29116-9000 |
| State Vital Records |
SC Department of Public Health 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 898-3630 |
| County Website | orangeburgcounty.org |
Free Online Death Index for Orangeburg County
The SC DPH provides free online access to the death index from 1915 through 1967. This is a searchable log of all Orangeburg County deaths filed with the state during that period. The index is a starting point, not a certified record. Once you find an entry, you can order the full certificate through the state or local vital records office.
The Ancestor Hunt site compiles all free South Carolina death record links, including Orangeburg County entries on FamilySearch and other platforms. FamilySearch offers South Carolina Deaths 1915-1965 with free index and images. The Ancestry collection South Carolina Death Records 1821-1969 also includes Orangeburg County entries and is accessible free at FamilySearch centers and public libraries with an Ancestry subscription.
Note: For deaths on university campuses in Orangeburg, the coroner's office handles the investigation regardless of whether the deceased was a local resident or from out of state.
Nearby County Death Records
Orangeburg County borders Calhoun, Clarendon, Colleton, Bamberg, Barnwell, Lexington, and Richland counties. Deaths are recorded in the county where they occurred, so check the neighboring county if you are unsure.