Georgetown

Formed January 1, 1769 (3^rd county)

Georgetown County (63,402), Georgetown (8,404)                

The yellow stucco Classical Revival columned courthouse was built in 1824.  It is located at the intersection of Prince and Screven streets.  United States Highway 521 is one block to the northeast.  The architect is Robert Mills.  The building was enlarged in 1908.  Georgetown County was created on January 1, 1769 as an original county (3^rd county) with Georgetown as the only county seat.  The county and its county seat were named for King George II.  Georgetown County is the birthplace for 1 South Carolina Governor, Joseph Alston. 

Georgetown County government consists of a sheriff and 7 Council Members.  Two Circuit Court Judges and Three Family Court Judges serve Georgetown and Horry counties.  Georgetown County is on the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean.  Charleston, South Carolina is southwest and Columbia, South Carolina is west of the county.  The county center is 3.3 miles North of Georgetown nearer Kensington.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Marion and Horry counties and the Atlantic Ocean and Charleston, Berkeley, and Williamsburg counties. 

The area of the county is 1035 square miles.  It is 7 out of 46 in the state.  It ranks 22 out of 46 in population in the state.  It has a density of 61.3 persons per square mile making it 25 out of 46 in the state.  Georgetown County has 17.5% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 17 comes into the county from the northeast, Horry County, and goes to the southeast, Charleston County.  United States Highway 17 Alternate originates and goes southwest into Berkeley County.  United States Highway 521 originates and heads west into Williamsburg County.  United States Highway 701 comes from the north, Horry County, and terminates.  The county is shaped like a tall grocery bag leaning northeast.  The City of Georgetown is located near the eastern coast of the county.  Georgetown is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 13.3% of the county population.  This county is in the Georgetown Micropolitan Statistical Area.