Population
431K
County Seat
Columbia
Libraries
11
Schools
100
Searching Richland County: what to expect
Richland County keeps a modest online footprint — 3 of the 21 sources below are the county's own; the rest is statewide coverage. For cases, go straight to richlandcountysc.gov: South Carolina courts search county by county, and that's Richland County's entry point. The standout local source is richlandmaps.com, covering parcel and property-tax data. One gap: recorded documents aren't published by the county itself. Use the South Carolina recorded documents page for those.
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by SearchSystems Editorial Team — verified against official government sources. About our editorial process.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: all Richland County record-source URLs verified against the official local and South Carolina state publishers on the review date. 4 primary .gov / official sources cited below.
Richland County — Key Numbers (2026)
Population, demographics, and county-seat data for Richland County, South Carolina — verified against U.S. Census 2024 estimates.
430,651
Population
Census estimate
162,726
Households
Census estimate
$59,850
Median income
Annual household
$201,200
Median home value
Census ACS
Columbia
County seat
In South Carolina
Criminal records
see state portal
Court records
5 sources
Wants & warrants
see state portal
Property records
4 sources
Vital records
see state portal
Voter records
see state portal
Professional licenses
2 sources
Recorded documents
see state portal
Count of verified official sources per record type. Multiple sources One source Use state portal
Richland County Records at a Glance
| Record type | Richland County verified sources |
|---|---|
| Court records | Probate Court | Richland County SC Cold Case Unit | Richland County Sheriff Department |
| Criminal records | |
| Wants & warrants | |
| Property records | Richland County GeoInfo - Maps (GIS) Welcome to Richland County Assessor Applications |
| Vital records | 1 | P a g e Version 1.0.1 Table of Contents |
| Voter records | Election Date - Candidate Listing - South Carolina |
| Professional licenses | State Resources | South Carolina Business One Stop Business Service Center | Richland County SC |
Count of officially verified .gov / .us record sources cataloged for Richland County. Sources reviewed June 04, 2026.
What Changed in 2026 — Richland County Records
2026
Richland County official government portal active
The official Richland County government website at www.richlandonline.com continues to serve as the canonical local source.
2026
Richland County court records portal verified
State court system links for Richland County verified against the South Carolina judiciary portal in 2026.
2026
Richland County property records online
Richland County property assessment and recorder office online portal active in 2026.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside South Carolina, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements all county-level state records.
The 4-Step Richland County Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Start at the Richland County clerk/courthouse
For most local records (court cases, property deeds, marriage licenses), the Richland County clerk's office is the first stop.
2
Step 2 — Use the South Carolina statewide systems
Criminal background, court case search, voter registration, and professional licensing are all run at the South Carolina state level — not by the county.
3
Step 3 — Federal sources for federal records
Federal court cases (PACER), federal tax liens (IRS), military records (NPRC), and immigration data (ICE) are all federal — not held by the county.
4
Step 4 — Cross-check before relying on data
Most county portals lag 24-48 hours behind the courthouse. For time-sensitive verification, call the clerk directly.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Richland County Records
MYTH"Richland County maintains all criminal records."
FACTCriminal records for Richland County are held by the South Carolina state repository, NOT the county. The county sheriff has only the local arrest log.
MYTH"Records sealed in Richland County are gone everywhere."
FACTSealing removes records from public search but they still exist at the courthouse and may appear in FBI records (Identity History Summary).
MYTH"Free 'instant background' sites have Richland County data."
FACTOnly the official South Carolina state repository has verified, current Richland County data. Free sites often have stale data.
MYTH"The Richland County assessor's value is what I'll sell my home for."
FACTThe Richland County assessor's value is for property tax purposes only — usually below market value.
MYTH"All county records older than 50 years are public."
FACTPartially false. Public-records rules vary by record type AND state. Court records and deeds are usually older-public; vital records remain restricted longer (often 75-125 years).
Primary Sources and Official Record Portals
- www.richlandonline.com — Official Richland County government website
- www.richlandcountysc.gov — Court records — official source
- www7.richlandcountysc.gov — Property records — official source
- scbos.sc.gov — Licenses — official source
- fbi.gov — FBI Identity History Summary (federal record)
Related — Richland County & South Carolina Records
For records not specific to Richland County, use South Carolina's statewide system or the national hub.
📍 South Carolina statewide record systems:
- South Carolina Court Records →
- South Carolina Criminal Records →
- South Carolina Property Records →
- South Carolina Vital Records →
- South Carolina Voter Records →
- South Carolina Wants & Warrants →
- South Carolina Licenses →
- South Carolina Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 National hubs:
Related Public Records
South Carolina statewide records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Vital records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National directories: Court records · Criminal records · Property records · Vital records · Federal databases
Skip the directory — step-by-step South Carolina guides that use these databases:
About Richland County, South Carolina
Richland County is located in central South Carolina. The county seat is Columbia (official site: http://www.richlandonline.com/).
- Households: 162,726
- Median household income: $59,850
- Median home value: $201,200
- Below poverty line: 16.8%
- Land area: 757.3 sq mi
- Population density: 568.7 people / sq mi
Probate Court | Richland County SC
Official Free
Handles estate administration, estate and trust litigation, appointment of guardians and conservators, civil commitment, and issues marriage licenses .
Cold Case Unit | Richland County Sheriff Department
Official Free
Using a combination of new forensic and strategies to the cases. The Richland County Cold Case Squad was formed to provide closure to family members of those who have been murdered and hold offenders accountable for what they have done
🌐 rcsd.net
Common Pleas | Richland County SC
Official Free
A division of Circuit Court that hears civil lawsuits involving large claims, such as injury cases, contract disputes, or property matters.
The South Carolina Judicial Branch
Official Free
Search case records for all counties in South Carolina. Rules governing practice and procedure and administration of state courts. Case filing in any court where E-Filing is available. Sign up for email notifications when items of interest to you are posted to our site. Interim Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence · Interim Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence · Judicial and Law Enforcement Personal Privacy Protection Act
Case Records Search - South Carolina Judicial Branch
Criminal & Court Records
OfficialFree
South Carolina Judicial Department case search for circuit, family, and appellate courts.
sccourts.org
Child Support Inquiry
Official Free
NOTE: Use of a web browser that for searching public case records. Some browsers may require enabling a pop-up exception in order to view case detail. For help determining the County your case is in click here · Some Municipal Court records are available in the Public
SC - Richland County - Court Records
Official Free
Richland County Home Page Online Payments Public Index City of Columbia Municipal Ct S.C. Judicial Department Summary Ct Dockets · Online Payments will only be accepted for the full payment of the citation. No partial payments are accepted on line. Your mandatory court appearance is still required for certain charges (see the blue copy of ticket).
Richland County GeoInfo - Maps (GIS)
Official Free
In 2020 the GIS Division conducted a review of Richland County's GIS program to establish an organizational baseline and identify priorities going into the next decade .
Welcome to Richland County Assessor Applications
Official Free
Property research in Richland County starts here: parcels, assessments, and tax detail. Searching the official side is free.
Maps (GIS) | Richland County SC
Official Free
Explore our mapped datasets designed to support a variety of Richland County operations.
Richland County, SC, Internet Mapping - Maps (GIS)
Official Free
Parcel mapping for Richland County, South Carolina with ownership and assessment layers. Click any parcel for the ownership and assessment record tied to it. Neighboring-parcel data makes it easy to see who owns the land around any lot.
Legal Residence
Official Free
Parcel and valuation data for Richland County — ownership, assessed values, and property characteristics. It is an official government source.
Richland County, SC, Internet Mapping
Official Free
Richland County, SC GIS — parcel maps and property data.
State Resources | South Carolina Business One Stop
Official Free
Municode is an online library that contains information about business licensing, permitting, zoning, and ordinances for many of the towns, cities, and counties in South Carolina. Learn more about Municode.
Business Service Center | Richland County SC
Official Free
Helping businesses navigate the local licensing process and meet County requirements for hospitality and accommodation taxes.
Real Estate Commission
Official Free
License and permit records for Richland County — issued credentials and active-status checks. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
1 | P a g e Version 1.0.1 Table of Contents
Official Free
County departments. An e-mail address is required to set up an account for your subscriptions. After the account is · established, users select which subscriptions they would like to purchase; available subscription Register of Deeds office via the Public Viewer search screen. Indexed data and images · for documents recorded on or after 2/19/1998 are stored on the current system.
Election Date - Candidate Listing - South Carolina
Official Free
Voter and election business for Richland County is managed here. If a link breaks, the office homepage at vrems.scvotes.sc.gov carries the new path.
Register of Deeds - South Carolina Judicial Branch
Official Free
The Register of Deeds exists as a separate governmental office in 23 counties in South Carolina. In Anderson, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Spartanburg, and Sumter, the position is appointed by the governing body.
CODE OF ORDINANCES of RICHLAND COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
Official Free
Historical records index covering Richland County, South Carolina. Local societies and volunteers maintain these — a thank-you or small donation keeps them going. Coverage is what survives and was transcribed; gaps are normal, and what is here can be hard to find anywhere else.
Lost and Found Pets | Richland County SC
Official Free
We can work together to bring pets back home and make sure every animal in our community is safe and cared for · Begin your search as soon as you notice your pet is missing. Time matters
Pay Taxes Online | Richland County SC
Official Free
Administration Building 2020 Hampton Street Columbia, SC 29204 View on Map · Business Hours & Closures
Application Has Moved
Official Free
Please update your bookmarks to https://applications.sc.gov/SpendingTransparency/BudgetTransparencyMain.aspx Click Here if you are not redirected within 15 seconds
Research Offender -Public Access
Official Free
The sheriff's side of Richland County record-keeping — bookings, incident reports, and records requests start here. Confirm details with the official criminal record office before relying on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up court cases in Richland County?
Richland County court cases are searchable through the Probate Court | Richland County SC portal: https://www.richlandcountysc.gov/Courts-Safety/Probate-Court. South Carolina also operates a state-level case lookup through the SC Courts Case Records system. For federal matters, see PACER.
Can I find out if someone is divorced in South Carolina?
Yes. Search the court case index for the person's name in the county where they lived. Most South Carolina counties offer free online case-search portals. The state vital records office also issues divorce verifications for a fee.
Are South Carolina marriage records public?
Marriage records in South Carolina are generally public — anyone can verify that a marriage occurred and request a non-certified copy. Certified copies (needed for legal purposes like name changes or immigration) may be restricted to the spouses, immediate family, or those with a court order.
How do I run a South Carolina background check?
South Carolina background checks are handled by the South Carolina SLED. Name-based searches are available through the official state portal (per-search fee applies). Fingerprint-based checks — required for licensing, foster care, and many employers — must be submitted through an approved vendor.