Find Birth Records in Anderson County
Anderson County birth records are accessible through the South Carolina Department of Public Health, with statewide registration beginning January 1, 1915. Residents of Anderson County can request certified birth certificates through the local health department on McGee Road, by mail to the state office in Columbia, or through an authorized online vendor. Birth records are essential documents for many purposes, from renewing a passport to proving eligibility for benefits. This page explains every option available for finding and obtaining Anderson County birth records quickly and correctly.
Anderson County Quick Facts
Anderson County Health Department Birth Records
The Anderson County Health Department is located at 220 McGee Road, Anderson, SC 29625. This office offers short form birth certifications for any South Carolina birth that was registered from 1915 to the present. You do not need to have been born in Anderson County specifically to use this location. The local office connects to the same statewide vital records database maintained by the SC Department of Public Health.
Staff at the Anderson County Health Department can also assist with death certificates for deaths in Anderson County within the last five years. If you need help correcting information on a birth record or filing for a delayed birth certificate, the office provides assistance with both of those processes as well. This makes the local health department a strong first stop for Anderson County residents who need help navigating the vital records system.
The county health department issues short form birth certifications. Long form birth certificates must be requested from the SC DPH Vital Records Office directly. Short form cards are accepted by most agencies, including the U.S. State Department for passport applications.
Note: If you need a long form certificate for a specific legal requirement, confirm with the requesting agency whether a short form card is sufficient before making the trip to the local office.
How to Request Anderson County Birth Records
Anderson County birth records can be requested in person, by mail, or online. Each method is valid and results in the same official certified document. Choose the method that works best given your timeline and location.
For mail requests, download Form D-2595 from the SC DPH website. Complete the form with the full legal name at birth, date of birth, place of birth in South Carolina, and both parents' names as they appear on the record. Include a $12.00 non-refundable money order or cashier's check made payable to "SCDHEC - Vital Records." This fee is set by SC Law § 44-63-110 and includes one certified copy if the birth record is found. Additional copies ordered at the same time are $3.00 each. Mail everything to the SC DPH Vital Records Office, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, along with a copy of your photo ID.
Online orders go through VitalChek, the official state vendor. The first copy is $17.00 through VitalChek, with additional copies at $3.00 each. VitalChek accepts major credit and debit cards and generally processes orders faster than the mail-in option. This is a good choice when you need a birth document in less time.
Anderson County Birth Records History
Anderson County was created in 1826 from the Pendleton District, one of the original districts of South Carolina. The county seat is the city of Anderson, which has served as the commercial and civic center of the Upstate region for nearly two centuries. Because the county predates statewide birth registration by nearly 90 years, historical birth records for Anderson County before 1915 are not held in the state vital records system.
The Anderson County Public Records portal provides access to a variety of county documents and background information.
Understanding which office holds which type of record is an important first step when researching Anderson County birth documents from different time periods.
According to FamilySearch's Anderson County Vital Records wiki, birth records for the county are available from January 1915 through the present through the state vital records system. The FamilySearch wiki also contains information about earlier records that may exist through church registers, family bibles, and other informal sources. For genealogical research going back before 1915, combining these alternative sources with the Pendleton District records held at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History is often the most productive approach.
The SCDAH at 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223, holds historical documents relevant to Anderson County and the former Pendleton District. Their online index is searchable at archivesindex.sc.gov. The archives are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and staff can be reached at 803-896-6196.
Who Can Get Anderson County Birth Records
Access to certified Anderson County birth records is governed by SC Code § 44-63-80. Certified copies may be issued to the person named on the record if they are 18 or older, to a parent listed on the certificate, to a legal guardian, or to a duly authorized legal representative. This applies regardless of how the request is submitted.
After a birth record reaches its 100th anniversary, it becomes available to the general public under § 44-63-80(D). Any person may then request a copy without having to demonstrate a qualifying relationship to the person named on the record. For Anderson County births from 1925 and earlier, this public access provision now applies.
Anderson County Vital Records information including local genealogical resources is available through the Anderson County genealogy network.
Local genealogy resources can point you toward the right office or collection when official certified copies are not what you need.
Ordering a Certified Anderson Birth Certificate
The SC Department of Public Health is the state agency responsible for issuing certified birth certificates. The DPH was formed from the former DHEC following an agency split that took effect on July 1, 2024. Their Vital Records Office at 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201, handles all certified requests and can be reached by phone at (803) 898-3630.
Review the requirements and options on the DPH birth certificates page before submitting your request. The page explains what information you will need to provide, what identification is required, and what to expect in terms of processing time. Having all the correct information ready when you apply avoids delays and ensures the search is conducted on the right record.
Under SC Law § 44-63-110, the $12.00 search fee is non-refundable whether or not the record is found. This means it is worth taking the time to confirm the correct spelling of the name and the exact date of birth before submitting your application. If the record cannot be located, the office will provide guidance on next steps, which may include the delayed certificate process under § 44-63-180.
Genealogy Resources for Anderson County Birth Records
Anderson County has a strong genealogical research community, and multiple resources are available to help with birth record searches beyond the official vital records system. FamilySearch offers free access to digitized collections and research guides at their Anderson County page. This resource is particularly useful for researchers who are working on family history projects that go back before 1915.
The SC Historical Society maintains an archives with materials relevant to Anderson County. Their research tools are available through schistory.org. For a practical overview of how to document a birth in South Carolina when official records are incomplete, the guide at iaamuseum.org explains what types of secondary evidence carry the most weight.
Amending Anderson County Birth Records
South Carolina Code § 44-63-140 governs the process for changing information on a birth certificate. All amendment requests for Anderson County birth records are handled by the SC DPH Vital Records Office in Columbia, not by the local county health department. The county office cannot process changes or corrections to existing records.
SC Justice provides a free guide to this process at their birth certificate amendment page. The guide explains the types of changes that are permitted under § 44-63-140, the documents you will need to gather, and the steps involved in submitting an amendment request. Some corrections are straightforward, while others may require legal proceedings before the state office can make the change. Reading the guide in advance saves time and helps you prepare the right documents from the start.
Note: After an amendment is processed, a new certified copy of the updated record can be requested through the same channels used for standard birth certificate requests.
Cities in Anderson County
Anderson County includes the city of Anderson, which is also the county seat. Birth records for residents born in Anderson or anywhere else in the county are part of the same statewide vital records system.
Whether you were born in the city of Anderson or in a smaller community within the county, the steps for requesting a certified birth document are the same.
Nearby Counties
Anderson County borders four other South Carolina counties. If the birth record you need is from a neighboring county, use the links below to find the relevant county page.