Richland County Tax Duplicate records

One way to make historic records more accessible is to index the information. An index is a list of names and/or subjects that leads the user to the full text. The most common index is found in the back of a book leading the searcher to a page with more detailed information.

We recently indexed the Richland County Tax Duplicate books. The index contains only the taxpayer name  but provides a page number to the microfilmed record for more information.  The series begins in 1876. We have indexed 1876 and 1877 (1878 is missing and we are working on 1879).  These are great years because they fall during the Reconstruction Government when records are scarce.  

The tax duplicate records are a schedule of all taxable real and personal property in Richland County.  Information generally includes the name, number, and residence/post office address of the taxpayer; date of tax payment; number of acres, lots, buildings, and value of all taxable real property; value of all taxable personal property; total value of all taxable property; total tax; poll tax; capitation road tax; dog tax, showing number of dogs; total for collection; total tax and penalty; execution turned over to the sheriff; date paid; nulla bona executions and remarks. Recorded information varies from year to year.

Unfortunately the years indexed so far do not include addresses but they are still a valuable resource for identifying county and city residents. While race was not recorded we know that African American were paying taxes during this time period and, therefore, listed in the series.

The complete series on microfilm is available at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History (series number L 40082). At Richland Library we have  microfilm for the years we are indexing.  

You can search all of our indexes from the Indexes of Local History and Genealogy landing page.

If you are interested in learning more about our indexing projects check the book Genealogy and the Librarian edited by Carol Smallwood.  A chapter about our documentary editing projects is included.