Berkeley County, South Carolina: History
Berkeley County was established in 1682. It was named after John and William Berkeley, co-owners of the Province of Carolina. It became part of the Charleston District in 1769. It did not exist as a District during most of the 19th century and generally was part of the Low Country culture.
St. John's Berkeley Parish was a parish that grew with agricultural development using enslaved labor. It was eventually absorbed into what became Berkeley County.
In 1882, after Democrats regained control of the state legislature following the Reconstruction era, they established the current incarnation of Berkeley County, with its seat at Mount Pleasant. The county seat was moved in 1895 to Moncks Corner. Berkeley is also known for Revolutionary War connections.
The Old Berkeley County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.