Temporary Closure: Clover and Lake Wylie Libraries will be closed May 4–10 due to parking lot resurfacing. Parking, outdoor book drops, and locker pickup will also be unavailable. Both locations will reopen on Monday, May 11.
Genealogy & Local History
York County Library offers a wealth of genealogy and local history resources, including weekly classes and programs, as well as a Local History area dedicated to the historical and genealogical research of South Carolina and York County.
Local History Area
The Local History area, located at the Main Library in Rock Hill, holds a valuable collection of genealogy and local history materials, with books, microfilms, newspapers, manuscripts, and more. Available resources include:
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Census indexes and microfilms
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Family histories
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Church, cemetery, land, military, will, and estate records of York County
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Burial indexes of area church and family cemeteries
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Marriage and death notices
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Local newspapers on microfilm
These materials are for in-library use only. For information on available titles and subjects, search the Library Catalog.
Genealogy Resources
Ancestry Library Edition, the world's largest genealogy website, provides a wide range of resources, including billions of names; U.S. Census, birth, marriage, and death records; immigration and military records; and more. (In-library access only.)
Fold3 Library Edition provides access to U.S. military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. (Home access requires a York County Library card.)
HeritageQuest Online is a comprehensive collection of genealogical sources, including U.S. census records; local and family histories; Revolutionary War pension and bounty land warrant application files; the Freedman's Bank Records; maps; and more. (Home access requires a York County Library card.)
Ready to Learn More?
Explore our weekly genealogy classes and programs.
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All York County Library branches are FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries. Learn more about Affiliate Libraries.
York County Resources
Historical Center of York County
Archival repository providing original records relating to York County genealogy and history, including York County Court records, family manuscripts, business and organization records, church registers, and much more.
Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University
Resources relating to York County and South Carolina, provided by Winthrop University's Dacus Library and featuring a fully-searchable digital collection.
Information on Rock Hill City-owned cemeteries. Listings are not complete.
Southern Revolutionary War Institute
Primary and secondary research materials dedicated to the American Revolution in the Southern states, available at the Historical Center of York County, York, SC.
Explore all of YCL's genealogy events or download a flyer of weekly classes and programs
YCHistory.org, YCL's online local history project, features newspaper clippings, church and family histories, and indexes of selected York County newspapers.
Questions/Research
Genealogy questions may be submitted via our Ask A Librarian service and are subject to copyright laws and the resources available in our collections. York County Library staff cannot do extensive research on area families.