The following state agency names history was compiled during 2000 by the Information Services staff at the South Carolina State Library. Any changes and/or corrections should be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The list is not meant to be a history of the agency, but a convenient guide to the current and previous agency names.

Resources used in the compiling the list includes:

• Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976 and supplements. St. Paul, MN: WestGroup.
• Acts and joint resolutions of the General Assembly. Columbia, SC: SC Code Commissioner.
• South Carolina Legislative Manuals. Columbia, SC: SC House of Representatives.
• Directory of State Boards, Commissions, Departments, Agencies and Committees, 1997 and 1990 editions. Columbia, SC: SC Reorganization Commission.
• South Carolina State Phone Book. Columbia, SC: SC State Budget & Control Board

Current and Previous Agency Names

• South Carolina Adjutant General – SC Constitution
• South Carolina Department of Agriculture 1941-present
  • SC Department of Agriculture and Commerce 1936-1941
  • SC Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Industries 1909-1936
  • SC Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Immigration 1904-1909
• South Carolina Department of Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Services 1993-present
  • SC Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse 1974-1993
  • SC Commission on Alcoholism 1966-1974
  • SC Alcoholic Center 1957-1966
  • Mental Health Commission, Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center 1954-1957
• South Carolina Office of Appellate Defense 1978-present
• South Carolina Department of Archives and History 1967-present
  • SC Archives Department 1954-1967
  • Historical Commission of South Carolina 1894-1954
• South Carolina Attorney General – SC Constitution
• South Carolina State Accident Fund 1989-present
• South Carolina Arts Commission 1967-present
• South Carolina Commission for the Blind 1966 – present
• South Carolina Comptroller General – SC Constitution
• South Carolina Budget and Control Board 1950-present
• The Citadel 1842-present
• Clemson University 1964-present
  • Clemson College 1893-1964
  • Clemson Agricultural College 1889-1893
• Coastal Carolina University 1993-present
  • University of South Carolina-Coastal Carolina 1960-1993
  • Coastal Carolina Junior College (part of College of Charleston) 1954-1958
• College of Charleston 1970-present

  Note: added University of Charleston in 1993 for graduate programs. College chartered in 1785, but was not added to the state system until 1970.

• South Carolina Department of Commerce 1993-present
  • SC Development Board 1954-1993
  • SC Department of Research, Planning and Development 1945-1954
• South Carolina Confederate Relic Room 1909-present
• South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs 1974-present
• South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind 1856-present
• South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs 1993-present
  • Department of Mental Retardation 1967-1993
• South Carolina State Department of Education 1895-present
• South Carolina Educational Television Commission 1961-present
• South Carolina Election Commission 1968-present
  • Secretary of State 1950-1968
• South Carolina Employment Security Commission 1946-present
• South Carolina Ethics Commission 1975-present
• South Carolina Board of Financial Institutions 1976-present
  • SC State Board of Bank Control 1936-1976
• South Carolina Forestry Commission 1927-present
• Francis Marion University 1992-present
  • Francis Marion College 1970-1992 (Formerly a regional campus of the University of South Carolina.)
  • Marion State College 1969-1970
• South Carolina Governor. SC Constitution

  Note: With exception of State Law Enforcement Division, other divisions listed were added to Governors Office during 1993. Dates listed are year of enabling legislation as an independent agency.

• South Carolina Law Enforcement Division 1947-present
  • SC State Constabulary 1923-1947
• Division of Foster Care Review
  • Children’s Foster Care Review System 1986
• Commission on Women 1970
• Division of Continuum of Care
  • Continuum of Care of Emotional Disturbed Children 1986
• Division on Aging
  • Commission on Aging 1971
  • SC Interagency Council on Aging 1966-1971
• Division of Veterans Affairs
  • SC Department of Veterans Affairs
• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control 1973-present
  • SC State Board of Health 1878-1972
  • SC Pollution Control Authority 1950-1972
• South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 1995-present
  • SC State Health and Human Services Finance Commission 1984-1995
• South Carolina Commission on Higher Education 1967-present
• South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission 1970-present
• South Carolina State Housing, Finance and Development Authority 1988-present
  • South Carolina State Housing Authority 1971-1988
• South Carolina Human Affairs Commission 1972-present
• South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense 1993-present
• South Carolina State Department of Insurance 1960-present
  • South Carolina Insurance Commission 1908-1960
• John de la Howe School 1918-present

  Note: Established in 1797, SC assumed control of the school in 1918.

• South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice 1993-present
  • SC Department of Youth Services 1972-1993
  • SC State Board of Juvenile Corrections 1946-1972
• South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation 1993-present
  • SC Department of Labor 1936-1993

    Note: Many professional and occupational licensing boards were independent agencies and were added to the agency in 1993. Year of enabling legislation is listed at end of board name.

    • Board of Accountancy 1915
    • Board of Architectural Examiners 1917
    • Athletic Commission 1984
    • Auctioneers' Commission 1977
    • Board of Barber Examiners 1937
    • Board for Barrier Free Design 1974
    • Building Codes Council 1972
    • Board of Chiropractic Examiners 1932
    • Contractors' Licensing Board 1936
    • Board of Cosmetology 1982
    • State Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners 1934-1982
    • Board of Examiners for Licensure of Professional Counselors, Associate Counselors, and Marital and Family Therapists 1985
    • Board of Dentistry 1875
    • Board of Registration for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors 1922
    • Environmental Certification Board 1966
    • Board of Registration for Foresters 1961
    • Board of Funeral Service 1955
    • Board of Registration for Geologists 1986
    • Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators 1993
    • State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators 1970-1993
    • Manufactured Housing Board 1973
    • Massage/Bodywork Therapy 1997
    • Board of Medical Examiners 1920
    • Board of Nursing 1935
    • Board of Occupational Therapy 1977
    • Board of Examiners in Opticianry 1978
    • Board of Examiners in Optometry 1917
    • Board of Pharmacy 1925
    • Board of Physical Therapy Examiners 1952
    • The Commission for the Port of Charleston Pilotage 1872
    • Board of Podiatry Examiners 1935
    • Board of Examiners in Psychology 1968
    • Board of Pyrotechnic Safety 1979
    • Real Estate Commission 1972
    • South Carolina Real Estate Board 1960-1972
    • SC Real Estate Council 1956-1960
    • Real Estate Appraisers Board 1991
    • Residential Builders Commission 1974
    • Board of Social Work Examiners 1968
    • Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 1973
    • Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners 1920
• Lander University 1992-present
  • Lander College 1973-1992
• South Carolina State Library 1969-present
  • SC State Library Board 1929-1969
• South Carolina Lieutenant Governor - SC Constitution
• Medical University of South Carolina 1969-present
  • Medical College of South Carolina (incorporated 1823 as private institution) 1913-1969
• South Carolina Department of Mental Health 1964-present
  • SC Mental Health Commission 1952-1964
  • SC State Hospital 1821-1952
• South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs 1993-present
• SC State Museum Commission 1973-present
• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 1993-present
• Land Water and Conservation Division 1993?-present
• Geological Survey 1997-Present
  • SC Dept of Natural Resources Geological Survey 1995-97
  • SC Geologic Survey, SC State Budget & Control Board 1979-1995
  • Division of Geology, SC State Development Board 1974-1979
  • SC Geological Survey 1901-1961
• Geological and Agricultural Survey of the State of South Carolina 1843-1860
• Agricultural Survey of South Carolina 1842-1843
• Geological and Mineral Survey of South Carolina 1825-1826
• South Carolina Department of Wildlife and Marine Resources 1952-1993
• Land Resources Conservation Commission 1972-1993
  State Soil Conservation Committee 1937-1972
• Water Resources Commission 1969-1993
• SC Water Resources Planning and Coordinating Committee 1967- 1969
• South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism 1967-present

  Created from: Division of Parks, SC State Forestry Commission; Division of Outdoor Recreation, SC Wildlife Resources Commission; and the Travel and Information Division, SC Development Board.

• Patriot’s Point Development Authority 1973-present
• South Carolina Ports Authority 1942-present
• South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services 1988-present
  • SC Parole and Community Corrections, 1981-1988
  • Probation and Parole Board, 1942-1981
• South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination 1990-present
• South Carolina Department of Public Safety 1996-present

  Incorporates the functions of: Law Enforcement Hall of Fame; the Law Enforcement Training Council; the State Highway Patrol 1993-present; the Public Service Commission Safety Enforcement Section; the Vehicle Inspection Administrative Services, Driver Records, Financial Responsibility Sections and other offices of the Division of Motor Vehicles 1995-present; and the Division of Public Safety Programs in the Governor’s Office.

• South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper) 1934-present
• South Carolina Public Service Commission 1935-present
  • SC Railroad Commission 1882-1935
• South Carolina Research Authority 1983-present
• South Carolina Department of Revenue 1997-present
  • SC Department of Revenue and Taxation 1993-1997
  • Division of Motor Vehicles 1993-1995
  • SC Tax Commission 1915-1993
• South Carolina Second Injury Fund 1972-present
• South Carolina Secretary of State - SC Constitution
• South Carolina Department of Social Services 1972-present
  • SC Department of Public Welfare 1937-1972
• South Carolina State University 1992-present
  • SC State College 1954-1992
  • South Agricultural and Mechanical Institute (attached to Claflin College) 1872-1896
  • State Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College (began as branch of University of South Carolina with a separate board) 1896-1954
• South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education 1972-present
  • SC Advisory Committee for Technical Education 1961-1972
• South Carolina Department of Transportation 1993-present
  • SC Department of Highways and Public Transportation 1977-1993
    • Division of Motor Vehicles 1977-1993
    • State Highway Patrol 1977-1993
  • SC State Highway Department 1917-1977
    • Division of Motor Vehicles 1920-1977
    • Division of Automobile Licensing and Registration 1917-1920
    • State Highway Patrol 1954-1977
• South Carolina State Treasurer - SC Constitution
• University of South Carolina 1900-present
  • South Carolina College 1801-1900
• South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation 1957-present
• Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School 1976-present
  • SC Opportunity School 1921-1976
• Winthrop University 1992-present
  • Winthrop College 1891-1992
• South Carolina Workers Compensation Commission 1935-present