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 spam bots, 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

(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