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Beaufort, South Carolina



 
 
Beaufort is a city in Beaufort County
Beaufort County, South Carolina

Beaufort County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 120,937; in 2005 the population was estimated to have reached 137,849....
, South Carolina
South Carolina

South Carolina is a U.S. state in the Southern United States of the United States. It borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north....
, United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, situated on the Beaufort River. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is a city in Charleston County, South Carolina in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is the largest city and county seat of Charleston County....
. The city's population was 12,950 in the 2000 census (46,227 total pop. of Beaufort Urban Cluster). It is the county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 of Beaufort County
Beaufort County, South Carolina

Beaufort County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 120,937; in 2005 the population was estimated to have reached 137,849....
 and part of the Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States. It is 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, and 95 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina....
–Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area
Hilton Head Island-Beaufort micropolitan area

The Hilton Head Island–Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in South Carolina, anchored by the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and the city of Beaufort, South Carolina....
.

Beaufort ( "byew-furt", unlike its counterpart
Beaufort, North Carolina

Beaufort is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,771 at the 2000 census and it is the county seat of Carteret County, North Carolina....
 in North Carolina
North Carolina

North Carolina is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north....
) is located on Port Royal Island, in the heart of the Sea Islands
Sea Islands

The Sea Islands are a chain of tidal and barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean coast of the United States. They number over 100, and are located between the mouths of the Santee River and St....
 and Lowcountry
South Carolina Low Country

The South Carolina Lowcountry is a term used to describe South Carolina's coastal counties, generally south of and including, Charleston, South Carolina....
.






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Encyclopedia


Beaufort is a city in Beaufort County
Beaufort County, South Carolina

Beaufort County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 120,937; in 2005 the population was estimated to have reached 137,849....
, South Carolina
South Carolina

South Carolina is a U.S. state in the Southern United States of the United States. It borders Georgia to the south and North Carolina to the north....
, United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
, situated on the Beaufort River. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is a city in Charleston County, South Carolina in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is the largest city and county seat of Charleston County....
. The city's population was 12,950 in the 2000 census (46,227 total pop. of Beaufort Urban Cluster). It is the county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 of Beaufort County
Beaufort County, South Carolina

Beaufort County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 120,937; in 2005 the population was estimated to have reached 137,849....
 and part of the Hilton Head Island
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States. It is 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, and 95 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina....
–Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area
Hilton Head Island-Beaufort micropolitan area

The Hilton Head Island–Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in South Carolina, anchored by the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and the city of Beaufort, South Carolina....
.

Beaufort ( "byew-furt", unlike its counterpart
Beaufort, North Carolina

Beaufort is a town in Carteret County, North Carolina, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,771 at the 2000 census and it is the county seat of Carteret County, North Carolina....
 in North Carolina
North Carolina

North Carolina is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north....
) is located on Port Royal Island, in the heart of the Sea Islands
Sea Islands

The Sea Islands are a chain of tidal and barrier islands on the Atlantic Ocean coast of the United States. They number over 100, and are located between the mouths of the Santee River and St....
 and Lowcountry
South Carolina Low Country

The South Carolina Lowcountry is a term used to describe South Carolina's coastal counties, generally south of and including, Charleston, South Carolina....
. The city is renowned for its impressive harbor along the Port Royal Sound, and for maintaining a historic character through its impressive antebellum architecture and streetscapes, which have helped it attract tourists and new residents alike. The City is known for its military establishments, being located in close proximity to Parris Island and a U.S. Naval Hospital, in addition to being home of the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort or MCAS Beaufort is a United States Marine Corps air base located three miles northwest of the central business district of Beaufort, South Carolina, a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States....
.

Beaufort has been featured in the New York Times, named "Best Small Southern Town" by Southern Living, named a "Top 25 Small City Arts Destination" by American Style, named a "Top 20 Fishing Town" by Field and Stream, and a "Top 50 Adventure Town" by National Geographic Adventure.

History


Prior to 1711

Before the arrival of Europe
Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
an explorers, the Lowcountry region was inhabited by small Native American
Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the Indigenous peoples of the Americas from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States United States, including parts of Alaska and the island state of Hawaii....
 tribes that have since yielded their names to geography, including the Yemasee
Yemassee, South Carolina

This article is about a place called Yemassee. For the literary journal of the University of South Carolina, see Yemassee .Yemassee is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina and Hampton County, South Carolina counties in the U.S....
, the Coosawhatchie, the Coosaw, the Datha (Dataw), the Edisto
Edisto River

File:Edistorivermap.pngThe Edisto River is the longest completely undammed / unleveed blackwater river in North America, flowing 206 meandering miles from its sources in Saluda and Edgefield counties, to its Atlantic Ocean mouth at Edisto Beach, SC....
, the Ashepoo, the Kiowa (Kiawah), and Combahee. Several of these tribes were rivals and intertribal alliances and attacks occurred frequently before and during European colonization.

The Spanish
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
 were the first Europeans to explore the Port Royal Sound and were the first to attempt to establish a colony. Landing on (Santa Elena), the colony of the same name did not survive long, as disease, starvation, weather, and attacks from tribes dissuaded the settlers and their efforts. Upon the explorations of Giovanni di Verrazano, France became the next European power to establish a presence. Nearby Parris Island was the location of Charlesfort, France's first colony in the New World, founded by Jean Ribault
Jean Ribault

Jean Ribault was a French naval officer, navigator, and a colonizer of what would become the southeastern United States. He was born in the village of Dieppe, France on the English Channel....
 in 1562. Alarmed by its rivals intentions, the Spanish established St. Augustine in modern-day Florida in 1565 as a counter to French aspirations. As with Santa Elena, the French colony disappeared quickly due to similar circumstances.

The Carolana (Carolina) colony was chartered by King Charles II
Charles II of England

Charles II was the Monarchy of Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Scotland, and Kingdom of Ireland.His father Charles I of England Regicide#The regicide of Charles I of England at Palace of Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War....
 in 1670 to the eight Lord Proprietors, who began the first major attempt to settle modern day South Carolina. Observations of the Port Royal Sound and immediate area had many on the initial expedition call for the first English settlement and capital of the colony to be located in Beaufort. However, tribes in the area suggested an area further up the coast, and the settlers later chose the area what became Charleston to become their capital and principal city.

The Port Royal Sound however was too enticing not to be settled, and continuous efforts were made. Upon the demise of the French efforts, the first Scottish
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 settlement in what is now the United States, known as Stuart Town, was founded at modern-day Spanish Point in 1682, only to be destroyed by Spanish forces from St. Augustine in 1684. Continuous concerns about Spanish incursions into the new colony led to calls to create a town and port that would serve as a buffer against Spain and provide a closer harbor to area planters, who were becoming successful in their efforts to produce cash crops, especially rice.

1711 to 1800

Beaufort was chartered in 1711 as the second major settlement in South Carolina and named after Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort
Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort

Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, Knight of the Garter Privy Council of Great Britain was the only son of Charles Somerset, Marquess of Worcester, and Rebecca Child....
. The settlement grew very slowly, due to a major attack by the Yemassee in 1717 and the threat of Spanish invasion. It was not until 1733 and the founding of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a U.S. state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against United Kingdom rule in the American Revolution....
 as a buffer colony did Beaufort truly grow in population and prestige. Though most administrative powers during the early Carolina colony was focused in Charleston, the city gained a reputation for its excellent harbor and the establishment of several church congregations, most notable being St. Helena's Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)

The Episcopal Church, sometimes called The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, is the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States, Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe....
. By 1776, the city became well known for its shipbuilding
Shipbuilding

Shipbuilding is the construction of ships. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, originally called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history....
 enterprises, its rice and indigo
Indigo

Indigo is the color on the electromagnetic spectrum between about 420 and 450 nanometre in wavelength, placing it between blue and violet . Although traditionally considered one of seven divisions of the optical spectrum, modern color scientists do not usually recognize indigo as a separate division and generally classify wavelengths shorter...
 trade, and was home to a new circuit court
Circuit court

Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions. Originally it meant a court that would hold sessions in multiple locations within its judicial district; the judge or judges would travel in a circuit in order to adjudicate cases across a wide area....
 for the colony.

The American Revolution
American Revolution

The American Revolution refers to the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen Colonies of North America overthrew the governance of the British Empire and then rejected the British monarchy to become the sovereign United States of America....
 split loyalties in the community, with several families supporting the Tories while others favored independence. Many men fought in battles elsewhere in the state, though little warfare was conducted in and around Beaufort. The young republic was unable to provide adequate naval defense of the City and fell under British occupation in 1780 without much resistance or damage. It was not until hostilities flared in Virginia did British occupation end in 1782, a year before the Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris

Many treaties have been negotiated and signed in Paris, France, including:*Treaty of Paris , ended the Albigensian Crusade*Treaty of Paris , between Henry III of England and Louis IX of France...
 was signed. The Treaty of Beaufort
Treaty of Beaufort

The Treaty of Beaufort, also called the Beaufort Convention, is the treaty that originally set the all-river Border between the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina....
 fixing the boundary between South Carolina and Georgia was signed in the city in 1787.

1800 to 1861

In the antebellum
Antebellum

"Antebellum" is an expression derived from Latin that means "before war" .In United States history and historiography, "antebellum" is commonly used, in lieu of "pre-Civil War," in reference to the period of increasing sectionalism that led up to the American Civil War....
 period, the rise of Sea Island Cotton brought enormous wealth to Beaufort and the surrounding plantations. By some historians' accounts, Beaufort was arguably the wealthiest city in the United States prior to the Civil War and was often considered to be the "Newport
Newport, Rhode Island

Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, Rhode Island, United States, about 30 miles south of Providence, Rhode Island....
" of the South. Although Charleston and Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 116,278 according to the United States Census, 2000 ....
 were the leading cities in the state, much economic and political influence was reared by Beaufort. Lowcountry planters in the city and the surrounding islands were among the most ardent supporters of state secession
Secession

Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. It is not to be confused with succession, the act of following in order or sequence....
, first during the Nullification Crisis
Nullification Crisis

The Nullification Crisis was a sectionalism crisis during the presidency of Andrew Jackson created by the Ordinance of Nullification, an attempt by the state of South Carolina to Nullification a federal law passed by the United States Congress....
 in the 1830s and then in the 1850s. At the eve of secession, Beaufort was arguably at its cultural, economic, and political zenith
Zenith

In broad terms, the zenith is the direction pointing directly above a particular location . Since the concept of being above is itself somewhat vague, scientists define the zenith in more rigorous terms....
, with a population of about 4,000, excluding slaves. Like modern-day Beaufort, the city attracted many residents from beyond the state, with many Northerners and Europeans residing in town and operating successful businesses.

1861 to 1945

The American Civil War
American Civil War

The American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several Naming the American Civil War, was a civil war in the United States....
 had a dramatic effect on Beaufort, as an amphibious attack and subsequent occupation
Battle of Port Royal

The Battle of Port Royal was one of the earliest amphibious operations of the American Civil War, in which a United States Navy fleet and United States Army expeditionary force captured Port Royal Sound, South Carolina, between Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, on 7 November 1861....
 of the city made it one of the first communities in the Deep South to be held in Union hands, as early as November 1861. Though much of the town was spared from physical destruction, there were many incidents of arson and looting as a result of Union occupation and the early liberation of the substantial slave population. In a historic effort that pre-dawned American Reconstruction, the Port Royal Experiment provided a test case for the education of freedmen. In addition to educational advancements, the city made some political ones as well. Robert Smalls
Robert Smalls

Robert Smalls was a slave who became a national hero when he freed himself and his family from slavery on May 13, 1862 by commandeering a Confederate transport ship, The Planter, to freedom in Charleston harbor....
, a native son and leading figure in post-war Beaufort would later become one of South Carolina's first elected African-Americans to the United States Congress
United States Congress

The United States Congress is the Bicameralism legislature of the Federal government of the United States of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives....
 and remained a prominent civic leader in the state and in Beaufort until his death in 1915. Due in part to the large African-American population and also Small's leading role, Beaufort remained one of the last outposts of Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major party contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party . It is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP....
 power in the Solid South
Solid South

Solid South refers to the electoral support of the Southern United States for the Democratic Party candidates for nearly a century from 1877, the end of the Reconstruction era of the United States, to 1964, during the middle of the African-American Civil Rights Movement ....
.

Several of Beaufort's most prominent families returned to the area but never regained the enormous wealth that slave-based agriculture provided. As the influence of cotton declined, the lure of aqua phosphate
Phosphate

A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a Salt of phosphoric acid. Inorganic phosphates are mining to obtain phosphorus for use in agriculture and industry....
 mining increased. By 1890, Beaufort had regained some of its wealth and prosperity from phosphate. It had also retained its position as county seat during that time. However, a series of events would bring Beaufort into a steady economic decline for over half-century.

On August 27, 1893, a Category 3 hurricane slammed into the Lowcountry, killing over 2,000 area residents and causing immeasurable damage. Although only four individuals died in the city itself, Beaufort was heavily damaged and its phosphate industry was ruined. A fire that damaged much of the downtown area in 1907 continued to inflict economic and psychological harm to the city. A final blow to the area was gradual; the boll weevil
Boll weevil

The boll weevil is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the US from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all US cotton-growing areas by the 1920s, devastating the industry and the people working in the American so...
 decimated most of the cotton crop, which had for over a century been the major commodity of the community. By 1910, Beaufort had lost almost 40% of its population from ten years earlier. Though the city retained its political status as county seat, Beaufort became one of the poorest communities in the state through the 1940s. The growth of lettuce
Lettuce

Lettuce is a temperate annual plant or biennial plant of the daisy family Asteraceae. It is most often grown as a leaf vegetable. In many countries, it is typically eaten cold, raw, in salads, hamburgers, tacos, and in many other dishes....
 and tomato
Tomato

The Tomato is an herbaceous, usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family, as are its close cousins Nicotiana, potatoes, aubergine , chilli peppers, and the poisonous Atropa belladonna....
 farming, in addition to shrimping, became the major facets of the economy during this time.

Since 1945

Beaufort's economic recovery in the latter half of the 20th century can be contributed to three major influences: military investment, resort development, and downtown revitalization. Although Parris Island was continuously occupied after the Civil War, it retained a limited role in military affairs until 1917, when it was selected as a permanent home for the U.S. Marine Corps recruiting station. The onslaught of World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
, World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
 and especially the Cold War
Cold War

The Cold War was the continuing state of conflict, tension and competition that existed between a number of world powers, including the United States, the Soviet Union, People's Republic of China, France, United Kingdom and those countries' respective allies from the mid-1940s to the early 1990s....
 brought new people and income to the area. A naval air station was established during World War II and transferred to the Marine Corps in the 1950s, thus cementing a major military legacy for the region. A U.S. Naval Hospital located in neighboring Port Royal was also constructed during the war.

New investment in the form of resort and lifestyle development on nearby Hilton Head Island and Fripp Island also had a some economic contribution to Beaufort and the Lowcountry starting in the 1960s. However, significant economic improvement came upon the completion of a downtown waterfront park in place of abandoned docks, championed by then-mayor Henry Chambers. The park (now named after Chambers) spurred the redevelopment and reinvestment of adjacent Bay Street and downtown Beaufort, propelling land values and garnishing the attention of real estate investors, national media, and Hollywood, through the form of successful and well-known films. In recent years, renovations to the park, countless renovations to private homes and businesses, and several streetscape projects have continued to improve the overall quality of life in Beaufort.

Unlike most communities of its size in the south, Beaufort escaped much of the turbulence of the Civil Rights era. Jim Crow
Jim Crow

Jim Crow may refer to:* Jim Crow laws, laws regarding racial segregation; enforced in the U.S. from the 1870's-1964.* Jump Jim Crow, the song for which Jim Crow laws were named...
 laws were gradually eased during the 1960s. Schools began the process of desegregation
Desegregation

'Desegregation' is the process of ending racial segregation, most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the African-American Civil Rights Movement , both before and after the Supreme Court of the United States decision in Brown v....
 in 1964 and became fully integrated by 1970. Beaufort also elected its first African-American to city council (since 1910) in 1967. The city has experienced other demographic shifts, thanks in part to the city's military presence, its status as a retirement destination for residents from the northern United States and Canada
Canada

Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean....
, and a demand for migrant workers, primarily from Latin American nations and mostly for seasonal agriculture.

Geography

Beaufort is located at (32.431853, -80.689515).

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau

The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data....
, the city is amid a marshy estuary, and has a total area of 23.4 square miles (60.7 kmē), of which, 18.6 square miles (48.2 kmē) of it is land and 4.8 square miles (12.5 kmē) of it (20.57%) is water.

Neighborhoods


Downtown Historic District

The original settlement of Beaufort can be found in the downtown or historic district
Beaufort Historic District

Beaufort Historic District is a historic district in Beaufort, South Carolina.It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973....
 area. of the town have been designated a National Historic Landmark. With approximate dimensions, downtown is defined as anything upon the peninsula jutting into the Beaufort River that is located east of Ribaut Road (US 21). Further defined, downtown is broken into four distinct neighborhoods:

  • Downtown is centered along Bay Street, Beaufort's historic commercial street. It includes other nearby streets and is principly commercial in character. Located between the Beaufort River and Bay Street is the newly renovated Henry Chambers Waterfront Park, which overlooks the Beaufort River and is home to many of the city's festivals and events. Most non-tourist commercial services have since relocated to areas such as Boundary Street, Ribaut Road, and Lady's Island. The large homes along Bay Street (west of Charles Street) are referred to as The Bluff and have a scenic overlook of the Beaufort River.


  • The Point neighborhood (also known as the Old Point) is home to some of Beaufort's largest, oldest, and most expensive homes. Defined as the land between Carteret Street and the Beaufort River, this portion of downtown does not follow the major street grid.


  • The Old Commons neighborhood (also known as the Northeast Quadrant) is located in the northeastern portion of Beaufort's original street grid, defined as the area between Carteret Street on the east, North Street on the south, Charles Street on the west, and Boundary Street to the north. Originally home to a hodgepodge of medium-sized homes, graveyards, and chapels, this section of downtown is undergoing reinvestment and redevelopment, yet retains a southern style of architecture.


  • The Northwest Quadrant neighborhood, loosely defined as the area between Charles Street on the east, Prince Street to the south, Ribaut Road on the west, and Boundary Street to the north. This area has for generations been the center of Beaufort's African-American community and is composed of late 19th and early 20th century homes, many in a shotgun
    Shotgun house

    The shotgun house is a narrow rectangular domestic residence, usually no more than 12 feet wide, with doors at each end. It was the most popular style of house in the Southern United States from the end of the American Civil War , through to the 1920s....
     architectural style. Bladen Street serves as the principal street through the community and was recently renovated with improved landscaping and pedestrian access.


Other Areas


  • The Pigeon Point neighborhood is located immediately north of Downtown Beaufort and is bound on the west by the Beaufort National Cemetery
    Beaufort National Cemetery

    Beaufort National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, in the city of Beaufort, South Carolina....
    . It is often considered to be part of the downtown area. It is centered around two major city parks: Pigeon Point Community Park and the Basil Green Recreation Complex. An area with smaller homes and mostly one-story early 20th century structures, Pigeon Point has experienced a renewal of development interest, with many homes being "flipped" or renovated in recent years.


  • The Depot neighborhood is located west of Ribaut Road, south of Boundary Street and north of the Technical College of the Lowcountry campus. It has been the focus of recent redevelopment efforts with regards to home improvements. Formerly concentrated around the Beaufort rail station (the depot), the neighborhood has similar characteristics to the Pigeon Point community and has many military families living in it, due in part to the proximity of Beaufort's military institutions.


  • The Spanish Point neighborhood is located between Downtown and Mossy Oaks, generally considered to be clustered around the Technical College of the Lowcountry campus and the Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Several upscale residential neighborhoods and healthcare-oriented commercial establishments are typical characteristics of this area.


  • The Mossy Oaks neighborhood is at the southern edge of the city limits (along the border of Port Royal), generally considered to be south of the Technical College of the Lowcountry campus and the Beaufort Memorial Hospital. There are some commercial establishments in the area in addition to residential neighborhoods ranging from apartments to smaller single-family homes and duplexes.


  • Portions of Lady's Island have been annexed by Beaufort, though the City does not have complete jurisdiction of the entire island. Most of the incorporated areas are upscale residential communities and the Beaufort County Airport.


  • Once the outer edge of town, the corridors along Boundary Street (US Highway 21), Robert Smalls Parkway (SC Highway 170), and Ribaut Road now serve as Beaufort's major commercial corridors. Several major shopping centers in addition to numerous dining establishments and lodging facilities are the standard business types in this area.


  • The Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
    Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

    Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort or MCAS Beaufort is a United States Marine Corps air base located three miles northwest of the central business district of Beaufort, South Carolina, a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States....
     was annexed into the City in the 1990s, expanding the city limits northward near the unincorporated Seabrook community. Previous attempts at bringing large-scale residential development north of the air station were defeated after protests from long-time citizens and environmental advocacy groups.


Culture


Media

Beaufort's major daily newspapers are the Beaufort Gazette, Beaufort Today & The Island Packet. Lady's Island also has a weekly newspaper known as Lady's Island News.

Several radio stations have transmission feeds originating or duplicating in Beaufort.

Beaufort has one local television station, WJWJ-TV (PBS). Beaufort is part of the Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Chatham County, Georgia, Georgia , United States. Savannah was established in 1733 and was the first colonial and state capital of Georgia....
 Designated Market Area, and additionally receives Charleston television stations.

Books and film

Beaufort has been the setting for several novels by native son Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy

Pat Conroy , is a New York Times New York Times bestseller list author who has written several acclaimed novels and memoirs....
, and a popular for major motion pictures, including The Big Chill
The Big Chill (film)

The Big Chill is a 1983 film about a group of baby boomer college friends who reunite after many years and explore the aftermath of the 1960s....
, The Prince of Tides
The Prince of Tides

The Prince of Tides is a 1986 in literature novel by Pat Conroy. It tells the story of the narrator's struggle to overcome the psychological damage inflicted by his dysfunctional childhood in South Carolina....
, The Great Santini
The Great Santini

The Great Santini is a 1979 film which tells the story of a highly successful United States Marine Corps officer whose success as a military aviator contrasts with his shortcomings as a husband and father....
, Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a comedy-drama film based on the Forrest Gump by Winston Groom. The film was a huge commercial success, earning United States dollar677 million worldwide during its theatrical run making it the top grossing film in North America released that year....
, Something To Talk About
Something to Talk About (film)

Something to Talk About is a 1995 film by Lasse Hallstr?m, written by Callie Khouri. It stars Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid as an estranged couple, Kyra Sedgwick as Roberts's sister and Robert Duvall and Gena Rowlands as their parents....
 and G.I. Jane
G.I. Jane

G.I. Jane is a 1997 in film action film that tells the fictional story of the first woman to undergo training in United States Navy Special forces....
. Lady's Island and the slave trade is the subject of an award winning novel, "Someone Knows My Name"(aka The Book of Negroes) written by Lawrence Hill.

Tourism and events

Beaufort is a romantic and popular tourist destination known for its history. Major festivals and arts events include the , a two-week extravaganza in the middle of July, the Shrimp Festival, celebrating the local and traditional industry, is in the second weekend in October. In 2007, The Beaufort Shrimp Festival was selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events. The Beaufort International Film Festival held the first week of March screens independent films, such as Brats. A Taste of Beaufort, presented by , is held on the first Saturday in May and features 20 local restaurants, fine wines and live music. Chalk on the Walk at Beaufort Town Center is an interactive festival focusing on bringing street art to and by the people, and is produced the Arts Council of Beaufort County. For more information on all events and visiting the area, please contact the .

The arts

Beaufort has been named by some sources as one of "America's Best Art Towns", including being ranked the #14 Small City Arts Destination by American Style Magazine in 2008 and one of America's top 100 art towns by author John Villani in his 2005 book "The 100 Best Art Towns in America: A Guide to Galleries, Museums, Festivals, Lodging and Dining" . Close to 20 galleries operate within the City with hundreds of local residents contibuting to the arts scene.

The University of South Carolina-Beaufort has a performing arts center which attracts regional and national acts to the community.

The Arts Council of Beaufort County, located on Boundary Street in uptown Beaufort, nurtures the arts by offering resources to artists and audiences: free roundtable discussions (for example, Artist-Gallery relationships); Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers; public art projects such as the Big Swim: 31 Mermaids; Quarterly Community Arts Grants, and the Ever Expanding Arts Calendar, which brings artists and audiences together; emerging artists initiatives, and more.

Sports and recreation

Through Beaufort County's Recreation Department, junior and intramural athletics are sponsored year-round. Activities include football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and cheerleading.

The local area provides excellent opportunities for golf, fishing, and kayaking.

In February 2008, Field and Stream Magazine rated Beaufort as one of the top 20 fishing towns in the United States in an article which factored in cost, attractions, distractions, seasons, and fishing action. Beaufort was also named as a "Top 50 Adventure Town" and the #7 Waterfront Adventure Town by National Geographic Adventure .

Religion

The city is home to many Christian denominations, with several churches located in the downtown area and throughout the area. St. Helena's Episcopal Church in downtown Beaufort was founded in 1712. A Jewish house of worship, , is also in the downtown area, adjacent to the Beaufort Arsenal and Museum.

Economy

The location of the City to other fast growing areas including Hilton Head Island, and Bluffton
Bluffton, South Carolina

Bluffton is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,275 at the 2000 census and center of the Bluffton Urban Cluster with a total population of 5,848....
 as well as good access to Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Chatham County, Georgia, Georgia , United States. Savannah was established in 1733 and was the first colonial and state capital of Georgia....
, the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, and a future container port
Port

||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|}A port is a facility for receiving ships and transferring cargo. They are usually found at the edge of an ocean, sea, river, or lake....
 to be built on the Savannah River
Savannah River

File:Savannah river cargo ship.jpgFile:Riverwalk Augusta in December.jpgThe Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the U.S....
 make the city a desirable choice for residential and business development opportunity.

Demographics

As of the census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
 of 2000, there were 12,950 people, 4,598 households, and 3,034 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density

Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans....
 was 695.7 people per square mile (268.7/kmē). There were 5,080 housing units at an average density of 272.9/sq mi (105.4/kmē). The racial makeup of the city was 69.41% White, 25.14% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.39% of the population.

There were 4,598 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 19.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 114.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,532, and the median income for a family was $42,894. Males had a median income of $22,465 versus $23,474 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the city was $20,501. About 11.5% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Beaufort is the center of an urban cluster with a total population of 46,227 (2000 census), comprising the city and its surrounding towns and unincorporated areas including Port Royal
Port Royal, South Carolina

Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,950 at the 2000 census. Largely because of annexation, the population of the Port Royal town limits has more than doubled since 2000 ....
, Burton
Burton, South Carolina

Burton is a census-designated place in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States. The population was 7,180 at the 2000 census....
, Lady's Island
Lady's Island

Lady's Island can refer to:*Lady's Island, North Carolina*Lady's Island Lake - Ireland...
, Shell Point
Shell Point, South Carolina

Shell Point is a census-designated place in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,856 at the 2000 census....
, Laurel Bay
Laurel Bay, South Carolina

Laurel Bay is a census-designated place and military housing complex in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States. The population was 6,625 at the 2000 census....
, and Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an 8,095 acre military installation near Beaufort, South Carolina tasked with the training of enlisted United States Marine Corps....
, among others.

Beaufort is also part of the larger Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area which includes Beaufort and Jasper counties and had a total population of 159,247 in 2005 (U.S. Census Bureau estimate). According to the more detailed data available in the 2000 census, the population included in this micropolitan area (which actually was designated after the census itself) was 64% urban and 36% rural. It included the urban clusters of Beaufort (2000 pop.: 46,227), Hilton Head Island (34,400), Bluffton (6,136), and Ridgeland (3,585).

Government

Beaufort is classified as a "city" according to the South Carolina Secretary of State. The city is governed by a five member city council under the council-manager form of government. The current mayor is Billy Keyserling (term ends 2012), who took over the position from George O'Kelley. O'Kelley had been interim mayor for the city when Bill Rauch resigned in July 2008 after allegations of insider trading
Insider trading

Insider trading is the trading of a corporation's stock or other security by individuals with potential access to non-public information about the company....
 surfaced, . The other council members include Donnie Ann Beer (term ends 2010), Mike Sutton (term ends 2010), Gary Fordham (term ends 2012) and Mike McFee (term ends 2012). Council members serve on staggered four-year terms.

The City provides police, fire, sanitation, recycling, parks, events management, planning, zoning, building codes, and downtown parking as some of its services. The City has a web site at www.cityofbeaufort.org

In October 2007, voters approved a $15 million bond referendum that will allow the city to construct a new city hall and other municipal buildings at the intersection of Boundary Street and Ribaut Road.

Education


Public schools

Public K-12 education is administered by the Beaufort County School District, which was established in the 1860s and legally completed desegregation in 1970. Schoolchildren in the city attend the following schools:

Elementary schools
  • Beaufort Elementary School
  • Broad River Elementary School
  • Coosa Elementary School
  • James J Davis Elementary School
  • Joseph Shanklin Elementary School
  • Lady's Island Elementary School
  • Mossy Oaks Elementary School
  • Port Royal Elementary School
  • Shell Point Elementary School
  • Whale Branch Elementary School


Middle schools
  • Beaufort Middle School
  • Lady's Island Middle School
  • Robert Smalls Middle School
  • Whale Branch Middle School


High schools
  • Battery Creek High School
  • Beaufort High School
  • Whale Branch High School (opening 2010)


Private schools

Private K-12 education is supported by the following schools:
  • Agape Christian Academy
  • Beaufort Academy (located on Lady's Island)
  • Beaufort Christian School
  • St. Peter's Catholic School
  • Eleanor Christensen Montessori School
  • Thomas Heyward Academy (located in Jasper County)
  • Trinity Classical Academy


Libraries and museums

Beaufort has close to 70 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in addition to the entire historic downtown being listed as a historic district.

The Beaufort Arsenal and Museum serves as both the city's major museum and a point of interest in Beaufort's history. The Verdier House at 901 Bay Street is one of the oldest homes in the city and the only home open to the public that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Located in downtown, the Beaufort County Library serves residents of Beaufort and northern Beaufort County. Additional branches are found elsewhere in the county. The University of South Carolina Beaufort also has a campus library, located in the original Beaufort College building.

Higher education

Three local institutions comprise the current extent of higher education in the Beaufort area. Both the University of South Carolina Beaufort
University of South Carolina Beaufort

The University of South Carolina Beaufort is a public university with its Hilton Head Gateway campus in Bluffton, South Carolina near Hilton Head Island....
 Main Campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort Campus are located within the city limits. Clemson University
Clemson University

Clemson University is a state university , coeducational, Land-grant_university, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States....
 also operates a university extension office in the city with ecological and agricultural programs.

Infrastructure


Major Roads

The following thoroughfares are important transportation links in Beaufort.

  • Us 17
    U.S. Highway 17, runs along the northern portion of Beaufort County as Trask Parkway between Interstate 95
    Interstate 95

    Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Miami....
     exit 33 and U.S. Highway 21. This is also the primary route used between Beaufort and Charleston
    Charleston, South Carolina

    Charleston is a city in Charleston County, South Carolina in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is the largest city and county seat of Charleston County....
    , as well as Walterboro and Yemassee


  • Us 21
    U.S. Highway 21, is the major connector through the city and the principal route to the Sea Islands. It is also known as Trask Parkway west of the SC 170 intersection, Boundary Street, and Ribaut Road. Originally going through downtown and across the Robert Woods Memorial Bridge, US 21 was rerouted to the south upon the completion of the taller and wider J.E. McTeer Bridge in the 1980s. Once rejoined with "Business 21" on Lady's Island the route is known as Sea Island Parkway and travels through Lady's Island, St. Helena Island, annd Harbor Island before ending to become a county route on Hunting Island, which continues to the private Fripp Island community.


  • Us 21
    Business U.S. Highway 21, also known locally as "Business 21" or more specifically as Boundary Street and Carteret Street is the major arterial through downtown Beaufort. Starting at the US 21 split, the route travels eastward along Boundary Street to the Bellamy Curve at the edge of the peninsula, then turns sharply towards the south along Carteret Street until reaching the Woods Memorial Bridge (drawbridge) over the Beaufort River. The route continues onto Ladys Island before rejoining US 21.


  • S.C. Highway 116, also known as Laurel Bay Road connects the Marine Corps Air Station with the military housing community at Laurel Bay, as well as other communities such as Laurel Bay and Habersham


  • S.C. Highway 170
    S.C. Highway 170

    South Carolina Highway 170 is a List of numbered highways in South Carolina, connecting the rapidly growing areas of northern Beaufort County, South Carolina with southern portions of Beaufort and Jasper County, South Carolina counties....
    , also known as the Robert T. Smalls Parkway serves as the primary connection between Beaufort and southern Beaufort County, Jasper County, and Savannah.


  • S.C. Highway 280, also known as the Parris Island Gateway runs along the western fringes of the City Limits, connecting U.S. 21 with S.C. Highway 802, creating a western bypass of downtown Beaufort.


  • S.C. Highway 802, also known as Lady's Island Drive connects Lady's Island and the eastern Sea Islands with Port Royal, Parris Island, Shell Point, and points west. It provides an alternative reliever route so motorists can avoid downtown Beaufort. The route is co-signed with US Highway 21 over the McTeer Bridge.


  • I 95
    Interstate 95
    Interstate 95

    Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Miami....
     is the closest interstate highway to Beaufort and is located about 25 miles away. Beaufort can be easily accessed via exits 8, 33, 38, and 42, depending on the direction of approach.


Local public transportation and dial-a-ride service is provided by Palmetto Breeze, a regional transportation authority run by the Lowcountry Council of Governments, which serves as the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization
Metropolitan planning organization

A Metropolitan area planning organization is a transportation policy-making organization made up of representatives from local government and transportation authorities....
 (MPO).

Other Transportation

Other transportation facilities include the following:

  • The Downtown Marina is Beaufort's nautical gateway to the Intercoastal Waterway and the surrounding Sea Islands. Additional marinas are located on Lady's Island and in Port Royal. Several boat landings exist in the city and in the surrounding areas.


  • The Beaufort County Airport, located three miles east of downtown on Lady's Island provides general aviation services. The closest airports served by commercial carriers are found on Hilton Head Island
    Hilton Head Airport

    Hilton Head Airport , also known as Hilton Head Island Airport, is a county-owned, public-use airport located in northeastern Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in Beaufort County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States....
    , Charleston
    Charleston International Airport

    Charleston International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in the city of North Charleston, South Carolina in Charleston County, South Carolina, South Carolina, United States....
     and Savannah.


  • The Port Royal Railroad served Beaufort and surrounding locales with freight rail service until the closing of the South Carolina Port Authority terminal just south of the City in 2004. The rail at one time also had passenger service and was used by Marine Corps recruits to reach Parris Island. Currently closed between Yemassee
    Yemassee, South Carolina

    This article is about a place called Yemassee. For the literary journal of the University of South Carolina, see Yemassee .Yemassee is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina and Hampton County, South Carolina counties in the U.S....
     and Port Royal, there are continuing discussions about the future of the rail line.'


Utilities

Water and sewer services are provided by the Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA), a regional utility agency.

City trash and recycling pickup are coordinated by the city and billed through BJWSA.

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) provide electricity and power services to the city.

Hargray
Hargray

Hargray is a Competitive local exchange carrier that services coastal South Carolina and Georgia . Current products offered are land line telephone service, high speed internet, cable television, and cellular phone service through Cricket Communications....
 and Embarq
Embarq

Embarq Corporation, or EMBARQ is the fourth largest local exchange carrier in the United States and the largest independent local provider, serving customers in 18 states and providing local, long distance, high-speed data and wireless services to residential and business customers....
 provide telephone, digital, and cable television services to the city.

Notable Residents & Natives

  • Pat Conroy
    Pat Conroy

    Pat Conroy , is a New York Times New York Times bestseller list author who has written several acclaimed novels and memoirs....
    , author of numerous novels with several depicting communities resembling Beaufort
  • Tom Berenger
    Tom Berenger

    Tom Berenger is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe-winning United States actor known mainly for his roles in action films....
    , actor
  • Joe Frazier
    Joe Frazier

    Joseph William Frazier, known as Smokin' Joe, is a former Olympic and World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, active mostly from the later 1960s to the mid 1970s....
    , boxer


External links