Beaufort, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat
of Beaufort County, South Carolina
, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston
. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan Area
.
Beaufort is located on Port Royal Island, in the heart of the Sea Islands
and Lowcountry
. The city is renowned for its scenic location and for maintaining a historic character through its impressive antebellum architecture
. The city is also 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
.
The city 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, and a "Top 50 Adventure Town" by National Geographic Adventure.
up through the Civil War
.
Several months after hostilities began between the states, Beaufort was occupied by Union forces following the Battle of Port Royal Sound. Due in part to its early occupation, the city became a center of emancipation efforts for newly freed slaves during the war and into Reconstruction. After the war, the city relied on phosphate
mining before a devastating hurricane in 1893 and a fire in 1907 brought economic turmoil and stagnant growth to the city for nearly half a century. The community rebounded in the later half of the 20th century due to the growth of the military presence and the development of tourism. In spite of new development, Beaufort has retained much of its historic character through its renowned architecture and historic preservation efforts.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city is amid a marshy estuary, and has a total area of 23.4 square miles (60.6 km²), of which 18.6 square miles (48.2 km²) is land and 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) (20.57%) is water. The majority of the city is situated upon Port Royal Island, an interior Sea Island that the city shares with neighboring Port Royal
and unincorporated portions of Beaufort County. The city has also annexed lands across the Beaufort River on Lady's Island
.
The Pigeon Point and Higginsonville neighborhoods are located immediately north of Downtown Beaufort and are built around the Beaufort National Cemetery
. They contain 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. Higginsonville is more similar in character to the Northwest Quadrant neighborhood and has its street names come from famous abolitionists during the Civil War era.
The West End and Depot neighborhoods are located west of Ribaut Road, south of Boundary Street and north of the Technical College of the Lowcountry campus. These areas have been the focus of recent redevelopment efforts. Formerly concentrated around the Beaufort rail station (the depot), the neighborhoods have similar characteristics to the Pigeon Point area and have a sizable number of military families as residents.
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 streets are typical characteristics of this area.
The Battery Creek neighborhoods of Mossy Oaks, Royal Oaks, First Boulevard, and Cottage Farms form the southern residential areas of the city and are 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 subdivisions ranging from self-contained attached housing to residential estate lots of 0.5 acres (2,023.4 m²).
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. Both Beaufort High School and the Beaufort County Airport are located on the island.
Uptown Beaufort refers to a series of mostly commercial properties along Boundary Street, which separates the historic district from the Pigeon Point neighborhood. Uptown is not formally considered a neighborhood on its own, yet merchants have created a unique identity to market the commercial area separately from downtown merchants clustered on Bay Street.
Beaufort Town Center is a recent term given to a series of developments along Boundary Street located west of the historic district and Pigeon Point that is clustered near the Beaufort County government complex and the City of Beaufort's municipal complex construction site. Though much of the area (and the term) is owned by a single developer, many of Beaufort's commercial properties and administrative uses have moved to this area.
The Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
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.
, and there are two weekly printed newspapers, The Island Newshttp://theislandnews.wordpress.com/ and an alternative newsweekly called Lowcountry Weeklyhttp://www.lcweekly.com.
community-specific news and information site family "TheDigitel" has a local site http://beaufort.thedigitel.com/ and The Beaufort Tribunehttp://beauforttribune.com/.
Designated Market Area, and additionally receives Charleston television stations.
and a popular filming location for major motion pictures, including The Big Chill
, The Prince of Tides
, The Great Santini
, Forrest Gump
, Something To Talk About
and G.I. Jane
. Lady's Island and the slave trade is the subject of an award winning novel by Lawrence Hill
, The Book of Negroes
(aka Someone Knows My Name).
, which opened in October 2010 and is located in the Kazoobie Kazoos Factory. Hunting Island is nearby and the state's most visited state park. For more information on all events and visiting the area, please contact the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.
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 contributing 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, Port Royal and the Sea Islandhttp://www.beaufortcountyarts.com, nurtures the arts via ARTworks, its 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) community arts center, theater, and gallery in Beaufort Town Center (2127 Boundary Street, 29902, in Beaufort Town Center) that also includes the studios of working artists, Strings 'n Things music shop, and spaces for worshops, classes, and conferences, as well as an afterschool program. The arts council promotes the arts with original theater productions, community arts grants, and a busy calendar for arts events county-wide.
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 .
is also in the downtown area, adjacent to the Beaufort Arsenal and Museum.
as well as good access to Savannah, Georgia
, the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, and a future container port
to be built on the Savannah River
make the city a desirable choice for residential and business development opportunity.
Beaufort has several geographic areas of economic activity. The downtown area is the historical center of commerce and is now primarily focused towards visitors, tourists. Much of the day-to-day service businesses for locals has moved along the Boundary Street corridor, the Robert Smalls Parkway corridor, or towards Lady's Island. There are several areas with limited industrial uses that exist primarily in the northwestern sections of the city, close to the intersection of Boundary Street with Robert Smalls Parkway.
The largest economic sector in Beaufort is tourism and hospitality, which has supplanted agriculture and aquaculture in the last decades of the 20th century. Nearly 2 million visitors a year come to Beaufort and the Sea Islands of northern Beaufort County, with summer and fall seasons being peak times. The primary attractions of these visitors include golf and beach vacations, history, watersports, and local arts and crafts. As a result, Beaufort is home to many options of accommodations ranging from upscale bed-and-breakfasts in the downtown area to standard motels and inns along Boundary Street. There are several dozen dining establishments in the city that cater to locals and tourists alike.
Beaufort's other major dominant economic sector comes from the military presence in and around the community, which provide thousands of jobs and pump in millions of dollars into the local economy. Other sectors of note are agriculture/aquaculture, government, and retail.
, there were 48,875 people, 4,598 households and 3,034 families residing in the city. The population density
was 695.7 per square mile (268.7/km²). There were 5,080 housing units at an average density of 272.9 per square mile (105.4/km²). 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
, 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 of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples 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.
21.6% of the population were 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 household income
was $36,532 and the median family income was $42,894. Males had a median income of $22,465 versus $23,474 for females. The per capita income
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 66,308(2000 census), comprising the city and its surrounding towns and unincorporated areas including Port Royal
, Burton
, Lady's Island
, Shell Point
, Laurel Bay
, and Parris Island
.
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.: 48,875), Hilton Head Island (46,400), Bluffton (38,876) and Ridgeland (3,585).
In October 2007, voters approved $15 million in bonds to finance two new municipal buildings at the intersection of Boundary Street and Ribaut Road to replace aging and cramped facilities. In 2008, a new police headquarters and courthouse was opened, with completion of a new City Hall expected in 2010. The City of Beaufort owns or leases additional facilities throughout the City. The City of Beaufort provides police, fire, parks, planning, and other governmental functions. Water, sewer, sanitation, recycling, and landscaping services are outsourced to local companies.
Recent trends have shown Beaufort to seek closer inter-governmental cooperation with neighboring jurisdictions, especially in community and regional planning. The city and the Town Port Royal appoint members to a joint planning commission to hear cases in both jurisdictions. Both municipalities have expressed interests in collaborating with Beaufort County on regional planning initiatives.
, which was established in the 1860s and legally completed desegregation in 1970. There are also several private schools located in the city and surrounding area. Schoolchildren in the city attend the following public and private schools:
Main Campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry
Beaufort Campus are located within the city limits. Clemson University
also operates a university extension office in the city with ecological and agricultural programs.
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.
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. US 21 is also the major hurricane evacuation route for the area.
Business U.S. Highway 21, also known locally as "Business 21" 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 (Laurel Bay Road) connects MCAS Beaufort with the military housing community at Laurel Bay and surrounding areas.
S.C. Highway 170
(Robert T. Smalls Parkway) connects Beaufort with southern Beaufort County, Jasper County, and Savannah.
S.C. Highway 280 (Parris Island Gateway) connects US 21 with SC 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.
Although not located within Beaufort's city limits, these routes provide vital access to the city and are major evacuation routes in the event of a hurricane.
U.S. Highway 17, runs along the northern portion of Beaufort County as Trask Parkway between Interstate 95
exit 33 and U.S. Highway 21. This is also the primary route used between Beaufort and Charleston, as well as Walterboro
and Yemassee
Interstate 95 is the closest interstate highway and is located about 25 miles (40.2 km) away.
Other transportation facilities include the following:
(BJWSA), a regional utility agency. City trash and recycling pickup are coordinated by Waste Pro and are billed through BJWSA. South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) provides electricity and power services to the city. Charter, Hargray
and CenturyLink
provide telephone, digital, and cable television services to the city.
Athletes
Politicians and leaders
Others
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Beaufort County, South Carolina
Beaufort County, South Carolina
-National protected areas:*Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge *Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 155,215 people, 45,532 households, and 33,056 families residing in the county. The population density was 206 people per...
, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan 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 and the city of Beaufort....
.
Beaufort 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 and St. Johns Rivers along the coast of the U.S...
and Lowcountry
South Carolina Low Country
The Lowcountry is a geographic and cultural region located along South Carolina's coast. The region includes the South Carolina Sea Islands...
. The city is renowned for its scenic location and for maintaining a historic character through its impressive antebellum architecture
Antebellum architecture
Antebellum architecture is a term used to describe the characteristic neoclassical architectural style of the Southern United States, especially the Old South, from after the birth of the United States in the American Revolution, to the start of the American Civil War...
. The city is also known for its military establishments, being located in close proximity to Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines...
and a U.S. Naval Hospital
USNH Beaufort
United States Naval Hospital Beaufort is a United States Navy hospital located in Port Royal, South Carolina. Commissioned on 29 April 1949, the hospital is one of only a handful of its kind that sits within its own complex rather than within a larger base....
, 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, a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States...
.
The city has been featured in the New York Times, named "Best Small Southern Town" by Southern Living
Southern Living
Southern Living is a widely read lifestyle magazine aimed at readers in the Southern United States featuring recipes, house plans, and information about Southern culture and travel...
, named a "Top 25 Small City Arts Destination" by American Style, and a "Top 50 Adventure Town" by National Geographic Adventure.
History
The Lowcountry region had been subject to numerous European explorations and several aborted attempts at colonization before the British successfully founded the city in 1711. The city initially grew slowly, subject to numerous attacks from Native American tribes and threats of Spanish invasion before flourishing as a center for shipbuilding and later in the antebellum period as the aristocratic center for the Lowcountry plantation economyPlantation economy
A plantation economy is an economy which is based on agricultural mass production, usually of a few staple products grown on large farms called plantations. Plantation economies rely on the export of cash crops as a source of income...
up through the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Several months after hostilities began between the states, Beaufort was occupied by Union forces following the Battle of Port Royal Sound. Due in part to its early occupation, the city became a center of emancipation efforts for newly freed slaves during the war and into Reconstruction. After the war, the city relied on phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
mining before a devastating hurricane in 1893 and a fire in 1907 brought economic turmoil and stagnant growth to the city for nearly half a century. The community rebounded in the later half of the 20th century due to the growth of the military presence and the development of tourism. In spite of new development, Beaufort has retained much of its historic character through its renowned architecture and historic preservation efforts.
Geography
Beaufort is located at 32°25′55"N 80°41′22"W (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 (60.6 km²), of which 18.6 square miles (48.2 km²) is land and 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²) (20.57%) is water. The majority of the city is situated upon Port Royal Island, an interior Sea Island that the city shares with neighboring Port Royal
Port Royal, South Carolina
Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
and unincorporated portions of Beaufort County. The city has also annexed lands across the Beaufort River on Lady's Island
Lady's Island (South Carolina)
Lady's Island is a predominantly residential Sea Island located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Portions of the island are within the corporate limits of the City of Beaufort, while other sections remain unincorporated....
.
Neighborhoods
Historic District
The original settlement of Beaufort can be found in the downtown or historic district area. 304 acres (1.2 km²) 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 five distinct neighborhoods: Downtown (the commercial core), The Point (also known as the Old Point), The Bluff, The Old Commons, and the Northwest Quadrant.Other residential areas
As the city expanded in the 20th century, additional growth focused on previously undeveloped areas north and west of the historic district. Much of the growth can be attributed to the increased military influence during the 1940s and 1950s, in which Beaufort's population doubled as a result of new military personnel and families moving to the area. These areas have since become integral parts of the city and today are home to the majority of the residents in the city.The Pigeon Point and Higginsonville neighborhoods are located immediately north of Downtown Beaufort and are built around the Beaufort National Cemetery
Beaufort National Cemetery
Beaufort National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in Beaufort County, in the city of Beaufort, South Carolina. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005, had 18,511 interments.- History :...
. They contain 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. Higginsonville is more similar in character to the Northwest Quadrant neighborhood and has its street names come from famous abolitionists during the Civil War era.
The West End and Depot neighborhoods are located west of Ribaut Road, south of Boundary Street and north of the Technical College of the Lowcountry campus. These areas have been the focus of recent redevelopment efforts. Formerly concentrated around the Beaufort rail station (the depot), the neighborhoods have similar characteristics to the Pigeon Point area and have a sizable number of military families as residents.
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 streets are typical characteristics of this area.
The Battery Creek neighborhoods of Mossy Oaks, Royal Oaks, First Boulevard, and Cottage Farms form the southern residential areas of the city and are 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 subdivisions ranging from self-contained attached housing to residential estate lots of 0.5 acres (2,023.4 m²).
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. Both Beaufort High School and the Beaufort County Airport are located on the island.
Other non-residential areas
Once the outer edge of town, the areas 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 and dining establishments are prevalent in all three areas. Beyond shopping and dining, Ribaut Road has numerous medical offices clustered near Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Boundary Street and Robert Smalls Parkway have several lodging facilities and auto dealerships as prevailing business types. Boundary Street is subject to change its appearance over the coming years due in part to a major redevelopment plan approved by the city in 2008 and supported via tax increment financing.Uptown Beaufort refers to a series of mostly commercial properties along Boundary Street, which separates the historic district from the Pigeon Point neighborhood. Uptown is not formally considered a neighborhood on its own, yet merchants have created a unique identity to market the commercial area separately from downtown merchants clustered on Bay Street.
Beaufort Town Center is a recent term given to a series of developments along Boundary Street located west of the historic district and Pigeon Point that is clustered near the Beaufort County government complex and the City of Beaufort's municipal complex construction site. Though much of the area (and the term) is owned by a single developer, many of Beaufort's commercial properties and administrative uses have moved to 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, a city in Beaufort County, 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.
Print and online
The area has several printed publications. The daily newspaper The Beaufort Gazette is based Bluffton, South CarolinaBluffton, South Carolina
The weather in the Bluffton, SC area is typical of the Southeast with generally mild temperatures from Fall through Spring and a warm and humid Summer. There can be occasionally snow flurries in the winter but that is quite unusual....
, and there are two weekly printed newspapers, The Island Newshttp://theislandnews.wordpress.com/ and an alternative newsweekly called Lowcountry Weeklyhttp://www.lcweekly.com.
Online only
There are two online-only publications, the HyperlocalHyperlocal
The term hyperlocal can be used as a noun in isolation or as a modifier of some other term . It connotes having the character of being oriented around a well defined, community scale area with primary focus being directed towards the concerns of its residents...
community-specific news and information site family "TheDigitel" has a local site http://beaufort.thedigitel.com/ and The Beaufort Tribunehttp://beauforttribune.com/.
Radio
Several radio stations have transmission feeds originating or duplicating in Beaufort or locations just outside the city, such as Parris Island. Beaufort has one local television station, WJWJ-TV (PBS). Beaufort is part of the Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
Designated Market Area, and additionally receives Charleston television stations.
Books and film
Beaufort has been the setting or the inspirational setting for several novels by native son Pat ConroyPat Conroy
Pat Conroy , is a New York Times bestselling author who has written several acclaimed novels and memoirs. Two of his novels, The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini, were made into Oscar-nominated films.-Early life:...
and a popular filming location for major motion pictures, including The Big Chill
The Big Chill (film)
The Big Chill is a 1983 American comedy-drama film directed by Lawrence Kasdan, starring Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mary Kay Place, Meg Tilly, and JoBeth Williams. It is about a group of baby boomer college friends who reunite briefly after 15 years due to...
, The Prince of Tides
The Prince of Tides
The Prince of Tides is a 1991 romantic drama film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Pat Conroy; the film stars Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. 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 Marine officer whose success as a military aviator contrasts with his shortcomings as a husband and father. The film explores the high price of heroism and self-sacrifice...
, Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
, Something To Talk About
Something to Talk About (film)
Something to Talk About is a 1995 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Lasse Hallström, from a screenplay 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. The...
and G.I. Jane
G.I. Jane
G.I. Jane is a 1997 American action film directed by Ridley Scott, produced by Largo Entertainment, Scott Free Productions and Caravan Pictures, distributed by Hollywood Pictures and starring Demi Moore and Viggo Mortensen. The film tells the fictional story of the first woman to undergo training...
. Lady's Island and the slave trade is the subject of an award winning novel by Lawrence Hill
Lawrence Hill
Lawrence Hill is an award-winning Canadian novelist and memoirist. He is best known for the 2001 memoir Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black and White in Canada and the 2007 novel The Book of Negroes....
, The Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes (novel)
The Book of Negroes is a 2007 award-winning novel from Canadian writer Lawrence Hill. In the United States, Australia and New Zealand, the novel was published under the title Someone Knows My Name.-Plot introduction:...
(aka Someone Knows My Name).
Tourism and events
Beaufort is a romantic and popular tourist destination known for its history. Major festivals and arts events include the Water Festival, a two-week extravaganza in the middle of July; and the Shrimp Festival, celebrating the local and traditional industry, is in the first 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 Main Street Beaufort, is held on the first Saturday in May and features 20 local restaurants, fine wines, and live music. Historic Beaufort Foundation's Fall Tour of Homes and St. Helena's Spring Tour of Homes provide glimpses into the antebellum homes on the Point and local plantations. The town is also the home of The Kazoo MuseumThe Kazoo Museum
The Kazoo Museum is a museum dedicated to the history of the kazoo, located in Beaufort, South Carolina. The museum houses one of the largest collections of kazoos in the world. Originally established in 2007 in Seattle, Washington, The Kazoo Museum opened in its current location in Beaufort on...
, which opened in October 2010 and is located in the Kazoobie Kazoos Factory. Hunting Island is nearby and the state's most visited state park. For more information on all events and visiting the area, please contact the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.
The arts
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, Port Royal and the Sea Islandhttp://www.beaufortcountyarts.com, nurtures the arts via ARTworks, its 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) community arts center, theater, and gallery in Beaufort Town Center (2127 Boundary Street, 29902, in Beaufort Town Center) that also includes the studios of working artists, Strings 'n Things music shop, and spaces for worshops, classes, and conferences, as well as an afterschool program. The arts council promotes the arts with original theater productions, community arts grants, and a busy calendar for arts events county-wide.
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 and is the oldest church in the city. Other churches of note include the Baptist Church of Beaufort, the Tabernacle Baptist Church, the Carteret Street United Methodist Church, the First Presbyterian Church, and the First African Baptist Church, all with extensive histories and renowned architecture. Beth Israel CongregationBeth Israel Congregation (Beaufort, South Carolina)
Beth Israel Congregation is a historic Conservative synagogue located at 401 Scotts Street in Beaufort, South Carolina...
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 BlufftonBluffton, South Carolina
The weather in the Bluffton, SC area is typical of the Southeast with generally mild temperatures from Fall through Spring and a warm and humid Summer. There can be occasionally snow flurries in the winter but that is quite unusual....
as well as good access to Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, and a future container port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
to be built on the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
make the city a desirable choice for residential and business development opportunity.
Beaufort has several geographic areas of economic activity. The downtown area is the historical center of commerce and is now primarily focused towards visitors, tourists. Much of the day-to-day service businesses for locals has moved along the Boundary Street corridor, the Robert Smalls Parkway corridor, or towards Lady's Island. There are several areas with limited industrial uses that exist primarily in the northwestern sections of the city, close to the intersection of Boundary Street with Robert Smalls Parkway.
The largest economic sector in Beaufort is tourism and hospitality, which has supplanted agriculture and aquaculture in the last decades of the 20th century. Nearly 2 million visitors a year come to Beaufort and the Sea Islands of northern Beaufort County, with summer and fall seasons being peak times. The primary attractions of these visitors include golf and beach vacations, history, watersports, and local arts and crafts. As a result, Beaufort is home to many options of accommodations ranging from upscale bed-and-breakfasts in the downtown area to standard motels and inns along Boundary Street. There are several dozen dining establishments in the city that cater to locals and tourists alike.
Beaufort's other major dominant economic sector comes from the military presence in and around the community, which provide thousands of jobs and pump in millions of dollars into the local economy. Other sectors of note are agriculture/aquaculture, government, and retail.
Demographics
At the 2000 censusCensus
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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 48,875 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 per square mile (268.7/km²). There were 5,080 housing units at an average density of 272.9 per square mile (105.4/km²). 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 Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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 of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples 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.
21.6% of the population were 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 household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
was $36,532 and the median family income 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 or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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 66,308(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, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas , the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S...
, Burton
Burton, South Carolina
Burton is a census-designated place in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 6,976 at the 2010 census. As defined by the U.S...
, Lady's Island
Lady's Island (South Carolina)
Lady's Island is a predominantly residential Sea Island located in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Portions of the island are within the corporate limits of the City of Beaufort, while other sections remain unincorporated....
, Shell Point
Shell Point, South Carolina
Shell Point is a census-designated place in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,336 at the 2010 census. As defined by the U.S...
, Laurel Bay
Laurel Bay, South Carolina
Laurel Bay is a census-designated place and military housing complex in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,891 at the 2010 census. As defined by the U.S...
, and Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. MCRD Parris Island is used for the training of enlisted Marines...
.
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.: 48,875), Hilton Head Island (46,400), Bluffton (38,876) 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). 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 day-to-day operations are handled through a City Manager and city staff. The city manager is Scott Dadson.In October 2007, voters approved $15 million in bonds to finance two new municipal buildings at the intersection of Boundary Street and Ribaut Road to replace aging and cramped facilities. In 2008, a new police headquarters and courthouse was opened, with completion of a new City Hall expected in 2010. The City of Beaufort owns or leases additional facilities throughout the City. The City of Beaufort provides police, fire, parks, planning, and other governmental functions. Water, sewer, sanitation, recycling, and landscaping services are outsourced to local companies.
Recent trends have shown Beaufort to seek closer inter-governmental cooperation with neighboring jurisdictions, especially in community and regional planning. The city and the Town Port Royal appoint members to a joint planning commission to hear cases in both jurisdictions. Both municipalities have expressed interests in collaborating with Beaufort County on regional planning initiatives.
Schools
Public K–12 education is administered by the Beaufort County School DistrictBeaufort County School District
Beaufort County School District educates more than 19,000 students in Beaufort County, South Carolina, the most rapidly growing county in South Carolina. The district manages 28 schools. The superintendent is Dr. Valerie Page Truesdale...
, which was established in the 1860s and legally completed desegregation in 1970. There are also several private schools located in the city and surrounding area. Schoolchildren in the city attend the following public and private schools:
| Elementary schools | Middle schools | High schools | Private schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort Elementary School | Beaufort Middle School | Battery Creek High School Battery Creek High School Battery Creek High School is a 4-year public high school in Beaufort, South Carolina. It is one of the three public high schools in Beaufort along with Beaufort High School and Whale Branch Early College High School, and is sometimes listed as being in Burton, South Carolina, an unincorporated... |
Agape Christian Academy |
| Broad River Elementary School | Lady's Island Middle School | Beaufort High School Beaufort High School Beaufort High School is a 4 year secondary school in Beaufort, South Carolina. It is one of the three public high schools in Beaufort along with Battery Creek High School and Whale BranchHigh School. The principal is Dan Durbin... |
Beaufort Academy (Lady's Island) |
| Coosa Elementary School | Robert Smalls Middle School | Whale Branch High School | Beaufort Christian School |
| Joseph Shanklin Elementary School | Whale Branch Middle School | Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence | St. Peter's Catholic School |
| Lady's Island Elementary School | Riverview Charter School | Eleanor Christensen Montessori School | |
| Port Royal Elementary School | Thomas Heyward Academy (Jasper County) | ||
| Mossy Oaks Elementary School | Trinity Classical Academy | ||
| Riverview Charter School | |||
| Shell Point Elementary School | |||
| Whale Branch Elementary School |
Higher education
Three local institutions comprise the current extent of higher education in the Beaufort area. Both the University of South Carolina BeaufortUniversity of South Carolina Beaufort
Located in the heart of the Carolina Sea Islands, the University of South Carolina Beaufort is a senior institution of the University of South Carolina system serving the southeast coast of Georgia and South Carolina...
Main Campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry
The Technical College of the Lowcountry is a comprehensive, two-year community college serving the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. The main campus is located in Beaufort along Ribaut Road...
Beaufort Campus are located within the city limits. Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
also operates a university extension office in the city with ecological and agricultural programs.
Libraries and museums
The Beaufort area has close to 70 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in addition to the downtown area being listed as a historic district. 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.
Major roads
The following thoroughfares are important transportation links in Beaufort. 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. US 21 is also the major hurricane evacuation route for the area. Business U.S. Highway 21, also known locally as "Business 21" 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 (Laurel Bay Road) connects MCAS Beaufort with the military housing community at Laurel Bay and surrounding areas. S.C. Highway 170S.C. Highway 170
South Carolina Highway 170 is a state highway, connecting northern Beaufort County with southern portions of Beaufort and Jasper counties...
(Robert T. Smalls Parkway) connects Beaufort with southern Beaufort County, Jasper County, and Savannah.
S.C. Highway 280 (Parris Island Gateway) connects US 21 with SC 802, creating a western bypass of downtown Beaufort. S.C. Highway 802South Carolina Highway 802
South Carolina Highway 802 is a 14.9 mile state highway located entirely within Beaufort County, South Carolina. SC 802 primarily serves as the principal access route for Lady's Island, Port Royal, and Shell Point and provides a reliever route for South Carolina Highway 170, U.S. Highway 21, and...
, 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.
Although not located within Beaufort's city limits, these routes provide vital access to the city and are major evacuation routes in the event of a hurricane.
U.S. Highway 17, runs along the northern portion of Beaufort County as Trask Parkway between Interstate 95Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
exit 33 and U.S. Highway 21. This is also the primary route used between Beaufort and Charleston, as well as Walterboro
Walterboro, South Carolina
Walterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Colleton County.-History:...
and Yemassee
Yemassee, South Carolina
Yemassee is a town in Beaufort and Hampton counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 1,027 at the 2010 census. Yemassee is also very near the borders of Colleton and Jasper counties and is often considered to be the geographical center or heart of the Lowcountry region...
Interstate 95 is the closest interstate highway and is located about 25 miles (40.2 km) away.Other transportation
Local public transportation and dial-a-ride service is provided by Palmetto Breeze, a regional transportation authority run by the Lowcountry Regional Transity Authority. www.palmettobreezetransit.comOther transportation facilities include the following:
- The Downtown Marina is Beaufort's nautical gateway to the Intracoastal WaterwayIntracoastal WaterwayThe Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
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.
- GreyhoundGreyhound LinesGreyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
operates an inter-city bus terminal, connecting Beaufort with the national Greyhound bus network.
- The Beaufort County AirportBeaufort County AirportBeaufort County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The airport is located on Lady's Island, three nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Beaufort, South Carolina. It is also known as Frogmore Island Airport or...
, located three miles (5 km) east of downtown on Lady's Island provides general aviation services. The closest airports served by commercial carriers are found on Hilton Head IslandHilton Head AirportHilton Head Airport , also known as Hilton Head Island Airport, is a county and town-owned, public-use airport located in northeastern Hilton Head Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is mostly used for general aviation but is also served by a commercial airline and one...
, CharlestonCharleston International AirportCharleston International Airport is a joint civil-military airport located in the city of North Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA. The airport serves the needs of the entire South Carolina Lowcountry. The airport has two runways and is operated under a joint-use agreement with...
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 YemasseeYemassee, South CarolinaYemassee is a town in Beaufort and Hampton counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 1,027 at the 2010 census. Yemassee is also very near the borders of Colleton and Jasper counties and is often considered to be the geographical center or heart of the Lowcountry region...
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 and Sewer AuthorityBeaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority
The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority is a public, non-profit corporation which handles water and wastewater operations for many areas in Beaufort and Jasper counties in the Lowcountry region of South Carolina...
(BJWSA), a regional utility agency. City trash and recycling pickup are coordinated by Waste Pro and are billed through BJWSA. South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) provides electricity and power services to the city. Charter, Hargray
Hargray
Hargray is an ILEC/CLEC, MSO, and ISP that services the Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia regions. Current products offered are land line telephone service, high speed Internet, cable television, and cellular phone service through Cricket Communications.-Coverage...
and CenturyLink
CenturyLink
CenturyLink, Inc. is a United States telecommunications firm, headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana. The company, founded as Central Telephone & Electronics Corporation in 1968, later changed its name to Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. in 1971, and then was called CenturyTel, Inc. from 1999 to 2010...
provide telephone, digital, and cable television services to the city.
Notable residents and natives
Actors, authors and entertainers- Samuel Hopkins AdamsSamuel Hopkins AdamsSamuel Hopkins Adams was an American writer, best known for his investigative journalism.-Biography:Adams was born in Dunkirk, New York...
, author - Danni AsheDanni AsheDanni Ashe is the pseudonym of an American nude model and former stripper, who was the founder and former CEO of Danni's Hard Drive, a pioneering adult web site. Danni started her site in 1995 and it went on to become one of the leading adult internet sites.-Biography:Ashe was born in Beaufort,...
, adult entertainer - Tom BerengerTom BerengerTom Berenger is an American actor known mainly for his roles in action films.-Early life:Berenger was born as Thomas Michael Moore in Chicago to an Irish Catholic family. Berenger's father was a printer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Berenger has a sister, Susan...
, actor - Pat ConroyPat ConroyPat Conroy , is a New York Times bestselling author who has written several acclaimed novels and memoirs. Two of his novels, The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini, were made into Oscar-nominated films.-Early life:...
, author of numerous novels with several depicting communities resembling Beaufort - Esther DaleEsther DaleEsther Dale was an American actress, best known perhaps for her role as Aunt Genevieve in the 1935 Shirley Temple vehicle, Curly Top....
, former actress - Jazzy JayJazzy JayJazzy Jay born in Beaufort, South Carolina, United States, November 18, 1961), also known as The Original Jazzy Jay or DJ Jazzy Jay, is a pioneering American hip hop DJ and producer. He has collected roughly 400,000 records.-Background:...
, hip-hop disc jockey - David NolanDavid Nolan (author)David Nolan was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1946, the son of journalist Joseph T. Nolan and his artist wife Virginia.He attended the public schools in Bayside, New York and Waterbury, Connecticut, studied at the University of Virginia, and was active in the American Civil Rights Movement of...
, author of Fifty Feet in Paradise - Maude OdellMaude OdellMaude Odell was an actress. Also known as Tillie Doremus, she was one of the United States' best-known stage actresses of the early 20th century....
, stage actress
Athletes
- Joe FrazierJoe FrazierJoseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
, heavyweight boxing champion of the world, first man to beat Muhammad AliMuhammad AliMuhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, International Boxing Hall of FameInternational Boxing Hall of FameThe modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
, World Boxing Hall of FameWorld Boxing Hall of FameThe World Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Riverside, California, United States, in Southern California. The WBHF is one of two recognized international boxing halls of fame with the other being the International Boxing Hall of Fame , with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized... - Kevin BrooksKevin Brooks (basketball)Kevin Brooks is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a graduate of White Castle in White Castle in White Castle, Louisiana, USA and graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, then named the University of Southwestern Louisiana.Brooks was drafted by the Milwaukee...
, basketball, National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
and National Basketball League (Australia)National Basketball League (Australia)The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia.... - Greg Jones, football, Jacksonville Jaguars fullback
- Joe MontfordJoe MontfordJoe Montford is a Canadian and American football defensive end. Montford was released by the Edmonton Eskimos prior to the 2006 season after playing one year with the team...
, football, Canadian Football LeagueCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football.... - James SaxonJames Saxon (American football)James Saxon is a former American football running back who played eight seasons in the National Football League. He played college football for San Jose State University...
, football player and coach, National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Politicians and leaders
- Robert BarnwellRobert BarnwellRobert Gibbes Barnwell was a South Carolina revolutionary and statesman who was a delegate to the Confederation Congress and a United States Congressman....
, former U.S. Congressman - Robert Woodward BarnwellRobert Woodward BarnwellRobert Woodward Barnwell was an American planter, lawyer, and educator from South Carolina who served as a Senator in both the United States Senate and that of the Confederate States of America.-Biography:...
, former U.S. and Confederate Congressman - Edward Junius BlackEdward Junius BlackEdward Junius Black was a United States Representative and lawyer from Georgia. His son was U.S. Representative George Robison Black...
, former U.S. Congressman (represented Georgia) - William F. ColcockWilliam F. ColcockWilliam Ferguson Colcock was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, Colcock attended Hulburt's School, Charleston, South Carolina, and was graduated from South Carolina College at Columbia in 1823.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar in 1825 and commenced...
, former U.S. Congressman - Charles CravenCharles CravenCharles Craven was governor of colonial South Carolina from 19 March 1712 to 23 April 1716. He held the office during the end of the Tuscarora War and the beginning of the Yamasee War...
, former governor and founder of Beaufort - William ElliotWilliam Elliott (politician)William Elliott was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, Elliott attended Beaufort College and Harvard University....
, former U.S. Congressman - John FloydJohn Floyd (Georgia politician)John Floyd was a United States Representative from Georgia. He was born in Beaufort, South Carolina where he learned carpentry...
, former U.S. Congressman (represented Georgia) - Richard Howell GleavesRichard Howell GleavesRichard Howell Gleaves was a prominent Prince Hall mason and Reconstruction-era politician in South Carolina. He was born free in Philadelphia to a Haitian father and an English mother, and died in Washington, D.C....
, former Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina - William J. GraysonWilliam J. GraysonWilliam John Grayson was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina. He was also a poet.-Biography:Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, Grayson pursued classical studies, and was graduated from South Carolina College at Columbia in 1809.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar in 1822 and commenced...
, former U.S. Congressman and poet - Francis LubbockFrancis LubbockFrancis Richard Lubbock was the ninth Governor of Texas and was in office during the American Civil War. He was the brother of Thomas Saltus Lubbock, for whom the City of Lubbock is named....
, former governor of TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... - Michael P. O'ConnorMichael P. O'ConnorFor the Michael Patrick O'Connor who was an Irish doctor, author and broadcaster, see Michael P. O'Connor Michael Patrick O'Connor was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina....
, former U.S. Congressman - Libby PatakiLibby PatakiLibby Pataki is the former First Lady of New York and the wife of former New York Governor George Pataki. She served as First Lady during the three terms of her husband's administration...
, wife of former Governor of New YorkGovernor of New YorkThe Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
George PatakiGeorge PatakiGeorge Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :... - Clementa C. PinckneyClementa C. PinckneyClementa C. Pinckney is a Democratic member of the South Carolina Senate, representing the 45th District since 2000. He was previously a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1997 through 2000.-External links:...
, current state senator - Robert RhettRobert RhettRobert Barnwell Rhett, Sr. , was a United States secessionist politician from South Carolina.-Biography:...
, former U.S. Congressman and leading secessionist politician - Robert SmallsRobert SmallsRobert Smalls was an enslaved African American who, during and after the American Civil War, became a ship's pilot, sea captain, and politician. 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...
, former slave and Civil War hero who became one of the first African-Americans elected to the U.S. Congress - William Verity, Jr., former U.S. Secretary of Commerce
- Alvin BrownAlvin BrownAlvin Brown is the name of:*Alvin Brown , American boxer*Alvin Brown , American politician and Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida...
, first African American mayor of Jacksonville, FL
Others
- Richard W. ColcockRichard W. ColcockRichard W. Colcock was the second president of the Citadel, , from 1844 through 1852.-Early life:...
, former president of The Citadel - Donald ConroyDonald ConroyDonald "The Great Santini" Conroy was a United States Marine Corps colonel and a member of the famed Black Sheep Squadron during the Korean War. He was also a veteran of World War II and of two tours of duty in Vietnam. He is best known as the being the inspiration for the character LtCol...
, former colonel, USMC; also known as "The Great Santini" and father of Pat Conroy - Stephen ElliottStephen Elliott (bishop)The Right Reverend Stephen Elliott was the 37th bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was the first Bishop of Georgia and Provisional Bishop of Florida...
, former Episcopal bishop - John Edwards HolbrookJohn Edwards HolbrookJohn Edwards Holbrook American zoologist, herpetologist, physician, and naturalist, was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, the son of Silas Holbrook, a teacher, and Mary Edwards....
, former zoologist - Leon KeyserlingLeon KeyserlingLeon Hirsch Keyserling was an American economist and lawyer. During his career he helped draft major pieces of New Deal legislation and advised President Harry S. Truman as head of the Council of Economic Advisers....
, economist and adviser to President Truman - Anita PollitzerAnita PollitzerAnita Lily Pollitzer was an American photographer.-Early life:Her mother, Clara Guinzburg Pollitzer , was the daughter of an immigrant rabbi from Prague. Her father, Gustave Pollitzer, ran a cotton company at Charleston, South Carolin...
, former photographer - Anne PresslyMurder of Anne PresslyAnne Pressly was an American news anchor for KATV Channel 7 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was born in 1982 in Beaufort, South Carolina and grew up in Greenville. She moved to Little Rock during her high school senior year when her mother remarried...
, former news anchor whose murder in Arkansas attracted national attention
See also
- Beaufort Historic District (disambiguation)
- History of Beaufort, South CarolinaHistory of Beaufort, South CarolinaThe history of Beaufort, South Carolina, is one of the most comprehensive and diverse of any community of its size in the United States. The area had been subject to numerous European explorations and several aborted attempts at colonization before the British successfully founded the city in...
- Battle of BeaufortBattle of BeaufortThe Battle of Beaufort or the Battle of Port Royal Island was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on February 3, 1779 near Beaufort, South Carolina. The British commander of forces at Savannah, Georgia, General Augustine Prevost, sent 200 British regulars to seize Port Royal...
- Battle of Port RoyalBattle of Port RoyalThe 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 November 7, 1861...
- Treaty of BeaufortTreaty of BeaufortThe Treaty of Beaufort, also called the Beaufort Convention, is the treaty that originally set the all-river boundary between the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina...