Beaufort

History

Written history began 500 years ago with the exploration of the area by Spanish Captain Pedro de Salazar between 1514 and 1516. Nearby, the colony of Santa Elena was having problems by 1566, when a group of potential settlers sailed from northwest Iberia and the Spanish governor of Floritda, Acinega, dispatched under Captain Pardo and 250 men to reinforce the colony. The Lowcountry region had been subject to numerous European explorations and failed attempts at colonization before British colonists founded Beaufort in 1711. Beaufort was named for Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort. The city grew slowly at first due to attacks from Native American tribes and threats from the Spanish Empire to the south. It flourished first as a center for shipbuilding and later, when the region was established as a slave society, as the elite center for the Lowcountry planters through the Civil War. Several months after hostilities began between the states, Beaufort was occupied by Union forces following the Battle of Port Royal. Due to its early occupation, the city attracted escaping slaves. The Union declared the slaves emancipated and initiated efforts at education and preparation for full independence. The Freedmen's Bureau worked with local blacks during Reconstruction. After the war, the city relied on phosphate mining before a devastating hurricane in 1893 and a fire in 1907 brought extensive destruction and economic turmoil. Their effects slowed growth of the city for nearly half a century. In the latter half of the 20th century, the community became a popular tourist destination. Beaufort also benefited from the growth of military installations in the area and related employment. Local groups have worked to preserve Beaufort's historic character and significant…

Geography

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 city is amid a marshy estuary, and according to the United States Census Bureau has a total area of , of which is land and , or 17.80%, is water.

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,792
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  10,721
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  10,495
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  9,169
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,957
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  8,843
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,550
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  7,532

Largest nearby schools

• Bridges Preparatory School
  Other · Beaufort · 1,271 students · 14.6:1 ratio
• Beaufort High
  High · Beaufort · 1,191 students · 14.5:1 ratio
• Battery Creek High
  High · Beaufort · 788 students · 12.1:1 ratio
• Riverview Charter School
  Elementary · Beaufort · 703 students · 13.5:1 ratio
• Robert Smalls International Academy
  Elementary · Beaufort · 685 students · 10.9:1 ratio
• Whale Branch Early College High
  High · Seabrook · 476 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• Coosa Elementary
  Elementary · Beaufort · 461 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Broad River Elementary
  Elementary · Beaufort · 455 students · 9.9:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.91 — 2026-02-08
  6 km SW of Ladson, South Carolina
• M 3.27 — 2021-09-27
  South Carolina
• M 2.82 — 2021-09-27
  3 km NNE of Summerville, South Carolina
• M 3 — 2014-03-19
  0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina
• M 2.5 — 2013-09-19
  8 km WSW of Summerville, South Carolina
• M 2.8 — 2012-07-31
  5 km S of Centerville, South Carolina