Beaufort, SC

Antebellum architecture, horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown, and Southern hospitality are the hallmarks of Beaufort, S.C. The town was incorporated in 1711, after a 200-year struggle over control of the area between the Spanish, French, Native Americans, and British. Beaufort, the county seat of Beaufort County and the second-oldest town in South Carolina, is located on Port Royal Island about an hour south of Charleston, S.C., and an hour north of Savannah, Ga.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Beaufort's entire downtown was declared a historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Movie buffs relish living in or visiting the city where the films Forrest Gump, The Big Chill, and Something to Talk About were shot. The downtown area is divided into four distinct neighborhoods:

• Downtown is centered along Bay Street, Beaufort's historic commercial street. It includes other nearby streets and is principally 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 architectural style. Bladen Street serves as the principal street through the community and was recently renovated with improved landscaping and pedestrian access.

Other notable areas include:

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

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Three military facilities are located in Beaufort, including Parris Island Recruit Depot, the Marine Corps Air Station-Beaufort, and Beaufort Naval Hospital. A study by Georgia Southern University found that these three facilities add nearly $400 million a year to the local community. Government, tourism, service industries, and health care are also among the region's top employment sectors. Beaufort businesses benefit from low corporate income taxes and no state property tax.

FOR VISITORS

Each year, 3 million tourists flock to Beaufort County to enjoy the area's history, beaches, and wildlife.

• The Beaufort Arsenal Museum: Built in 1798, this former home of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery now displays artifacts such as stone tools, jewelry, clothes, and photographs from Beaufort and the Lowcountry.
• Penn Center: Less than 10 miles from Beaufort, on St. Helena Island, is one of the country's first schools for freed slaves. The 50-acre campus was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974. The center hosts several programs each year to educate the public on the region's history and culture.
• Hunting Island State Park: One million yearly visitors make this park the state's most popular. Animals such as loggerhead sea turtles, barracudas, alligators, and dolphins are attracted to the 5,000-acre semitropical barrier island that features five miles of beach and thousands of acres of marsh. South Carolina's only publicly accessible historic lighthouse is located here, offering magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Lowcountry Estuarium: Similar to an aquarium, but exhibiting both aquatic and terrestrial specimens that live in brackish water and saltwater environments, such as blue crab and diamond-back terrapins, the estuarium is used as a teaching facility to promote conservation.

EVENTS

• Soft Shell Crab Festival: Food, beverages, live entertainment, and crafts are available at this annual celebration of the soft shell crab.
• Taste of Beaufort: Visitors to this annual festival get a chance to sample the area's culinary treats, such as shrimp burgers, shrimp and grits, and crab cakes. The event, held downtown, also features wine, live music, and activities for children.
• Gullah Festival: The history and accomplishments of Beaufort's African-American residents is celebrated at this cultural event. Started in 1986, the family-oriented festival features food, live music, storytelling, dance, and more. Area churches host meals, plays, and forums during this annual event, which takes place the weekend before Memorial Day.
• Beaufort Water Festival: Since 1956, the festival has been a signature event in Beaufort. A beauty pageant, crowning the Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands, a parade, a ski show, an air show, and a craft market are among some of the festival's attractions.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Beaufort Orchestra Society: The society includes both a full orchestra, founded in 1986, and a youth orchestra, created in 1999. The Beaufort Orchestra performs four concerts each season at the University of Southern Carolina Beaufort Performing Arts Center.
• Arts Council of Beaufort County: This group supports the arts in Beaufort by awarding grants to nonprofit organizations for cultural activities and through its after-school program. It also publishes an arts-focused magazine three times a year.
• Historic Beaufort Foundation: Started in 1965, this nonprofit organization maintains the historic sites of Beaufort.

EDUCATION

There are three college campuses in Beaufort that offer four-year and two-year degrees:

• University of South Carolina at Beaufort is the state's newest four-year university, granting baccalaureate degrees to 1,500 students per year.
• Park University offers undergraduate and graduate programs for a student population of 21,000.
• The main campus of Technical College of the Lowcountry is located in Beaufort. The two-year college offers more than 75 degree programs.