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Beaufort is located on an Island called Port Royal Island. All of the surrounding area, Ladies Island, St. Helena Island, Fripp Island, Hunting Island, Dataw (originally spelled Datha) Island Cane Island, Gibbs Island, Cat Island, Parris Island, Spring Island, Callawassie Island, Hilton Head Island, Daufuskie Island and a few other small islands are known as the South Carolina Sea Islands.

Beaufort is far enough north to enjoy four distinct seasons and far enough south to avoid the bitter winter weather. Beaufort was the site, in 1514, of the second landing by Europeans on the North American continent. The first was Ponce De Leon's landing at St. Augustine in Florida one year earlier.

Beaufort is the second oldest town in South Carolina and among the oldest in the United States, being chartered in 1711 as Beaufort Town. Charleston, the oldest town in South Carolina was chartered in 1670 as Charles Town.

In 1861, before any of the great Civil War battles, Beaufort was invaded by a great U.S. Naval armada and occupied by Federal troops. The invasion was the largest in U.S. Navy history until the 1944 Normandy invasion.

After the Civil War, Beaufort's economy was supported first by phosphate mining and then by large-scale truck framing. Thousands of acres produced fresh garden vegetables, shipped nationwide. The soil here is some of the richest in the world and the climate affords a year-round growing season.

In the 1950's, tourism growth began with resort development on Hilton Head and Fripp Islands, both located in Beaufort County. Numerous other islands in the county have since been developed, giving the entire area a vigorous tourism and resort industry.

In recent years Beaufort has been the picturesque setting for major motion pictures, including Conrack, The Great Santini, The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides, Forrest Gump and many others.

Beaufort has been sited as one of the best places in the United States to retire and has been recognized as one of the "Top Ten Places To Live," according to Outside Magazine. Fortune magazine has dubbed Beaufort as "Shangri-La" and Coastal Living magazine has proclaimed it as, "reminiscent of early Carmel and Nantucket, a hip place about to happen."

As you can tell, beautiful Beaufort by the sea and its nearby areas have a lot to offer. Some might think of Beaufort as a return to the past. Not so. Beaufort is very much a part of the modern world with the area having one of the youngest, fastest growing and most prosperous populations in the state.

Beaufort is a wonderful place to live. The people here are committed to making sure Beaufort will remain that way. This means being generous with praise for the values that make Beaufort special and skeptical of proposals that might threaten its uniqueness. Beaufort County has grown from a population of just over 22,000 persons in 1940 to an estimated 248,000 in 2005.

The average temperature in Beaufort in January is 49.2 degrees and in July 81.2 degrees. Mean temperature is 55.1 degrees for the low and 76.7 degrees for the high.

Beaufort is located off the beaten track. No interstate highway traverses the county and you do not drive through Beaufort on a trip anywhere except to the beach. Beaufort is a destination in itself, but is easy to reach by water, land and air.

Beaufort is virtually equidistant from Charleston, SC to the north and Savannah, GA to the south. Both are little more than an hour's drive. In their June 24th publication, LIFE Magazine named Beaufort the Most Romantic Town on the Ease Coast. Beaufort has also repeatedly been named as one of the Best Places To Retire in the entire United States.

If you enjoy a good game of golf there are many first rate PGA rated courses in Beaufort County. There is also a significant number of Golf Courses that are open to the public. Many of the gated communities are home to multiple golf courses and learning centers. Fitness facilities abound in Beaufort County!

If Tennis is your sport, there are some of the best tennis facilities in the world located right here in Beaufort County. Most of the tennis facilities are private but there are many courts available to the general public.

If Boating is your passion, there are more marinas per square mile in Beaufort County than any other in the Carolinas. With very easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort is a sport fisherman's paradise. The many rivers that flow into the Atlantic are also home to many species of fish and shellfish.

If a day at the beach suites you the Beaufort County coast has numerous beaches from which to choose. There are many other outdoor activities too! Hunting for Dove, Deer, Wild Boar and Duck, Croquet, Kayaking, Nature Trails to mention just a few are within easy reach.