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Beaufort County, South Carolina facts for kids

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For the city, see Beaufort, South Carolina.
Not to be confused with Beaufort County, North Carolina.
Quick facts for kids
Beaufort County
U.S. county
The Arsenal in Beaufort Historic District
Flag of Beaufort County
Flag
 Official seal of Beaufort County
Seal
Motto(s): 
"Heritage By The Sea"
Map of South Carolina highlighting Beaufort County
Location within the U.S. state of South Carolina
Map of the United States highlighting South Carolina
South Carolina's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  South Carolina
Founded 1800
Named for Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort
Seat Beaufort
Largest community Hilton Head Island
Area
 • Total 923.48 sq mi (2,391.8 km2)
 • Land 576.04 sq mi (1,491.9 km2)
 • Water 347.44 sq mi (899.9 km2)  37.62%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 187,117
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 198,979
 • Density 324.83/sq mi (125.42/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 1st

Beaufort County is a county located in the state of South Carolina. In 2020, about 187,117 people lived here. The main town where the county government is located is Beaufort. The biggest community in the county is Hilton Head Island.

Beaufort County is part of a larger area called the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is one of the fastest-growing counties in the southern United States. This growth is mostly happening south of the Broad River. The northern parts of the county are also growing steadily. This is partly because of the strong presence of the U.S. military near the city of Beaufort. The two parts of the county are connected by the Broad River Bridge.

History of Beaufort County

Beaufort County has a very rich history. For a long time, many African slaves lived and worked on plantations here. These plantations were mostly on the Sea Islands. Slaves on these islands often had limited contact with white people. This led to the development of the unique Gullah culture and the Gullah language. This language is a mix of different West African languages. The county had more Black residents than white residents until the mid-1900s.

The Civil War and Freedom

During the American Civil War, Union troops took control of Beaufort County in 1861. Many enslaved people escaped to the Union lines. Some plantation owners left their slaves on the Sea Islands when they moved inland for safety.

Early in the war, formerly enslaved people in this county started to organize their own schools and communities. For example, the Army created a village called Mitchellville on Hilton Head in 1863. This village allowed Black people to govern themselves. By 1865, about 1,500 people lived there.

After the Civil War

After the Civil War, formerly enslaved people became citizens. They were also given the right to vote. Most of them joined the Republican Party. South Carolina was the only southern state where Black representatives made up most of the state legislature during the time known as Reconstruction. Beaufort County had many important Black leaders, like Robert Smalls and Jonathan Jasper Wright.

However, white groups used violence and unfair practices to stop Black people from voting. By 1876, Democrats took back control of the state government. In 1895, a new state constitution was passed. This constitution made it very hard for most Black citizens to vote. Even though many Black men in Beaufort County could read, they were not allowed to vote. This kept them from having equal rights for many decades.

Changes in the 20th Century

From 1900 to 1950, farming in Beaufort County became less profitable. This, along with unfair social conditions, caused many African Americans to move away. This movement is known as the Great Migration. They moved to cities in the North and Midwest to find jobs. The county's population dropped a lot during this time.

Later in the 20th century, the U.S. government built military bases in the county. This brought more people and jobs. Also, vacation resorts and tourist areas were developed. These attractions brought many visitors and new residents, especially retirees, which helped the county grow again.

Geography of Beaufort County

Beaufort County covers about 923 square miles. About 576 square miles of this is land, and the rest is water.

Protected Natural Areas

Beaufort County is home to several important natural areas:

State and Local Sites

The county also has many state and local protected areas and historic sites:

  • Auldbrass Plantation
  • Altamaha Towne Heritage Preserve
  • Bay Point Shoal Seabird Sanctuary
  • Charlesfort - Santa Elena Historic Site
  • Coffin Point Plantation
  • Coligny Beach Park
  • Daws Island Heritage Preserve
  • Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve
  • Greens Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve
  • Hunting Island State Park
  • Joiner Bank Seabird Sanctuary
  • Old Island Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area
  • Old Sheldon Church Ruins
  • Sea Pines Forest Preserve
  • South Bluff Heritage Preserve
  • Spanish Moss Trail
  • Stoney Creek Battery Heritage Preserve
  • Stony Creek Bridge
  • Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area
  • Widgeon Point Preserve

Major Water Bodies

Many rivers and the ocean are important parts of Beaufort County:

Neighboring Counties

Beaufort County shares borders with these counties:

Main Roads and Transportation

Important roads and transportation hubs in the county include:

  • US 17

  • US 17 Alt.
  • US 21

  • US 21 Bus.
  • US 278

  • US 278 Bus.
  • SC 46
  • SC 116
  • SC 128
  • SC 170
  • SC 802
  • Hilton Head Island Airport
  • Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
  • Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island

People of Beaufort County (Demographics)

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 18,753 —
1800 20,428 8.9%
1810 25,887 26.7%
1820 32,199 24.4%
1830 37,032 15.0%
1840 35,794 −3.3%
1850 38,805 8.4%
1860 40,053 3.2%
1870 34,359 −14.2%
1880 30,176 −12.2%
1890 34,119 13.1%
1900 35,495 4.0%
1910 30,355 −14.5%
1920 22,269 −26.6%
1930 21,815 −2.0%
1940 22,037 1.0%
1950 26,993 22.5%
1960 44,187 63.7%
1970 51,136 15.7%
1980 65,364 27.8%
1990 86,425 32.2%
2000 120,937 39.9%
2010 162,233 34.1%
2020 187,117 15.3%
2023 (est.) 198,979 22.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 Census Information

In 2020, there were 187,117 people living in Beaufort County. There were about 73,043 households, which are groups of people living together.

Beaufort County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 126,704 67.71%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 27,545 14.72%
Native American 354 0.19%
Asian 2,381 1.27%
Pacific Islander 119 0.06%
Other/Mixed 6,603 3.53%
Hispanic or Latino 23,411 12.51%

2010 Census Information

In 2010, the county had 162,233 people. The population was mostly white (71.9%), with a significant Black or African American population (19.3%). About 12.1% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino origin. The average age of people in the county was about 40.6 years old.

Economy of Beaufort County

In 2022, the total value of all goods and services produced in Beaufort County was about $10.8 billion. This means the county's economy is quite strong. The unemployment rate has been low, usually between 2.2% and 3.7%.

Major Employers

Some of the biggest employers in Beaufort County include:

Many people in Beaufort County work in hotels and restaurants (Accommodation and Food Services), retail stores, and healthcare. Other important jobs are in construction, education, and professional services.

Education in Beaufort County

Beaufort County offers many educational opportunities, from colleges to K-12 schools.

Colleges and Universities

  • University of South Carolina Beaufort

Community and Technical Colleges

  • Technical College of the Lowcountry

K-12 Schools

Most students in Beaufort County attend schools in the Beaufort County School District. However, children of military families living at the Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station attend special elementary and middle schools run by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). These students then go to the county high schools.

Public High Schools

  • Battery Creek High School
  • Beaufort High School
  • Beaufort Jasper Academy for Career Excellence
  • Bluffton High School
  • Hilton Head Island High School
  • May River High School
  • Whale Branch Early College High School

Charter Schools

  • Bridges Preparatory School

Private Schools

  • John Paul II Catholic School
  • Hilton Head Christian Academy
  • Beaufort Academy

Communities in Beaufort County

Beaufort County is part of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area had an estimated population of over 232,000 people in 2023.

Cities

Towns

Census-Designated Places (CDPs)

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as cities or towns.

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially part of any city or town.

Named Islands

Beaufort County has many islands, some of which are also towns.

Notable People from Beaufort County

Many interesting people have come from Beaufort County:

  • Pat Conroy, a famous author
  • Clarence Cummings, a weightlifter
  • Joe Frazier, a legendary boxer
  • Candice Glover, winner of American Idol Season 12
  • Bob Inglis, a politician
  • Greg Jones, a football player
  • Thomas E. Miller, an educator, lawyer, and politician
  • James Saxon, a football player
  • Duncan Sheik, a musician
  • Wayne Simmons, a football player
  • Robert Smalls, an important politician and former slave
  • Stan Smith, a tennis player
  • Devin Taylor, a football player
  • D.J. Trahan, a golfer
  • Kathryn R. Wall, an author

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Beaufort (Carolina del Sur) para niños

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