Port Royal Island facts for kids
Beaufort River Station Creek Story and Harbor Rivers Forming Inside Passage Between Port Royal and St. Helena Sounds South Carolina
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 Port Royal Island
Location in South Carolina
Port Royal Island
Location in North Atlantic
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| Geography | |
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| Location | North Atlantic |
| Coordinates | 32°26′08″N 80°44′19″W / 32.43556°N 80.73861°W |
| Administration | |
| County | Beaufort County |
Port Royal Island is an island in Beaufort County, South Carolina. It is one of the Sea Islands in the Lowcountry area. This island is the most populated in northern Beaufort County. It includes most of the towns of Beaufort and Port Royal.
The island also has important military bases. These are the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Naval Hospital Beaufort. The island gets its name from the Port Royal Sound. This sound was a very important harbor during the early colonial times. People settled here in the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s. For a long time, "Port Royal" meant the whole island and the waters around it. Today, "Port Royal" usually refers to the town of Port Royal.
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History of Port Royal Island
Early European Settlements
In 1562, French explorers built a settlement called Charlesfort. It was located on Parris Island, which is very close to Port Royal Island. The leader, Jean Ribault, called the sound and island "Port Royal." This means "royal port" in French.
After the French settlement failed, the Spanish tried to build their own town. They started the Santa Elena settlement in 1566. The name Santa Elena is still used today for nearby St. Helena Island.
English Colonization and Name Changes
When the English began to colonize Carolina, they also used the name Port Royal. They used it for the sound and for what is now Parris Island. This started when they founded Charles Town in 1670.
Later, an important person named Colonel Alexander Parris owned that island. After he died in 1736, the island became known as Parris Island. The name Port Royal Island then moved to the island just north of it, which is the Port Royal Island we know today.
Battles and Changes Over Time
In 1779, a battle called the Battle of Beaufort happened on the island. American forces fought against the British and won. Later, in 1861, the Battle of Port Royal took place. Union forces fought Confederate forces during the Civil War. The Union won this battle. This led to them controlling Beaufort for the rest of the war.
For many years, Port Royal Island was mostly farmland. It had many large farms called plantations before the Civil War. Since the 1960s, the island has changed a lot. Most of it is now homes and businesses. However, some rural areas still exist in the northern and western parts of the island. These areas are along the Whale Branch River.
Communities on Port Royal Island
Port Royal Island is home to several communities:
Images for kids
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Port Royal Island, Camp Saxton (Smith's plantation) the new headquarters of the 1st S.C. Vol. (Colored), Col. Higginson in 1863
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