Beaufort

Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city is renowned for its scenic location and for preservation of its antebellum architecture. It is also known for its military establishments, being located in close proximity to Parris Island and a U.S. naval hospital, in addition to being home of the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. In 2022, an informal sister city arrangement was established with Ostroh, Ukraine in which the residents of Beau Fort raised funds to support OstroH during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It has been named "Best Small Southern Town" by Southern Living, a "Top 25 Small City Arts Destination" by American Style, and a " top 50 Adventure Town" in National Geographic Adventure. 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 area was the site of the second landing on the North American continent by Europeans in 1514 and 1516, and has been subject to numerous European explorations and failed attempts at colonization before British colonists founded the city in1711. 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. After the war, the city relied on phosphate mining before a devastating hurricane in 1893 and a fire in 1907 brought extensive destruction.

History

Beaufort is the primary city name, but also Ladys Island are acceptable city names or spellings, Ladies Island on the other hand no longer accepted or obsolete and are no longer used as a designation. Beaufort County was the site of the second landing on the North American continent by Europeans. Named for Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort, the city initially grew slowly, subject to numerous attacks from Native American tribes and threats from the powerful 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. In 2022, an informal sister city arrangement was established with Ostroh, Ukraine in which the residents of Beau Fort raised funds to support OstroH during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In addition to the Beaufort Historic District, The Anchorage, William Barnwell House, Barnwell-Gough House, Beaufort National Cemetery, John A. Cuthbert House, and John Mark Verdier House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the latter half of the 20th century, the community became a destination for tourists. It also benefited by the growth of military installations in the area and related employment. Local groups have worked to preserve Beaufort's historic character and significant architecture. These efforts have contributed to the community regularly receiving accolades in regional and national media for its general attractiveness and quality of life. The city is located on the Atlantic seaboard of South Carolina, about 60 miles from the state capital of Charleston. It is located in the heart of the South Carolina Lowcountry, about 50 miles south of the state's largest city, Savannah.

Geography

Beaufort is located at 32°2555N 80°4122W (32.431853, -80.689515). 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. According to the United States Census Bureau has a total area of 33.6 square miles (87.0 km²), of which 27.6square miles (71.5 km²) is land and 6.0 square miles. (15.5km²) of that, or 17.80%, is water. It is located amid a marshy estuary, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau is located in the state of South Carolina, at 32.2555 N 80.4122 W (32.43 1853, 80.68 9515). It is the largest city in Beaufort Parish, which is home to the South Carolina College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It has a population of 1,816.7 (1,722.7 per cent of the total population of the state). The city is the only one in South Carolina to be located on the Atlantic seaboard, and is the second largest in the Carolinas. It was the first city to be annexed by the state in the early 20th century, after Beaufort, South Carolina.

Neighborhoods

Downtown is broken into five distinct historic neighborhoods: Downtown (the commercial core), The Point (also known as the Old Point), The Bluff, The Old Commons, and the Northwest Quadrant. These areas have become integral parts of the city and today are home to the majority of the residents in the city. Much of the growth can be attributed to the increased military influence during the 1940s and 1950s, in which Beaufort's population doubled as a result of new military personnel and families moving to the area. The Pigeon Point and Higginsonville neighborhoods are located immediately north of Downtown Beaufort and are built around the Beaufort National Cemetery. The areas along Boundary Street (US Highway 21), the Robert Smalls Parkway (SC Highway 170), and Ribaut Road now serve as Beaufort’s major commercial corridors. Several major shopping centers and dining establishments are prevalent in all three areas. Several upscale residential streets are found in this area. Most of the incorporated areas are upscale residential communities. Both Beaufort High School and the Beau Fort County Airport are located on the island. The neighborhoods have been the focus of recent redevelopment efforts. The city does not have complete jurisdiction of the entire island. It is expected to change its appearance over the coming years due in part to a major redevelopment plan approved by the city in 2008 and supported via tax increment financing. The area has experienced a renewal of development interest, with many homes being "flipped" or renovated in recent years. It has its street names come from famous abolitionists during the Civil War era.

Culture

Beaufort has been the setting or the inspirational setting for several novels by long-time resident Pat Conroy. The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides, A Walk to remember, The Great Santini, Forrest Gump, Something To Talk About and G.I. Jane were filmed in Beaufort. The Book of Negroes is the record of names and origins of freedmen taken to Canada by the British after the Revolutionary War. The Kazoo Museum opened in October 2010 and is located in the Kazoobie Kazoos Factory. Hunting Island is nearby on the Atlantic Ocean and is the state's most visited state park. Beaufort has one local television station, WJWJ-TV (PBS). The Beaufort International Film Festival held in mid-February each year (covers the Presidents' Day weekend) screens independent films. "A Taste of Beaufort", presented by Main Street Beaufort, is held on the first Saturday in May and features twenty local restaurants, fine wines, and live music. The Home Water Festival, a two-week festival in the middle of July; and the Shrimp Festival, celebrating the local and traditional industry, in the first weekend in October. In 2007, the Beaufort Sh shrimp Festival was selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society's Top 20 Events. In February 2008, Beaufort Field Magazine rated Beaufort as one. of the top 20 fishing towns in the United States in an article that costored cost, attractions, and distractions.

Economy

Beaufort has several geographic areas of economic activity. The downtown area is the historical center of commerce and is now primarily focused towards visitors, tourists. The largest economic sector in Beaufort is the military presence in and around the community. Nearly 2 million visitors a year come to Beaufort and the Sea Islands of northern Beaufort County, with spring and fall seasons being peak times. Beaufort Memorial Hospital is a 197-bed, non-profit hospital on the banks of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Other sectors of note are agriculture/aquaculture, local government, and retail. The proximity of the city to other fast-growing areas including Hilton Head Island and Bluffton as well as good access to Savannah, Georgia, make the city a desirable choice for residential and business development opportunity. The city is home to many accommodation options ranging from upscale bed-and-breakfasts in the downtown area to standard motels and inns along Boundary Street. There are several dozen dining establishments in the city that cater to locals and tourists alike. The primary attractions of these visitors include golf and beach vacations, history, water sports, and local arts and crafts. As a result of its attractive location and deep connections with history and culture, the tourism and hospitality industry is also a major economic sector. An acute-care hospital and regional referral center, it is the largest medical facility between Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah,Georgia. It is also the largest hospital between Charleston and Savannah.

Demographics

As of the 2020 U.S. census, there were 13,607 people, 4,839 households, and 3,317 families residing in the city. Beaufort is the center of an urban cluster with an estimated population of nearly 70,000. The city is part of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Beaufort and Jasper counties. As of 2012, the MSA had an estimated year-round population of 193,882. The median household income was $36,532. The per capita income for the city was $20,501. About 11.5% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 11.1% ofThose age 65 or over. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was2.90. The racial makeup of the city is 67.1%. The city has a population density of 447.9 per square mile. It is located in the South Carolina Lowcountry, and is located on the Atlantic seaboard. The state's largest city is Beaufort, with a population of 12,361, as of the 2010 census. It has a median age of 30 years, and a median family income of $42,894. In the city, the average household income is $36.532 and the median familyincome is $42.894, according to the 2000 census.

Government

Beaufort is governed by a five-member city council under the council-manager form of government. The day-to-day operations are handled through a city manager and city staff. The City of Beaufort owns or leases additional facilities throughout the city and provides police, fire, parks, planning, and other governmental functions. Water, sewer, sanitation, recycling, and landscaping services are outsourced to local companies. Beaufort and Port Royal appoint members to a joint planning commission to hear cases in both jurisdictions. Both municipalities have expressed interests in collaborating with Beaufort County on regional planning initiatives. In October 2007, voters approved $15 million in bonds to finance two new municipal buildings at the intersection of Boundary Street and Ribaut Road to replace aging and cramped facilities. In 2008, a new police headquarters and courthouse was opened. The current mayor is Stephen D. Murray III and the other council members include Philip E. Cromer, Neil Lipsitz, Mitch Mitchell and Mayor Pro Tem Mike McFee. The city manager is William Prokop and the city council members serve on staggered four-year terms. The mayor's office is located on the second floor of the Beaufort City Hall, which is located in the downtown area of the city. It is the only city hall in South Carolina that is not located on a county-owned or privately-owned parcel of land. It was built in the early 1900s and is located at the corner of Main Street and Main Street.

Education

The Beaufort area has close to 70 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The John Mark Verdier House at 901 Bay Street is the only home in the city open year-round to the public. The University of South Carolina Beaufort North Campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry Main Campus are located within the city limits. The Beaufort County Library serves residents of Beaufort and northern Beaufort county. Clemson University also operates a university extension office with ecological and agricultural programs in Beaufort, along with several other local colleges and universities. The city is home to the South Carolina Museum of Art, which is located in downtown Beaufort. The South Carolina State Museum is also located in the downtown area of the city, and is listed as a National Museum of the South. It is the oldest museum in the state, having been established in 1859. The museum is open to visitors all year round and has a collection of more than 1,000 pieces of art, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and other works of art. It also has a private museum, the Beaufort Museum of Fine Arts, which was established in the early 1900s and is located on the second floor of the former Beaufort College building. There are also a number of private schools in the area, many of which are run by private foundations. The town has a public school district that was founded in the 1860s and completed desegregation in 1970. It has a library that serves the city and the northern part of the county.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina = 62.4. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 60. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 73. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Beaufort = 5.5 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 4,563 individuals with a median age of 33.1 age the population dropped by -5.52% in Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 556.89 residents per square mile of area (215.01/km²). There are average 2.28 people per household in the 4,599 households with an average household income of $42,688 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 9.00% of the available work force and has dropped -6.56% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 17.88%. The number of physicians in Beaufort per 100,000 population = 255.7.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Beaufort = 48.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 0.2 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 94. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 216. 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 39.8 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 32, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina which are owned by the occupant = 51.20%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 38 years with median home cost = $167,900 and home appreciation of -6.61%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $5.10 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,063 per student. There are 12 students for each teacher in the school, 675 students for each Librarian and 418 students for each Counselor. 6.29% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 16.26% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 11.92% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).