Editing Beaufort, South Carolina (section)

==History==
[[File:Plan of the City of Beaufort, S.C., as allotted by U.S. Tax Commissioners for the District of South Carolina... - NARA - 305619.jpg|thumb|left|Plan of the City of Beaufort, S.C., as allotted by U.S. Tax Commissioners for the District of South Carolina, February 1863]]
{{Main|History of Beaufort, South Carolina}}
Written history began 500 years ago with the exploration of the area by Spanish Captain Pedro de Salazar between 1514 and 1516.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hoffman |first=Paul E. |date=1980 |title=A New Voyage of North American Discovery: Pedro de Salazar's Visit to the "Island of Giants" |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/30140493 |journal=The Florida Historical Quarterly |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=415–426 |jstor=30140493 |issn=0015-4113}}</ref> Thus, Beaufort County was the site of the second landing on the North American continent by Europeans.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

The [[Lowcountry]] region had been subject to numerous [[Exploration of North America|European explorations]] and failed attempts at colonization before [[British colonization of the Americas|British colonists]] founded Beaufort in 1711. Beaufort was named for [[Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort]]. The city grew slowly at first due to attacks from Native American tribes and threats from the 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 [[American Civil War|Civil War]].

Several months after hostilities began between the states, Beaufort was occupied by [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] forces following the [[Battle of Port Royal]]. Due to its early occupation, the city attracted escaping slaves. The Union declared the slaves [[Emancipation Proclamation|emancipated]] and initiated efforts at education and preparation for full independence. The [[Freedmen's Bureau]] worked with local blacks during [[Reconstruction Era|Reconstruction]].

After the war, the city relied on [[Phosphate mining in the United States|phosphate mining]] before a [[1893 Sea Islands hurricane|devastating hurricane in 1893]] and a fire in 1907 brought extensive destruction and economic turmoil. Their effects slowed growth of the city for nearly half a century.

In the latter half of the 20th century, the community became a popular tourist destination. Beaufort also benefited from 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.

In 2022, an informal [[sister city]] arrangement was established with [[Ostroh]], [[Ukraine]] in which the residents of Beaufort raised funds to support  Ostroh during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.islandpacket.com/news/politics-government/article259336949.html|title=Beaufort agrees to send aid to Ostroh, Ukraine. A Facebook message sparked a dialogue|author=Karl Puckett|date=March 12, 2022|access-date=March 30, 2022}}</ref>

In addition to the Beaufort Historic District, [[The Anchorage (Beaufort, South Carolina)|The Anchorage]], [[William Barnwell House]], [[Barnwell-Gough House]], [[Beaufort National Cemetery]], [[John A. Cuthbert House]], [[Fort Lyttelton Site]], [[Hunting Island Lighthouse|Hunting Island State Park Lighthouse]], [[Laurel Bay Plantation]], [[Marshlands (Beaufort, South Carolina)|Marshlands]], [[Seacoast Packing Company]], [[Seaside Plantation]], [[Robert Smalls House]], [[Tabby Manse]], and [[John Mark Verdier House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>