Editing Beaufort, South Carolina (section)

==Neighborhoods==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2017}}
[[File:Downtown Beaufort.JPG|thumb|Downtown Beaufort as seen from the [[Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge]]]]
[[File:Downtown Beaufort SC 1972.png|thumb|Downtown Beaufort on Bay Street, 1972]]

===Historic District===
{{Main|Beaufort Historic District (Beaufort, South Carolina)}}
[[File:Craven Street Beaufort.JPG|thumb|Homes in the Old Point neighborhood]]
Remnants of the original English colonial settlement of Beaufort can be found in the downtown or [[Beaufort Historic District (Beaufort, South Carolina)|historic district]] area. {{convert|304|acre|km2}} of the town have been designated a [[National Historic Landmark]]. With approximate dimensions, downtown is defined as anything upon the peninsula jutting into the Beaufort River that is located east of Ribaut Road (US 21). Further defined, 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.

=== Other residential areas ===
As the city expanded in the 20th century, additional growth focused on previously undeveloped areas north and west of the historic district. 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. These areas have become integral parts of the city and today are home to the majority of the residents in the city.

The Pigeon Point and Higginsonville neighborhoods are located immediately north of Downtown Beaufort and are built around the Beaufort National Cemetery. They contain two major city parks: Pigeon Point Community Park and the Basil Green Recreation Complex. An area with smaller homes and mostly one-story early 20th century structures, Pigeon Point has experienced a renewal of development interest, with many homes being "flipped" or renovated in recent years. Higginsonville is more similar in character to the Northwest Quadrant neighborhood and has its street names come from famous [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionists]] during the Civil War era.

The West End and Depot neighborhoods are located west of Ribaut Road, south of Boundary Street and north of the Technical College of the Lowcountry campus. These areas have been the focus of recent redevelopment efforts. Formerly concentrated around the Beaufort rail station (the depot), the neighborhoods have similar characteristics to the Pigeon Point area and have a sizable number of military families as residents.

The Spanish Point neighborhood is located between Downtown and Mossy Oaks, generally considered to be clustered around the [[Technical College of the Lowcountry]] campus and the Beaufort Memorial Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bmhsc.org/|title=Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Beaufort, South Carolina (SC)|website=www.bmhsc.org|access-date=Sep 28, 2020}}</ref> Several upscale residential streets are found in this area.

The Battery Creek neighborhoods of Mossy Oaks, Royal Oaks, First Boulevard, and Cottage Farms form the southern residential areas of the city and are generally considered to be south of the Technical College of the Lowcountry campus and the Beaufort Memorial Hospital. There are some commercial establishments in the area in addition to residential subdivisions ranging from self-contained attached housing to residential estate lots of {{convert|0.5|acre|m2}}.

Portions of Lady's Island have been annexed by Beaufort, but the city does not have complete jurisdiction of the entire island. Most of the incorporated areas are upscale residential communities. Both Beaufort High School and the Beaufort County Airport are located on the island.

===Other non-residential areas===
Once the outer edge of town, the areas along Boundary Street ([[U.S. Route 21#South Carolina|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. Beyond shopping and dining, Ribaut Road has numerous medical offices clustered near Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Boundary Street and Robert Smalls Parkway have several lodging facilities and auto dealerships as prevailing business types. Boundary Street 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]].

Uptown Beaufort refers to a series of mostly commercial properties along Boundary Street that separates the historic district from the Pigeon Point neighborhood. Uptown is not formally considered a neighborhood on its own, yet merchants have created a unique identity to market the commercial area separately from downtown merchants clustered on Bay Street.

Beaufort Town Center is a recent term given to a series of developments along Boundary Street located west of the historic district and Pigeon Point that is clustered near the Beaufort County government complex and the City of Beaufort's municipal complex construction site. Though much of the area (and the term) is owned by a single developer, many of Beaufort's commercial properties and administrative uses have moved to this area.

The [[Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort]] was annexed into the city in the 1990s, expanding the city limits northward near the unincorporated Seabrook community. Previous attempts at bringing large-scale residential development north of the air station were defeated after protests from long-time citizens and environmental advocacy groups.