Editing Beaufort County, South Carolina

{{Short description|County in South Carolina, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Beaufort County, North Carolina|Beaufort, South Carolina}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Beaufort County
 | state                = South Carolina
 | ex image             = The Arsenal - Beaufort, SC.jpg
 | ex image cap         = The Arsenal in [[Beaufort Historic District (Beaufort, South Carolina)|Beaufort Historic District]]
 | seal                 = Beaufort County sc seal.png
 | founded              = 1711
 | named for            = [[Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort]]
 | seat wl              = Beaufort
 | largest city wl      = Hilton Head Island
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 923.48
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 576.04
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 347.44
 | area percentage      = 37.62
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 187117
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 198979 {{gain}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | coordinates          = {{coord|32.36|-80.69|type:adm2nd_region:US-SC_source:USCensusBureau2020gazetteerfiles|display=inline,title}}
 | web                  = www.beaufortcountysc.gov
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | district             = 1st
 | motto                = "Heritage By The Sea"
 | flag                 = Beaufort County Flag, SC.gif }}

'''Beaufort County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|juː|f|ər|t}} {{respell|BEW|fərt}}) is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[South Carolina]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 187,117.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/> Its [[county seat]] is [[Beaufort, South Carolina|Beaufort]] and its largest community is [[Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|Hilton Head Island]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref>

Beaufort County is part of the [[Hilton Head Island–Bluffton metropolitan area|Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is one of the [[Southern United States|South's]] fastest-growing counties, primarily because of development south of the [[Broad River (South Carolina)|Broad River]] clustered along the [[U.S. Route 278|U.S. Highway 278]] corridor.<ref name="2015 Census Estimates">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 1, 2015 |title=U.S. County Population Estimates, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }}</ref> The county's northern portions have also grown steadily, due in part to the strong federal [[United States Marine Corps|military]] presence around the city of Beaufort. The county's two portions are connected by the [[Broad River Bridge]], which carries [[South Carolina Highway 170]]. Beaufort County has been identified as the most at-risk county in the contiguous United States for combined damage from climate change in the medium term, largely due to high wet-bulb temperatures, economic and farm crop damages, and sea level rise.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|first2=|last3=|last4=|first4=|last5=|first5=|last6=|last7=|date=September 15, 2020|title=New Climate Maps Show a Transformed United States|url=https://projects.propublica.org/climate-migration|url-status=live|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=ProPublica|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915095006/https://projects.propublica.org/climate-migration/ |archive-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site|New France|French Florida|Spanish assault on French Florida|Santa Elena (Spanish Florida)|Spanish Florida|Province of Carolina|Province of South Carolina|South Carolina in the American Civil War}}
{{See also|Economy of South Carolina}}
From the early days of plantations, African slaves outnumbered the European minority in the colony. The plantations on the [[Sea Islands]] had large concentrations of slaves that had infrequent and limited interaction with white people. The islands were sites of the development of the [[Gullah people|Gullah]] culture, which preserved elements from a variety of [[Slave Coast of West Africa|West African]] roots; the people also developed the [[Gullah language]], a [[creole language]]. The county was majority black until around the mid-20th century.

[[Union (American Civil War)|Union troops]] took control of Beaufort County and occupied the area beginning in 1861. Many slaves escaped and went to Union lines. In some cases, planters had moved inland for refuge, leaving their slaves on the Sea Islands. Slaves began to organize schools and other parts of their communities early in the war in this county, especially on the islands. The Army founded Mitchellville on [[Hilton Head]] by March 1863 as a village where black people could practice self-governance; by 1865, it had 1,500 residents. After the war, the [[Drayton Hall|Drayton]] family reclaimed this land for their own private use. In some cases, the Union Army allocated plots for blacks for housing and cultivating crops.<ref name="white2">{{Cite web |title=In Freedom's Shadow {{!}} National Archives |url=https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2010/fall/greaves.html |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=www.archives.gov|date=August 15, 2016 }}</ref>

When [[freedmen]] were granted citizenship and the franchise after the American Civil War by constitutional amendments, most joined the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. Although not the only majority black state, South Carolina was the only southern state during Reconstruction to elect a black majority of representatives to the state legislature.<ref name="white2" /> Beaufort County had many prominent black leaders, such as [[Robert Smalls]], [[Jonathan Jasper Wright]], [[William James Whipper]], [[Julius I. Washington]], and [[Thomas E. Miller]].<ref name="white2" />

Increasing violence during election campaigns in the state from 1868 on was used by white insurgents and paramilitary groups to suppress black voting; results were also dependent on fraud. In 1876, the Democrats regained control of the state legislature and governor's office, although results were disputed. While black Republicans continued to be elected to local office in Beaufort County and other areas through the next decades, in 1895 the Democrat-dominated state legislature passed a new constitution that effectively [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disfranchised most black citizens]] by making voter registration and voting more difficult. They were excluded from the political system and kept in second-class status for decades. In 1903, the county "was reported to have 3,434 literate black males to 927 whites", but due to the discriminatory practices, nearly all black citizens were barred from voting.<ref name="white2" />

From 1900 through 1950, Beaufort County's economy suffered from the decline in agriculture, which together with oppressive social conditions of [[Jim Crow]] contributed to many African Americans making a [[Great Migration (African American)|Great Migration]] out of the South. African Americans went to northern and midwestern industrial cities for jobs and became an urbanized population. The total county population of 35,495 in 1900 dropped by more than one third to 1930, and did not reach the 1900 population level again until well after 1950, when the population was 26,933. Southern Democrats in Congress helped gain the establishment of military installations in the county and state, which added more population and stimulated area jobs in the second half of the 20th century.

In addition, vacation and resort areas were developed that attracted increasing numbers of tourists through the winter season, and then others all year-round as retirees.

==Geography==
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q495682|type=shape-inverse|text=Interactive map of Beaufort County}}
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|923.48|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|576.04|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|347.44|sqmi}} (37.62%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2022 |title=2020 County Gazetteer Files – South Carolina |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_counties_45.txt |access-date=September 10, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===National protected areas===
* [[Ashepoo Combahee Edisto Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve|Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto (ACE) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve]] (part)
* [[ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge|Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Reconstruction Era National Historical Park]]

===State and local protected areas/sites===
* [[Auldbrass Plantation]]
* [[Altamaha Towne Heritage Preserve]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands">{{Cite web |title=SCDNR Public Lands |url=https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/County |access-date=April 1, 2023 |website=www2.dnr.sc.gov}}</ref>
* [[Bay Point Shoal Seabird Sanctuary]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Charlesfort-Santa Elena Site|Charlesfort - Santa Elena Historic Site]]
* [[Coffin Point Plantation]]
* [[Coligny Beach Park]]
* [[Daws Island Heritage Preserve]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Greens Shell Enclosure Heritage Preserve]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Hunting Island State Park]]
* [[Joiner Bank Seabird Sanctuary]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Old Island Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Old Sheldon Church Ruins]]
* [[Sea Pines Forest Preserve]]
* [[South Bluff Heritage Preserve]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Spanish Moss Trail]]
* [[Stoney Creek Battery Heritage Preserve]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Stony Creek Bridge (South Carolina)|Stony Creek Bridge]]
* [[Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area]]<ref name="SCDNR Public Lands"/>
* [[Widgeon Point Preserve]]

===Major water bodies===
* [[Atlantic Ocean]] (North Atlantic Ocean)
* [[Colleton River (South Carolina)|Colleton River]]
* [[Edisto River]]
* [[Harbor River (South Carolina)|Harbor River]]
* [[Intracoastal Waterway]]
* [[May River (South Carolina)|May River]]
* [[Salkehatchie River]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Colleton County, South Carolina|Colleton County]] – north
* [[Jasper County, South Carolina|Jasper County]] – west
* [[Hampton County, South Carolina|Hampton County]] – northwest

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|17}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US-Alt|17}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|21}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US-Bus|21|dab1=Beaufort}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US|278}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|US-Bus|278|dab1=Hilton Head}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|46}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|116}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|128}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|170}}
* {{Jct|state=SC|SC|802}}

===Major infrastructure===
* [[Hilton Head Island Airport]]
* [[Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort]]
* [[Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 18753
|1800= 20428
|1810= 25887
|1820= 32199
|1830= 37032
|1840= 35794
|1850= 38805
|1860= 40053
|1870= 34359
|1880= 30176
|1890= 34119
|1900= 35495
|1910= 30355
|1920= 22269
|1930= 21815
|1940= 22037
|1950= 26993
|1960= 44187
|1970= 51136
|1980= 65364
|1990= 86425
|2000= 120937
|2010= 162233
|2020= 187117
|estyear=2023
|estimate=198979
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/sc190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=March 16, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF"/> 2020<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/beaufortcountysouthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Beaufort County, South Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Beaufort County racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US45013&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 15, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|126,704
|67.71%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|27,545
|14.72%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|354
|0.19%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|2,381
|1.27%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|119
|0.06%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|6,603
|3.53%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|23,411
|12.51%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 187,117 people, 73,043 households, and 50,500 families residing in the county.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 162,233&nbsp;people, 64,945&nbsp;households, and 45,322&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45013
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=March 9, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213022013/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US45013
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref><ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45013.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629023439/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/45/45013.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=November 22, 2013 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|281.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 93,023 housing units at an average density of {{convert|161.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45013
  |access-date=March 9, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213190422/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US45013
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 71.9% white, 19.3% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 5.2% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 12.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 15.5% were [[Germans|German]], 13.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 13.1% were [[English people|English]], 5.4% were [[Italians|Italian]], and 5.0% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45013
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=March 9, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032654/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US45013
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 64,945&nbsp;households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 40.6 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $55,286 and the median income for a family was $65,071. Males had a median income of $41,059 versus $33,959 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,731. About 7.4% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45013
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=March 9, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014407/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US45013
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 120,937 people, 45,532 households, and 33,056 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|206|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 60,509 housing units at an average density of {{convert|103|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 70.66% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 23.98% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.79% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.84% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.41% from two or more races. 6.79% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 45,532 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 11.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 21.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 12.00% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,992, and the median income for a family was $52,704. Males had a median income of $30,541 versus $25,284 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $25,377. About 8.00% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.

==Law and government==
Beaufort County is governed under the council-administrator form of government. Beaufort County Council is an elected body responsible for passing ordinances, setting county policies and developing an annual budget for the administration of public services to citizens. The chairman is elected to a two-year term by council at the first meeting in January following a general election. The vice chairman is charged with carrying out the duties of the chairman in his or her absence. Council members serve four-year staggered terms. Each council member represents one of 11 districts within the county.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="2"| Beaufort County Council (as of 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beaufort County Council Home |url=https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/council/index.html |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=www.beaufortcountysc.gov |language=en}}</ref>
|-
! District
! Council member
|-
| District 1
| Gerald Dawson
|-
| District 2
| David Bartholomew
|-
| District 3
| York Glover
|-
| District 4
| Alice Howard
|-
| District 5
| Joe Passiment (chairman)
|-
| District 6
| Anna Maria "Tab" Tabernik
|-
| District 7
| Logan Cunningham
|-
| District 8
| Paula Brown
|-
| District 9
| Mark Lawson
|-
| District 10
| Larry McElynn (vice-chairman)
|-
| District 11
| Thomas Reitz
|}

===Politics===
{{PresHead|place=Beaufort County, South Carolina|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 13, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|59,123|44,002|1,278|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|53,194|43,419|1,222|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|42,922|32,138|3,464|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|42,687|29,848|762|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|37,821|30,396|653|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|33,331|21,505|399|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|25,561|17,487|1,100|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|17,575|13,532|2,055|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|14,735|11,466|5,086|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|16,184|8,691|146|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|13,668|7,347|103|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|8,620|7,415|665|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,935|6,049|45|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,929|3,237|81|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,983|3,740|1,498|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|3,432|2,747|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,021|1,800|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,051|710|1,016|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,599|1,106|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|150|253|854|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|108|594|95|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|91|582|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|43|501|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|63|555|6|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|124|414|3|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|64|365|9|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|149|265|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|105|376|4|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|50|464|62|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|272|522|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|319|415|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|385|378|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|444|289|0|South Carolina}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|268|175|0|South Carolina}}

Beaufort County leans Republican and has voted for that party's presidential nominee in every election since [[1980 United States presidential election in South Carolina|1980]]. Even in the first half of the 20th century, Beaufort was routinely one of the counties in South Carolina which gave the Republicans the highest percentage of the vote. In [[1920 United States presidential election in South Carolina|1920]], for example, Republican nominee [[Warren G. Harding]] won only 4% of the total vote in South Carolina, but 36% in Beaufort County.

==Economy==
In 2022, the GDP of Beaufort County was $10.8 billion (approx. $57,827 per capita).<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Beaufort County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REALGDPALL45013 |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref> In [[Chained dollars|Chained 2017 dollars]], the real GDP was $9.2 billion (approx. $48,930 per capita).<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |date=2001-01-01 |title=Real Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in Beaufort County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/REALGDPALL45013 |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref> From 2022 through 2024, the unemployment rate has fluctuated between 2.2-3.7%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |date=1990-01-01 |title=Unemployment Rate in Beaufort County, SC |url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SCBEAU5URN |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis}}</ref>

{{As of|2024|April}}, some of the largest employers in the county include the [[Beaufort County School District]], [[Food Lion]], [[Kroger]], [[Marriott Hotels & Resorts|Marriott]], [[Publix]], the [[United States Department of Defense]], and [[Walmart]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Beaufort County |url=https://lmi.dew.sc.gov/lmi%20site/Documents/CommunityProfiles/04000013.pdf |journal=Community Profiles |publisher=S.C. Department of Employment & Workforce - Business Intelligence Department |publication-place=Columbia, South Carolina |volume= |issue=4000013}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Employment and Wage Statistics by Industry in Beaufort County, South Carolina<ref name=":0" />
! style="text-align:left;" | Industry
! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Counts
! style="text-align:right;" | Employment Percentage (%)
! style="text-align:right;" | Average Annual Wage ($)
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Accommodation and Food Services || style="text-align:right;" | 14,136 || style="text-align:right;" | 19.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 30,940
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services || style="text-align:right;" | 4,110 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.7 || style="text-align:right;" | 44,148
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting || style="text-align:right;" | 300 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 65,052
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation || style="text-align:right;" | 3,153 || style="text-align:right;" | 4.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 33,956
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Construction || style="text-align:right;" | 4,545 || style="text-align:right;" | 6.3 || style="text-align:right;" | 63,440
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Educational Services || style="text-align:right;" | 4,511 || style="text-align:right;" | 6.3 || style="text-align:right;" | 46,748
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Finance and Insurance || style="text-align:right;" | 1,761 || style="text-align:right;" | 2.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 100,360
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Health Care and Social Assistance || style="text-align:right;" | 9,584 || style="text-align:right;" | 13.3 || style="text-align:right;" | 60,112
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Information || style="text-align:right;" | 448 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 71,916
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Management of Companies and Enterprises || style="text-align:right;" | 672 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.9 || style="text-align:right;" | 59,644
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Manufacturing || style="text-align:right;" | 1,041 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 64,532
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Other Services (except Public Administration) || style="text-align:right;" | 4,181 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.8 || style="text-align:right;" | 44,720
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services || style="text-align:right;" | 3,602 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.0 || style="text-align:right;" | 81,952
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Public Administration || style="text-align:right;" | 3,574 || style="text-align:right;" | 5.0 || style="text-align:right;" | 62,504
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Real Estate and Rental and Leasing || style="text-align:right;" | 2,444 || style="text-align:right;" | 3.4 || style="text-align:right;" | 54,860
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Retail Trade || style="text-align:right;" | 11,587 || style="text-align:right;" | 16.1 || style="text-align:right;" | 36,868
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Transportation and Warehousing || style="text-align:right;" | 1,188 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 53,768
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Utilities || style="text-align:right;" | 421 || style="text-align:right;" | 0.6 || style="text-align:right;" | 75,036
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | Wholesale Trade || style="text-align:right;" | 767 || style="text-align:right;" | 1.1 || style="text-align:right;" | 81,016
|-
| style="text-align:left; font-weight:bold;" | '''Total''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''72,025''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''100.0%''' || style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;" | '''49,446'''
|}

==Education==
===Colleges and universities===
* [[University of South Carolina Beaufort]]

===Community, junior, and technical colleges===
* [[Technical College of the Lowcountry]]

===K-12 education===
Most of the county is in [[Beaufort County School District]] for grades K-12. However, the [[Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station]] has its own system at the elementary school level:<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45013_beaufort/DC20SD_C45013.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Beaufort County, SC|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-26}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st45_sc/schooldistrict_maps/c45013_beaufort/DC20SD_C45013_SD2MS.txt Text list] - "Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station School District" refers to the DoDEA schools</ref> the [[Department of Defense Education Activity]] (DoDEA) has two schools covering elementary and middle school for the base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dodea.edu/americas/southeast/mcas-beaufort-laurel-bay-schools|title=MCAS Beaufort Laurel Bay Schools|publisher=[[Department of Defense Education Activity]]|access-date=2024-10-26|quote=The MCAS Beaufort (Laurel Bay) Schools are part of the DoDEA Americas Southeast District. We have two schools to serve military connected students in PK through grade 8. }}</ref> High school students on the base go to the county school district.<ref name=SDMap2020/>

; District-operated public high schools
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Battery Creek High School]]
* [[Beaufort High School]]
* Beaufort Jasper Academy for Career Excellence
* [[Bluffton High School (South Carolina)|Bluffton High School]]
* [[Hilton Head Island High School]]
* [[May River High School]]
* [[Whale Branch Early College High School]]
{{div col end}}

; Charter schools
* [[Bridges Preparatory School]]

; Private schools
* John Paul II Catholic School
* [[Hilton Head Christian Academy]]
* Beaufort Academy

==Communities==
Beaufort County is included within the [[Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area|Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area]] which had an estimated population of 232,523 in 2023.<ref name="PopEstCBSA">{{cite web |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#v2023 |access-date=March 15, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division}}</ref>

===Cities===
* [[Beaufort, South Carolina|Beaufort]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Bluffton, South Carolina|Bluffton]]
* [[Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|Hilton Head Island]] (largest community)
* [[Port Royal, South Carolina|Port Royal]]
* [[Yemassee, South Carolina|Yemassee]] (partly in Hampton County)
* [[Hardeeville, South Carolina|Hardeeville]] (mostly in Jasper County)

===Census-designated places===
* [[Burton, South Carolina|Burton]]
* [[Dale, South Carolina|Dale]]
* [[Daufuskie Island, South Carolina (CDP)|Daufuskie Island]]
* [[Fripp Island, South Carolina (CDP)|Fripp Island]]
* [[Harbor Island, South Carolina (CDP)|Harbor Island]]
* [[Laurel Bay, South Carolina|Laurel Bay]]
* [[Lobeco, South Carolina|Lobeco]]
* [[Sheldon, South Carolina|Sheldon]]
* [[Shell Point, South Carolina|Shell Point]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Brighton Beach, South Carolina|Brighton Beach]]
* [[Frogmore, South Carolina|Frogmore]]
* [[Lady's Island (South Carolina)|Lady's Island]]
* [[Parris Island, South Carolina|Parris Island]]
* [[Pocotaligo, South Carolina|Pocotaligo]]
* [[Pritchardville, South Carolina|Pritchardville]]
* [[Sun City Hilton Head|Sun City]]
* [[Seabrook, South Carolina|Seabrook]]
{{div col end}}

===Named islands===
''Some islands are also towns.''
{{Div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Barataria Island]]
* [[Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge|Bull Island]]
* [[Callawassie Island]]
* [[Cane Island (South Carolina)|Cane Island]]
* [[Coosaw Island]]
* [[Dataw Island]]
* [[Daufuskie Island]]
* [[Fripp Island, South Carolina|Fripp Island]]
* [[Grays Hill]]
* [[Harbor Island, South Carolina|Harbor Island]]
* [[Hilton Head Island, South Carolina|Hilton Head Island]]
* [[Hunting Island State Park|Hunting Island]]
* [[Lady's Island (South Carolina)|Lady's Island]]
* [[Lemon Island]]
* [[Little Capers Island]] (uninhabited)
* [[Morgan Island, South Carolina|Morgan Island]]
* [[Parris Island, South Carolina|Parris Island]]
* [[Poppy Hill]]
* [[Port Royal Island]]
* [[Pritchard Island]] (uninhabited research station)
* [[Saint Helena Island (South Carolina)|Saint Helena Island]]
* [[Spring Island]]
* [[St. Phillips Island]]
* [[Warsaw Island]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Pat Conroy]], author
* [[Clarence Cummings]], weightlifter
* [[Joe Frazier]], boxer
* [[Candice Glover]], [[American Idol (season 12)|American Idol Season 12]] winner
* [[Bob Inglis]], politician
* [[Greg Jones (fullback)|Greg Jones]], football player
* [[Thomas E. Miller]], educator, lawyer, politician, son of Declaration signer Thomas E. Heyward, Jr.
* [[James Saxon (American football)|James Saxon]], football player
* [[Duncan Sheik]], musician
* [[Wayne Simmons (American football)|Wayne Simmons]], football player
* [[Robert Smalls]], politician
* [[Stan Smith]], tennis player
* [[Devin Taylor (American football)|Devin Taylor]], football player
* [[D.J. Trahan]], golfer
* [[Kathryn R. Wall]], author<ref name="KRW">{{cite web|title=Kathryn Wall|url=http://www.kathrynwall.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021018234721/http://www.kathrynwall.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 18, 2002|publisher=Cincinnati Media|access-date=November 28, 2016}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[List of counties in South Carolina]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Beaufort County, South Carolina]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Lawrence S. Rowland, ''The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina.'' Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1996.
* Stephen R. Wise and Lawrence S. Rowland, ''Rebellion, Reconstruction, and Redemption, 1861-1893: The History of Beaufort County, South Carolina, Volume 2.'' Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 2015.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{osmrelation|1856998}}
* {{Official website|https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/}}
* [http://www.beaufortsc.org/ Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://www.rootsandrecall.com/beaufort/ Beaufort County history and images]
* [http://www.beaufortgazette.com ''The Beaufort Gazette''], daily newspaper circulating primarily "north of the Broad"
* [http://www.islandpacket.com ''The Island Packet''], daily newspaper circulating primarily "south of the Broad"

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Beaufort County, South Carolina
|North     = [[Colleton County, South Carolina|Colleton County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Jasper County, South Carolina|Jasper County]]
|Northwest = [[Hampton County, South Carolina|Hampton County]]
}}
{{Beaufort County, South Carolina}}
{{South Carolina Lowcountry}}
{{South Carolina}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Beaufort County, South Carolina| ]]
[[Category:1769 establishments in South Carolina]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1769]]
[[Category:Hilton Head Island–Beaufort micropolitan area]]