Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city of 13,747 people in Beaufort County, South Carolina, founded in 1711.
Why visit Beaufort
Townapedia lists 27 museums and landmarks, 39 parks and trails, 79 places to eat, 20 places to stay and 5 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge, University of South Carolina Beaufort, Beaufort Historic District and Barnwell-Gough House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 92°F; January lows average 40°F.
Weather in Beaufort
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Beaufort
Beaufort is a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 13,607 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Hilton Head Island metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article Beaufort, South Carolina (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do5
Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Bridge in United States of America
University of South Carolina Beaufort
School · 3.1 mi
Public university with three locations in South Carolina, U.S.
1100 Boundary Street, Beaufort
Broad River Bridge
Bridge · 6.2 mi
Bridge in United States of America
Museums and landmarks27
Beaufort Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Designated U.S. historic district in Beaufort, South Carolina
Barnwell-Gough House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
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Beaufort National Cemetery
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic veterans cemetery in Beaufort County, South Carolina
Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.2 mi
South Carolina
John A. Cuthbert House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
House in Beaufort, South Carolina
John Mark Verdier House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
Little Barnwell Island
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.4 mi
Archeological site in South Carolina, United States
Marshlands
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
McLeod Farmstead
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.8 mi
Building in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Robert Smalls House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic house in South Carolina, United States
Tabby Manse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Historic home in Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.A.
The Anchorage
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Historic house in Beaufort, South Carolina
15 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds39
27 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes79
Ocha Indeed
Restaurant · Thai · 1.7 mi
2127 Boundary Street, Beaufort
Mo-Th 11:00-14:00,16:30-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-14:00,16:30-20:30
Papaya Thai & Sushi Bar
Restaurant · Thai · 2.8 mi
1001 Boundary Street, Beaufort
Tu-Fr 11:00-15:00,16:30-21:00; Sa 12:00-15:00,16:30-21:30; Su...
Rosie O'Grady's Irish American Pub
Bar and pub · 1.7 mi
2127 Boundary Street, Beaufort
Mo-Sa 11:30-02:00,Su 16:00-02:00
Chinatown Restaurant
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.4 mi
2301 Boundary Street, Beaufort
Mo-Sa 11:00-20:00
El Don
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.3 mi
2317 Boundary Street, Beaufort
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30,Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30,Su 11:00-21:00
Poncho's Tacos & Beer
Restaurant · Tacos · 1.8 mi
2121 Boundary Street, Beaufort
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:30-21:00
67 more on the map.
History
Written history began 500 years ago with the exploration of the area by Spanish Captain Pedro de Salazar between 1514 and 1516. Nearby, the colony of Santa Elena was having problems by 1566, when a group of potential settlers sailed from northwest Iberia and the Spanish governor of Floritda, Acinega, dispatched under Captain Pardo and 250 men to reinforce the colony.
The Lowcountry region had been subject to numerous European explorations and failed attempts at colonization before 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 Civil War.
Several months after hostilities began, Beaufort was occupied by Union forces following the Battle of Port Royal. Due to its early occupation, the city attracted escaping slaves. The Union declared the slaves emancipated and initiated efforts at education and preparation for full independence. The Freedmen's Bureau worked with local blacks during Reconstruction.
From the History section of Beaufort, South Carolina on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay20
Churches and places of worship43
Union Church of Port Royal
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 5.5 mi
Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witness
Place of worship · Jehovahs Witness · 2.8 mi
2 Providence Road, Beaufort
Fishers of Men Pentecostal Church
Place of worship · Pentecostal · 2.6 mi
1311 Congress Street, Beaufort
Fellowship Concert Choir
Place of worship · 2.7 mi
1213 Congress Street, Beaufort
Shopping21
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries37
Healthcare3
Map of Beaufort
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60°F | 40°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 64°F | 43°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 70°F | 49°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 77°F | 56°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 84°F | 64°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 89°F | 71°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 92°F | 74°F | 5.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 90°F | 74°F | 6.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 86°F | 70°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 78°F | 59°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 69°F | 48°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 63°F | 43°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Beaufort Mcas (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Beaufort County has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2024-09-29: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-29: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-26: Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-05: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2023-08-31: Hurricane Idalia (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Beaufort Executive Airport (BFT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Rincon 32 mi west, about 51 min by car
- Port Wentworth 34 mi southwest, about 54 min by car
- Wilmington Island 35 mi southwest, about 56 min by car
- Garden City 37 mi southwest, about 59 min by car
- Pooler 40 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Savannah 41 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Georgetown 44 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- North Charleston 50 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Charleston 51 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Richmond Hill 52 mi southwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Downtown Beaufort, Cdamgen, Public domain
- 11 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6595 (12386185673), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 09 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6592 (12386165653), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 04 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6587 (12385955725), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 02 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6585 (12386085283), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 07 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6590 (12386442244), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 01 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6584 (12385920805), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 08 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6591 (12386452764), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 10 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6594 (12386177803), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 05 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6588 (12385969035), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 03 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6586 (12386099053), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 06 Kazoo Museum Beaufort SC 6589 (12385981545), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 21 Egrets Beaufort SC 6403 (12367951294), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 16 Beaufort SC 6398 (12367436195), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 22 Egrets Beaufort SC 6404 (12367686473), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 28 Egrets Beaufort SC 6410 (12368125104), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 05 Beaufort SC 6385 (12367214445), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 11 Egrets Beaufort SC 6393 (12367512133), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 14 Egrets Beaufort SC 6396 (12367855044), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 07 Egrets Beaufort SC 6387 (12367262635), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 26 Egrets Beaufort SC 6408 (12367613535), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 17 Beaufort SC 6399 (12367452025), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 03 Beaufort SC 6383 (12367636954), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 08 Egrets Beaufort SC 6388 (12367287085), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 09 Egrets Beaufort SC 6389 (12367480943), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 30 Beaufort SC 6412 (12368154934), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 24 Egrets Beaufort SC 6406 (12368018144), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 27 Egrets Beaufort SC 6409 (12367817243), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 10 Egrets Beaufort SC 6390 (12367338335), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 29 Beaufort SC 6411 (12367684365), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 23 Egrets Beaufort SC 6405 (12367541395), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 02 Beaufort SC 6382 (12367171305), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 06 Beaufort SC 6386 (12367399753), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 25 Egrets Beaufort SC 6407 (12368041974), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 52 Egrets Beaufort SC 6812 (12368437324), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 54 Egrets Beaufort SC 6814 (12368472134), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- 59 Egrets Beaufort SC 6819 (12368533174), bobistraveling, CC BY 2.0
- Saltus-Habersham House, 802 Bay Street, (Beaufort, South Carolina), Charles N. Bayless, photographer, Public domain
- Woods Memorial Bridge, Cantbeatpie at English Wikipedia, GFDL
- Beaufortnatcem, Gnhn ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
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