The atmosphere of antebellum days is preserved in this old town's gracious houses and churches. Second oldest town in the state, Beaufort (BEW-fort) looks to the sea from Port Royal Island, one of 64 islands that comprise the county. Tourism and the military are major sources of income in this community.

Spanish explorers first noted the harbor in 1514-1515. In 1526, colonists from Spain made an unsuccessful attempt to settle the area. In 1562, a group of Frenchmen established the first Protestant colony on the continent, which also failed. English and Scottish attempts followed, with success finally coming when the present city was laid out and named for the Duke of Beaufort. The town was almost completely destroyed by Native Americans in 1715, captured by the British in the Revolution, and menaced by British cannons in 1812. Nearly the entire population evacuated Beaufort when it was captured by Northern troops during the Civil War.