BLUFFTON

Bluffton is located on the Atlantic Coast near the southeastern end of South Carolina in Beaufort County. As part of an area referred to as the Lowcountry (the low-lying area or the coastal plains of Georgia and South Carolina), Bluffton is 23 miles north of Savannah, GA and about 100 miles south of Charleston, SC. Its closest neighbor is Hilton Head Island, just over the bridge on U.S. 278. Bluffton, an area covering 34 square miles, derives its name from an advantageous position on a scenic bluff above the May River. Along with Hilton Head and Beaufort, it is part of the Treasured Coast of South Carolina.

As you enter Bluffton on Highway 46, you are greeted by a sign that quickly introduces you to the town:

"Settled in 1825 as a summer resort of rice and cotton planters, this town was incorporated in 1852. Here in 1842 was launched the protest against the federal tariff known as the Bluffton movement."

This hints at a colorful and important past, made apparent by the historic buildings and churches, antebellum homes, and antique shops located in the National Register Historic District. Amenities that are more contemporary include a growing number of residential communities offering fertile landscapes that embrace the area's golf courses and homes.

The population of the town is very small, numbering only 1,275 according to the 2000 census, although the surrounding areas inflate the number considerably. Census data also show increasing numbers of young people commuting to work from their homes in Bluffton. Development of residential communities along U.S. 278 has been followed by commercial enterprises, such as restaurants, shopping centers, and medical facilities, suggesting a dynamic future. The weather is an asset as well, with average temperatures ranging from the low 40's in December and January to the upper 80's in July and August. Summer temperatures in the area provide an escape from the heat of the lower-lying areas thanks to the bluff.

After the war, some of the people returned and, along with others from surrounding areas and the north, rebuilt Bluffton around commercial activities tied to the river and forest products. This lasted until the early part of the 20th century, when construction of roads and bridges allowed freight to be transported by trucks rather than riverboats. As the surrounding area developed, especially Hilton Head Island, Bluffton again attracted those looking for summer homes along the May River.