A century later, the English stepped into development plans for the Beaufort area when, on March 24, 1663, King Charles II granted the Coastal Area to eight ‘Lord Proprietors.’ They named their territory “Carolina” in honor of King Charles I.
Beaufort, the second oldest town in South Carolina, was founded in 1711. Beaufort was named for Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort (1684-1714), one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.
Beaufort was a colonial gem with wealthy planters and merchants. Nearby is Penn Center, the first school for freed black slaves established by Unitarians from Pennsylvania even as the Civil War waged on. In the 1980s, Beaufort saw its tourist fortunes rise with the filming of several major Hollywood films here, including “The Big Chill,” “Forrest Gump,” and “Prince of Tides” – the latter written by Pat Conroy, who calls this area his home.
Beaufort’s been named a “Best Small Southern Town” by Southern Living, “Top 25 Small City Arts Destination” by American Style, a “Top 20 Fishing Town” by Field and Stream, a “Top 50 Adventure Town” by National Geographic Adventure and a “Top 200 Outdoors Town” by Outdoor Life magazine.
A careful note of local importance that sets apart the Carolinas: In Beaufort, South Carolina, the name is pronounced BYEW-ford. In North Carolina, a coastal town of great similarity with the same spelling is pronounced BO-fort.
For information about Beaufort’s celebration of its 300th birthday and the city’s extensive history, visit http://www.beaufortthreecentury.org/.

The economic outlook for South Carolina calls for a 0.2% improvement in the job base and a 3.3% increase in personal income.
USC researchers cite many economic indicators showing the recession is over but warned that growth will depend on moderate
energy costs, a housing rebound and a steady stock market.
By Mike Fitts
mfitts@scbiznews.com
Published Dec. 2, 2009
South Carolina’s economy should show some recovery in growth and jobs in 2010, but unemployment will remain stubbornly high,
according to economists presenting at a conference today at the University of South Carolina.
“Many of our economic indicators suggest that South Carolina’s long recession is now over,” said USC economist Doug Woodward.
“Continued growth will depend on moderate energy and fuel costs, a housing rebound and a steady stock market. Consumers, who
have been sharply cutting spending, will have to get back in the market to have a vigorous recovery.”
The state’s job base should improve by 0.2%, according to the research of Woodward and Paulo Guimaraes, both of USC’s Moore
School of Business. They are to present their findings at USC’s annual Economic Outlook Conference this afternoon, which also will
feature a panel discussion of what South Carolina can expect from 2010.
“The projected small rise in job growth will not be high enough to make much of a dent in the state’s historically high unemployment
rate,” Woodward said. The state’s unemployment rate could stay above 10% for another year, he said.
Manufacturing employment in particular is projected to continue falling. “Boeing will definitely have an impact in North Charleston,
but the state as a whole cannot count on the construction sector contributing many jobs, as it has in past recoveries,” Woodward
said.
Personal income should climb by 3.3% in 2010, versus a decline of 1.4% in 2009.
In a statement, Woodward emphasized that holiday sales would say a great deal about the state’s growth prospects and that
there’s still much uncertainty in economic forecasting.
“Another financial shock and the whole economy could be in trouble again. We could face a relapse. Even so, we diagnose a
healthy recovery for early 2010. The positive effects of the federal economic stimulus will be felt through midyear.”
Housing, office and retail construction could start to show signs of life, Woodward said. Single-family housing activity should
expand, but from a low base, he said.
A less expensive dollar could help in two ways, Woodward said. S.C. exporters could find their products to be more competitively
priced internationally, and tourists from Canada and overseas could see the state as a better bargain in 2010.
“With the falling dollar and higher energy prices going into the economic recovery, there will be upward pressure on consumer price
inflation in 2010,” Woodward said.

The coastal conservation association has come up with a bold approach for a fishing tournament. Thirty days with 5 tagged redfish in the waters surrounding Beaufort.If you are in the tournament and catch one of these fish you have a chance to win a boat from butler marine of Beaufort or a four wheeler from Bass Pro Shops.This is a way to boost membership in a group that truly does have the future of Beaufort in its heart. These are people who fish. They have seen what over fishing has done in our area, and want to save Beaufort’s natural resources for the next generation. Billy Plair and Danny Rourk have tirelessly worked to help make Beaufort aware of what we have and know we must work to keep it.

When I was growing up in the Lowcountry we had no limits on fish so you caught as many as you were willing to clean. Then we had growth in our fishing population and it got harder to find the fish. We needed a change to help save this great natural resource.

Today we have people in place doing studies and making sure we are protecting our Lowcountry. We have the ear of the politicians and an organization that cares.

Get involved and help this continue and in the mean time get out and fish.

 Michael Mark

3^rd generation Local