Beaufort, South Carolina

Beaufort is one of the oldest towns in South Carolina, second only to Charleston. Nearby Parris Island was France's first colony in the New World. 304 acres of this small town have been awarded National Historic Landmark status. Because of its southern motif, Beaufort is a frequent location for films including The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides, and Forrest Gump. Major festivals and arts events include the Water Festival, a two-week extravaganza in the middle of July. The Shrimp Festival, celebrating the local and traditional industry, is in the second weekend in October. Three institutions of higher education are located in the Beaufort area. These are the University of South Carolina Beaufort Main Campus, the Technical College of the Lowcountry Beaufort Campus and the Clemson University extension office. The Downtown Marina is Beaufort's nautical gateway to the Intercoastal Waterway and the surrounding Sea Islands. Both Beaufort County and its county seat of Beaufort were named for Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort (1684-1714), one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.