Where I Come From: Beaufort, South Carolina

The house in which the Articles of the Confederacy were signed

The history of Beaufort, South Carolina is one of the most comprehensive and diverse of any community of its size in the United States. The area has been subject to numerous explorations and several aborted attempts at colonization before the British successfully founded the city in 1711, the second-oldest in South Carolina. The city initially grew slowly, subject to numerous attacks from Native Americans before flourishing as a regional center for the Low country plantation economy up through the American Civil War. The community rebounded in the latter half of the 20^th century and is today recognized as one of the most livable small towns in the country. Beaufort has retained much of its historic character through its renowned architecture and historic preservation efforts.

Beaufort was chartered in 1711 as the second major settlement in South Carolina. The town was named after Henry Somerset, 2nd Duke of Beaufort. The settlement grew slowly after a major attack by a Native American tribe, the Yemassee, in 1717 and the threat of Spanish invasion from Florida. It was not until 1733 and the founding of Georgia as a buffer dolony did Beaufort truly grow in population and prestice. Though most administrative powers during the early Carolina colony was focused in Charleston, the city gained a reputation for its excellent harbor and the establishment of several church congregations, most notable being St. Helena's Episcopal. By 1776, the city became well-known for its shipbuilding enterprises, its rice and indigo trade, and was home to a new circuit court for the colony.