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.

Bluffton and the surrounding Hilton Head Island area afford unlimited activities for residents and visitors alike. Practically anything you can imagine is in the offing, from just relaxing on the beach to a more active lifestyle involving tennis and golf at the many championship facilities. In between, you can enjoy walking or biking, visiting museums, touring nearby plantations, horseback riding, boating, fishing, and, of course, shopping, among many other things.

Given the quality of life on the area, it is understandable why tourism is such a major part of the scene. Well over 2 million visitors arrive annually to enjoy the hospitality of the Lowcountry area that includes Bluffton and Hilton Head. The major east coast north-south Interstate highway, I-95, is less than an hour away. The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, about 45 minutes away, offers many non-stop flights to major cities.

The Bluffton area dates back several millennia to when it served as home to Native Americans. Europeans first explored lands to the north in the early 16th century when the Spanish arrived, followed in 1562 by the French, and finally, the British established colonies. The area remained in the hands of the Yemassee Indians until they were driven out in 1728.

Bluffton was active in the discontent over Federal tariffs that led to the Civil War, with South Carolina’s first calls for secession originating here in 1844; historically know as the Bluffton Movement. When the Union captured Hilton Head Island in 1861, most of the town’s citizens abandoned their homes, leaving their belongings to be taken at will by the troops. Little damage was done, however, until the order came to burn the town on June 4, 1863. Of the original buildings, only two churches and eight homes remain today. One of these is the Heyward House, originally a summer home for Mr. John Cole, the owner of Moreland Plantation, and is open for visitation by the public.

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.