View source for Bluffton, South Carolina

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Bluffton, South Carolina
| settlement_type          = [[Town]]
| motto                    = "A State of Mind"
| nickname                 = Heart of the Lowcountry
| image_caption            = Clockwise from top: May River, Heyward House, a gravel path, Carecore Drive, a post office, Myrtle Island, and The Store
| image_skyline            = Bluffton Montage 2012.png
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_flag               = Bluffton, SC Town Flag.gif
| image_seal               = Town of Bluffton Seal.png
| image_blank_emblem       = Bluffton, SC Town Logo.jpg
| blank_emblem_type        = Logo
| image_map                = File:BlufftonImageMap.svg
| map_caption              = Location of Bluffton in Beaufort County, South Carolina
| pushpin_map              = South Carolina#USA
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within South Carolina##Location within the United States
| pushpin_label            = Bluffton
| pushpin_relief           = yes
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = South Carolina
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in South Carolina|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Beaufort County, South Carolina|Beaufort]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = 
| leader_party             = 
| governing_body           = Bluffton Town Council
| established_title        = Settled
| established_date         = 1728
| established_title1       = Incorporated
| established_date1        = 1852<ref name="scency">{{cite web |title=Bluffton, South Carolina |url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/bluffton/ |website=[[South Carolina Encyclopedia]] |access-date=July 25, 2022}}</ref>
| named_for                = Original jurisdiction on a bluff above the May River<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/319/About-Bluffton|title=About Bluffton|publisher=www.townofbluffton.sc.gov|access-date=December 7, 2022}}</ref>
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='45'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 140.36
| area_land_km2            = 134.60
| area_water_km2           = 5.77
| area_total_sq_mi         = 54.19
| area_land_sq_mi          = 51.97
| area_water_sq_mi         = 2.23
| area_water_percent       = 4.12
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total         = 27716
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly"/>
| population_density_km2   = 205.92
| population_density_sq_mi = 533.33
| population_urban         = 71824 (US: [[List of United States urban areas|395th]])<ref name="urban area">{{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/29/2022-28286/2020-census-qualifying-urban-areas-and-final-criteria-clarifications|title=2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications|author=United States Census Bureau|website=Federal Register|date=December 29, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_urban_km2 = 438.5
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 1135.7
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EST]]
| utc_offset               = −5
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST           = −4
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 20
| coordinates              = {{coord|32|13|50|N|80|55|50|W|region:US-SC|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=gnis/>
<!-- Area/postal codes and others -->
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code              = 29909-29910
| area_code                = [[Area codes 843 and 854|843, 854]]
| area_code_type           = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 45-07210
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2405288<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2405288}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/}}
| footnotes                = 
}}

'''Bluffton''' is a [[town]] in southern [[Beaufort County, South Carolina]], United States. The population as of the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]] was 27,716, an increase of over 120% since the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], making it the [[List of municipalities in South Carolina|17th-most populous municipality]] and one of the fastest growing municipalities in South Carolina.<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts"/><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/profile/sc#locality-tab "Census 2010: South Carolina"]''USA Today'', March 23, 2011. Accessed June 6, 2012.</ref> It is primarily located around [[U.S. Route 278 in South Carolina|U.S. Route 278]] between [[Hilton Head Island]] and [[Interstate 95 in South Carolina|Interstate 95]]. Bluffton is a principal town within the [[Hilton Head Island–Bluffton metropolitan area|Hilton Head Island metropolitan area]].

The [[Lowcountry]] town's original one square mile area, now known as Old Town, is situated on a bluff along the May River. After the [[Tariff of 1842]], Bluffton became a hotbed of separatist sentiment, which in turn led to a protest against federal taxes called the [[Bluffton Movement]] in 1844. Even though the movement quickly died out, it somewhat contributed to the secession movement that led to South Carolina being the first state to leave the Union. In the Antebellum Period, Bluffton became a popular location for wealthy merchants and plantation owners. During the Civil War, two thirds of the town was destroyed by fire during the Union's Bluffton Expedition on June 4, 1863.<ref name="Jeff Fulgham 2012">Jeff Fulgham, ''The Bluffton Expedition: The Burning of Bluffton, South Carolina, During the Civil War'' (Bluffton, S.C.: Jeff Fulgham, 2012), 155.</ref>

==History==
[[File:ChurchOfTheCross.JPG|thumb|Church of the Cross]]

===Colonial era (1670–1776)===
During the 17th and the 18th centuries, the area comprising southern Beaufort County was known as Granville County of St. Luke's Parish. The [[Yamasee]] people were invited to settle in the area by Lord Cardoss, leader of the nearby Scottish settlement in Beaufort. The Yamasee established ten towns with over 1,200 inhabitants in the area. In 1715, the [[Yamasee War]] broke out, and after several years of fighting, the Yamasee migrated to [[Florida]], opening the "Indian Lands" to European settlement. In 1718, the Lords Proprietors carved the area into several new baronies, including the Devil's Elbow Barony that contained the future town of Bluffton. The first titled owner of the land was the [[Barbados|Barbadian]] planter Sir John Colleton. Following the departure of the Yamasee people, colonists began building plantations in the Bluffton area in 1728. The Colletons prospered by growing cotton, corn and [[indigo dye|indigo]].<ref name="RoseHillHistory">Rose Hill Mansion [https://archive.today/20130411180929/http://www.rosehillmansion.com/James_Kirk.html rosehillmansion.com]</ref>

===American Revolution (1776–1785)===
Before his death in 1776, Sir John Colleton (grandson of the original owner) developed plantations near Victoria Bluff - Foot Point areas and later disposed of much of his barony, much of it bought by the Rose and Kirk families.<ref name="RoseHillHistory" /> These plantations were destroyed by the British under [[Augustine Prévost|General Prévost]] in 1779.<ref name=BHPS>{{cite book| last=Huffman| first=Donna| title=A Guide to Historic Bluffton |year=2007| publisher=Bluffton Historical Preservation Society| isbn=978-1-60530-375-8|page=8}}</ref> During the 18th century, much of the land south of the May River (now known as Palmetto Bluff) was covered with [[rice]] fields.<ref name="rice">{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Grant |date=July 4, 2012 |url=http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/04/2124776/palmetto-bluff-to-re-create-history.html |title=Palmetto Bluff to re-create history with 40 acres of rice fields |work=Island Packet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914233748/http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/04/2124776/palmetto-bluff-to-re-create-history.html |archive-date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> Rice became a lucrative crop and a part of lowcountry culture until the early 20th century when it was disrupted by a series of devastating storms.<ref name="ricestorms">Island Packet article storm [https://web.archive.org/web/20120607230631/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20101019/ARCHIVES/310199980 islandpacket.com]</ref>

===Antebellum era (1785–1861)===
[[File:SecessionOak.jpg|thumb|right|upright|This 350- to 400-year-old [[live oak]] tree, known as the "Secession Oak", is where [[Robert Barnwell Rhett]] called for the South to withdraw from the Union in 1844.<ref>{{cite web | last = Wile | first = Rob | title = Secession Oak Draws Crowd on 166th Anniversary of Bluffton Speech Under its Bows | publisher = The Island Packet | date = July 31, 2010 | url = http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/07/31/1324331/secession-oak-draws-crowd-on-116th.html | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140319090023/http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/07/31/1324331/secession-oak-draws-crowd-on-116th.html | archive-date = March 19, 2014 }}</ref>]]
The town of Bluffton was eventually built on two adjoining parcels in the Devil's Elbow Barony purchased by Benjamin Walls and James Kirk. The first homes were constructed during the early 1800s by area plantation owners seeking the high ground and cool river breezes as an escape from the unhealthy conditions present on Lowcountry rice and cotton plantations. Easy access by water provided more incentive for expansion, and the many tidal coves afforded excellent locations for residences. The community was originally known as "Kirk's Landing" or "Kirk's Bluff" as shown in Mill's Atlas of 1825. The first streets were formally laid out during the 1830s and the name of Bluffton decided upon in the early 1840s as a compromise between the Kirk and Pope families.

The first South Carolina secession movement began under what is now known as the Secession Oak tree, led by [[Robert Barnwell Rhett]] on July 31, 1844. In the 1850s, a steamboat landing was built at the end of Calhoun Street, and Bluffton became the commercial center of southern Beaufort County as a stopover for travelers between [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]] and Beaufort. In 1852, the town was officially incorporated by an act of the South Carolina General Assembly and comprised approximately one square mile.<ref name="scency"/> The iconic [[Church of the Cross]] was designed by architect [[Edward Brickell White]] to seat up to 600 parishioners at a cost of $5,000, and construction began in 1854. On July 17, 1857, the first services were held at the Church of the Cross.<ref name="historic">Historic District Inventory [http://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/departments/growthmanagement/Documents/HistoricDistrict_InventoryBoard.pdf townofbluffton.sc.gov]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Civil War and postbellum era (1861–1945)===
After a [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] victory at the [[Battle of Port Royal]] on November 7, 1861, [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] Brigadier-General Thomas F. Drayton directed the evacuation of rebel forces from [[Hilton Head Island]] to the Bluffton mainland. Occupying Port Royal Harbor, the Union's [[Union blockade|South Atlantic Blockading Squadron]] could then be monitored from rebel lookouts dispersed from Bluffton's substantial picket headquarters. Bluffton's location resulted in it being the only strategic position on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] at which the Confederates could gather direct intelligence on the Union squadron that was conducting crucial blockade operations along the southern coastline. In late May 1863, Major-General David Hunter, Commander of the [[Department of the South]], ordered the destruction of Bluffton by fire. The Union "Expedition against Bluffton" was carried out on June 4, 1863, destroying approximately two thirds of the town's estimated 60 structures.<ref name="Jeff Fulgham 2012"/> Only the town's two churches and fifteen residences remained standing after the attack. Eight antebellum homes and two churches still exist in Old Town and highlight the town's nationally popular registered historic district.

[[File:10 year old Jimmie. Been shucking 3 years. 6 pots a day, and a 11 year old boy who shucks 7 pots.jpg|thumb|right|Child labor at Varn & Platt Canning Company in Bluffton, 1913. Photo by [[Lewis Hine]].]]
Rebuilding came slowly, as few local landowners could still afford the luxury of a summer home in Bluffton. The town did not experience a true rebuilding until the 1880s, when it emerged as a commercial center for Beaufort County.

===Contemporary era (1945–present)===
Bluffton remained a commercial center until Coastal Highway ([[U.S. Route 17|US 17]]) and the bridge at [[Port Wentworth, Georgia|Port Wentworth]] over the [[Savannah River]] were completed, which made riverboat trade and travel less attractive. The [[Great Depression]] began shortly thereafter and brought the closure of the town's prosperity and commercial importance. The popularity of Bluffton as a vacation spot remained even after its loss of commercial stature.

The development of [[Hilton Head Island]], nearby [[Sun City Hilton Head|Sun City]] and the related development in the 1990s caused a resurgence of commercial activity in the town. In 1996, Bluffton was designated a National Historic District with 46 contributing buildings and two contributing sites. In 1998, the Heyward House opened to the public by the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society. In 1999, the Heyward House was part of the Save America's Treasures program. The Heyward House became the town's welcome center in 2000, and the Old Town Bluffton historic district was established through zoning regulations and architectural standards. In 2005, Bluffton was recognized as a [[Preserve America]] Community, a federal program that encourages community efforts to preserve the nation's cultural and historical assets.

[[Altamaha Town]], [[Bluffton Historic District]], [[Church of the Cross]], and [[Rose Hill Plantation House]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Bluffton was once mostly wetlands, many of which were drained possibly during the antebellum era. Agriculture and pine timber harvesting contributed to the landscape still present today. The town proper consists of five primary areas. The historic district of Old Town, on the northern bluff of the May River; Palmetto Bluff, located on the southern side of the May River; Jones Estate, situated along the New River; Buckwalter, located on the northwest side of town; and Shultz Tract, north of Old Town. The May River winds through the center of town. The New River forms the southwest boundary of the town.

===Topography===
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|54.19|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|51.97|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.23|sqmi}} (4.12%) is water.<ref name="TigerWebMapServer"/> Bluffton is the fifth largest municipality in South Carolina by land area.<ref name="Southeastdiscovery">[http://www.southeastdiscovery.com/taxonomy/term/707/0?page=1 "Southeastdiscovery"]''Southeast Discovery'', Accessed June 12, 2012.</ref> The municipal boundary contains many large "doughnut holes" of unincorporated territory due to [[Constitution of South Carolina|South Carolina's strict annexation laws]]. Most of Bluffton was undeveloped land until the [[Real estate bubble|housing boom of the early 2000s]], which led to explosive growth in Bluffton's area. Many of Bluffton's [[planned unit development]]s were built during this time. By 2012, many of these developments remained only partially complete due to the [[Great Recession]].

=== Climate ===
Bluffton has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa''), with very mild winters, hot, humid summers, and significant rainfall all year long. August is the wettest month; almost half of the annual rainfall occurs during the summer months in the form of [[thundershower]]s. Fall remains relatively warm through November. Winter is short and mild, and is characterized by occasional rain. [[Snow]] flurries rarely occur.  The highest temperature recorded was {{convert|107|°F|°C|0|lk=on}}, in 1986, and the lowest temperature recorded was {{convert|4|°F|°C|0}} on [[January 1985 Arctic outbreak|January 21, 1985]].<ref name="maxmintemps">Maximum and minimum temperatures from [http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USSC0028 Weather.com]</ref> Hurricanes are a major threat to the area during the summer and early fall but there has not been a major hurricane event in Bluffton since the [[1893 Sea Islands hurricane|Category 3 Sea Islands Hurricane in 1893]].

{{Weather box
|location = Bluffton, South Carolina
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high F = 85
|Feb record high F = 84
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 107
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 97
|Nov record high F = 88
|Dec record high F = 83
|year record high F= 107
|Jan high F = 60
|Feb high F = 63
|Mar high F = 70
|Apr high F = 75
|May high F = 82
|Jun high F = 86
|Jul high F = 90
|Aug high F = 88
|Sep high F = 84
|Oct high F = 78
|Nov high F = 70
|Dec high F = 64
|year high F=
|Jan low F = 40
|Feb low F = 43
|Mar low F = 49
|Apr low F = 55
|May low F = 63
|Jun low F = 71
|Jul low F = 74
|Aug low F = 73
|Sep low F = 69
|Oct low F = 59
|Nov low F = 50
|Dec low F = 43
|year low F=
|Jan record low F = 4
|Feb record low F = 15
|Mar record low F = 21
|Apr record low F = 32
|May record low F = 37
|Jun record low F = 45
|Jul record low F = 50
|Aug record low F = 53
|Sep record low F = 46
|Oct record low F = 32
|Nov record low F = 23
|Dec record low F = 10
|year record low F= 4
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.97
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.31
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.43
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.15
|May precipitation inch = 1.97
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.50
|Jul precipitation inch = 6.31
|Aug precipitation inch = 7.63
|Sep precipitation inch = 5.82
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.61
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.59
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.11
|source 1 = [[The Weather Channel (United States)|The Weather Channel]]<ref name=USWC>{{cite web
| url = http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USSC0028 | title = Average Weather for Bluffton, SC – Temperature and Precipitation | access-date = June 6, 2012
}}</ref>
|date=June 2012
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 170
|1910= 577
|1920= 480
|1930= 570
|1940= 459
|1950= 474
|1960= 356
|1970= 529
|1980= 541
|1990= 738
|2000= 1275
|2010= 12530
|2020= 27716
|estyear=2023
|estimate=35243
|estref=<ref name="2020CensusQuickFacts">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/blufftontownsouthcarolina|title=QuickFacts: Bluffton town, South Carolina|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 16, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly">{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:45&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 15, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Bluffton racial composition<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4507210&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 15, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|19,573
|70.62%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,284
|8.24%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|61
|0.22%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|571
|2.06%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|10
|0.04%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|1,169
|4.22%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|4,048
|14.61%
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 27,716 people, 7,560 households, and 5,402 families residing in the town.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 12,530 people, 4,417 households, and 3,323 families residing in the town, on a land area of {{convert|51.3|sqmi|km2|sigfig=3}}. The population density was {{convert|244.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,393 housing units at an average density of {{convert|105.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

The town of Bluffton grew 882.7% between the 2000 and 2010 census, making it the fastest growing municipality in South Carolina with a population over 2,500. Housing units grew 976.4%.

The racial makeup of the town was 71.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 16.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.0% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], <0.1% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 7.3% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 18.8% of the population.

There were 4,417 households, out of which 54.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 35.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males. Estimated household income for 2009 was $53,386, the estimated median house value was $237,868, median gross rent was $1,179.<ref>[http://www.city-data.com/city/Bluffton-South-Carolina.html "Bluffton, South Carolina City-Data"] ''City-data.com''. Retrieved August 28, 2012.</ref>

Bluffton is a principal city in the [[Hilton Head Island–Bluffton metropolitan area|Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which includes [[Beaufort County, South Carolina|Beaufort]] and [[Jasper County, South Carolina|Jasper]] counties. In 2014, the MSA had an estimated year-round population of 203,022.<ref>[[List of Primary Statistical Areas]]</ref>

== Economy ==
Long a stopover between Hilton Head and Savannah, Bluffton has become a tourist destination in its own right with a large number of hotels, restaurants and shopping areas such as [[Tanger Factory Outlet Centers|Tanger Outlets]]. The [[Auberge Resorts|Inn at Palmetto Bluff]] has received a number of awards including Best Hotel in the Country by ''U.S. News & World Report''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/06/2126978/inn-at-palmetto-bluff-named-among.html |title=Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton Among the best hotels in the world |publisher=Islandpacket.com |date=July 6, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407063931/http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/07/06/2126978/inn-at-palmetto-bluff-named-among.html |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Condé Nast Traveler Gold List World's Best Places to Stay, January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.concierge.com/tools/travelawards/goldlist/2011/hotels/751?id=751&lastUrl=/tools/travelawards/goldlist/2011/regions/northamerica/usa/&label=United+States+hotels |title=Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton in the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List on |publisher=Concierge.com |access-date=April 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309160152/http://www.concierge.com/tools/travelawards/goldlist/2011/hotels/751?id=751&lastUrl=%2Ftools%2Ftravelawards%2Fgoldlist%2F2011%2Fregions%2Fnorthamerica%2Fusa%2F&label=United+States+hotels |archive-date=March 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Higher education is an important sector in the local economy, with institutions such as the [[University of South Carolina Beaufort| University of South Carolina Beaufort Hilton Head Gateway Campus]] and [[Technical College of the Lowcountry]] nearby. An eclectic art destination, Bluffton has several art galleries located along Calhoun Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/04/10/1613454/bluffton-art-walk-set-to-kickoff.html#storylink=misearch |title=Bluffton art walk set to kickoff Friday |publisher=Islandpacket.com |date=April 10, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407063929/http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/04/10/1613454/bluffton-art-walk-set-to-kickoff.html#storylink=misearch |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bluffton is home to South Carolina's last full-time [[oyster]] shucking business, Bluffton Oyster Co, which first opened in 1899 at the end of Wharf Street on the banks of the May River.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/04/26/1633834/bluffton-oyster-co-wins-state.html#storylink=misearch |title=Bluffton Oyster Co. wins state, regional small business award |publisher=Islandpacket.com |date=April 26, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407064133/http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/04/26/1633834/bluffton-oyster-co-wins-state.html#storylink=misearch |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
===Society of Bluffton Artists===
The Society of Bluffton Artists is a nonprofit organization established in 1999.<ref name="SOBA">[http://www.sobagalleryonline.com/about.htm,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202140741/http://www.sobagalleryonline.com/about.htm, |date=February 2, 2015 }} ''THE SOCIETY OF BLUFFTON ARTISTS (SoBA)'', Accessed August 29, 2012.</ref>

===May River Theatre===
The May River Theatre is a theatre company that has performances at the Ulmer Auditorium in downtown Bluffton.<ref name="Theatre">{{cite web|url=http://mayrivertheatre.com/|title=The May River Theatre|access-date=December 16, 2016}}</ref>

===Annual events===
[[File:MayRiverCleanup.JPG|thumb|May River Cleanup]]
[[File:SavannahPirates.jpg|thumb|Christmas Parade]]
* Bluffton Village Festival – Also known as "Mayfest", the Bluffton Village Festival is an annual event that started in the spring of 1978. It gathers local artisans and musicians to showcase a variety of goods as a "celebration of Bluffton life" and local culture.<ref>''[http://blufftonvillagefestival.com/ Bluffton Village Festival History]'', Accessed September 4, 2012.{{Dead link|date=January 2024}}</ref>
* Christmas Parade – An annual parade that takes place at the beginning of December and features a wide variety of unique parade floats both local and regional.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Town of Bluffton Christmas Parade {{!}} Bluffton, SC |url=https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/387/2022-Town-of-Bluffton-Christmas-Parade |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=www.townofbluffton.sc.gov}}</ref>
* Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival  – A fall festival that consists of many events and activities including an art show, kayak tours, a 5K run, and sampling of locally harvested seafood.<ref name="seafood">[http://www.blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.com/] ''Arts & Seafood Festival'', Accessed September 4, 2012.</ref>
* Shag & Drag – Classic car show and live entertainment, held in June.<ref>{{Cite web |title=4th Annual SHAG & DRAG |url=https://www.hiltonhead.com/events/event/4th-annual-shag-drag/ |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Hilton Head, SC {{!}} HiltonHead.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* May River Cleanup – Every year hundreds of volunteers organize to help remove trash and waste from nearly 12 miles of river and to help raise awareness of the challenges facing the May River.<ref>{{Cite web |title=May River Cleanup |url=https://www.americanrivers.org/river-cleanup/may-river-cleanup-2/ |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=American Rivers |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Museums, historical sites and other attractions ===
Historic buildings, art and historical museums include:
* [[Heyward House and Historical Center]]
* [[Church of the Cross]]
* [[Squire Pope Carriage House]]
* [[Allen-Lockwood House]]
* [[Huger-Gordon House]]
* [[Seven Oaks, Bluffton SC]]
* [[Fripp-Lowden House]]
* [[The Store, Bluffton SC]]
* [[Carson Cottage]]
* [[D. Hasell Heyward House]]
* [[Patz Brothers House]]
* [[Planters Mercantile]]
* [[Cordray House]]
* [[Campbell Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Bluffton, South Carolina)|Campbell Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Historic Campbell Chapel AME Church |url=https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/historic-campbell-chapel-ame-church/ |website=South Carolina Lowcountry |access-date=August 12, 2021 |date=March 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Lisa |title=Freed slaves spent $500 to buy a church in Bluffton 145 years ago. It’s still standing |url=https://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/article233626267.html |website=The Island Packet |publisher=[[McClatchy]] |access-date=August 12, 2021 |date=September 1, 2019}}</ref>
* Garvin/Garvey House
* Joiner Home
* Nathaniel Brown Cottage

== Parks and recreation ==
Bluffton has many parks and recreational activities. For cycling, Bluffton Parkway and Buckwalter Parkway have bicycle paths on both sides of the road and Bluffton Rd has a bicycle lane from US-278 until the intersection with May River Rd. The following links will display the location of the park in an external web mapping application.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2018 |title=wildlife outdoors and enjoy exceptional hiking and biking opportunities at ar |url=https://www.bluffton.com/hike-bike-and-wildlife/ |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Bluffton.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=GmbH |first=Bikemap |title=Cycling routes in Bluffton |url=https://www.bikemap.net/en/l/4571722/ |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Bikemap |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parks {{!}} Bluffton, SC |url=https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/210/Parks |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=www.townofbluffton.sc.gov}}</ref>
[[File:CalhounStDock.jpg|thumb|Calhoun St Boat Dock]]
* Beaufort County Parks & Recreation Bluffton Pool – Indoor swimming pool with lanes
* Buckwalter Regional Park – Soccer fields and skateboard park
* Buckwalter Trail – Wraps around Buckwalter Place
* DuBois Park – Playground and swings
* Martin Family Park - passive park space
* New River Trailhead Park – Nature trail
* New Riverside Park - park space, playground, event space
* MC Riley Sports Complex – Basketball and baseball
* Oscar Frazier Park – Playground, soccer fields and baseball parks
* Oyster Factory Park
* Pritchard Pocket Park
* Stock Farm Pocket Park
* Wright Family Park - passive park space overlooking May River
* Bluffton Recreation Center – Tennis, soccer, youth football, playground

===Boat landings===
* Oyster Factory Boat Landing – Access to the May River<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oyster Factory Park |url=https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/facilities/facility/details/Oyster-Factory-Park-2 |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Bluffton, SC |language=en}}</ref>
* H.E. Trask Boat Landing – Access to the Colleton River<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.E. Trask Boat Landing to Close: Repair Project Scheduled to Begin Monday, July 11 |url=https://www.beaufortcountysc.gov/news/2022/07/h.e.-trask-boat-landing-to-close-repair-project-scheduled-to-begin-monday,-july-11-.html |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=www.beaufortcountysc.gov |language=en}}</ref>
* Calhoun St. Boat Dock – Access to the May River<ref>{{Cite web |last=Star |first=Rock |date=February 8, 2021 |title=Wright Family Park and Calhoun Street Dock {{!}} Waterfront Park {{!}} Bluffton |url=https://www.blufftonsc.com/the-new-wright-family-park-and-calhoun-street-dock/ |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Bluffton SC |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Alljoy Boat Landing – Access to the May River<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 3, 2019 |title=Boat Landings:Alljoy Boat Landing: 265 Alljoy Rd., Bluffton Acces |url=https://www.bluffton.com/public-boat-landings-piers-hilton-head-vicinity/ |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Bluffton.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Government==
Bluffton has a [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]] form of government. The Bluffton Town Council is responsible for the legislative function of the municipality such as establishing policy, passing local ordinances, voting appropriations, and developing an overall vision. The town has a mayor and mayor pro tem position. The Council has four at-large members who serve overlapping four-year terms. Town elections take place every two years in the fall.<ref>[http://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/governing/Pages/index.aspx "Town of Bluffton Website - Governing Section"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730062415/http://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/governing/Pages/index.aspx |date=July 30, 2012 }} ''Town of Bluffton''. Retrieved June 6, 2012.</ref>

==Education==
Bluffton is served by the [[Beaufort County School District]]. The local public schools include:

{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* Bluffton Elementary School
* [[Bluffton High School (Bluffton, South Carolina)|Bluffton High School]]
* Bluffton Middle School
* H.E. McCracken Middle School
* [[May River High School]]
* M.C. Riley Elementary School
* Okatie Elementary
* Pritchardville Elementary School
* Red Cedar Elementary School
* River Ridge Academy
{{div col end}}

There are also a number of [[independent school]]s, including Cross Schools (K-8), May River Montessori (K-5), Hilton Head Christian Academy (K-12) and Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School (K-8). Public institutions of higher education in Bluffton include the [[University of South Carolina Beaufort]] South Campus and the [[Technical College of the Lowcountry]].

Bluffton has a public library, a branch of the Beaufort County Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sciway.net/lib/counties.html | title=South Carolina libraries and archives | publisher=SCIWAY | access-date=June 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[File:MayRiverRoad.jpg|thumb|right|May River Road]]

Bluffton is served by the [[Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport]], which is located in [[Savannah, Georgia]], and the [[Hilton Head Airport|Hilton Head Island Airport]].

[[Interstate 95 in South Carolina|Interstate 95]] runs to the west of Bluffton and is connected to it by [[U.S. Route 278 in South Carolina|U.S. Route 278]]. Bluffton Parkway, currently under construction, is planned to run from the Hilton Head Island bridge to I-95 near [[Hardeeville, South Carolina|Hardeeville]] when all phases are complete. As of August 2012, the parkway runs from SC-170 in the west almost to the bridge in the east. Two sections are currently separated by Buckwalter Parkway but are scheduled to be joined by Phase 5B.<ref name="Parkway">[http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/04/20/2043859/bluffton-parkway-extension-to.html "Employment Fast Facts,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501194353/http://www.islandpacket.com/2012/04/20/2043859/bluffton-parkway-extension-to.html |date=May 1, 2012 }} ''Bluffton Parkway extension to open for drivers Monday'' - Accessed August 29, 2012.</ref> Local public transportation and [[dial-a-ride]] service is provided by Palmetto Breeze, a regional transportation authority run by the Lowcountry Council of Governments, which serves as the regional [[Metropolitan Planning Organization]] (MPO).<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.palmettobreezetransit.com/about-us |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=www.palmettobreezetransit.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Transportation |url=https://www.lowcountrycog.org/planning_and_transportation/transportation/index.php |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=www.lowcountrycog.org |language=en}}</ref>

Major highways in the town include:
*{{Jct|I|95|state=SC}} (west of Bluffton)
*{{Jct|US|278|state=SC}} - Fording Island Road
*{{Jct|SC|46|state=SC}} - May River Road
*{{Jct|SC|170|state=SC}} - Okatie Highway
*Bluffton Parkway

===Emergency services===
The Bluffton Township Fire District was created in 1978, and comprises all of the land in Beaufort County south of the Broad River except Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie Island. In 1994, Jenkins Island was added.<ref name="Fire1">[http://www.blufftonfd.com/about.php "About BTFD"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923111813/http://www.blufftonfd.com/about.php |date=September 23, 2012 }} ''BTFD About'' - Accessed August 28, 2012.</ref> There are nine fire stations in the Bluffton Township Fire District.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bluffton Township South Carolina Fire District Home Page |url=https://www.blufftonfd.com/home |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=Bluffton Township South Carolina Fire District |language=en}}</ref>

Bluffton Township Fire District works with Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue as a sponsoring agency for two of South Carolina's designated special teams: one of the state's Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Teams and one of the four Regional Urban Search and Rescue Response Teams.<ref>[http://www.ffmob.sc.gov/index.asp?file=RegionalUSandR.htm "Regional US&R Teams,"] ''South Carolina Firefighter Mobilization Oversight Committee'', Accessed May 20, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://bluffton-today.wehaa-server2.com/catalog.php?catalog_id=438 "Safety First - The Hilton Head/Bluffton Disaster Response Team Trains for Emergency Rescue Missions,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718023134/http://bluffton-today.wehaa-server2.com/catalog.php?catalog_id=438 |date=July 18, 2011 }} ''The Bluffton Today'', January 10, 2008. Accessed January 12, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.fireengineering.com/news/newsArticleDisplay.html?id=156017 "Firefighters in SC train in tornado scenario,"]{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Fire Engineering'', January 9, 2008. Accessed January 12, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/125943.html "Mock tornado stirs up read training locally,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110192730/http://www.islandpacket.com/news/local/story/125943.html |date=January 10, 2008 }} ''The Island Packet'', January 9, 2008. Accessed January 12, 2008.</ref>

The Town of Bluffton Police Department received national accreditation in 2009.<ref name="Police1">{{cite web|url=http://blufftonpolice.com/Other/2011.annual.report.pdf |title=Bluffton Police 2011 Annual Report;– relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, move, moving, houses news, sex offenders |publisher=blufftonpolice.com |access-date=August 28, 2012}}</ref>  There is one police headquarters, providing operations, support, and neighborhood services.<ref name="Police1" />

===Utilities===
Water and sewer service is provided by [[Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority]] (BJWSA). [[SCANA|South Carolina Electric and Gas Company]] (SCE&G) and Palmetto Electric Cooperative are the major suppliers of power to the town. [[Hargray]] provides telephone and broadband services. [[Waste Management, Inc]] provides solid waste services.

==Notable people==
* [[Gus Dean]], [[NASCAR]] driver
* [[Kitty Ferguson]], science writer and lecturer
* [[Bill Workman]], former town manager and economic development consultant

==See also==
{{Portal|United States|South Carolina}}
* [[List of municipalities in South Carolina]]
* [[South Carolina Lowcountry]]
* [[Sun City Hilton Head]], [[planned community]] near the city
* ''[[Bluffton Today]]'', local newspaper headquartered in the city
* ''[[The Island Packet]]'', local newspaper headquartered Hilton Head Island

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Works cited==
* Huffman, Donna. ''A Guide to Historic Bluffton, 2007.'' Bluffton Historical Preservation Society, 2007. 80 pp.
* Howie, Stephen S. ''The Bluffton Charge: One Preacher's Struggle For Civil Rights, 2000.'' Mammoth Books, 2000. 237 pp.

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=yes|wikt=no|n=no|b=no}}
* {{osmrelation|194046}}
* {{Official website|https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/}}
* [https://blufftonchamberofcommerce.org/ Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce]
* [https://www.visitbluffton.org/ Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau]

{{Beaufort County, South Carolina}}
{{South Carolina Lowcountry}}
{{South Carolina}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bluffton, South Carolina| ]]
[[Category:Hilton Head Island–Beaufort micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Beaufort County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Towns in South Carolina]]