Bluffton, South Carolina

Bluffton, South Carolina
Town
Motto:  Bluffton Is A State Of Mind
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Beaufort
Established	1852
Government
• Mayor	Lisa Sulka
Area
• Total	36.6 sq mi (94.9 km2)
• Land	34.0 sq mi (88.0 km2)
• Water	2.7 sq mi (6.9 km2)
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Population  (2009)
• Total	12,519
• Density	302.9/sq mi (117.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	29909-29910
Area code	843
FIPS code	45-07210Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	1220833Template:GR
Website	www.townofbluffton.com

Bluffton is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population of Bluffton is 12,519 according to a 2009 census estimate. This separated urban area currently defined as Bluffton is quickly becoming contiguous to that of the significantly larger Hilton Head Island adjacent to it. As designated by the U.S. Census Bureau, Bluffton is included within the Hilton Head Island–Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Bluffton is known for its rapid development, currently among the fastest in the state of South Carolina. A large amount of land has been annexed in the last few years leaving behind the old "One Square Mile" adage.

Geography

Bluffton is located at 32°12′45″N 80°53′50″W (32.212517, -80.897296)Template:GR.

The town has a total area of roughly 54.3 square miles.

History

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the area comprising southern Beaufort County was known as Granville County of St. Luke’s Parish. As the Yemassee Indians had established ten towns with over 1,200 inhabitants in that area, it was considered “Indian Lands.” In 1715, the Yemassee War broke out and after several years of fighting, the Yemassee tribe 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 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 19th century 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 first streets were formally laid out during the mid-19th century and the name of Bluffton decided upon during the same period.

In 1844 the planters around Bluffton became angered by Federal tariffs which were making the goods they imported from abroad excessively expensive. Out of this discontent grew the "Bluffton Movement." Incensed planters gathered beneath what became known as the "Secession Oak" and the secessionist movement was born. Sixteen years later South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.

In 1852 the Town was officially incorporated by an act of the South Carolina General Assembly and comprised approximately one square mile. A steamboat landing was constructed at the end of Calhoun Street at this time, which allowed the Town to be a stopover for travelers between Savannah and Beaufort or Charleston.

Within one year of the capture of Fort Sumter, Bluffton became a safe haven for residents fleeing Union occupation of the South Carolina barrier islands. Bluffton was a headquarters for Confederate forces until Union forces on Hilton Head Island ordered the Town’s destruction in 1863. Approximately 60 structures were in the Town before the attack, only the Town’s two churches and fifteen residences remained standing after the attack.

On June 4, 1863, several Union gunboats and a transport carrying 1,000 infantrymen steamed up the river to Bluffton because, as the officer in charge wrote in his report, "This town has been the headquarters for the rebels for a long time in this vicinity." Troops were landed with orders to fire the town. Confederate soldiers attacked but were outnumbered and outgunned. When shelling and torching ended and the Union forces withdrew, 34 or more homes, churches and other buildings had been destroyed. This, of course, was a severe blow to the town which took years to overcome.

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 the Town emerged as a commercial center for Beaufort County. The Town remained a commercial center until the Coastal Highway (US 17) and the bridge at Port Wentworth over the Savannah River were completed, making riverboat trade and travel less attractive. The Great Depression, beginning shortly thereafter, brought the closure of the Town’s prosperity and commercial importance. The popularity of the Town as a vacation spot remained even after its loss of commercial stature.

The development of Hilton Head Island, nearby Sun City, and related development have caused a resurgence of commercial activity in the Town. By 1974, off-island development began with Moss Creek. William A. Fischel’s concept of “incomplete assignment of property rights” relates to the off-island development pressure occurring in the Hilton Head/Bluffton area. In the case of Hilton Head Island, active growth management (1980s) tried to restrict further development in order to protect the island’s amenities. Hilton Head limited development by successfully restricting the number of units and number of bedrooms one could build. Hence, the result of these restrictions is off-island development. Once communities place restrictions on development, the development itself often spills over into surrounding communities, shifting growth inland. In this case, the “spillover development” from Hilton Head Island directly affects Bluffton.

Neighborhoods and annexations

Once Hilton Head Island began to reach the “build out” stage of development, Bluffton officials began to recognize the enormous amount of growth that would soon face the town. All of the land outside the original “one square mile” of the town was in the jurisdiction of Beaufort County. Instead of working with Beaufort County and following the Beaufort County Comprehensive Plan, the town began to annex land in order to possess more local control over future development. One of their main concerns was the May River and the delicate estuary contained in its headwaters. In 2009, oyster shell beds began closing and some of the impetus for expanding the town limits was negated. Upon closer look, many have noticed that the annexed areas contain higher densities than would have been allowed under county zoning thus further negating logic for annexation. According to a Clemson University study development agreements of this type generally produce $1.00 of income for every $1.50 - $2.40 required to support new growth.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, in greater Bluffton there were 37,000 people, 8,210 households, and 341 families residing in the town. The population density was132.5 people per square mile (14.5/km²). There were 501 housing units at an average density of 14.7 per square mile (5.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 63.22% White, 32.47% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 3.14% from other races, and 0.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.96% of the population.

There were 8,210 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,281, and the median income for a family was $48,611. Males had a median income of $35,139 versus $24,444 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,327. About 8.6% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 26.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public education in Bluffton is under the authority of the Beaufort County School District. Children in the town attend the following schools:

Public schools	Private schools
Bluffton Elementary School	May River Montessori School
M.C. Riley Elementary School	Cross Episcopal School
Okatie Elementary School	St. Gregory Catholic School
Pritchardville Elementary School	Thomas Heyward Academy
Red Cedar Elementary School	Hilton Head Preparatory (Hilton Head)
Bluffton Middle School	Hilton Head Christian Academy (Hilton Head)
H.E. McCracken Middle School	Heritage Academy (Hilton Head)
Bluffton High School

Description of Bluffton High School

Opened in August, 2004, Bluffton High School is the second high school in Southern Beaufort County, South Carolina and is one of Eight high schools total. The Bluffton community is socio-economically diverse. Bluffton High School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the South Carolina State Department of Education.

Students: Total enrollment is approximately 1,300 students grades ten through twelve. The geographical area served extends from Okatie, SC to the gateway to Hilton Head Island, SC. The school’s population is reflective of the surrounding community and consists of 55% white, 19% black, 24% Hispanic, 1% Asian, and 1% other.

Definition of Curriculum: Bluffton High School is a science/technology high school which offers a variety of academic learning environments in both traditional and virtual settings in order to meet the demands of educating students in the 21st Century. The school offers four interdisciplinary, theme-based small learning communities in the areas of: Business and Biotechnology Information Technology Interdisciplinary Studies and Education Visual and Performing Arts

Bluffton High School students take eight classes per year on an A/B block schedule. A full range of Vocational Courses are also offered through our partnership with the Academy for Career Excellence.

Faculty: Outstanding professionals at Bluffton High School provide a comprehensive and varied educational program. The faculty is highly driven, dedicated and talented. Bluffton High School has 76 teaching staff members. Two hold Doctoral degrees and 42 hold Master’s degrees. The average teaching experience of the faculty is fifteen years. Six are currently National Board Certified.

Grading System: Grades are computed by using the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale of 0-5.87 with Honors, Pre-AP, and AP courses receiving additional weight. Transfer grades in courses carrying Carnegie units will be converted to the scale according to the South Carolina Grade Point Conversion Table.

Graduation Profile: Bluffton High School has a highly motivated student body with 60 percent of last year’s graduating class attending a four-year university or college upon graduation and 20 percent attending a technical/vocational school. Six percent entered the armed forces. Students typically score above both state and national averages on both the ACT and SAT. Minimum graduation requirements by credit are (24): English, 4; Mathematics, 4; Science, 3; Social Science, 3; Foreign Language/Career, 1; PE or ROTC, 1; Computer, 1; and Electives, 7.

Higher education in Bluffton

Higher education facilities are located just outside the town limits. The University of South Carolina Beaufort's new Gateway campus and the Technical College of the Lowcountry's New River campus are located along the U.S. Highway 278 corridor, halfway between Bluffton and Hardeeville in the Sun City vicinity.

The Technical College of the Lowcountry (often abbreviated as TCL) is a comprehensive, two-year community college serving the Lowcountry region of South Carolina. The main campus is located in Beaufort along Ribaut Road. Additional facilities are in Bluffton / Hardeeville, Hampton, Parris Island, and at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort.

TCL enrolls approximately 2,000 students while offering 75 programs. Nearly one-half of students enrolled are minorities, with close to 80% receiving some degree of financial aid. TCL traces its roots to the Mather School, established in 1868 to provide education for newly-freed slaves in Beaufort County.

USCB is one of the 3 senior campuses in the University of South Carolina system and is a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited four-year university. 4,650 students attended the University at one of its two campuses during the Fall 2009 semester.

USCB offers the region’s only Human Services degree as well as more traditional degrees like English, psychology, business and education. The school opened a nursing facility in Spring 2009. Human simulators provide nursing students hands-on training opportunities. Another popular program capitalizing on nearby Hilton Head Island resorts is the Hospitality Management program which draws international students and provides internship experiences. The Marine Science program allows students to explore and study first-hand the continental-shelf and estuarine environment from a new research facility on Prichard's Island, one of a string of nearby barrier islands. A Loggerhead Sea Turtle conservation effort is a major feature of that program.

External links

• Town of Bluffton
• Beaufort County Library website
• Bluffton Online, a local portal
• The Island Packet, a local newspaper
• Bluffton Today, a local newspaper
• Bluffton Outdoors, an outdoor activities site
• Visit Old Town Bluffton, South Carolina