Bluffton, South Carolina

Bluffton
Town
Clockwise from top: May River, Heyward House, a gravel path, Carecore Drive, a post office, Myrtle Island, and The Store
Clockwise from top: May River, Heyward House, a gravel path, Carecore Drive, a post office, Myrtle Island, and The Store
Flag of Bluffton
Flag
Official seal of Bluffton
Seal
Official logo of Bluffton
Logo
Nickname: 
Heart Of The Lowcountry
Motto: 
"A State of Mind"
Map
Interactive map of Bluffton
Bluffton is located in South Carolina
Bluffton
Bluffton
Location within South Carolina
Bluffton is located in the United States
Bluffton
Bluffton
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 32°14′14″N 80°51′37″W / 32.2371465°N 80.8603868°W / 32.2371465; -80.8603868
CountryUnited States
StateSouth Carolina
CountiesBeaufort
Settled1728
Incorporated1852[1]
Named forOriginal jurisdiction on a bluff above the May River[2]
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • BodyBluffton Town Council
 • MayorLarry Toomer
 • Council
Members[3]
  • Emily Burden
  • Bridgette Frazier
  • Fred Hamilton
  • Dan Wood
Area
[4]
 • Total54.19 sq mi (140.36 km2)
 • Land51.97 sq mi (134.60 km2)
 • Water2.23 sq mi (5.77 km2)  4.12%
Elevation
20 ft (6 m)
Population
 (2020)[6]
 • Total27,716
 • Estimate 
(2023)
35,243
 • Density533.33/sq mi (205.92/km2)
 • Urban
71,824 (US: 395th)[5]
 • Urban density1,135.7/sq mi (438.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
29909-29910
Area code843, 854
FIPS code45-07210
GNIS feature ID1220833
Websitewww.townofbluffton.sc.gov

Bluffton is a town in southern Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population as of the 2020 census was 27,716, an increase of over 120% since the 2010 census, making it the 17th-most populous municipality and one of the fastest growing municipalities in South Carolina.[7][8] It is primarily located around U.S. Route 278, between Hilton Head Island and Interstate 95. The Lowcountry town's original one square mile area, now known as Old Town, is situated on a bluff along the May River. Bluffton is a primary town within the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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.[9]

  1. ^ "Bluffton, South Carolina". South Carolina Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "About Bluffton". www.townofbluffton.sc.gov. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  3. ^ "Mayor & Town Council". www.townofbluffton.sc.gov. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. ^ United States Census Bureau (December 29, 2022). "2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications". Federal Register.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference USCensusDecennial2020CenPopScriptOnly was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2020CensusQuickFacts was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Census 2010: South Carolina"USA Today, March 23, 2011. Accessed June 6, 2012.
  9. ^ Jeff Fulgham, The Bluffton Expedition: The Burning of Bluffton, South Carolina, During the Civil War (Bluffton, S.C.: Jeff Fulgham, 2012), 155.