The secret is out. The South Carolina Lowcountry, just across the river from Savannah, Ga., is a great place to live, work, play in and visit. The region's mild climate, combined with its unforgettable landscapes, make the communities in Beaufort and Jasper counties attractive for both longtime residents and newcomers as a place to visit or call home.
The area is steeped in history, with evidence of human habitation extending back thousands of years with Native American cultures, extending through the era of European exploration and colonization. Sites throughout the Lowcountry played important roles in the American Revolutionary and Civil wars, and archaeological and architectural examples from these important periods can still be visited and enjoyed today.
The area's communities bridge the past and present. In southern Beaufort County, Hilton Head Island is a beautiful barrier island resort visited by millions each year, as well as a dynamic, bustling town. Just on the mainland, Bluffton has gone in recent years from being a sleepy, one-mile square town to the fifth-largest in the state in terms of area. Nearby Sun City Hilton Head has put an indelible stamp on the retirement-living lifestyle.
North of the Broad River, the city of Beaufort offers picture-postcard examples of homes and buildings from the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s, while adjacent Port Royal continues to be a growing, modern small town. The region's contributions to our nation's defense are also apparent, with Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort providing a home base for active Marine Corps and Navy aviation squadrons, and Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Paris Island continuing its long history as the crucible that forges male Marines from throughout the Eastern United States and women Marines from all over the nation.
In Jasper County, the cities of Ridgeland and Hardeeville continue to be important service areas for travelers along Interstate 95, and both cities are enjoying redevelopment in their downtowns and healthy growth in their residential communities.
Hollywood has long looked to the Lowcountry for compelling stories and beautiful backdrops for movies such as "The Prince of Tides," "The Big Chill," "The Great Santini," "Forces of Nature, "Forrest Gump," and "The Legend of Bagger Vance." Filmmakers have helped show the world what those of us who live here have long known, that our home is hauntingly beautiful and is the setting for natural wonder and human drama.
