Bluffton

The Town of Bluffton is situated on a high bluff overlooking the May River, a pristine waterway that has strongly contributed to the Town’s history and continued success. Bluffton is located just 12 miles west of Hilton Head Island, SC and approximately 20 miles northeast of Savannah, GA. It is also easily accessible from Intrastate Highways 46, 170, & 278 and Interstate 95.

Rich in history and heritage, the quaint hamlet of Bluffton is becoming one of the most favored places to live in the Lowcountry. Abundant wildlife, scenic marsh views and idyllic boating conditions are carefully protected as integral to the quality of life.

The residents of Bluffton are dedicated to creating a legacy of creative and cultural appreciation. Social, cultural and economic diversity and inclusiveness are a part of Bluffton’s covenant. That inclusiveness is making it one of the fastest growing communities in South Carolina.

Bluffton’s growth began with Del Webb’s Sun City retirement community, which opened in 1993 and continued with businesses and planned neighborhoods throughout the years. Between 1998 and 2002, Bluffton grew from one square mile to 50. To retain the town’s character, the original acre is preserved as a historic district. Bluffton’s total population is over 23,000.

This historic riverfront community still welcomes visitors and newcomers with as much charm and vibrancy as it did in its antebellum heyday. The Bluffton Old Town Merchants Society offers many delightful retail shops, art, antique galleries and restaurants with Southern regional cuisine along Calhoun Street and the surrounding Old Town. As Bluffton evolves to include newer developments, community leaders remain focused on suitable land use and aesthetics.

A fierce independence still lives in the community that is striving to protect its roots and personality. A hotbed for political rhetoric in the 1840s and ‘50s, cries of secession were first given serious voice and debate in Bluffton. Union troops shelled and burned Bluffton during the Civil War. The Heyward House, Campbell Chapel AME Church and the Episcopal Church of the Cross were among 17 structures to escape destruction. These three historic buildings and seven other houses can be seen today in the town’s historic district.

As a testament to the resilient spirit, Bluffton regained its footing around the turn of the century. Local business began to flourish in a variety of industries including the production of what was to become one of the area’s claims to fame–oysters. Beginning around 1900, the Bluffton Oyster Factory opened its doors and is currently the last working oyster factory in the state of South Carolina.

While periods in its history have focused on commerce and trade, Bluffton has never been solely about business. It is the beauty and charm of the narrow streets, salty air and mossy walkways that continue to draw both the young and old to this little town set upon a bluff.