The modern-day town of Bluffton, which was originally part of a royal land parcel awarded to Lord Proprietor Colleton, has a rich, fascinating history.
Originally settled by Native American tribes who lived off the plentiful oysters, clams and shrimp in local waterways, Bluffton was ultimately "discovered" by wealthy Savannah plantation owners in the early nineteenth century. At that time, Bluffton served as an important summer destination, where families of area rice and cotton plantation owners could escape the heat and malaria that afflicted coastal plantations in the summer months.
Located on a scenic bluff overlooking the May River, Bluffton offered plenty of boating, fishing, crabbing and shrimping opportunities. With easy access to Savannah, Hilton Head Island, Beaufort and Charleston, Bluffton became an important distribution center, shipping valuable crops across the Southeast and beyond. Eventually, this active commerce brought year-round residents to Bluffton.
In 1844, area planters rebelled against unfair federal import taxes, leading to the historic "Bluffton Movement." Area planters gathered beneath what is now known as the "Secession Oak," expressing their desire to secede from the Union. South Carolina ultimately became the first state to secede from the Union sixteen years later - and leading to the Civil War.
On June 4, 1863, Union gunboats and infantrymen charged up the river to Bluffton to squelch Confederate insurrections. A fierce battle ensued, but Confederate soldiers were outnumbered and outgunned. When Union forces finally withdrew, dozens of local homes and churches had been shelled, torched or otherwise destroyed.
Over the years, Bluffton has recovered from its losses during the Civil War and grown to become one of the most vibrant small metropolitan areas along the South Carolina coast. Many of Bluffton's antebellum homes and churches still stand today, offering a fascinating window into the area's past. With more and more people moving to the Bluffton area each year, the town continues to grow, welcoming new residents from near and far.
