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Bluffton, SC

Recently names of the fastest growing cities in South Carolina, largely due to affordable housing and the low cost of living, people from across the country are moving to the thick pine forests of Bluffton in record numbers.

Originally a tiny community on the banks of the May River, Bluffton has grown steadily over the past two decades to encompass nearly 32,000 acres, much of which is still in developmental stages.

Many see the community as a viable alternative to the high-priced housing in nearby Hilton Head and Savannah.

Settled in 1925, Bluffton began as a vacation spot for nearby rice and cotton planters. Because of its prime deep-water location nearly 20 miles up-river, Bluffton quickly became a pivotal shipping channel for the area — more so even than nearby Savannah — and was hit hard by the prewar tariffs levied by the Federal Government on Southern shipping ports. Consequently, the town emerged as a hotbed for Southern secession, with some residents calling for secession up to 15 years before any movement toward autonomy was made. And it was the town’s long-standing reputation as a cauldron of secessionist rhetoric that led to the complete annihilation of the town at the hands of Union troops on June 4, 1863.

Today, Bluffton is a thriving community nearing 2,000 residents, attracting people of vastly different backgrounds and occupations, from artists to scientists, many of whom see the community as a viable alternative to the high-priced housing in nearby Hilton Head Island and Savannah where they work. This has spawned the opening of several retail, grocery and restaurant chains in Bluffton providing for residents everyday needs.

Bluffton’s location makes it perfect for sportsmen, with both fresh and saltwater fishing immediately available. For those wishing to stay on dry land, the area offers a wide range of recreational activities, from golfing on one of the more than 20 courses nearby, to poetry readings, craft fairs and farmers markets, not to mention exploring the beautiful town squares and pre-Civil War mansions in Savannah. Bluffton is also just a few miles away from the beaches, fine dining, boutique shopping and other resort amenities of Hilton Head Island.