Port Royal Plantation enjoys Port Royal Sound and Atlantic Ocean shoreline from its location at the "heel" of the Island. There is a Beach Club, 3 golf courses, tennis, swimming pools, historic sites and an arboretum. There are no hotels or commercial rental properties within the Plantation. Port Royal enjoys a quiet, laid-back existence that is prized by its residents.

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Port Royal, South Carolina is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The population of Port Royal was 3,950 at the 2000 census. However, due largely to incorporation, the population of the Port Royal town limits has more than doubled since 2000 (estimated 2004 pop.: 9,188). As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Port Royal is included within the Beaufort Urban Cluster and the larger Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan Area.

The Town of Port Royal is located between the Beaufort River and Battery Creek in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Port Royal is home to two military installations, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island and Naval Hospital, Beaufort - as well as neighbor to the historic City of Beaufort and The Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort.

Ever since Columbus' journey to this continent in 1492, seven flags have flown over what is now the Town of Port Royal. The first landing at Port Royal was by Pedro de Salazar, who was sent out of Hispaniola by Lucas de Allyon. Allyon sent other ships to this area in 1520 and came himself in 1525 to build the first fort in North America. He and most of his men perished during the first winter. The Spanish, nevertheless, used this area as a major anchorage in their explorations, and eventually tried to make it the center of their North American empire.

Frenchman Jean Ribault explored the Port Royal Sound waterways and harbours in 1562, and founded a short-lived colony. Capt. William Hilton, who sailed from Barbados on the ship, Adventure, raised the first English flag over St. Helena Sound; Hilton Head Island was named in his honor.

The Town of Port Royal was founded in the 1670s by Bermudian emigrants under the first Governor of South Carolina, William Sayle, who had earlier led the Bermudan settlement of the Bahamas. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was first read, on Christmas, under the Proclamation tree in Port Royal. In 1976, the town celebrated the American Bicentennial. Part of the festivities included burying a time capsule, scheduled to be opened in 2076.

Today, the Town of Port Royal takes pride in its unique natural environment and its accessibility to that environment through its network of walking trails, community beaches, boardwalk, and observation tower. Port Royal is experiencing significant growth which has led to the revitalization of the traditional, historical, mixed-use core; the renovation of historic homes; residential infill in and around downtown; and the expansion of the Town's neighborhood elementary school, Port Royal Elementary. Port Royal seeks to foster community and direct new development with the guidance of a Neo-Traditional Master Plan. The Town of Port Royal is recognized as one of America's leaders in small town New Urbanism.

The Lowcountry Region, including Beaufort County, offers so much to see and do, from a variety of recreational pursuits (fishing, sailing, hunting, bird watching, paddling, surfing, golf, and tennis, to name a few) to enjoying the many historic and artistic venues scattered through the region (lighthouses, historic buildings, museums, art galleries, concerts, movie locations, the Penn Center Historic District, etc).

Local plantation homeowners and their guests love to re-experience the Lowcountry often by taking advantage of the many local tours through the area. Whether being pulled by horse-drawn carriage, riding an air-conditioned bus, enjoying the thrills of boating or kayaking or even joining one of the frequent walking tours, Beaufort County residents - full or part-time - know to relax around the island. Shopping on Hilton Head Island can include one-of-a-kind treasures from the South Carolina Artisans Center, to clever, little, eclectic shops, to mega, bargain hunting at factory outlets.

If you love the outdoors, a beautiful day's walk or easy drive and a little invigorating competition, don't miss an opportunity to tee off in the Lowcountry, one of the world's premier golf destinations. Dozens of courses to delight players of every skill level stretch across Beaufort County. Lowcountry fairways are respected for their spectacular lagoons, envied for the scenic marshes and maritime forests and long remembered for their abundant wildlife experiences. And the golfing is great, as well. With its temperate climate and year-round sunshine, Beaufort County, South Carolina is the perfect place to enjoy a satisfying round of golf.

And, the island itself is a true paradise. Hilton Head Island in coastal South Carolina is often referred to as the second largest barrier island on the eastern seaboard after Long Island (which is not actually a barrier island but two glacial moraines). Technically, Hilton Head Island is only half barrier island. The north end of the island is a sea island dating to the Pleistocene epoch, and the south end is a barrier island that appeared as recently as the Holocene epoch. Broad Creek, which is actually a land-locked tidal marsh, separates the two halves of the island.

For many years, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina has been renowned as a world class destination for golf, tennis and for family vacations. With over 14 miles of beach, terrific shopping, nature preserves, water sports, biking and so much more, it's no wonder why Hilton Head Island has become a permanent home for so many vacationers.

But vacationers are not the only people who love this ideal locale on the Atlantic. Island real estate is immensely popular and coveted. Million dollar estates, plush executive plantations, luxurious homes, condos, gated community properties and waterside manors are abundant throughout the island. It is as common as sunshine to find yachts standing as if in permanent salute along elegant marinas at docking spots up and down Hilton Head's coastline.

Despite extensive development, however, much of the Island remains as it was when sighted from William Hilton's ship more than 300 years ago. Hilton Head Island's natural beauty, spectacular seascapes and exceptional ecology now beckon a new generation of explorers.

For more information on activities in and around Port Royal Plantation, South Carolina, visit:

• Town of Port Royal Plantation, SC
• Beaufort County, SC
• Hilton Head Island - Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
• Port Royal Plantation, SC Google Earth Map
• View Port Royal Plantation, SC Area Jobs on Career Builder
• View Port Royal Plantation, SC Area Jobs on Yahoo HotJobs
• Port Royal Plantation, South Carolina on epodunk
• Port Royal Plantation, SC on AskJeeves.com
• Port Royal Plantation
• Sea Pines Plantation
• Shelter Cove Harbour Marina and Villas
• South Shore Commons Villas
• Spanish Wells Plantation
• Wexford Plantation
• Greater Beaufort / Hilton Head Economic Partnership
• Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
• Arts Council of Beaufort County
• Beaufort County / Hilton Head Island Airport
• Beaufort County School District
• South Carolina Lowcountry Tourism
• Welcome to Beaufort County