Beaufort County, SC is one of the South’s fastest growing counties, primarily because of development south of the Broad River clustered along the U.S. Highway 278 corridor. The northern portions of the county have also grown steadily, due in part to the strong military presence around the city of Beaufort. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hilton Head Island–Beaufort Area comprises Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Beaufort County’s population is over 70% urban.

The two portions of the county are physically connected via the Broad River Bridge, which carries South Carolina Highway 170. Despite the connectivity, oftentimes the “north of Broad” and “south of Broad” populations of the county find each other at odds over county-wide issues dealing with growth management.