Bluffton

Front: Originally known as May River, and later as Kirk’s Bluff, Bluffton was settled as a resort town where planters could escape the hot, malarial summers of lowcountry plantations. The streets were laid out in the 1830s and much of the early development took place along Calhoun and Bridge Streets. Bluffton’s commerce was largely a result of the river trade, and a steamboat landing completed by the early 1850s served to increase traffic and spur growth. Reverse: During the Civil War, Union forces set fire to much of the town during a raid and short battle on June 4, 1863. After the war, Bluffton emerged as a local commercial center with a number of general stores operating in the town. New transportation networks diverted traffic away from the river by the mid-20th century and trade declined. The rise in tourism since the 1990s has served as a catalyst for Bluffton’s reemergence as a resort destination.