Port Royal, South Carolina

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Port Royal is a town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,950 at the 2000 census. 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.

Frenchman John Ribaut discovered Port Royal in 1562. It was also the site of a Spanish and later Scottish colony during the 17th century. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was first read at Christmas under the Proclamation tree in Port Royal. Port Royal hosts the Soft Shell Crab Festival every year in late April during the short soft shell crab season.

In 1976, the town celebrated the American Bicentennial. Part of the festivities included burying a time capsule, scheduled to be opened in 2076, 100 years later. Many prominent residents contributed items, including William Eckrich who was 6 at the time. "I hope I will be here in 2076 to see what I put in there," Mr. Eckrich said. "I just don't remember now."

Port Royal is home to Environmental Media, an international producer of environmental education media, [1]. The company has produced extensively on ecosystems worldwide and most recently completed the interative DVD, "Journey of the Loggerhead." Environmental Media's content is used by museums, departments of education and public television stations worldwide. Environmental Media and its sister organization, Niche Publishing [2], design and produce media to support the conservation and education communities worldwide.

[edit] Geography

Herman Moll: A Plan of Port Royal-Harbour in Carolina, 1736

Port Royal is located at 32°23′12″N, 80°42′18″W (32.386572, -80.705007)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.4 km² (5.2 mi²). 10.0 km² (3.9 mi²) of it is land and 3.3 km² (1.3 mi²) of it (24.95%) is water.

Port Royal, SC is the site of the Naval Battle of Port Royal during the Civil War.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 3,950 people (9,188 in 2004 estimate), 1,660 households, and 1,010 families residing in the town. The population density was 393.1/km² (1,017.3/mi²). There were 1,792 housing units at an average density of 178.3/km² (461.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.18% White, 29.16% African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.28% of the population.

There were 1,660 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 14.6% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,599, and the median income for a family was $40,867. Males had a median income of $26,942 versus $23,671 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,163. About 7.9% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 18.6% of those age 65 or over.