Abstract:
Beaufort County is well endowed with flatlands, forests, and inland waterways. The first permanent settlers were French Protestants in 1690, and since then the county has had a long history of settlers, near-rebellions, and Indian troubles. Beaufort County experienced a notorious pirate era, big business boom before the Revolution, The Civil War, and a stint as the State's capital. Industrial development has progressed over time with improvements in waterways and machinery.