Beaufort is a city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA and situated on the Beaufort River. The population was 12,950 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County^GR6. The current Mayor, Bill Rauch, was at one time the advance press man for New York Mayor, Ed Koch.

Beaufort (pronounced Byu-fert unlike its counterpart in North Carolina) is located on Port Royal Island, in the heart of the Sea Islands and Low Country.

Beaufort and the surrounding area is rich in history. Port Royal Island was the location of France's first colony in the New World, founded by Jean Ribaut in 1562 shortly after the Spanish colonized St. Augustine, Florida The colony was abandoned in 1564. A Scottish settlement known as Stuart Town was founded in 1682, but was destroyed by Spanish forces in 1684.

Beaufort was chartered in 1711 and is known as the second-oldest city in South Carolina, after Charleston. It was part of the Carolina colony and was governed by Lords Proprietors.

Today, Beaufort has a substantial Marine Corps presence, with MCRD Parris Island and MCAS Beaufort.

Beaufort has one local television station, WJWJ-TV (PBS).

Beaufort is the namesake of Beaufort, Missouri.

Beaufort has been the setting for several novels by native son Pat Conroy, and a popular filming location for major motion pictures, including The Big Chill, The Prince of Tides, The Great Santini, Forrest Gump, and GI Jane.