Port Royal, S.C.
| Port Royal, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
Port Royal Municipal Offices
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 Location of Port Royal, South Carolina |
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| Coordinates: 32°23′0″N 80°41′44″W / 32.38333°N 80.69556°WCoordinates: 32°23′0″N 80°41′44″W / 32.38333°N 80.69556°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Carolina |
| County | Beaufort |
| Area | |
| • Total | 22.0 sq mi (57.0 km2) |
| • Land | 19.0 sq mi (49.1 km2) |
| • Water | 3.1 sq mi (7.9 km2) |
| Elevation | 23 ft (7 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 10,678 |
| • Density | 490/sq mi (190/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 29935 |
| Area code(s) | 843 |
| FIPS code | 45-58030 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1250223 |
| Website | www.portroyal.org |
Port Royal is a town on Port Royal Island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Largely because of annexation of surrounding areas (including Parris Island), the population of Port Royal rose from 3,950 in 2000 to 10,678 in 2010, a 170% increase. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Port Royal is included within the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Port Royal is home to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and Naval Hospital Beaufort.
Port Royal takes its name from the adjacent Port Royal Sound, which was explored and named by Frenchman Jean Ribault in 1562. Ribault founded the short-lived settlement of Charlesfort on Parris Island. The area later became the site of a Spanish and still later Scottish colony during the 17th century.
Port Royal was the site of the Naval Battle of Port Royal during the Civil War. Later during the war, it was the one of the sites of the Port Royal Experiment, which included most of the Sea Islands in Union hands. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was first read at Christmas under the Proclamation tree in Port Royal.
Due to the benefits of a large and sheltered natural harbor, Port Royal was able to develop port facilities to support the growing phosphate mining activities after the Civil War. The Port Royal Railroad was completed from Port Royal to a junction with the main Charleston and Savannah Railway in Yemassee, thus establishing a land route for trade and commerce. Development of a community around the previously isolated port site at the end of the Beaufort River and Battery Creek led to the platting of streets and town lots by development interests. A land rush ensued, and Port Royal was officially incorporated in 1874, 300 years after initial settlement efforts.
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