OK, to get Ray off onto a tangential topic and get his blood pressure back down, Port Royale, SC, is a close suburb of Beaufort and started out Français - It was first "discovered" (But I'm pretty sure the Yemessee Natives were there long before this) by Jean Ribault in 1562, making it a really old French settlement. That site (now part of the US Naval Hospital in Port Royal) subsequently became a Spanish and then a Scottish settlement. It is, indeed, a Beau Fort and sits on the Eastern Intra-coastal Waterway.
For Bruce, the whole area is positively dripping in history, but the infrastructure management I would put with one foot in 1960 and the other foot around 2000 - They're all trying to do a great job, and sometimes they know how and pull it off. Taxes aren't too bad (yet) but the highest point in the county is around 12' above mean high tide so you may have to worry about flood insurance (now only available through FEMA). The mainland is protected but a bunch of sea islands blocking most storm surge. Where your house is, and whether it is built on stilts, makes a BIG difference. It is a microcosm of Charleston, in that both miraculously survived the Civil War intact but Beaufort is a much smaller version and more "walkable". Some very old churches live there, as well as one of the earliest synagogs on the East Coast (a very cool place in and of itself). We used to go to "Forest Gump's Church", the St. Helena Episcopal but, full disclosure, we mostly went for the outstanding choir but grew to become part of the flock.
Realestate is still very affordable but get there soon, it's going up fast. Decent facilities, a very good hospital in town (two, if you're a veteran) and an easy lifestyle (and a terrific car club) plus veterans can shop at the PX on Parris Island (it's like a nicely appointed Walmart). And you're only 45 minutes from Hilton Head Island or Savannah, Georgia (another highly recommended town to visit).
gn