Fishtowne, as it was called when Beaufort was founded in 1709 had its beginnings with four original residents. Aided by the Lord’s Proprietors, Beaufort was named an official port in 1772, as well as being named the county seat of Carteret. The area was slow to grow due to the difficulty of reaching inland towns. Travel was extremely difficult through the dense pine forests and marsh lands. Pirates, both Spanish and English loved that it was difficult to reach Beaufort.
Protected by the shores of Cape Lookout, they were able to find food on the banks, and not be seen by passing ships. (Blackbeard’s ship has been found roughly one half mile off land in 20 feet of water, about 2 miles from Beaufort.) Neither the Revolutionary War not the War of 1812 had much effect on Beaufort. The basic industries of the town (fishing, whaling, forestry and shipbuilding) continued unabated.
In 1862, Beaufort was invaded by Union forces, and Fort Macon, originally built to protect Beaufort from pirates, saw action. The Union soldiers gained control of the town and halted transport of goods. Beaufort was quick to bounce back, because again, the basic industries remained intact. Some of the original industries that kept Beaufort going became obsolete as the nation progressed. However, fishing and shrimping grew with the appetites of the nation. At one point in the 1940’s Beaufort caught and exported more shrimp than any other town in the US. This history of fishing has remained as a mainstay of the culture of Beaufort.
In the original planning for the town, strict ordinances were drawn that imposed time limits on home completion, building restrictions and safety rules for the purchasers of the original lots in Fishtowne. These original restrictions led to the town retaining its charm even through being occupied and extremely slow growth. The original town layout has not changed since 1713.
Today’s visitors are seeing what long time Carteret County natives and visitors have known for decades: Beaufort, as described in 1737, is indeed a “pleasant prospect.”
