Beaufort Gazette, The Beaufort Gazette has been part of the Lowcountry’s news landscape for generations. For readers in Beaufort County, South Carolina, the newspaper has represented more than headlines and advertisements. It has documented local government, community events, business changes, schools, storms, celebrations, and the everyday stories that help define a place. The publication traces its roots to 1897, giving it more than a century of connection with the community.
Today, searching for the Beaufort Gazette can be slightly confusing because the newspaper has changed significantly as the media industry moved from print toward digital publishing. Its coverage is now closely connected with The Island Packet, giving readers another way to find Beaufort-area reporting online.
Understanding the Beaufort Gazette therefore means looking at both sides of its story: its long history as a traditional local newspaper and its evolution into a modern digital news operation.
The History of the Beaufort Gazette
The story of the Beaufort Gazette begins in 1897, when attorney William Elliott Jr. and Sheriff W. G. Prentiss founded the newspaper in Beaufort, South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Encyclopedia, Prentiss died the following year, while Elliott eventually moved to Columbia. W. P. Waterhouse then became the newspaper’s owner and operated it from a cotton warehouse.
In 1903, Niels Christensen Jr. purchased the publication. Christensen was politically active and used the newspaper to promote progressive political ideas. A few years later, the Palmetto Post was merged into the Gazette, further strengthening its position in the local newspaper market. These early years helped establish the publication as an important source of information for Beaufort County residents.
The newspaper also experienced several difficult periods. Its offices were badly damaged by fire in 1924, and during the Great Depression the publication had to reduce its size and operating costs. At one point, the editor encouraged local citizens to bring news directly to the newspaper because the staff had been reduced. Despite these challenges, the Beaufort Gazette survived, demonstrating the resilience that has characterized its long history.
How the Newspaper Changed Over the Years
Ownership played an important role in shaping the Beaufort Gazette. In 1963, the Evening Post Publishing Company of Charleston purchased the newspaper. The publication later moved into a new plant in 1973, showing that the paper was still investing in its operations during an era when print newspapers were central to local communication.
Another major change came in 1975, when the Gazette was sold to the News and Observer Publishing Company of Raleigh, North Carolina. That company also owned the Island Packet of Hilton Head Island. The relationship between the two newspapers would become increasingly important in the decades that followed.
The Beaufort Gazette continued adapting to changing reader habits. In 1990, it changed from an afternoon newspaper to a morning publication. A Sunday edition was added in 1991, followed by a Saturday edition in 1995. These changes reflected an effort to provide readers with more frequent coverage while adapting to the expectations of a changing newspaper market.
The Beaufort Gazette and Local Community News
One of the biggest strengths of a newspaper like the Beaufort Gazette is its focus on stories that national publications usually overlook. Local government meetings, school decisions, development projects, community events, public safety, local businesses, and neighborhood concerns can have a direct impact on residents, even when those subjects receive little attention outside the region.
That local focus is particularly important in a growing community. Beaufort County has experienced changes in population, development, tourism, transportation, housing, and business activity over the years. A community newspaper can provide context that is difficult to get from a national news source because its reporters are focused on the people and institutions in the area.
The newspaper’s historical record is also valuable beyond breaking news. Old editions can help researchers understand how Beaufort and surrounding communities changed over time. The Beaufort District Collection, for example, lists extensive microfilm holdings for the Gazette, including issues dating back to the early 20th century.
Why the Beaufort Gazette Matters to Local History
Newspapers are often described as the first draft of history, and the Beaufort Gazette is a good example of why that phrase matters. Everyday newspaper stories can become valuable historical records decades later. An article about a city project, business opening, storm, election, school event, or community dispute can provide details that may not exist elsewhere.
The Library of Congress catalogs the 1897-current version of The Beaufort Gazette and identifies Beaufort County and Beaufort, South Carolina, as its geographic coverage. The catalog also records the newspaper’s ISSN as 1090-8285.
There is also an interesting historical wrinkle: the Library of Congress separately catalogs an earlier publication titled The Beaufort Gazette that dates to the 19th century, with records beginning in 1828. That means researchers should pay attention to dates when searching newspaper archives because publications with the same or similar names may belong to different periods.
The Move From Print to Digital News
Like many traditional newspapers, the Beaufort Gazette has had to adjust to the internet. Readers increasingly expect news to be available immediately on computers and smartphones rather than waiting for a printed edition. That shift has changed not only how stories are delivered but also how local news organizations operate.
In 2019, the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette announced changes to their print schedule, explaining that more readers were engaging with local journalism online. The publications moved away from a traditional Saturday print edition and introduced expanded Friday and Sunday editions.
The digital transition has continued. In 2024, the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette introduced an updated interactive Edition designed to provide readers with a digital newspaper experience while offering more flexibility than a simple replica of the printed paper.
How Readers Access Beaufort Gazette News Today
For people searching for the Beaufort Gazette today, the most important thing to understand is that its digital presence is closely connected with the Island Packet. The publication announced that its standalone Gazette app and eEdition were being retired in favor of an improved digital experience through the sister newspaper.
Readers looking for current Beaufort-area coverage can therefore find Gazette stories through the Beaufort Gazette section of the Island Packet website. According to the publication’s reader information, some stories are available without a subscription, while subscribers receive access to the broader collection of content.
This arrangement illustrates how local newspapers are trying to balance tradition with modern publishing. Rather than maintaining completely separate digital operations, related publications can share technology, infrastructure, and editorial resources while continuing to serve distinct communities.
The Former Beaufort Gazette Building
The physical history of the Beaufort Gazette is also worth remembering. The newspaper’s former building at 1556 Salem Road became a recognizable part of the local landscape after serving as the newspaper’s printing and office facility for roughly four decades.
According to reporting published in June 2026, the approximately 16,000-square-foot building had been vacant for years after being sold in 2011. The Beaufort City Council approved the first reading of a rezoning request connected to plans to repurpose the property for Tidewater Windows and Doors, a company located across the street.
The proposed reuse would include offices, a showroom, warehouse space, and light fabrication. The development is an interesting example of how buildings associated with traditional media can receive new lives even as the business models that once occupied them change.
What Makes Local Newspapers Still Important?
It is easy to assume that local newspapers have become less important because people can get information from social media and search engines. In reality, the opposite argument can be made. When a community faces a complicated issue, readers often need reporting that explains what happened, who made a decision, and why it matters.
Social media can spread information quickly, but speed does not automatically equal accuracy. A professional local newsroom can provide verification, interviews, documents, context, and follow-up reporting. Those elements are especially valuable when stories involve local government, schools, public spending, development, or public safety.
The Beaufort Gazette represents that broader role of local journalism. Its importance is not simply measured by the number of people who read a particular article. Its deeper value comes from maintaining a record of community life and providing reporting focused on people and institutions that might otherwise receive limited coverage.
The Future of the Beaufort Gazette
The future of the Beaufort Gazette is likely to remain closely tied to digital journalism. The retirement of its standalone app and eEdition in favor of the Island Packet‘s digital platforms shows how the organization is consolidating its online presence while continuing to provide Beaufort-focused coverage.
For readers, this transition means that finding Gazette content may look different from the traditional newspaper experience. Instead of picking up a physical paper or opening a dedicated Gazette application, readers increasingly interact with stories through websites, digital editions, mobile applications, email, and other online channels.
That does not make the Gazette’s history less relevant. If anything, the transition makes its historical archive more valuable. A publication that has documented community life since 1897 provides a remarkable window into how Beaufort County has developed across generations.
Final Thoughts on the Beaufort Gazette
The Beaufort Gazette is more than the name of an old newspaper. It represents more than a century of local journalism in South Carolina. From its founding in 1897 through ownership changes, fires, economic challenges, changes in publication schedules, and the transition from print to digital media, the newspaper has repeatedly adapted to changing circumstances.
Its connection with the Island Packet reflects the realities of modern local journalism, where digital publishing and shared resources have become increasingly important. Current readers can still find Beaufort-focused coverage, even though the way they access it has changed.
Perhaps the most lasting contribution of the Beaufort Gazette is its historical record. Newspaper pages capture the ordinary and extraordinary moments that shape a community. For current residents, researchers, journalists, genealogists, and anyone interested in Beaufort’s past, those records remain an important connection between yesterday’s Lowcountry and the community people know today.
You May Also Read: Easy Halloween Crafts
