The Town of Beaufort is hosting a celebration at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, February 3) at Town Hall, 710 Front St., Beaufort, to congratulate everyone who voted in the online contest to select “America’s Coolest Small Town.”  The public is invited.

 “Beaufort and its citizens have worked hard to become ‘America’s Coolest Small Town,’” said Mayor Richard Stanley.  “In the 1960s, the storefronts and downtown areas were run down and the sidewalks were rolled up at 5 p.m.  Due to the foresight of community leaders, urban renewal was completed in a big way. 

 “As a result, we have a beautiful waterfront, excellent shops and restaurants, the North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort Historical Association and its facilities, restored homes, festivals and events, appreciation of our cultural heritage and environment, and a diverse population.  Thanks to all who supported the Town.”

 Beaufort and Hammondsport, N.Y., were declared Wednesday as co-winners in the “America’s Coolest Small Town” contest sponsored by Budget Travel magazine…after heavy voting on the web site caused it to crash before the contest officially ended. 

 Of the votes recorded before the crash, Beaufort was ahead with 36.2 percent of the vote, compared to Hammondsport’s 36.0 percent.  More than 360,000 votes were cast at www.budgettravel.com, the editors said.  (So, this means Beaufort had at least a 720-vote lead at the time of the mishap.) 

Known as  "Fish Town" in the early 1700's when Blackbeard frequented the coast, "Beaufort Town" was established as a seaport with the right to collect customs in 1722. During the American Revolution, it was the third largest port in the state.

As in most of eastern North Carolina, early trade centered around lumber products. These were shipped from the rich Newport River area plantations to the West Indies in exchange for glassware, cloth, furniture, coffee and rum.

Historically significant, the "Old Burying Ground" was deeded to the town in 1731. It contains graves of soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Captain Otway Burns' grave with the cannon from his privateer, is perhaps one of the best known.