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Burton, South Carolina is a community situated on Port Royal Island in Beaufort County, part of the scenic Lowcountry of South Carolina. Long before European settlers arrived, the island and its surrounding marshlands were home to indigenous peoples—coastal tribes who lived off the estuaries, tidal creeks, and rich marshlands. These early inhabitants left shell middens and other traces of long habitation along the shores of what is now the Lowcountry.

With the arrival of Europeans, the area that would become Burton underwent dramatic change. During the colonial era, Beaufort County and its islands became sites of plantation development, agriculture, and maritime trade—cotton, indigo, rice, and naval stores were key to the early economy. Burton, while not the central plantation hub, was influenced by its proximity to Beaufort and the sea-island trade. The community's landscape of tidal marshes, pine forests, and oak hammock was gradually altered by drainage, roads, and agricultural expansion.

In the early 20th century, Burton experienced a notable chapter as part of the "truck-farming" era in Beaufort County, between roughly 1900 and 1930. Farmers in the region shifted toward vegetables and fresh produce for markets, making use of the climate and transportation access. The center of Burton was near the crossing of Broad River Boulevard and the old Port Royal Railroad tracks—the railway having played a part in bringing goods and people into and out of the area. As roads and automobiles replaced some of the older transport systems, Burton became more connected to the growing coastal economy.

Community life in Burton has always reflected the Lowcountry character: a blend of rural, residential, and maritime influences. The interplay of salt-marsh estuaries, tidal creeks, and island living has shaped daily life, from fishing and shrimping to marsh-walks and Lowcountry cuisine. In more recent decades, Burton has seen development spill-over from nearby Beaufort and Lady's Island, bringing new homes, suburban subdivisions, and commuter neighborhoods. Yet the marshland, the live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and the coastal access still tie Burton to its historic roots.

Today, Burton stands as a suburban-style community with strong ties to Beaufort and the wider Lowcountry region. Residents appreciate its mix of proximity to historic downtown Beaufort, access to natural beauty, and quieter residential neighborhoods. While growth has occurred, many of the land parcels, roads, and community patterns still reflect the earlier eras when agriculture and railroads defined the area. Burton remains a place where Lowcountry heritage coexists with modern livability—offering a peaceful home base for families, professionals, and retirees who value both nature and coastal convenience.