City of Georgetown

First settled in 1526 by the Spaniards, Georgetown was the first settlement in North America. The settlement failed because of a hurricane and Indian attacks and was later established in 1726 in honor of King George II. This town, seat of the county, was once an important international port, serving the area’s once-thriving rice plantations. Today, several marinas cater to traffic on the Intracoastal Waterway and the old docks along the waterfront have been converted into Harborwalk, an array of restaurants and shops. Sixteen blocks of the downtown area are listed on the National Historic Register. Tour information is available at the Historic District Visitors Center on the corner of Front and Broad streets. Walking, driving, tram and horse-drawn carriage tours are all available, as well as water excursions. The center is open 9-5, M-Sa.