Photo #25782 - City of Georgetown, South Carolina - Photo Georgetown, SC. welcome highway sign Welcome to Georgetown. Georgetown, were named for King George II of England. Spanish explorers are believed to have visited this coastal area in 1526, but no permanent settlement was established. English planters and their African slaves moved into the region in the early eighteenth century, building large rice and indigo plantations. The town of Georgetown, which was established around 1730, was a busy port serving the surrounding plantations. Welcome to South Carolina, where you will find world-class coastal resorts, pristine beaches, and more than 330 golf courses designed by the world's best architects. Our state parks offer experiences in diverse settings that range from scenic mountaintops to quiet, inland lakes. Whether your interests are shopping, entertainment, or getting back to nature, there is always something new to discover in South Carolina.