Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is more than "just another resort by the ocean." Its casual pace and genteel Southern lifestyle make it one of the most attractive islands in the world. Located just a short distance from historic Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina, Hilton Head Island has become one of the most popular vacation getaways year after year.
Prior to the Civil War era, South Carolina was among the wealthiest and most prosperous states in the Union. Hilton Head Island was the antebellum home to several millionaires and today attracts that level of successful families from all over the world to reside on the island they call Paradise. Consisting of 25,000 acres, this barrier sea island offers visitors and residents alike an expanse of pristine ocean beaches, top-ranked tennis resorts, world-class golf, and best of all, a refreshed spirit as they find themselves surrounded by the serenity of Nature.
Short History of the Island
First settled by Woodland Indians approximately 4,000 years ago, this large barrier island sustained them with an abundance of fish and game. Starting in 1520, the island became a regular port of call for Spanish conquistadors exploring the New World, who came to replenish their food and supplies. Later, eighteenth century French Huguenots referred to it as "Ile de la Riviere Grande" - translated as Island of the Broad River. Even marauding pirates have laid claim to the place! Early maps referred to the shoe-shaped island as "Trench's Island," for the notorious buccaneer Alexander Trench.
But it was the English who'd finally give the island its permanent identity. Early in August 1663, English sea captain William Hilton, who was scouting Port Royal Sound, came upon the island that would bear his name into the twenty-first century. His enthusiastic reports captured the attention of mapmakers who erroneously labeled the place "Hilton's Headland." This designation eventually evolved to become Hilton Head Island.
The contemporary development of Hilton Head Island began in 1953, when the lumber industry arrived. The Fraser and Hack families' logging syndicate purchased 19,000 acres on the island's south end. By 1956, Charles Fraser had gained a controlling interest in the property and envisioned a radical new type of master-planned community which would have minimal impact on the environment. A very strict set of guidelines set the standard for Sea Pines, and its success has fostered master-planned developments all over the world.
Today, Hilton Head Island is the permanent home to more than 38,000 people, and entertains some 2,000,000 visitors annually.
Whether it's just relaxing by the beautiful Atlantic, witnessing the rising sun and the most awe-inspiring sunsets while sipping a cold one, riding a bike over miles of paved bike paths, or cruising the waters of Calibogue Sound, Hilton Head Island has literally become the beachhead for the fortunate vacationer. For a quick getaway or weeks on end, Hilton Head Island continues creating family traditions and cherished memories.
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