Hilton Head Island South Carolina – Its History And Attractions

Hilton Head Island South Carolina lies 95 miles to the south of Charleston South Carolina and 45 miles to the north of Savannah in Georgia. With a 12-mile beach fronting the Atlantic Ocean and a sub-tropical climate, it is no wonder that Hilton Head Island is a famous travel destination. It has a population of more than 30,000 and receives over 2 million visitors annually.

The earliest inhabitants of Hilton Head Island South Carolina are Native Americans who were driven out by the Spanish who arrived in the Island in 1521. Hilton Head Island got its name from Captain William Hilton, an Englishman, who claimed the Island in the 1700s in order to plant indigo and sugar cane. Cotton planters followed and settled in the Island during this time. When the civil war erupted in 1861, most of the residents fled and the crop fields were destroyed. Those who remained were African Americans known as Geechees who spoke the Gullah language. They are considered the native inhabitants of the Island. Today, Gullah culture is still present in the Island and a Gullah festival is held every year.

In the 1940's, Hilton Head Island South Carolina became a hunting ground to wealthy men who later established the Island's lumber industry. In 1956, the construction of a bridge to the mainland and the development of Sea Pines Plantation by Charles Fraser saw the transformation of Hilton Head Island South Carolina into a resort area. Today, the Island is home to hundreds of hotels, vacation homes, villas and resorts as well as shopping boutiques, restaurants and recreation areas. Nature-lovers will love Hilton Head Island not only for its pristine white sand beaches, panoramic ocean views, beautiful marinas and lagoons but also for its lush pine and oak forests.

Another main attraction in Hilton Head Island South Carolina its first-rate championship golf courses. Hilton Head Island hosts the annual Verizon Heritage Classic Tournament. It is ranked among the top ten best golf resorts in the world. Golf enthusiasts will find more than a dozen golf courses in the Island.

Hilton Head Island South Carolina is the ideal place for those who are into golf or tennis, swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking, and hiking or for anyone who simply wants to enjoy nature and the Island's peaceful atmosphere.

Hilton Head Island South Carolina is served by two airports - the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia and the Hilton Head Airport, which is at the center of the Island.