Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is the second largest barrier island* on the East Coast of the United States. It is approximately 12 miles long and 5 miles wide and is located in the Southeastern part (Beaufort County) of South Carolina. Savannah, Georgia is 35 miles to the South.

(* The terrain of a barrier island is determined by a dynamic beach system with offshore bars, pounding surf, and shifting beaches; as well as grassy dunes behind the beach, maritime forests with wetlands in the interiors, and salt or tidal marshes on the lee side, facing the mainland. A typical barrier island has a headland, a beach and surf zone, and a sand spit.)

In August of 1663, English Captain William Hilton, while exploring the Port Royal Sound, sighted the high bluffs of the island and named it for himself, "Hilton Head." ("Head" refers to the headlands visible to them as they sailed the uncharted waters.) He lingered several days, making note of the trees, crops, and also the sweet water and clear sweet air. Some 35 years later, the first English development in the Low Country began despite frequent Indian attacks, sponsored by the Spanish, which repeatedly harrassed settlers in the area.

In 1717, Col. John Barnwell was granted a thousand acres on the NW corner of Hilton Head Island by the Lord Proprietors. He became the first white settler. By 1766, 25 families lived on Hilton Head Island. In 1742 the SC colonial half-galley Beaufort, commanded by Captain David Cutler Braddock, was stationed in the cove at the southern point of the Island to guard against Spanish intrusions. The point and the cove have carried the name Braddock ever since.

During the American Revolution, the British burned Plantations on the Island and captured slaves who were later sold in the West Indies. After the war, the Island made a healthy recovery. This became the "Golden Age", as the crops of cotton, indigo, and rice flourished. South Carolina was among the richest states, and Hilton Head Island was responsible for several millionaires.

South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union on December 20, 1860. Just 4 months later, the Civil War began, with Confederates firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston harbor. In January, 1861, General Robert E. Lee was assigned command of the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida. On November 8 of that year, 77 Union ships carrying 13,000 troops, 1500 horses, 500 surf boats, and 1,000 laborers to build a town and fortress for the blockade of the South, circled and seized Port Royal on the island. Victory that day for the Union meant freedom for 1,000 slaves. The Yankees were here to stay until the War's end.

1950 marked the beginning of the Modern Age of Hilton Head Island. Electricity arrived in 1951 and the first telephone was installed in 1960. In the fifties, Charles Fraser and Fred Hack led a group of Georgia natives in the purchase of 19,000 of the Island's 25,000 acres, which they quickly began selling to developers. They brought a system of land use that became the prototype of many other successful developments by focusing on preserving the natural environment. Beautiful bridges replaced Ferry boats accessing the Island. Residential Plantations were developed, often around original Plantation boundaries.

Rapid growth of the Island began in 1970. The Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated as a municipality in 1983 and is well known for its "eco-friendly" development. The town's Natural Resources Division enforces the Land Management Ordinance which minimizes the impact of development and governs the style of buildings and how they are situated amongst existing trees. As a result, Hilton Head Island enjoys an unusual amount of tree cover relative to the amount of development. Today, this beautiful sea island continues to offer fortunate residents and their guests a beautiful oasis featuring miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches, World Class golf, tennis recreation and a renewal of spirit as one is surrounded, and enriched by, the peaceful beauty of nature.

Hilton Head Island is home to several environmentally planned resort and residential communities, supporting more than 30,000 full-time residents. Most of these communities have been named "Plantations," but cotton fields have been replaced by lush green golf courses, tennis courts, shimmering lakes and beautifully designed resorts and villas. Approximately 70% of the island is located inside gated communities. However, the Town maintains several public beach access points, including one for the exclusive use of town residents, who have approved several multi-million dollar land-buying bond referendums to control commercial growth.

Hilton Head Island offers an unusual breadth of cultural opportunities for a community of its size, including Broadway-quality plays at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, the 120 member full chorus of the Hilton Head Choral Society, the highly-rated Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the largest annual outdoor, tented wine tasting event on the east coast, and several other annual community festivals. It also hosts the Verizon Heritage, a stop on the PGA tour played on the Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Resort.

Notable current or previous full- or part-time residents of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina include Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL Atlanta Falcons and Home Depot; Bobby Cremins, NCAA men's basketball coach; Deke Deloach, former official in Herbert Hoover's FBI and Senior VP of Pepsico; John Jakes, author of historical fiction; Michael Jordan, former NBA player; former New York City mayor, the late John V. Lindsay; singer-songwriter John Mellencamp, singer-songwriter; Mark Messier, NHL hockey player and former international tennis champion Stan Smith to name a few.

The Lowcountry Region, including Beaufort County, offers so much to see and do, from a variety of recreational pursuits (fishing, sailing, hunting, bird watching, paddling, surfing, golf, and tennis, to name a few) to enjoying the many historic and artistic venues scattered through the region (lighthouses, historic buildings, museums, art galleries, concerts, movie locations, the Penn Center Historic District, etc).

Local plantation homeowners and their guests love to re-experience the Lowcountry often by taking advantage of the many local tours through the area. Whether being pulled by horse-drawn carriage, riding an air-conditioned bus, enjoying the thrills of boating or kayaking or even joining one of the frequent walking tours, Beaufort County residents - full or part-time - know to relax around the island. Shopping on Hilton Head Island can include one-of-a-kind treasures from the South Carolina Artisans Center, to clever, little, eclectic shops, to mega, bargain hunting at factory outlets.

If you love the outdoors, a beautiful day's walk or easy drive and a little invigorating competition, don't miss an opportunity to tee off in the Lowcountry, one of the world's premier golf destinations. Dozens of courses to delight players of every skill level stretch across Beaufort County. Lowcountry fairways are respected for their spectacular lagoons, envied for the scenic marshes and maritime forests and long remembered for their abundant wildlife experiences. And the golfing is great, as well. With its temperate climate and year-round sunshine, Beaufort County, South Carolina is the perfect place to enjoy a satisfying round of golf.

And, the island itself is a true paradise. Hilton Head Island in coastal South Carolina is often referred to as the second largest barrier island on the eastern seaboard after Long Island (which is not actually a barrier island but two glacial moraines). Technically, Hilton Head Island is only half barrier island. The north end of the island is a sea island dating to the Pleistocene epoch, and the south end is a barrier island that appeared as recently as the Holocene epoch. Broad Creek, which is actually a land-locked tidal marsh, separates the two halves of the island.

For many years, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina has been renowned as a world class destination for golf, tennis and for family vacations. With over 14 miles of beach, terrific shopping, nature preserves, water sports, biking and so much more, it's no wonder why Hilton Head Island has become a permanent home for so many vacationers.

But vacationers are not the only people who love this ideal locale on the Atlantic. Island real estate is immensely popular and coveted. Million dollar estates, plush executive plantations, luxurious homes, condos, gated community properties and waterside manors are abundant throughout the island. It is as common as sunshine to find yachts standing as if in permanent salute along elegant marinas at docking spots up and down Hilton Head's coastline.

Despite extensive development, however, much of the Island remains as it was when sighted from William Hilton's ship more than 300 years ago. Hilton Head Island's natural beauty, spectacular seascapes and exceptional ecology now beckon a new generation of explorers.

For more information on activities in and around Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, visit:

• Town of Hilton Head, SC
• Beaufort County, SC
• Hilton Head Island - Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
• Hilton Head Island, SC Google Earth Map
• View Hilton Head Island, SC Area Jobs on Career Builder
• View Hilton Head Island, SC Area Jobs on Yahoo HotJobs
• Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on Wikipedia.com
• Hilton Head Island, South Carolina on epodunk
• Hilton Head Island, SC on AskJeeves.com
• Port Royal Plantation
• Sea Pines Plantation
• Shelter Cove Harbour Marina and Villas
• South Shore Commons Villas
• Spanish Wells Plantation
• Wexford Plantation
• Greater Beaufort / Hilton Head Economic Partnership
• Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
• Arts Council of Beaufort County
• Beaufort County / Hilton Head Island Airport
• Beaufort County School District
• South Carolina Low Country Tourism
• Main Street Beaufort, USA
• Beaufort.com
• Hilton Head Island.com