Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
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Hilton Head Island is a town located on an island of the same name in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 33,862 at the 2000 census, living on a land area of 108.94 km² (42.06 sq mi). Although the town occupies most of the land area of the island, it is not coterminous with it; there is a small part near the main access road from the mainland, William Hilton Parkway, which is not incorporated into the town. Hilton Head (the island) therefore has a slightly higher population (34,407 in Census 2000, defined as the Hilton Head Island Urban Cluster) and a larger land area (110.45 km² or 42.65 sq mi) than the town. [1] Hilton Head Island is 20 miles north of Savannah, Georgia, and 95 miles (152 km) south of Charleston, South Carolina. The island features 12 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular vacation destination.
The island is served by the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport and by the Hilton Head Airport which is on-island. Hilton Head Island is famous for its world class golf courses and each year hosts the Verizon Heritage Classic Tournament, which is played on the Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Plantation.
Though known mainly as a tourist destination, Hilton Head is home to many 'native islanders', made up of African American communities that have lived on the island for generations and other groups who have migrated from northern states. Hilton Head is classified by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan Area, which includes Beaufort and Jasper Counties and had a 2005 estimated population of 159,247.
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[edit] History
Hilton Head has several places of historical interest. There is evidence of the island being inhabited seasonally by Native Americans as early as 10,000 years ago. The Shell Ring inside the Sea Pines Forest Preserve is all that remains from their inhabitance. There is a large earthworks fort called Fort Walker in Port Royal Plantation. This fort was a station for Confederate troops until 1861 and participated in Battle of Port Royal At the time this was the largest amphibious landing by U.S. troops.
On the Atlantic coast of the island are large concrete gun platforms that were built to defend against a possible invasion by the Axis powers of World War II. Platforms like these can be found all along the eastern seaboard.
Port Royal also is the location of an experimental steam cannon guarding Port Royal Sound built around 1900. The cannon was fixed but its propulsion system allowed for long range shots for the time.
The Leamington Lighthouse which was built in the 1870s on the southern edge of what is now Palmetto Dunes.
The first bridge to the island was built in 1956; it was a two lane toll bridge. Later a swing bridge was constructed and operated until 1982 when it was replaced. The swing bridge was hit by a barge in 1974 which shutdown all vehicle traffic to the island until the Army Corps of Engineers built and manned a pontoon bridge while the bridge was being repaired.
The beginning of Hilton Head as a resort started in 1956 with Charles Fraser developing Sea Pines Plantation, with the center piece being Harbour Town.
Many of the island's earliest residents, sometimes called Geechees, spoke Gullah. Although threatened by the rapid increase in tourism Gullah culture can be seen at the annual Gullah festival, tours offered by native islanders and at craft shops around the Lowcountry.
[edit] Neighborhoods
The town has several neighborhoods, many of which are gated communities called "plantations." These include:
- Hilton Head Plantation
- Indigo Run
- Long Cove Plantation
- Palmetto Dunes
- Palmetto Hall
- Port Royal Plantation
- Sea Pines Plantation
- Shipyard
- Spanish Wells
- Wexford Plantation
- Windmill Harbour
[edit] Schools
Hilton Head Island is served by the following schools:
- Hilton Head Elementary School (public)
- Hilton Head Middle School(public)
- Hilton Head High School (public)
- Hilton Head Prep (private)
- Hilton Head Christian Academy (private)
- Heritage Academy (private)
- Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence (public)
- St. Francis Catholic School (private)
[edit] Geography
Hilton Head Island is located at (32.178828, -80.742947)GR1. Located just north of Savannah, Georgia, it is the second largest (after Long Island, New York) of the Barrier Islands on the Atlantic Ocean coastline.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 143.9 km² (55.5 mi²). 108.9 km² (42.1 mi²) of it is land and 34.9 km² (13.5 mi²) of it (24.28%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 33,862 people (34,371 in 2004 estimate), 14,408 households, and 9,898 families residing in the town. The population density was 310.8/km² (805.1/mi²). There were 24,647 housing units at an average density of 226.3/km² (586.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.33% White, 8.26% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 4.48% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.48% of the population.
There were 14,408 households out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.68.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $60,438, and the median income for a family was $71,211. Males had a median income of $37,262 versus $30,271 for females. The per capita income for the town was $36,621. About 4.7% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
Hilton Head Island is part of the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area which includes Beaufort and Jasper counties and has a total estimated 2005 population of 159,247 (U.S. Census Bureau). According to the more detailed data available in the 2000 census, the population included in this micropolitan area (which actually was designated after the census itself) was 64% urban and 36% rural. It includes the urban clusters of Beaufort (2000 pop.: 46,128), Hilton Head Island (34,407), Bluffton (5,848), and Ridgeland (3,616). The urban clusters of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton will probably be merged by the 2010 Census.
[edit] Notable residents
- John Jakes, author of historical fiction, resides in Hilton Head
- Duncan Sheik, singer-songwriter, was raised in Hilton Head
- Trevor Hall, singer-songwriter, was raised in Hilton Head
[edit] External links
- Official website
- The Island Packet - local newspaper
- Hilton Head Monthly Magazine - local lifestyle publication
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
[edit] References
- ^ Hilton Head Island CCD vs. Hilton Head Island town, Beaufort County United States Census Bureau
