Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hilton Head Island
—  Town  —
Harbour Town Marina in Sea Pines Resort
Seal
Nickname(s): Hilton Head
Motto: Preserve and prosper
Location of Hilton Head Island in South Carolina
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	South Carolina
County	Beaufort
Incorporated (town)	1983
Government
- Mayor	Tom Peeples
- Town manager	Steve Riley
- Fire chief	Lavarn Lucas
Area
- Total	55.5 sq mi (143.9 km2)
- Land	42.1 sq mi (108.9 km2)
- Water	13.5 sq mi (34.9 km2)  24.28%
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	75,504
- Density	586.0/sq mi (310.8/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	29925, 29926, 29928
Area code(s)	843
FIPS code	45-34045[1]
GNIS feature ID	1246002[2]
Website	Official web site

Hilton Head Island or Hilton Head is a resort town (located on an island of the same name) in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is 20 miles (32 km) north of Savannah, Georgia, and 95 miles (153 km) south of Charleston. The island gets its name from Captain William Hilton. In 1663, Captain Hilton identified a headland near the entrance to Port Royal Sound, which he named "Hilton's Head" after himself. The island features 12 miles (19 km) of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular vacation destination. In 2004, an estimated 2.25 million visitors pumped more than $1.5 billion into the local economy.^[3] The year-round population was 75,504 at the 2000 census, although during the peak of summer vacation season the population can swell to 275,000.^[4] Over the past decade, the island's population growth rate was 32%.^[5]

The island has a rich history that started with seasonal occupation by native Americans thousands of years ago, and continued with European exploration and the Sea Island Cotton trade. It became an important base of operations for the Union blockade of the Southern ports during the Civil War. Once the island fell to Union troops, hundreds of ex-slaves flocked to Hilton Head, which is still home to many 'native islanders', many of whom are descendants of freed slaves known as the Gullah (or Geechee) who have managed to hold onto much of their ethnic and cultural identity.^[6]

The Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated as a municipality in 1983 and is well known for its "eco-friendly" development.^[7] 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.^[8] As a result, Hilton Head Island enjoys an unusual amount of tree cover relative to the amount of development.^[9] Approximately 70% of the island, including most of the tourist areas, is located inside gated communities.^[10] 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.^[11]

Hilton Head Island offers an unusual number of cultural opportunities for a community 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 Heritage Golf Classic, a stop on the PGA Tour which is played on the Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Resort.^[12]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early history 1.2 20th century 2 Government 3 Geography 3.1 Topography 3.2 Barrier island 3.3 Climate 4 Culture 4.1 Arts Center of Coastal Carolina 4.2 Coastal Discovery Museum 4.3 Hilton Head Choral Society 4.4 Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra 4.5 Arts Council of Beaufort County 4.6 Main Street Youth Theatre 4.7 Annual events 5 Wildlife 6 Demographics 7 Emergency services 8 Gated communities 9 Public beach access 10 Island parks 11 Schools 12 Notable residents 13 References 14 External links

History

Early history

The ancient Shell Ring can be seen near the east entrance to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. The ring, one of only 20 in existence, is 150 feet (46 m) in diameter and is believed to be over 10,000 years old. Archeologists believe that the ring was a refuse heap, created by Native Americans that lived in the interior of the ring, which was kept clear and used as a common area. Two other shell rings on Hilton Head were destroyed when the shells were removed and used to make tabby for roads and buildings. The Shell Ring is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is protected by law.^[13]

Since the beginning of recorded history in the New World, the waters around Hilton Head Island have been known, occupied and fought for in turn by the English, Spanish, French, and Scots.^[14]

A Spanish expedition led by Francisco Cordillo explored the area in 1521, initiating European contact with local tribes.^[15]

In 1663, Captain William Hilton sailed on the Adenture from Barbados to explore lands granted by King Charles II of England to the eight Lords Proprietor. In his travels, he identified a headland near the entrance to Port Royal Sound. He named it "Hilton's Head" after himself.^[16] He stayed for several days, making note of the trees, crops, "sweet water" and "clear sweet air".^[17]

In 1698, Hilton Head Island was granted as part of a barony to John Bayley of Ballingclough, County of Tipperary, Kingdom of Ireland. Another John Bayley, son of the first, appointed Alexander Trench as the island's first retail agent. For a time, Hilton Head was known as Trench's Island. In 1729, Trench sold some land to John Gascoine which Gascoine named "John's Island" after himself. The land later came to be known as Jenkin's Island after another owner.^[18]

In 1788, a small Episcopal church called the Zion Chapel of Ease was constructed for plantation owners. The old cemetery, located near the corner of William Hilton Parkway and Mathews Drive (Folly Field), is all that remains. Charles Davant, a prominent island planter during the Revolutionary War, is buried there.

He was shot by Captain Martinangel of Daufuskie Island in 1781.^[16] It is also home to the oldest intact structure on Hilton Head Island, the Baynard Mausoleum, which was built in 1846.

William Elliott II of Myrtle Bank Plantation grew the first crop of Sea Island Cotton in South Carolina on Hilton Head Island in 1790.

Fort Walker was a Confederate fort in what is now Port Royal Plantation. The fort was a station for Confederate troops, and its guns helped protect the 2-mile (3 km) wide entrance to Port Royal Sound, which is fed by two slow-moving and navigable rivers, the Broad River and the Beaufort River. It was vital to the Sea Island Cotton trade and the southern economy.^[19] On October 29, 1861, the largest fleet ever assembled in North America moved south to seize it.^[20] In the Battle of Port Royal, the fort came under attack by the U.S. Navy, and on November 7, 1861, it fell to over 12,000 Union troops.^[21] The fort would be renamed Fort Welles, in honor of Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy.^[22]

Hilton Head Island would have tremendous significance in the Civil War, becoming an important base of operations for the Union blockade of the Southern ports, particularly Savannah and Charleston. The Union would also build a military hospital on Hilton Head Island with a 1,200-foot (370 m) frontage and a floor area of 60,000 square feet (6,000 m²).^[23]

Hundreds of ex-slaves flocked to Hilton Head Island, where they could buy land, go to school, live in government housing, and serve in what was called the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers (although in the beginning, many were "recruited" at the point of a bayonet).^[24] A community called Mitchelville (in honor of General Ormsby M. Mitchel) was constructed on the north end of the island to house them.^[25]

The Leamington Lighthouse was built in the 1870s on the southern edge of what is now Palmetto Dunes.

On August 27, 1893, the Sea Islands Hurricane made landfall near Savannah, Georgia with a storm surge of 16 feet (5 m) and swept north across South Carolina, killing over a thousand and leaving tens of thousands homeless.^[26]

20th century

An experimental steam cannon guarding Port Royal Sound was built around 1900 in what is now Port Royal Plantation. The cannon was fixed but its propulsion system allowed for long range shots for the time.

In 1931, Wall Street tycoon, physicist, and patron of scientific research, Alfred Lee Loomis along with his brother-in-law and partner, Landon K. Thorne, purchased 17,000 acres (69 km²) on the island (over 63% of the total land mass) for about $120,000 to be used as a private game reserve.^[27][28]

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.

The Mounted Beach Patrol and Dog Training Center on Hilton Head Island trained U.S. Coast Guard Beach Patrol personnel to use horses and dogs to protect the southeastern coastline of the U.S.^[29]

In the early 1950s, three lumber mills contributed to the logging of 19,000 acres (77 km²) of the island.^[15] The island population was only 300 residents.^[15] Prior to 1956, access to Hilton Head was limited to private boats and a state-operated ferry. The island's economy centered on shipbuilding, cotton, lumbering, and fishing.^[7]

The James F. Byrnes Bridge was built in 1956. It was a two-lane toll swing bridge constructed at a cost of $1.5 million that opened the island to automobile traffic from the mainland.^[15] The swing bridge was hit by a barge in 1974 which shut down 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 swing bridge was replaced by the current four-lane bridge in 1982.^[15]

The beginning of Hilton Head as a resort started in 1956 with Charles Fraser developing Sea Pines Resort. Soon, other developments followed, such as Hilton Head Plantation, Palmetto Dunes Plantation, Shipyard Plantation, and Port Royal Plantation, imitating Sea Pines' architecture and landscape. Sea Pines however continued to stand out by creating a unique locality within the plantation called Harbour Town, anchored by a recognizable lighthouse. Fraser was a committed environmentalist who changed the whole configuration of the marina at Harbour Town to save an ancient live oak.^[10] It came to be known as the Liberty Oak, known to generations of children who watched singer and song writer Gregg Russell perform under the tree for over 25 years.^[30] Fraser was buried next to the tree when he died in 2002.^[31]

The Heritage Golf Classic was first played in Sea Pines Resort in 1969, and has been a regular stop on the PGA Tour ever since.^[12]

Also in 1969, the Hilton Head Island Community Association successfully fought off the development of a BASF chemical complex on the shores of Victoria Bluff (now Colleton River Plantation). Soon after, the association and other concerned citizens "south of the Broad" fought the development of off-shore oil platforms by Brown & Root (a division of Halliburton) and ten-story tall liquefied natural gas shipping spheres by Chicago Bridge & Iron.^[32] These events helped to polarize the community, and the Chamber of Commerce started drumming up support for the town to incorporate as a municipality. After the Four Seasons Resort (now Hilton Head Resort) was built along William Hilton Parkway, a referendum of incorporation was passed in May 1983. Hilton Head Island had become a town.^[32]

The Land Management Ordinance was passed by the Town Council in 1987. Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort opened in 1996. The Cross Island Parkway opened in January 1997. An indoor smoking ban in bars, restaurants, and public places took effect on May 1, 2007.^[33]

Government

The Town of Hilton Head Island incorporated as a municipality in 1983 and has jurisdiction over the entire island except Mariner's Cove, Blue Heron Point, and Windmill Harbor.^[4] The Town of Hilton Head Island has a Council-Manager form of government. The Town Manager is the chief executive officer and head of the administrative branch and is responsible to the municipal council for the proper administration of all the affairs of the town. The Town Council exercises all powers not specifically delegated to the Town Manager. The Mayor has the same powers, duties, and responsibilities as a member of Town Council. In addition, the Mayor establishes the agenda for Town Council meetings, calls special meetings, executes contracts, deeds, resolutions, and proclamations not designated to the Town Manager, and represents the town at ceremonial functions.^[34]

Town departments include Building & Fire Codes, Business License, Code Enforcement, Finance, Fire & Rescue, Human Resources, Legal, Municipal Court, Planning, and Public Projects & Facilities.^[35]

The town had a budget of $74,753,260 for fiscal year 2006/2007.^[4] It consists of three separate fiscal accounting funds: the General Fund, the Capital Projects Fund, and the Debt Service Fund.^[4] The General Fund is the operating fund for the town and accounts for all financial resources of the town except the Capital Projects Fund and the Debt Service Fund.^[4] The Capital Projects Fund is used to acquire land and facilities, and improve public facilities, including roads, bike paths, fire stations, vehicle replacement, drainage improvements, and park development.^[4] The Debt Service Fund accounts for the accumulation of resources and the payment of debt.^[4] On Tuesday, June 5, 2007, the Town Council approved a $93,154,110 budget for fiscal year 2007/2008 on the first reading with a vote of 6-0.^[36]

Office holders as of February 2008:

Thomas (Tom) Peeples, Mayor[37] Kenneth (Ken) S. Heitzke, Ward 6, Mayor Pro Tem[37] Willie (Bill) Ferguson, Ward 1[37] W. J. (Bill) Mottel, Ward 2[37]

Drew Laughlin, Ward 3[37] John D. Safay, Ward 4[37] George W. Williams Jr., Ward 5[37] Stephen (Steve) Riley, Town Manager[37]

Council mission statement:

To provide excellent customer service to all that come in contact with the Town.
To wisely manage and utilize the financial and physical resources of Town government.
To promote policies and programs which will assure the long term health and vitality of the community.
To encourage and instill job satisfaction for all Town staff.
To develop and enhance the professional growth of all Staff members.^[38]

Geography

Topography

Hilton Head Island is a shoe-shaped island that lies just north of Savannah, Georgia, and 90 miles (140 km) south of Charleston, South Carolina. The exact coordinates are (32.178828, -80.742947)^[39].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 55.5 square miles (144 km²). Of that, 42.1 square miles (109 km²) is land, and 13.5 square miles (35 km²) or 24.28% is water.

Barrier island

Hilton Head Island 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).^[40] 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.^[41]

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.^[42]

Climate

Climate data for Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °F	60	63	69	71	82	87	90	88	85	78	70	63	76
Average low °F	38	40	47	54	62	69	72	71	68	57	48	41	56
Precipitation inches	3.7	3.5	3.9	3.0	3.6	5.3	6.2	8.9	5.1	2.6	2.4	3.2	51.4
Average high °C	16	17	20	24	28	30	32	31	29	25	21	17	24
Average low °C	3	4	8	12	16	20	22	21	19	14	9	4	13
Precipitation cm	9	8	9	7	9	13	15	22	12	6	6	8	130
Source: Weatherbase [43]

Culture

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

Formerly the Self Family Arts Center, the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is a showcase for professional performing and visual arts, as well as cultural festivals and educational outreach.^[44] The Arts Center also offers community education, including Visual and Performing Arts Camps, Theater Camp, and other workshops and classes.^[45]

Coastal Discovery Museum

The Coastal Discovery Museum, located at 100 William Hilton Parkway, offers a variety of programs, activities, and indoor and outdoor exhibits year-round to over 125,000 visitors. They include the Sea Island Classroom, the History Time-line Exhibit, and the Museum Store, plus 11 different tours and cruises around the island.^[46] The Coastal Discovery Museum also leases the 68-acre (280,000 m²) Honey Horn Plantation from the Town of Hilton Head Island, which it uses to educate residents and visitors about the history, culture and natural environment of the Lowcountry and Hilton Head Island.^[47] The Coastal Discovery Museum is open Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.^[48]

Hilton Head Choral Society

The Hilton Head Choral Society, founded in 1975,^[49] is a non-profit organization "open to community members who love to sing and enjoy good fellowship."^[49] The choirs of the Hilton Head Choral Society are known for their diverse musical repertoire^[50] including classical masterworks, pops concerts and lighter fare, patriotic and Americana, gospel and musical theatre, a 20-voice chamber choir and a youth choir.^[51] The 120-member full chorus presents four major programs per season: A Fall Pops Concert, The Christmas Concert, The Musical Masterworks Concert and a pair of Memorial Day concerts celebrating the art of American choral singing and a patriotic tribute.^[49]

Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra

The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra was started 25 years ago by a handful of musicians and classical music aficionados who dreamed of bringing "big city" culture to Hilton Head.^[52] Since then, they have transformed from a small group of classical music lovers to a highly rated symphony orchestra. Their main performance hall is the First Presbyterian Church on William Hilton Parkway, next to Fire Station 3.^[53]

Arts Council of Beaufort County

ACBC's mission is to promote and foster the arts of Beaufort County, South Carolina, including Hilton Head Island. ACBC's vision is to position and maintain Beaufort County as a vibrant arts community and destination through active marketing, service to current arts organizations and artists and advocacy for the arts. ACBC programs include Quarterly Community Arts Grants, the Ever Expanding Arts Calendar, Get Your Art Out emerging artist initiative, the print publication ArtNews, and Arts of the Roundtables, which are free quarterly seminars exploring the business of art.^[54]

Main Street Youth Theatre

The Main Street Youth Theatre, located on the north end of the island on Main Street, is a non-profit community theatre dedicated to enriching the lives of the islands youth by providing a true theatrical experience. Each year, MSYT performs 4-5 Broadway quality shows that run about 2 months at a time. During the tourist season, MSYT is a major tourist attraction and is also a local hot spot year round. The organization also provides acting, dance, and vocal instruction after school and during the summer.

Annual events

• Gullah Celebration - Although threatened by the rapid increase in tourism,^[55][56] Gullah culture can be seen at the annual Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration which is held at Shelter Cove Community Park in February.^[57] In the summer, the acclaimed Hallelujah Singers present a Gullah concert series at Hilton Head's Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.^[6]

• WineFest - The 25th Annual WineFest was held in Shelter Cove Community Park on March 6, 2010.^[58][59] It is the largest outdoor, tented wine tasting on the East Coast, featuring over 1,500 domestic and international wines.^[60][61]

• St. Patrick's Day Parade - The 24th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade was held on March 11, 2007. Joe Fraser, brother of Charles Fraser and former senior vice president of Sea Pines Plantation Co. was the grand marshal.^[62] Over 20,000 people attended the parade, prompting Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner and other officials to question whether the parade might have outgrown its route along Pope Avenue.^[63]

• WingFest - The 12th Annual Hargray WingFest was held at Shelter Cove Community Park on March 21, 2007. The event is operated by the Island Recreation Association, and all proceeds benefit the Island Recreation Scholarship Fund.^[64]

• HarbourFest - HarbourFest^[65], now in its 19th season,^[66] ran every Tuesday night from June 5 - August 21 at Shelter Cove Marina, featuring arts & crafts, live entertainment, and fireworks at sunset. There is a special HarbourFest celebration on July 4.^[67] In addition, "Summertime at Shelter Cove" features five nights of family entertainment by Shannon Tanner, who plays two shows per night, 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.^[68]

• Heritage Golf Classic - The 41st Annual Heritage Classic golf tournament took place April 14–20, 2010, at Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Resort.

• Rib Burnoff & Barbecue Fest - The 10th Annual Rib Burnoff & Barbecue Fest was held May 19, 2007 at Honey Horn Plantation.^[69]

• Celebrity Golf Tournament - The 27th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament was held August 31 - September 2, 2007, at the Golf Club at Indigo Run, the Robert Trent Jones course in Palmetto Dunes^[70], and Harbour Town Golf Links. To date the tournament has contributed over $2,785,000 to 18 children's charities.^[71]

• FoodFest - FoodFest 2007 took place September 13–16, 2007. FoodFest celebrates the talent of the local hospitality industry and provides attendees with several spectator events including: The Best Bartender Drink Making Contest, The Hospitable Waiter’s Race, and The Tailgate Gourmet Challenge.^[72][73]

• Chili Cookoff - The 23rd Annual Chili Cookoff was held Saturday, October 6, 2007, at 12:00 p.m. at Honey Horn Plantation.^[74]

• Community Festival - The 7th Annual Community Festival took place Friday, October 19–20, 2007, from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. at Honey Horn Plantation. It featured a "haunted trail" in the "haunted forest" presented by the Hilton Head Rotary Club and the Interact Clubs from Hilton Head High School and Hilton Head Prep.^[75]

• Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival - The 6th Annual Concours d'Elegance & Motoring Festival, featuring world-class vintage and antique autos, Italian sports cars and American muscle cars from all over the country^[76] was held November 1–4, 2007, at Honey Horn Plantation.^[77]

• The Dove Street Festival of Lights - Started in 1990, takes place each December. More than 50 homes on Dove street decorate with holiday lights and the Glee Club of the Miami University of Ohio serenades residents with holiday songs. Town volunteers collect donations of money, food and toys at the festival that are given to The Deep Well Project, a local charity.^[78]

Wildlife

The Hilton Head Island area is home to a vast array of wildlife, including alligators, deer, Loggerhead Sea Turtles, manatee, hundreds of species of birds,^[79] and dolphins.

The Coastal Discovery Museum, in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, patrols the beaches from May through October as part of the Sea Turtle Protection Project.^[80] The purpose of the project is to inventory and monitor nesting locations, and if necessary, move them to more suitable locations. During the summer months, the museum sponsors the Turtle Talk & Walk, which is a special tour designed to educate the public about this endangered species.^[80] To protect Loggerhead Sea Turtles, a town ordinance stipulates that artificial lighting must be shielded so that it cannot be seen from the beach, or it must be turned off by 10:00 p.m. from May 1 to October 31 each year.^[81]

The waters around Hilton Head Island are one of the few places on Earth where dolphins routinely use a technique called "strand feeding" whereby schools of fish are herded up onto mud banks, and the dolphins lie on their side while they feed before sliding back down into the water.^[82][83]

The saltmarsh estuaries of Hilton Head Island are the feeding grounds, breeding grounds, and nurseries for many saltwater species of game fish, sport fish, and marine mammals. The dense plankton population gives the coastal water its "murky" brown-green coloration.

Plankton support marine life including oysters, shrimp and other invertebrates, and bait-fish species including Menhaden and Mullet, which in turn support larger fish and mammal species that populate the local waterways. Popular sport fish in the Hilton Head Island area include the Red Drum (or Spot Tail Bass), Spotted Sea Trout, Sheepshead, Cobia, Tarpon, and various shark species.^[84]

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 75,504 people, 14,408 households, and 9,898 families residing in the town, on a land area of 42.06 square miles (109 km²). The population density was 805.1 people per square mile (310.8/km²). There were 24,647 housing units at an average density of 586.0 per square mile (226.3/km²).

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 (42.65 sq mi or 110.45 km²) than the town. The Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan Area, which includes Beaufort and Jasper counties, had a 2005 estimated year-round population of 159,247.^[85]

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 (64,858), Bluffton (37,000), and Ridgeland (3,616). The urban clusters of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton will probably be merged by the 2010 Census.

Emergency services

Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue began operations July 1, 1993 as a consolidation of the former Sea Pines Forest Beach Fire Department, the Hilton Head Island Fire District, and the Hilton Head Island Rescue Squad.^[86] It is a career department that provides fire suppression and emergency medical services (EMS) at the advanced life support level. Special operations capabilities include HAZMAT, urban search and rescue (USAR), confined space rescue, trench rescue, and rope rescue. The department is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI).^[87][88][89]

There are seven fire stations on Hilton Head Island, providing professional fire protection and emergency medical care.

• Station 1: 70 Cordillo Parkway - (in Shipyard Plantation near the Pope Avenue entrance)^[90]
• Station 2: 65 Lighthouse Road - (in Sea Pines Resort between Frazer Circle and Harbour Town)^[90]
• Station 3: 534 William Hilton Parkway - (across from Port Royal Plantation next to First Presbyterian Church)^[90]
• Station 4: 400 Squire Pope Road - (near the back gate of Hilton Head Plantation)^[90]
• Station 5: 20 Whooping Crane Way - (near the front gate of Hilton Head Plantation)^[90]
• Station 6: 16 Queen's Folly Road - (in the front of Palmetto Dunes under the water tower)^[90]
• Station 7: 1001 Marshland Road - (by the toll booths of the Cross Island Parkway)^[90]
• Fire & Rescue Headquarters: 40 Summit Drive - (general aviation entrance to the airport off Dillon Road, next to the convenience center)

Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue also works with Bluffton Township Fire Department as a sponsoring agency for two of South Carolina's designated special teams: one of the state's Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Response Teams and one of the four Regional Urban Search and Rescue Response Teams.^{[91][92][93][94]}

Police services are contracted through Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.^[4] The island is equipped with an enhanced 9-1-1 system.^[86]

Gated communities

Hilton Head Plantation Indigo Run Plantation Long Cove Plantation Palmetto Dunes Resort Palmetto Hall Plantation Port Royal Plantation Sea Pines Resort Shipyard Plantation Spanish Wells Plantation Wexford Plantation Windmill Harbour

Public beach access

• Alder Lane Beach Access - 22 metered spaces^[95]
• Burkes Beach Access - 13 metered spaces^[95]
• Coligny Beach Park - parking is free - some parking reserved for annual beach passes from 8:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.^[95]
• Driessen Beach Park - 207 long term parking spaces - some parking reserved for annual beach passes from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.^[95]
• Fish Haul Park - parking is free^[95]
• Folly Field Beach Park - 51 metered spaces^[95]
• Islanders Beach Park - annual beach pass parking only^[95]
• Mitchelville Beach Park - parking is free^[95]

Island parks

Alder Lane Beach Access[96] Barker Field[96] Burkes Beach Access[96] Broad Creek Boat Ramp[96] Chaplin Community Park[96] Coligny Beach Park[96] Compass Rose Park[96] Cordillo Tennis Courts[96] Crossings Park & Bristol Sports Arena[96] Driessen Beach Park[96] Fish Haul Creek Park[96]

Folly Field Beach Park[96] Green Shell Park[96] Hilton Head Park (Old Schoolhouse Park* Island Recreation Center[96] Islanders Beach Park[96] Jarvis Creek Park[96] Marshland Road Boat Landing[96] Old House Creek Dock[96] Shelter Cove Community Park[96] Xeriscape Garden[96]

Schools

Public schools Hilton Head Island Early Childhood Center (Pre K - K) Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts (Grades 1-5) Hilton Head Island International Baccalaureate Elementary School (Grades 1-5) Hilton Head Island Middle School Hilton Head Island High School

Private schools Hilton Head Preparatory School Hilton Head Christian Academy St. Francis Catholic School Heritage Academy Sea Pines Montessori Academy

Notable residents

Name	Notability	Reference
Arthur Blank	owner NFL Atlanta Falcons & Home Depot, has a house in Sea Pines Resort	[97][98]
Patricia Cornwell	fiction author	[99]
Bobby Cremins	NCAA men's basketball coach, currently resides in Charleston, but maintains a home in Hilton Head	.[100][101][102]
Jim Ferree	American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour	[103]
Trevor Hall	singer-songwriter, was raised in Hilton Head	[104][105]
John Jakes	author of historical fiction, resides in Hilton Head	[98][106]
Michael Jordan	former NBA player, sold his house on Hilton Head when his father died	[107]
John V. Lindsay	former mayor of New York City, died in Hilton Head on December 19, 2000	[108]
John Cougar Mellencamp	singer-songwriter	[98]
Mark Messier	NHL hockey player, part-time resident of Hilton Head	[109]
Duncan Sheik	singer-songwriter, was raised in Hilton Head	[110][111]
Stan Smith	former Wimbledon, US Open and Davis Cup Champ and Tennis Pro	[98]
Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort	WWII hero, died in his home on Hilton Head in 1990 at the age of 75	[112]
Kathryn R. Wall	American author of mystery novels	[113]
Jayson Williams	former NBA Basketball player, owns a home on Hilton Head	[114]
Darrell Hedric	former head basketball coach at Miami University, former NBA head scout

References

External links

• Town website
• Official Hilton Head Island Vacation Guide
• The Island Packet - local newspaper
• Hilton Head South Carolina Vacation Spots
• Hilton Head Island Chamber of Commerce
• Hilton Head Gullah Festival
• Comprehensive Hilton Head Island visitor's site

Municipalities and communities of Beaufort County, South Carolina County seat: Beaufort City Beaufort Towns Bluffton | Hilton Head Island | Port Royal | Hardeeville‡ | Yemassee‡ CDPs Burton | Laurel Bay | Shell Point Unincorporated communities Frogmore | Pritchardville | Sheldon Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

The Lowcountry of South Carolina Counties Beaufort County • Colleton County • Hampton County • Jasper County • Charleston region Major communities Beaufort • Bluffton • Estill • Hampton • Hardeeville • Hilton Head Island • Port Royal • Ridgeland • Walterboro • Varnville • Yemassee Sea Islands Daufuskie Island • Edisto Island • Fripp Island • Harbor Island • Hilton Head Island • Hunting Island • Lady's Island • St. Helena Island History & culture Beaufort (history of - historic district) • Cuisine • Gullah culture • Port Royal Experiment • Sea Islands Hurricane Military installations Laurel Bay • MCAS Beaufort • MCRD Parris Island • Beaufort Naval Hospital Natural areas ACE Basin • Hunting Island State Park & Lighthouse • Pinckney Island NWR • Savannah NWR • Sea Islands Other articles BJWSA • Sea Pines • TCL • USC-Beaufort • The Heritage

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