Hilton Head Island takes its name from William Hilton, a sea captain who, in 1663, claimed the island for England. There is evidence that humans have inhabited this Atlantic barrier island since 10,000 BC.

In the late 17th century, threats from Spaniards and Indians began to recede and colonization began. During the colonial period hunting and farming were the main pastimes on Hilton Head Island with the main crops being indigo and rice.

Planters discovered that cotton grew well here and, after the Revolution, local cotton crops were a big part of the boom years in the Lowcountry before the Civil War.

All that remained were the slaves who had toiled and labored for the crops on the plantations. At the end of the war and after the Emancipation Proclamation, these slaves and their families inherited large portions of the land and began a life of diligent farming and fishing, marking the start of the historic Gullah culture.

Only about 500 people lived on Hilton Head until the about 1948 when a Georgia timber man named Fred Hack first saw its fine stands of pine and oak trees. Hence, Hilton Head Island´s "modern" history began.

The areas which we know today as Hilton Head, Palmetto Hall, Port Royal, Shipyard and Spanish Wells plantations, as well as Indigo Run, Long Cove, Wexford, and other properties began to be purchased by Hack and his partners.

Mr. Charles Fraser, son of one of Hack´s original partners, is responsible for the gated community development style we have become so familiar with on Hilton Head Island. During the early 1950s, Fraser created Sea Pines Plantation, the culmination of his vision of a resort community that would preserve the island´s natural beauty. Sea Pines became the model for the communities which now dominate the island´s
residential areas. The first bridge was built in 1956, and that marked the end of Hilton Head´s legendary solitude. Fraser´s vision to create a world-class resort and residential community had become a reality.

Responding to the pressures of rapid growth and development, the Town of Hilton Head Island was incorporated as a limited services government in 1983. The town offices, once located on Palmetto Parkway, moved to their current location near Wexford Plantation in 1992.

Hilton Head Island Timeline 1663 to 2000

1663 Captain William Hilton sailed from Barbados on the "The Adventurer" and arrived at Port Royal Sound. Called Island Hilton's Head.

1698 John Bayley of Ireland took title to 16,200 acres. 24 yeays later he appointed his son, Alexander Trench, to be the first real estate agent. The Island was re-named Trench's Island

1733 Savannah was founded by James Oglethorpe.

1740 Indigo introduced to the Island. Bricks of dye were sold to the English for dying fabrics.

1778 "Zion Chapel of Ease" an Episcopal Church was constructed at Mathews Drive and William Hilton Parkway.

1790 First successful crop of long-staple or Sea Island cotton at Myrtle Bank Plantation, now Dolphin Head in Hilton Head Plantation.

1813 British forces land on Hilton Head and burned most of the houses that existed at the time.

1860 In December, South Carolina was the first state to sucede from the Union.

1861 On November 7th Union forces attacked Fort Walker in the Battle of Port Royal. 13,000 Union troops flooded onto the Island immediately following the battle.

1862 Post Office and Island name was changed to Port Royal which was the Union's Department of the South.

1862 General Ormsby Mitchel established the town of Mitchellville to house the Island's contraban community. This was the first Freeman's Village - now along Beach City Road.

1865 On February 1st President Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to end slavery.

1872 Island's offical name was changed to Hilton Head Island.

1893 An enormous hurricane and tidal surge hit the Island and 2,000 people died.

1920's Boll Weevils destroyed all of the Sea Island Cotton in the region. Oystering became a primary source of income. The Hudson and Toomer families operated oyster factories from the 1890's to present time.

1940 Island's population was approximately 1,100 most of who were Freedmen descendants. A great storm hit the Island and left many stranded and structures damaged.

1949 Lumber associates from Hinesville, Georgia formed The Hilton Head Company and bought 20,000 acres on the Island's southern end. One associate was Joseph Fraser.

1950-1952 Logging took place on 19,000 acres of the Island. There were 31 lumber mills and the Island's population was only 300 residents.

1950 Palmetto Electric Cooperative brought first electricity to the Island.

1953 A state-operated car ferry began running from Buckingham Landing to Jenkins Island, now Outdoor Resorts. The ferry held 4 cars. Price was 10 cents for pedestrians and $1.25 for cars.

1954 Hilton Head Elementary School opened at Wild Horse Road and Highway 278.

1955 Katie McElveen opened the first restaurant Roadside Restaurant on Hwy. 278. Today it is the Parkway Medical Center and there are nearly 300 restaurants on Hilton Head.

1956 James F. Byrnes Bridge, a two-lane swing bridge, was constructed at a cost of $1.2 million. The cost for a round trip toll was $2.50. 48,000 cars crossed the bridge in 1956. The toll was discontinued in 1959.

1956 Joseph Fraser withdrew from The Hilton Head Company. His son Charles E. Fraser bought his interest and began developing the southern end of the Island into Sea Pine Plantation.

1956 Norria and Lois Richardson opend the first supermarket on the Isalnd at Coligny Circle.

1956 Hilton Head Chamber of Commerce was established.

1958 First deed to lots were signed. Beach front lots sold for $5,350.00.

1958 The first telephone service was established by Hargray Telephone Company.

1958 The William Hilton Inn opened on South Forest Beach Drive with 56 rooms. It was torn down in the 1990's to build the Marriott Grand Ocean Resort.

1960 The Island's first golf course, the Ocean Course in Sea Pine Plantation was built.

1964 Bank of Beaufort began offering banking services a few hours a week.

1965 Sea Pines Medical Center was built. t was staffed by a retired doctor.

1965 Hilton Head's first rural mail route.

1967 Hilton Head Airport opened. The first plane to land was Arnold Palmer's.

1969 Harbortown Village was completed.

1969 First Heritage Golf Tournament was held. Won by Arnold Palmer.

1970 A group of Islanders effectively stopped the construction of a $100 million BASF chemical plant three miles from Hilton Head.

1971 Island Packet was first published.

1972 1st movie theater opened in Coligny Plaza and is still in operation today.

1975 Hilton Head Hospital was completed. Now greatly expanded and called The Hilton Head Regional Medical Center.

1982 A new four-lane bridge was built to replace the two-lane swing bridge. Island's population was 12,500 residents with more than 500,000 visitors each year.

1983 Town of Hilton Head was incorporated as a municipality. The first mayor was Ben Racusin.

1993 Sun City construction began for a 5,1000 acre development.

1995 Permanent year-round population exceeds 28,000 people with over 1.5 million visitors each yea.

1996 The Self Family Arts Center opened, now called The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.]

1998 Cross Island Parkway opened in January at a cost of $81 million. Wood from removed trees was used to resore Old Ironsides.