The first records of Hilton Head Island came from English Captain William Hilton's 1663 expedition through the Port Royal Sound.  Hilton, for which the island is named, noted the lush foliage, high bluffs and crops during his exploration.  Hilton only stayed for a few days, leaving the island uninhabited for another 50 years.

In 1717 Col. John Barnwell became the first permanet resident of Hilton Head Island, followed by 25 more families by 1766. As the Revolutionary War approached, Hilton Head Island’s settlers sided with the colonies and faced frequent raids.  The British burned the island’s plantations, but residents rebuilt following the war and exported cotton, indigo and rice.  Islanders suffered the same destruction during The War of 1812, but again flourished agriculturally following.

In November of 1861 Union Troops seized Hilton Head Island during the Civil War, which they used to blockade Savannah from exporting and importing supplies.  Eventually 50,000 Union troops reached the island, which meant the freedom of 1,000 slaves.  Freed slaves on the island were pressed into service becoming the first African American troops for the Union.  The money they earned as troops was later used to purchase land on the island.

Following the Civil War housing was developed for Hilton Head Island’s African American population who built a community around farming, fishing, basket weaving and fishnet making. “Gullah”, a mixture of West African and Elizabethian English dialects, was spoken on the island. The Gullah language and culture remains prevalent on the island today.

From the 1890’s to the 1950’s Northerners frequented Hilton Head Island for its abundance of hunting and fishing.  Electricity found its way to the island in 1951, which attracted a group of Georgia natives, led by Charles Fraser, to the area. Fraser's group purchased over 75% of Hilton Head Island's land space and began subdividing and selling portions to developers shortly thereafter.

Roads were paved, a bridge replaced ferry boats, and residential plantations were developed into the modern day resorts and golf courses you will see on Hilton Head Island today.