Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - wikipedia Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Hilton Head Island Town Harbour Town Marina in Sea Pines Resort with the Harbour Town Lighthouse Seal Nickname ( s ) : Hilton Head and HHI Location of Hilton Head Island in Beaufort County and South Carolina Hilton Head Island Hilton Head Island Show map of South Carolina Show map of the US Show all Location within the state of South Carolina Coordinates : 32 ° 10 ′ 44 '' N 80 ° 44 ′ 35 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 32.17889 ° N 80.74306 ° W ﻿ / 32.17889 ; - 80.74306 Coordinates : 32 ° 10 ′ 44 '' N 80 ° 44 ′ 35 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 32.17889 ° N 80.74306 ° W ﻿ / 32.17889 ; - 80.74306 Country United States State South Carolina County Beaufort Incorporated ( town ) Government Mayor David Bennett Town manager Steve Riley Fire chief Brad Tadlock -- Appointed June 20, 2014 Area Town 69.2 sq mi ( 179.1 km ) Land 41.4 sq mi ( 107.1 km ) Water 27.8 sq mi ( 71.9 km ) 40.17 % Elevation 10 ft ( 3 m ) Population ( 2010 ) Town 37,099 Density 897 / sq mi ( 346.3 / km ) Metro 187,010 ( US : 211th ) Time zone EST ( UTC - 5 ) Summer ( DST ) EDT ( UTC - 4 ) ZIP code 29925, 29926, 29928 Area code ( s ) 843 FIPS code 45 - 34045 GNIS feature ID 1246002 Website www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov Hilton Head Island, sometimes referred to as simply Hilton Head, is a Lowcountry resort town and barrier island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is 20 miles ( 32 km ) northeast of Savannah, Georgia, and 95 miles ( 153 km ) southwest of Charleston. The island is named after Captain William Hilton, who in 1663 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. The year - round population was 37,099 at the 2010 census, although during the peak of summer vacation season the population can swell to 150,000. Over the past decade, the island 's population growth rate was 32 %. Hilton Head Island is a primary city within the Hilton Head Island - Bluffton - Beaufort metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 207,413 in 2015. 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 on to much of their ethnic and cultural identity. 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. Approximately 70 % of the island, including most of the tourist areas, 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 multimillion - dollar land - buying bond referendums to control commercial growth. Hilton Head Island offers an unusual number of cultural opportunities for a community its size, including plays at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, the 120 - member full chorus of the Hilton Head Choral Society, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, an annual outdoor, tented wine tasting event on the east coast, and several other annual community festivals. It also hosts the Heritage Golf Classic, a PGA Tour tournament played on the Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Resort. Contents 1 History 1.1 New World discovery 1.2 17th to 19th centuries 1.3 20th and 21st centuries 2 Geography 2.1 Topography 2.2 Barrier island 2.3 Gated communities 2.4 Wildlife 2.5 Climate 3 Demographics 4 Economy 5 Arts and culture 5.1 Organizations 5.2 Annual events 6 Parks and recreation 6.1 Public beach access 6.2 Island parks 7 Government 8 Education 8.1 Schools 8.1. 1 Public schools 8.1. 2 Private schools 9 Infrastructure 9.1 Emergency services 10 Notable people 11 In popular culture 12 See also 13 References 14 External links History New World Discovery The Baynard Mausoleum, built in 1846, is the oldest intact structure on the island. Fort Walker, Battle of Port Royal, November 7, 1861 The Sea Pines 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 4,000 years old. Archeologists believe that the ring was a refuse heap, created by Indians who 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 Green 's Shell Enclosure, Sea Pines, and Skull Creek shell rings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and are protected by law. 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. A Spanish expedition led by Francisco Cordillo explored the area in 1521, initiating European contact with local tribes. In 1663, Captain William Hilton sailed on the Adventure 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. He stayed for several days, making note of the trees, crops, `` sweet water '', and `` clear sweet air ''. 17th to 19th centuries Dock built by Union troops on Hilton Head Island, April 1862 U.S. General Hospital, March 23, 1863 Mitchelville `` refugee quarters '', 1864 Stoney - Baynard Plantation 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. In the mid-1740s, the South Carolina provincial half - galley Beaufort was stationed in a cove at the southern tip of Hilton Head to guard against intrusions by the Spanish of St. Augustine. The point and cove are named after Captain David Cutler Braddock, commander of the Beaufort. Captain Braddock was a mariner and privateer of note in Colonial times. Earlier, he had been placed in command of the Georgia schooner Norfolk by James Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia, and helped chase the Spanish back to St. Augustine after their failed 1742 invasion of St. Simons Island. After relocating to Savannah in 1746, he served two terms in the Georgia Commons House of Assembly while earning a living as a highly active privateer. He drew a well - known chart of the Florida Keys while on a privateering venture in 1756. The chart is in the Library of Congress. In 1788, a small Episcopal church called the Zion Chapel of Ease was constructed for plantation owners. The chapel 's 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. Davant was shot by Captain Martinangel of Daufuskie Island in 1781. This location 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. During the Civil War, 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 wide ( 3 km ) 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. On October 29, 1861, the largest fleet ever assembled in North America moved south to seize it. 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. The fort was renamed Fort Welles, in honor of Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy. Hilton Head Island had tremendous significance in the Civil War and became an important base of operations for the Union blockade of the Southern ports, particularly Savannah and Charleston. The Union also built 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 m ). 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 ). A community called Mitchelville ( in honor of General Ormsby M. Mitchel ) was constructed on the north end of the island to house them. 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, 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. 20th and 21st centuries `` The Beach Pounders '' -- U.S. Coast Guard Mounted Beach Patrol training on HHI during World War II. The Liberty Oak in Harbour Town Coligny Circle Plaza. The plaza provides public beach access to island visitors. Disney 's Hilton Head Island Resort Shelter Cove Towne Centre 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 km ) on the island ( over 63 % of the total land mass ) for about $120,000 to be used as a private game reserve. On the Atlantic coast of the island, large concrete gun platforms 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. In the early 1950s, three lumber mills contributed to the logging of 19,000 acres ( 77 km ) of the island. The island population was only 300 residents. 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. 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. 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. The beginning of Hilton Head as a resort started in 1956 with Charles E. 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. It came to be known as the Liberty Oak, known to generations of children who watched singer and songwriter Gregg Russell perform under the tree for over 25 years. Fraser was buried next to the tree when he died in 2002. 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. 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. 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. The Land Management Ordinance was passed by the Town Council in 1987. Disney 's Hilton Head Island Resort opened in 1996, and the Cross Island Parkway opened in January 1997. An indoor smoking ban in bars, restaurants, and public places took effect on May 1, 2007. Shelter Cove Towne Centre opened in 2014. Fort Howell, Cherry Hill School, Daufuskie Island Historic District, Fish Haul Archaeological Site ( 38BU805 ), Green 's Shell Enclosure, Hilton Head Range Rear Light, Sea Pines, Skull Creek, SS William Lawrence Shipwreck Site, and Stoney - Baynard Plantation are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Geography Topography Satellite image of Hilton Head Island, accessed from NASA 's World Wind project, January 31, 2007 Hilton Head Island is a shoe - shaped island that lies 20 miles ( 32 km ) by air northeast of Savannah, Georgia, and 90 miles ( 140 km ) south of Charleston. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 69.2 square miles ( 179.1 km ), of which 41.4 square miles ( 107.1 km ) is land, and 27.8 square miles ( 71.9 km ), or 40.17 %, is water. Barrier Island Hilton Head Island is sometimes 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, however, Hilton Head Island is only a 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. 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. Gated communities Hilton Head Plantation Indigo Run Plantation Long Cove Plantation Palmetto Hall Plantation Port Royal Plantation Sea Pines Resort Shipyard Plantation Spanish Pointe Spanish Wells plantation Wexford Plantation Windmill Harbour Victoria Square Ashton Cove Bermuda Pointe Yacht Cove Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort Wildlife The Hilton Head Island area is home to a vast array of wildlife, including alligators, deer, loggerhead sea turtles, manatees, hundreds of species of birds, 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. 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. To protect loggerhead sea turtles, a town ordinance stipulates that artificial lighting must be shielded so that it can not be seen from the beach, or it must be turned off by 10 : 00 p.m. from May 1 to October 31 each year. 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. Particularly prominent in the ocean waters surrounding Hilton Head Island, the stingray serves as a fascination and painful natural encounter for many beach goers. Small stingrays inhabit the quieter, shallow region of ocean floor just beyond the break of the surf, typically buried beneath a thin layer of sand. Stingrays are a type of demersal, cartilaginous fish common to the South Carolina coast as well as other areas on the Atlantic shoreline. Typically, stingrays avoid contact with humans unless they are accidentally stepped upon, a situation often ending in a stingray injury, where the stingray punctures the human with its poisonous barb. While these injuries are extremely painful, they are not usually life - threatening as long as they are properly attended to by a medical professional. One complaint shared by many Hilton Head Island tourists is that the lifeguards maintain a poor alert system for notifying swimmers when numerous stingrays have been sighted within a specific stretch of the shore. This lack of notification on days when multiple sightings are reported can sometimes end in a high number of stingray injuries that might have otherwise been avoided ; in 2009, 121 people were treated for stingray injuries. 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. Climate Hilton Head Island has a humid subtropical 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 ( ° C ) 61 ( 16 ) 63 ( 17 ) 69 ( 21 ) 71 ( 22 ) 82 ( 28 ) 87 ( 31 ) 90 ( 32 ) 88 ( 31 ) 85 ( 29 ) 78 ( 26 ) 70 ( 21 ) 63 ( 17 ) 75.6 ( 24.3 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 38 ( 3 ) 40 ( 4 ) 47 ( 8 ) 54 ( 12 ) 62 ( 17 ) 69 ( 21 ) 72 ( 22 ) 71 ( 22 ) 68 ( 20 ) 57 ( 14 ) 48 ( 9 ) 41 ( 5 ) 55.6 ( 13.1 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 3.7 ( 94 ) 3.5 ( 89 ) 3.9 ( 99 ) 3.0 ( 76 ) 3.6 ( 91 ) 5.3 ( 135 ) 6.2 ( 157 ) 8.9 ( 226 ) 5.1 ( 130 ) 2.6 ( 66 ) 2.4 ( 61 ) 3.2 ( 81 ) 51.4 ( 1,306 ) Source : Weatherbase Demographics Historical population Census Pop. % ± 23,694 -- 2000 33,862 42.9 % 37,099 9.6 % Est. 2016 40,500 9.2 % U.S. Decennial Census ( 2 ) Location of the Hilton Head Island - Bluffton - Beaufort Metropolitan Statistical Area in South Carolina As of the census of 2010, there were 37,099 people, 16,535 households, and 10,700 families residing in the town, occupying a land area of 42.06 square miles ( 109 km ). The population density was 882.0 people per square mile ( 340.4 / km2 ). There were 33,602 housing units at an average density of 798.9 per square mile ( 308.3 / 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 ( 48,407 in Census 2000, defined as the Hilton Head Island Urban Cluster ) and a larger land area ( 42.65 sq mi or 110.5 km ) than the town. The Hilton Head Island - Bluffton Beaufort Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Beaufort and Jasper counties, had a 2012 estimated year - round population of 193,882. The racial makeup of the town was 82.9 % White, 7.5 % African American, 0.2 % Native American, 0.9 % Asian, 0.1 % Pacific Islander, 7.3 % from other races, and 1.2 % from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.8 % of the population. There were 16,535 households in which 18.4 % had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7 % were married couples living together, 6.8 % had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3 % were non-families. 28.3 % of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0 % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.66. In the town, the population was spread out with 18 % under the age of 20, 4.4 % from 20 to 24, 20.4 % from 25 to 44, 28.4 % from 45 to 64, and 28.8 % who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.9 years. For every 100 females there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.5 males. Looking over the tidal marsh to the Folly According to a 2014 estimate, the median income for a household in the town was $68,437, and the median income for a family was $85,296. Males had a median income of $51,463 versus $36,743 for females. The per capita income for the town was $45,116. About 5.4 % of families and 9.3 % of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9 % of those under age 18 and 3.9 % of those age 65 or over. Economy According to Hilton Head Island 's 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the town are : # Employer # of Employees Serg Group Restaurants 764 Sea Pines Resort 622 Hilton Head Medical Center 547 Marriott Vacation Club 500 5 Beaufort County School District 445 6 Cypress of Hilton Head 360 7 Salty Dog 360 8 Westin Hotels & Resorts 266 9 Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa 245 10 Town of Hilton Head 243 Arts and culture Organizations The Hilton Head Choral Society, full chorus 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. The Arts Center also offers community education, including Visual and Performing Arts Camps, Theater Camp, and other workshops and classes. The `` Coastal Discovery Museum '', located at 70 Honey Horn Drive, offers a variety of programs, activities, and indoor and outdoor exhibits year - round to over 125,000 visitors. The Discovery House has permanent exhibitions about the natural history and cultural heritage of the Lowcountry, a gift store, Kids ' Zone and a temporary gallery space. The museum offers many tours of its 68 - acre ( 28 ha ) property that includes salt marsh boardwalks, trails, a native butterfly habitat and various gardens. The Coastal Discovery Museum is open Monday -- Saturday, 9 : 00 a.m. -- 4 : 30 p.m. and Sunday 11 : 00 a.m. -- 3 : 00 p.m. The `` Hilton Head Choral Society '', founded in 1975, is a non-profit organization `` open to community members who love to sing and enjoy good fellowship. '' The choirs of the Hilton Head Choral Society are known for their diverse musical repertoire including classical masterworks, pops concerts and lighter fare, patriotic and Americana, and gospel and musical theatre. There is also a 20 - voice chamber choir and a youth choir. 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. 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. 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. A branch formed from the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra is the Hilton Head Youth Orchestra, helping young musicians across the county with their love for music. The `` Arts Council of Beaufort County '' ( ACBC ) 's mission is to promote and foster the arts of Beaufort County, 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. 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 island 's youth by providing a true theatrical experience. Each year, MSYT performs four or five Broadway - quality shows that run about two 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. `` Lifelong Learning of Hilton Head Island '' offers the adult community of Hilton Head Island a collection of educational and fun classes covering subjects from history, arts, yoga, and current events to outer space exploration and beyond. Each semester promises choices from 20 -- 30 topics. Annual membership is $30. Fall and Winter terms are $45 each with no limit on the number of classes a member can take. `` The Heritage Library of Hilton Head Island '' is the repository for Hilton Head Island history and a premier ancestry research center. The Heritage Library is a non-profit member library that is open to the public for a small daily fee, and offers history programs, genealogy classes, and special programs throughout the year. Annual events Gullah Celebration -- Although threatened by the rapid increase in tourism, Gullah culture can be seen at the annual Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration which is held at Shelter Cove Community Park in February. In the summer, the acclaimed Hallelujah Singers present a Gullah concert series at Hilton Head 's Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. WineFest -- The Annual WineFest is the largest outdoor, tented wine tasting on the East Coast, featuring over 1,500 domestic and international wines. St. Patrick 's Day Parade -- The annual St. Patrick 's Day Parade draws over 20,000 people. WingFest -- The annual Hargray WingFest is held at Shelter Cove Community Park. The event is operated by the Island Recreation Association, and all proceeds benefit the Island Recreation Scholarship Fund. HarbourFest -- HarbourFest, now in its 26th season, is held every Tuesday night from June to August at Shelter Cove Marina. It features arts and crafts, live entertainment, and fireworks at sunset. There is a special HarbourFest celebration on July 4. Heritage Golf Classic -- The annual Heritage Classic Golf Tournament is held every April at Harbour Town Golf Links in Sea Pines Resort. Rib Burnoff and Barbecue Fest -- The annual Rib Burnoff & Barbecue Fest is held at Honey Horn Plantation. Celebrity Golf Tournament -- The annual Celebrity Golf Tournament is held at the Golf Club at Indigo Run, the Robert Trent Jones course in Palmetto Dunes and Harbour Town Golf Links. The tournament has contributed over $3 million to 18 children 's charities. FoodFest -- 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. Chili Cookoff -- The annual Chili Cookoff is held at Honey Horn Plantation. Community Festival -- The annual Community Festival at Honey Horn Plantation features a `` haunted trail '' in the `` haunted forest '' presented by the Hilton Head Rotary Club and the Interact Clubs from Hilton Head Island High School and Hilton Head Preparatory School. Motoring Festival and Concours d'Elegance -- World - class automobiles take center stage each November at the annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance at the Honey Horn Plantation. The festival features some of the country 's finest collector automobiles, including classic cars, two - wheeled machines, wooden boats, and beach mobiles. The Dove Street Festival of Lights -- Begun 1990, the Dove Street Festival of Lights takes place each December. It began when a local family on the street adopted their daughter and wanted to dedicate an event to her. Local families on Dove street decorated the entire street with holiday lights, connecting the homes together to create a light tunnel effect. Previously, the Glee Club of the Miami University of Ohio serenaded 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. In recent years the festival has moved from the original Dove Street to Shelter Cove Lane where the town can assist in the electrical costs. Parks and Recreation Public beach access Alder Lane Beach Access -- 22 metered spaces Burkes Beach Access -- 13 metered spaces Coligny Beach Park -- parking is free -- some parking reserved for annual beach passes from 8 : 00 a.m. to 3 : 00 p.m. 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. Fish Haul Park -- parking is free Folly Field Beach Park -- 51 metered spaces Islanders Beach Park -- annual beach pass parking only Mitchelville Beach Park -- parking is free Island parks Alder Lane Beach Access Barker Field Burkes Beach Access Broad Creek Boat Ramp Chaplin Community Park Coligny Beach Park Compass Rose Park Cordillo Tennis Courts Crossings Park & Bristol Sports Arena Driessen Beach Park Fish Haul Creek Park Folly Field Beach Park Green Shell Park Hilton Head Park ( Old Schoolhouse Park ) Islanders Beach Park Jarvis Creek Park Marshland Road Boat Landing Old House Creek Dock Shelter Cove Community Park Xeriscape Garden Government Hilton Head Island in the summer of 2012 Live oaks with Spanish moss on Hilton Head Island 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. 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. Town departments include Building & Fire Codes, Business License, Code Enforcement, Finance, Fire & Rescue, Human Resources, Legal, Municipal Court, Planning, and Public Projects & Facilities. The town had a budget of $74,753,260 for fiscal year 2006 / 2007. It consists of three separate fiscal accounting funds : the General Fund, the Capital Projects Fund, and the Debt Service Fund. 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. 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. The Debt Service Fund accounts for the accumulation of resources and the payment of debt. On 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. The most recent budget, for the 2010 / 2011 fiscal year is $74,299,720 Office holders as of December 2014 : David Bennett, Mayor Marc A. Grant, Ward 1 William ( Bill ) D. Harkins, Ward 2, Mayor Pro-Temp Wm. Lee Edwards, Ward 3 Kimberly ( Kim ) W. Likins, Ward 4 Thomas W. Lennox, Ward 5 John J. McCann, Ward 6 Stephen ( Steve ) Riley, Town Manager Education 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 Infrastructure 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. There are seven fire stations on Hilton Head Island. Police services are contracted through Beaufort County Sheriff 's Office. The island is equipped with an enhanced 9 - 1 - 1 system. Notable people Name Notability Reference Arthur Blank owner NFL Atlanta Falcons and Home Depot, has a house in Sea Pines Resort Patricia Cornwell crime fiction author of Hornet 's Nest and others Cranford Hollow alternative country and rock band Bobby Cremins NCAA men 's basketball coach, currently resides in Charleston, but maintains a home in Hilton Head. Wilbur Cross author Jim Ferree golfer on PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour Trevor Hall reggae / folk rock singer - songwriter on Now 40, was raised in Hilton Head Ryan Hartman professional hockey player Darrell Hedric former head basketball coach at Miami University, former NBA scout John Jakes author of historical fiction, resides in Hilton Head Michael Jordan former NBA player, sold his house on HHI when his father died in 1993 John V. Lindsay former mayor of New York City, died in Hilton Head on December 19, 2000 John Mellencamp Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer - songwriter from Bloomington, IN. did # 1 song `` Jack and Diane '' in 1982 Mark Messier NHL hockey player, part - time resident of Hilton Head Garry Moore television variety - show and game - show host Michael Rowe former NBA Team President, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Giants Stadium and Izod Center, current President and Chief Executive Officer of Positive Impact Sports and Entertainment, part - owner of Yankee Global Enterprises, part - time resident of Hilton Head Island. Serge Savard former Montreal Canadiens defenseman and general manager Duncan Sheik singer - songwriter of the 1997 Grammy - nominated song Barely Breathing, was raised in Hilton Head Gregg Russell children 's singer, performed under the old oak tree in Harbour Town since 1976 Stan Smith tennis pro, 1972 Wimbledon, 1971 US Open and Davis Cup champion Col. Benjamin H. Vandervoort WWII hero, died in his home on Hilton Head in 1990 at the age of 75 Kathryn R. Wall author of mystery novels Lois Rhame West First Lady of South Carolina ( 1971 -- 1975 ), first woman to chair the Muscular Dystrophy Association Jayson Williams former NBA basketball player, owns a home on Hilton Head In popular culture Mentioned on pages 123,130,131, and 224 of the late Pat Conroy 's 1972 novel The Water Is Wide. The novel is set on Daufuskie Island, fictionalized as Yamacraw Island. It is mentioned in the museum going up the stairs of the Harbour Town Lighthouse. In the popular television series A Different World, Whitley Gilbert 's parents have a summer home there. In `` Big Trouble in Little Langley '', a 2007 episode of American Dad !, Francine 's birth parents Nick and Cassandra Dawson live there. In the book By Order of the President, by W.E.B. Griffin, the President of the United States maintains a home on Hilton Head Island. This is where Charlie Castillo meets the President for the first time. In the 2012 movie Parental Guidance ( starring Billy Crystal, Bette Midler, and Marisa Tomei ), the parents visit Hilton Head Island for a conference. Aerial pans of Harbor Town are shown. In the science fiction franchise BattleTech, the headquarters of the interstellar telecommunications organization `` ComStar '' are located on Hilton Head Island. See also South Carolina portal References ^ Jump up to : `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013 - 09 - 11. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. ^ Jump up to : U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System : Hilton Head Island Jump up ^ `` Employment Fast Facts, '' Hilton Head Island -- Bluffton Chamber of Commerce -- Accessed January 31, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Geographic Identifiers : 2010 Demographic Profile Data ( G001 ) : Hilton Head Island town, South Carolina ''. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved April 4, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Consolidated Municipal Budget Fiscal Year July 1, 2016 -- June 30, 2017, '' Town of Hilton Head Island, Accessed August 22, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Lowcountry Workforce on the Web, '' Hilton Head Island -- Bluffton Chamber of Commerce -- Accessed January 31, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Snapshots, '' Sky Magazine ( Delta ), December 2007. Accessed December 24, 2007. ^ Jump up to : William W. Starr, `` Graceful Growth, '' Sky Magazine ( Delta ), December 2007. Accessed December 20, 2007. Jump up ^ `` 20 Who Made a Difference, '' Archived 2003 - 10 - 03 at the Wayback Machine. Lowcountry Now ( Savannah Morning News ), 2003 -- Accessed February 16, 2007. Jump up ^ Gale B. `` Hilton Head : the canopy view, '' Archived 2015 - 10 - 16 at the Wayback Machine. American Forests, November -- December 1990. Accessed February 16, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Hilton Head, way ahead of its time, '' USA Today, September 1, 2006 -- Accessed February 14, 2007. Jump up ^ Whitney T. and Gordon J. `` An Investigation of Sprawl Development and Its Effect on Transportation Planning : The Lower Savannah Region of Government, '' South Carolina State University -- School of Engineering Technology and Sciences, 2001 -- Accessed February 15, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Hilton Head Island an unquestionable golfing mecca, '' Archived 2007 - 12 - 24 at the Wayback Machine. CBS Sportsline.com, April 9, 2007. Accessed May 8, 2007 Jump up ^ `` The Indian Shell Ring ''. Community Services Associates. Archived from the original on 28 March 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2011. Jump up ^ Carse R. ( 1981 ) Hilton Head in the Civil War : Department of the South ( 20th Anniv. Ed. ), p. 1. Columbia, SC : The State Printing Company, ASIN 000J6GUMC ^ Jump up to : `` A History Timeline of Hilton Head Island, '' Town of Hilton Head Island Official Municipal Website, Accessed July 6, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Reference Desk, '' Archived 2008 - 07 - 24 at the Wayback Machine. Beaufort County Public Library -- Hilton Head Island, Accessed May 19, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Island History, '' Archived 2011 - 04 - 24 at the Wayback Machine. HiltonHeadIsland.com, Accessed May 19, 2007. Jump up ^ Margaret Greer ( 1989 ) The Sands of Time -- A History of Hilton Head Island, pp. 20 -- 21. Hilton Head Island, SC : SouthArt, Inc., ISBN 0 - 9610698 - 2 - 1. Jump up ^ `` Florida Keys chart ''. Retrieved 5 January 2014. Jump up ^ Carse R. ( 1981 ) Hilton Head in the Civil War : Department of the South ( 20th Anniv. Ed. ), pp. 1 -- 2. Columbia, SC : The State Printing Company, ISBN B000J6GUMC Jump up ^ Carse R. ( 1981 ) Hilton Head in the Civil War : Department of the South ( 20th Anniv. Ed. ), p. 2. Columbia, SC : The State Printing Company, ISBN B000J6GUMC Jump up ^ Carse R. ( 1981 ) Hilton Head in the Civil War : Department of the South ( 20th Anniv. Ed. ), p. 22. Columbia, SC : The State Printing Company, ISBN B000J6GUMC Jump up ^ Carse R. ( 1981 ) Hilton Head in the Civil War : Department of the South ( 20th Anniv. Ed. ), p. 72. Columbia, SC : The State Printing Company, ISBN B000J6GUMC Jump up ^ Carse R. ( 1981 ) Hilton Head in the Civil War : Department of the South ( 20th Anniv. Ed. ), p. 71. Columbia, SC : The State Printing Company, ISBN B000J6GUMC Jump up ^ Carse R. ( 1981 ) Hilton Head in the Civil War : Department of the South ( 20th Anniv. Ed. ), p. 82. Columbia, SC : The State Printing Company, ISBN B000J6GUMC Jump up ^ Carse R. ( 1981 ) Hilton Head in the Civil War : Department of the South ( 20th Anniv. Ed. ), p. 91. Columbia, SC : The State Printing Company, ISBN B000J6GUMC Jump up ^ `` The Sea Islands Hurricane '', The Victorian Era Online, Accessed May 19, 2007. Jump up ^ Ragland R., `` Landowner changed course of history, '' Archived 2008 - 12 - 04 at the Wayback Machine. Carolina Morning News, May 3, 2002. Accessed June 13, 2007. Jump up ^ Herbert W., `` Palace of Science, '' Archived 2016 - 01 - 15 at the Wayback Machine. Prism Magazine, March 2003 ; Vol 20, No 7. Accessed June 13, 2007. Jump up ^ Coast Guard Beach Patrol During World War II, A Historic Photo Gallery, Accessed May 7, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum ''. Retrieved 4 September 2014. Jump up ^ `` Our Favorite Family Getaways '', Parents Magazine, June 2005. Accessed May 8, 2007 Jump up ^ `` Charles Fraser eulogized as great dreamer '' Archived 2004 - 11 - 17 at the Wayback Machine., Carolina Morning News, December 22, 2002. Accessed May 8, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` A Town is Born, '' Celebrate Hilton Head, February 2008. Accessed February 2, 2008. Jump up ^ Donnelly, Tim `` Hilton Head approves smoking ban, '' The Island Packet, February 21, 2007 -- Accessed February 21, 2007. Jump up ^ National Park Service ( 2010 - 07 - 09 ). `` National Register Information System ''. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Jump up ^ David Lauderdale, `` We 're the biggest barrier island, so why not try to be the best ? '' The Island Packet, August 19, 2007. Accessed August 19, 2007. Jump up ^ Ballantine T. ( 1991 ) Tideland Treasures. p. 19. Columbia, SC : University of South Carolina Press, ISBN 978 - 0 - 87249 - 795 - 5. Jump up ^ Ballantine T. ( 1991 ) Tideland Treasures. p. 11. Columbia, SC : University of South Carolina Press, ISBN 0 - 87249 - 795 - X. Jump up ^ `` Birding Areas, '' Archived 2007 - 06 - 10 at the Wayback Machine. Hilton Head Audubon Society, Accessed June 28, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Sea Turtles on Hilton Head Island '' Archived 2009 - 05 - 24 at the Wayback Machine., Coastal Discovery Museum, Accessed May 6, 2007. Jump up ^ Town Ordinance on Sea Turtle Protection Accessed May 6, 2007. Archived February 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Coastal Stock ( s ) of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin : Status Review and Management, '' Proceedings and Recommendations from a Workshop held in Beaufort, North Carolina, 13 -- 14 September 1993. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service. pp. 56 -- 57. Jump up ^ `` National Geographic Television Exposes the Dark Side of Dolphins in New National Geographic Special ' Dolphins : The Wild Side ', '' NationalGeographic.com, National Geographic Press Release, Show aired November 13, 1999, Retrieved November 13, 2007. Jump up ^ Bester, C., H.F. Mollett, & J. Bourdon. `` Pelagic Stingray ''. Florida Museum of Natural History, Ichthyology department. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ Slaughter RJ, Beasley DM, Lambie BS, Schep LJ ( 2009 ). `` New Zealand 's venomous creatures ''. NZ Med J. 122 ( 1290 ) : 83 -- 97. PMID 19319171. Archived from the original on 2011 - 04 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2010 - 09 - 16. Retrieved 2014 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ `` South Carolina Fishing, '' Archived 2007 - 07 - 10 at the Wayback Machine. Atlantic Anglers, Accessed June 28, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Weatherbase : Historical Weather for Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States of America ''. Retrieved January 27, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Retrieved June 9, 2017. Jump up ^ List of Primary Statistical Areas Jump up ^ `` MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ( IN 2010 INFLATION - ADJUSTED DOLLARS ) ''. Retrieved Feb 19, 2016. Jump up ^ Town of Hilton Head Island CAFR Jump up ^ `` Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, '' Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Accessed June 24, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Community Education, '' Archived 2007 - 09 - 28 at the Wayback Machine. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Accessed June 24, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Coastal Discovery Museum, '' Coastal Discovery Museum, Accessed June 24, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Museums, '' Hilton Head Island -- Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Accessed June 26, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` About Us, '' The Hilton Head Choral Society, Accessed June 27, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Love to sing ? Join the choral society, '' The Island Packet, June 6, 2007. Accessed June 27, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Welcome to the Hilton Head Choral Society -- Celebrating 32 years of Beautiful Music, '' Hilton Head Choral Society, Accessed June 27, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Celebrates 25 Years, '' Archived 2008 - 12 - 21 at the Wayback Machine. Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Accessed June 24, 2007. Jump up ^ `` About the Symphony, '' Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Accessed June 24, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Arts Council Of Beaufort County, '' Archived 2007 - 06 - 17 at the Wayback Machine. The Arts Council of Beaufort County, Accessed August 15, 2007. Jump up ^ http://www.lifelonglearninghhi.org Jump up ^ http://www.heritagelib.org Jump up ^ `` NPR Examines the Cost of Paradise Sea Island 's Development and the Gullah Community '' NPR, August 28, 2000 -- Accessed February 16, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Effort to preserve Gullah and Geechee culture moves forward, '' The State, February 15, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Gullah History, '' Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration, Accessed May 26, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Hilton Head Island Winefestival, Tasting & Auction, '' Archived 2014 - 03 - 01 at the Wayback Machine. Discover South Carolina, Accessed June 26, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Better with Age, '' Hilton Head Monthly, March 2006. Accessed June 26, 2007. Jump up ^ Craig Hysell, `` Wingin ' It ! '' Celebrate Hilton Head, Accessed June 25, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Hilton Head Island Beaches, '' Official Town of Hilton Head Island Municipal Government Website, Accessed August 22, 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Hilton Head Island Parks, '' Official Town of Hilton Head Island Municipal Government Website, Accessed August 22, 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Consolidated Municipal Budget Fiscal Year July 1, 2006 -- June 30, 2007, '' Town of Hilton Head Island, Accessed July 6, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Town of Hilton Head Island Town Council and Manager '', Town of Hilton Head Island Municipal Government Website, Accessed July 6, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Departments '', Official Town of Hilton Head Island Municipal Government Website, Accessed June 6, 2007. Jump up ^ Donnelly, Tim `` Hilton Head Island approves $93 million budget, '' The Island Packet, June 6, 2007. Accessed June 6, 2007. Jump up ^ ( 1 ), Town of Hilton Head Island FY 2011 Budget Accessed January 24, 2011. ^ Jump up to : ``, Town of Hilton Head Island Municipal Government Website, Accessed May 11, 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue Division, '' Town of Hilton Head Island Municipal Government Website -- Accessed January 31, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Sea Pines Resort -- A Southern Slice of Heaven ''. Golfing Magazine. 2007 - 06 - 29. Retrieved 2007 - 06 - 29. ^ Jump up to : Berryman, Anne ( 2005 - 10 - 28 ). `` An Enclave for Golfers, Beachgoers and Arts Lovers ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ `` They 're baack : Every year, you can count on Ohio golfers heading to Hilton Head in droves ''. GolfOhio.com. 2002 - 11 - 29. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ Garcia, Marlen ( 2006 - 11 - 06 ). `` Cremins is unretiring with passion ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Cremins Jettisons Life of Leisure ''. The Washington Post. 2008 - 01 - 27. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ Bernstein, Viv ( 2006 - 11 - 28 ). `` Back on the Court, Cremins Has a New Bounce ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2006 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Ferree is at Home at Long Cove Club ''. Jump up ^ `` Interview -- Trevor Hall ''. NewBeats. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Trevor Hall : A young rascal with a bright recording future ''. Oakland Tribune reprinted at CNET 's findarticles.com. 2006 - 01 - 27. Archived from the original on 2008 - 02 - 10. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Acclaimed Hilton Head author gets S.C. award ''. The Island Packet. 2008 - 02 - 15. Archived from the original on 2008 - 02 - 20. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 15. Jump up ^ Applebome, Peter ( 1994 - 09 - 02 ). `` Tourism Enriches an Island Resort, But Hilton Head Blacks Feel Left Out ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Paid Notice : Deaths LINDSAY, JOHN V. ''. The New York Times. 2000 - 12 - 24. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Island resident Mark Messier reflects on Hockey Hall of Fame induction ''. The Island Packet. 2007 - 11 - 08. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved 2007 - 11 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Garry Moore, 78, the Cheery Host Of Long - Running TV Series, Dies ''. Jump up ^ http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/9/prweb8781035.htm Jump up ^ Bellafante, Ginia ( 2006 - 12 - 26 ). `` Broadway Is Rocker 's Latest Alternative ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ `` And the Hilton Head Grammy winner is... ''. The Island Packet. 2008 - 02 - 15. Archived from the original on 2008 - 02 - 20. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Local WWII hero -- portrayed by John Wayne in `` The Longest Day '' -- will be honored today ``. The Island Packet. 2007 - 05 - 28. Retrieved 2007 - 05 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Welcome to Kathryn Wall 's website ''. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Winthrop alum Lois Rhame West, former SC first lady and ' bright light, ' dies ''. Retrieved 2014 - 07 - 13. Jump up ^ `` 24. Bad Blood ''. ESPN The Magazine. 2007 - 07 - 25. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 06. External links Find more aboutHilton Head Island, South Carolinaat Wikipedia 's sister projects Media from Commons Travel guide from Wikivoyage Town website Municipalities and communities of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States County seat : Beaufort Cities Beaufort Hardeeville ‡ Towns Bluffton Hilton Head Island Port Royal Yemassee ‡ CDPs Burton Laurel Bay Shell Point Unincorporated communities Bloody Point Frogmore Lobeco Okatie Pritchardville Seabrook Sheldon Sun City ‡ 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 Sun City Walterboro Varnville Yemassee Sea Islands Callawassie Island Daufuskie Island Edisto Island Fripp Island Harbor Island Hilton Head Island Hunting Island Lady 's Island Port Royal Island St. Helena Island History & culture Historic places 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 Pinckney Island NWR Savannah NWR Sea Islands State parks Colleton Hunting Island Lake Warren Other articles BJWSA Hargray Sea Pines TCL USC - Beaufort RBC Heritage State of South Carolina Columbia ( capital ) Regions Atlantic Coastal Plain Blue Ridge Mountains Grand Strand High Hills of Santee Lake Murray Country Lowcountry Metrolina Midlands Ninety - Six District Olde English District Pee Dee Piedmont Sandhills Sea Islands Upstate Seal of South Carolina Larger cities Charleston Columbia Greenville North Charleston Rock Hill Spartanburg Smaller cities Aiken Anderson Beaufort Bennettsville Camden Cayce Conway Easley Florence Forest Acres Gaffney Georgetown Greenwood Greer Goose Creek Hilton Head Island Isle of Palms Laurens Lexington Mauldin Myrtle Beach North Augusta North Myrtle Beach Orangeburg Simpsonville Summerville Sumter Union Walterboro West Columbia York Towns Abbeville Barnwell Batesburg - Leesville Bluffton Clemson Darlington Dillon Edgefield Fort Mill Fountain Inn Great Falls Hardeeville Irmo Jefferson Kingstree Liberty Marion McCormick Moncks Corner Mount Pleasant Newberry Pageland Pendleton Pickens Seneca Sullivan 's Island Travelers Rest Walhalla Westminster Williamston CDPs Berea Carolina Forest Dentsville Gantt Garden City Ladson Parker Red Hill Saint Andrews Seven Oaks Socastee Taylors Wade Hampton Counties Abbeville Aiken Allendale Anderson Bamberg Barnwell Beaufort Berkeley Calhoun Charleston Cherokee Chester Chesterfield Clarendon Colleton Darlington Dillon Dorchester Edgefield Fairfield Florence Georgetown Greenville Greenwood Hampton Horry Jasper Kershaw Lancaster Laurens Lee Lexington Marion Marlboro McCormick Newberry Oconee Orangeburg Pickens Richland Saluda Spartanburg Sumter Union Williamsburg York Topics Airports Amusement parks Census areas Colleges and universities Congressional districts Famous people Governors Highways Historic places History Legislature Media Newspapers Radio TV Rivers Shopping malls Sports venues State House State parks Tourist attractions Wildlife refuges Society Crime Culture Demographics Economy Education Politics Sports VIAF : 144287593 LCCN : n83196409 GND : 4113916 - 1 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hilton_Head_Island,_South_Carolina&oldid=799429752 '' Categories : Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Gullah Hilton Head Island -- Beaufort micropolitan area Towns in Beaufort County, South Carolina Seaside resorts in the United States Towns in South Carolina Populated coastal places in South Carolina Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from May 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Articles with dead external links from August 2016 Coordinates on Wikidata Good articles Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Bân - lâm - gú Català Cebuano Deutsch Español فارسی Føroyskt Français Italiano Kreyòl ayisyen Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska Türkçe Українська اردو Volapük Winaray 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 7 September 2017, at 17 : 49. 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Question: what's the difference between hilton head and hilton head island
Answer: Hilton Head Island, sometimes referred to as simply Hilton Head