- Hilton Head is an island on the coast of South Carolina in the United States. The closest major population centers are the coastal cities of Charleston, South Carolina, 90 miles to the north, and Savannah, Georgia, 20 miles to the south. It is accessible by car from US Highway 278, the only road that connects Hilton Head to the mainland.
- Hilton Head is a barrier island, meaning it serves as a protective barrier to bays, estuaries and tidal marshes on the mainland side of the island. The ocean side of the elongated island faces the Atlantic and features 12 miles of uninterrupted beach. The island contains the incorporated town of Hilton Head. The year-round population of the island is approximately 34,000 and the median age of full-time residents is 46.
- Hilton Head is a popular resort destination. Part of the appeal for those who choose to vacation on the island is its controlled development, which leaves out the high-rise condos and neon-festooned night clubs. There's plenty of room for nature. The tourist population of Hilton Head consists primarily of golfers, families and nature lovers. When Hilton Head began to be developed as a resort community in the late 1950s, the planners' vision was that the natural beauty and wildlife of the island would be disturbed as little as possible.
- Long before it became a modern resort community, Hilton Head was used as a seasonal destination by Native Americans. Archeologists have determined this due to the existence of "shell rings"--refuse heaps created by humans centuries ago--around Hilton Head. Only one shell ring remains today and it is included in the National Register of Historic Places. European settlers began to arrive in 1521. In 1663, Capt. William Hilton, sailing in the name of King Charles II, made note of the headland at Port Royal Sound and deemed it "Hilton's Head."
- For such a small population, Hilton Head harbors a multitude of high-end cultural activities. It has been listed as one of "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America," due to its abundance of galleries and a handful of respected museums. Every May, the island hosts the BRAVO Arts and Cultural Festival, which features award-winning plays and symphonies. In the dead of winter, every February, there is the Native Islander Gullah Celebration, which celebrates and aims to keep alive the by-gone Gullah culture of West African slave decedents.
