User:Daviess22/Hilton Head Island

= Hilton Head Island South Carolina =

Lead
Hilton Head Island is a town in South Carolina. The town comprises just over 69 square miles, about 41 one of which is land and the rest is water. In 1663, Captain William Hilton found the island while exploring the surrounding Port Royal Sound. The island was later named after him and the headlands that were visible to him and his crew when sailing on the uncharted waters.

Along with Hilton Heads rich history there are many other things to see on the Island. For example you can go for a walk and see all the animals and plants the Island has to offer. If thats not for you, you could go to the beach and enjoy the weather.

History
William Hilton was the first European to see Hilton Head Island, but the area was already inhabited when he arrived. The Escamacus Indians lived on the island as long as 4,000 years ago. Later, the Yemassee Native Americans traveled north from Florida to live on the Island. When Hilton arrived in 1663, he met the Yemassee who spoke Spanish.

In 1698, John Bayley became the owner of the Island. He was the first English developer. In 1717, Hilton Head received its first settler named John Barnewell. He grew the area and by 1766 there were many families living on the Island.

Later
Hilton Head island has a population of 40,000 people. This means that most of the island is still as it was when it was found. The island has many different forests you can go hiking in which contain many historical treasures. In one of the many woods you can walk through there is a shell ring that was built by the Native Americans many years ago.

Climate
The climate of Hilton Head depends heavily on the type of season. During the summer months, the temperature will be hot and sunny. It could range anywhere from 85-100 degrees. Oftentimes during the summer, Hilton Head has heavy rains. During the winter months the temperature goes down to a low 64 degrees.

Geography
Hilton Head island is located on the Atlantic coast and is south of Port Royal. The island is 12 miles long and 5 miles wide. Due to the small population of the island the island forests make up 41.35% of the island. The elevation of the island is 10 ft above sea level. It is known as a half-barrier island.

Ecology
Hilton head island has many different plants and animals living in their woods and oceans. Some of the animals you might see there are snakes, turtles, lizards, many different kinds of birds, crabs, sharks, jellyfish, and many more. If you go to Hilton head island watch out for the ponds because that's where the alligators live. That might seem like a lot but the Island has a lot of different plants to offer too. Some are trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, ferns, and perennials. Some of the different trees include the Southern magnolia, Dogwood, Red Maple, and many more.

Demographics
A population estimate from the U.S. Census indicated 38,076 residents in Hilton Head as of July 1, 2021. This number decreased slightly from the year prior. The overwhelming majority of residents are white. Hispanics make up 13% of the town while Black or African American people comprise 6.2%. Over one-third of the population is 65 years or older. Only 2.8% of the population was under 5 years old. 12.8% of the population was under 12.8% Females accounted for 50.6% of the population.

The median household income was $86,171 as of 2020. The Census also indicated that there was 6.9% of the population that lived in poverty. The civilian labor force was 50.9% of the population aged 16 or older. As of the 2020 Census, 93.4% of the population age 25 years+ graduated high school or higher and 53.9% of the same population held a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

Economy
The Economy in Hilton Head island overall is good. A couple examples of this  is their unemployment rate is 3.4%, the unemployment rate in the US is 6.0%. Another example of this is seen in their Sales tax. Hilton Head's sales tax is 6.0% while the average in the US is 7.3%. Finally the average income in Hilton Head per year is $45,116 where as the average for the US is $28,555.

Tourism
There are many different places to stay on the island. There is a thriving rental market and a variety of condos and hotels to stay at on vacation. These include the Sea Pines Resort, the Marriott, West Inn and Omni Hilton Head Island Resort. These resorts have many things to offer including massive pools and beach adventures.

Hilton Head Island has many restaurants. One of the many restaurants is the Crazy Crab. The Crazy Crab is located in Harbor Town in Sea Pine Resort. At the Crazy Crab they offer a wide variety of seafood like fish and chips, crab legs, fillets, and many more. The Salty Dog is another popular restaurant on the pier. Fine dining options include Alfred’s Restaurant and The Jazz Corner

Hilton Head is world famous for its golf courses including the Harbor Town Golf Links. The PGA Tour holds an event each year at this course. There are over two dozen other public and private golf courses. The area is also known for its water sports and activities. Many companies offer parasailing, jet skis, paddle boards, and sailing lessons among others. There are also popular cruises including the Sunset Dolphin cruise.