Harbor Island, South Carolina
Harbor Island is a small resort island located 14 miles (22 km) east of Beaufort, South Carolina. It is one of the Carolina Sea Islands. There is a swing drawbridge, Harbor River Bridge, that connects the island to Saint Helena Island towards the west. A small causeway crossing Johnson Creek connects Harbor Island with Hunting Island towards the south.
The majority of the island is tidal marsh, though approximately 800 acres (3.2 km2) of upland acreage exist on the northeastern portions of the island.
History
The island was uninhabited and used primarily as hunting grounds until the 1930s, when U.S. Highway 21 was constructed to connect Saint Helena Island with Hunting Island.
Development on Harbor Island remained scarce until The Fripp Company (developers of nearby Fripp Island) purchased the majority of land on the island and developed a gated residential and resort community. Small scale commercial development exists along U.S. 21.
In November 2018, the South Carolina Environmental Law Project filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Harbor Island Owners Association asking the Beaufort County Circuit Court to order the State to remove seven houses that have become located on the beach below the mean high water mark.[1]
In 2019, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) started a project to replace the Harbor River Bridge with completion expected by 2022.
Nature
Harbor Island is a certified Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
Birds
Harbor Island is part of the Beaufort Barrier Islands Important Bird Area.
Sea Turtles
Harbor Island has a Sea Turtle Nest Protection Program that is permitted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and is run by volunteers.
Notable People
Fran Nolan, Order of the Palmetto recipient [2]
References
- ^ "Beached Houses Is What You Get" "South Carolina Environmental Law Project" - Accessed February 28, 2019
- ^ "A Beaufort County woman received SC's top honor. She says she doesn't deserve it." "The Island Packet" - Accessed February 28, 2019
External links
- Harbor Island Owners Association
- Harbor Island's Sea Turtle Nesting Program
- Beaufort Barrier Islands Important Bird Area
- Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation
- Harbor Island SC Visitors Guide
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