Harbor Island, South Carolina
Harbor Island is a small residential island located 14 miles (22 km) east of Beaufort, South Carolina. It is one of the Carolina Sea Islands. The swing drawbridge has been replaced by a fixed high level bridge. , 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.
The residential portion of the island was listed as a census-designated place in the 2020 census with a population of 209.[1]
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.[2]
In 2019, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) started a project to replace the Harbor River Bridge with completion expected by 2022. [3]
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.
Demographics
Harbor Island, South Carolina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  South Carolina |
| County | Beaufort |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.52 sq mi (3.93 km2) |
| • Land | 1.03 sq mi (2.66 km2) |
| • Water | 0.49 sq mi (1.27 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 209 |
| • Density | 203.51/sq mi (78.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 45-32172 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2812934[5] |
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 209 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 2020[8][6] | |||
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2020[8] | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 183 | 87.56% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6 | 2.87% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 0.96% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 4 | 1.91% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 10 | 4.78% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4 | 1.91% |
| Total | 209 | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
References
- ^ "Harbor Island CDP, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Beached Houses Is What You Get" "South Carolina Environmental Law Project" - Accessed February 28, 2019
- ^ "Harbor River Bridge" "South Carolina Department of Transportation" - Accessed March 28, 2021
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Harbor Island Census Designated Place
- ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Oct 15, 2022.
- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Harbor Island CDP, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau.
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
The Lowcountry of South Carolina | ||
|---|---|---|
| Counties |  | |
| Major communities | ||
| Sea islands | ||
| History & culture | ||
| Military installations | ||
| Natural areas | ||
| Other articles | ||
Coordinates: 32°23′25″N 80°27′00″W / 32.39032°N 80.45006°W