Summary
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 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 edit
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 through rapid erosion have ended up in the water on the beach below the mean high water mark.[2] The state was released from the action in 2018 leaving the homeowners and the Association as parties to the suit.[3]
Harbor River Bridge edit
The Harbor River Bridge serves as the main connection between St. Helena Island and Harbor Island. The bridge also provides access to nearby Hunting Island and Fripp Island. The original bridge, built in 1939, was a swing drawbridge.[4] In 2019, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) began construction of a new fixed high-level bridge to replace the swing bridge. The new bridge opened to traffic on April 26, 2021.[5][6]
Nature edit
Harbor Island is a certified Community Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
Birds edit
Harbor Island is part of the Beaufort Barrier Islands Important Bird Area.
Sea Turtles edit
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 edit
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) |
| ZIP code | 29920[10] |
| Area code(s) | 843 and 854 |
| FIPS code | 45-32172 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2812934[8] |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 209 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] 2020[12][9] | |||
The residential portion of the island was listed as a census-designated place in 2020.[8] Per the 2020 census, the population was 209.[1]
2020 census edit
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2020[12] | % 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% |
References edit
- ^ a b "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
- ^ "These 3 beach houses were left abandoned in the water. The effect could ripple across SC".
- ^ Malijenovsky, Tess. "Replaced but not forgotten". The Island News.
- ^ "Harbor River Bridge" "South Carolina Department of Transportation" - Accessed March 28, 2021
- ^ Malijenovsky, Tess. "New, safer Harbor Island Bridge opens". The Island News.
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Harbor Island Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Oct 15, 2022.
- ^ "Harbor Island SC ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "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 edit
- 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
32°23′25″N 80°27′00″W / 32.39032°N 80.45006°W