Hilton Head is part of the Sea Islands, a group of low, sandy as well as marshy islands in the Atlantic Ocean, located in the southeastern United States, off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The main islands are Saint Helena, Port Royal, Hilton Head, and Parris, off South Carolina; Ossabaw, Sapelo, Cumberland, Jekyll, and Saint Simons, off Georgia; and Amelia, off Florida. The islands are abundant with plant and animal life. The primary industries are fishing (notably of shrimp, oysters, and crabs), agriculture, and tourism; Parris Island is a U.S. Marine Corps training base. The islands were claimed and also partly settled by Spain around the mid-16th century. British domination of the islands dates from the 18th century. Before the American Civil War (1861-1865), plantation agriculture on the islands produced rice and Sea Island cotton, a long-staple (long-fibered) variety. After the war, freed slaves took over the land from the abandoned plantations. Living in relative seclusion, the African American Sea Islands population, referred to as Gullah, preserved its heritage and developed a distinctive culture and also language, exhibiting African and English influences.
Ljao/jan/1v21