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Hilton Head is part of the Sea Islands,a group of low, sandy or marshy islands in the Atlantic Ocean, located in the southeastern United States, off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The most important 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 rich in plant and animal life. The principal industries are fishing (particularly of shrimp, oysters, and crabs), agriculture, and tourism; Parris Island is a U.S. Marine Corps training base. The islands were claimed and partly settled by Spain in 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, known as the Gullah, preserved its heritage and developed a unique culture and language, exhibiting African and English influences.
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