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 The swing drawbridge has been replaced by a fixed high level bridge, Harbor River Bridge, that connects the island to Saint Helena Island towards the west.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.

Not to be confused with Harbour Island.

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
SCDOT replacing bridge near Harbor Island, South Carolina.

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]

In 2019, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) started a project to replace the Harbor River Bridge with completion expected by 2022.[4]

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
Census-designated place
Country United States
State South Carolina
CountyBeaufort
Area
[5]
 • Total1.52 sq mi (3.93 km2)
 • Land1.03 sq mi (2.66 km2)
 • Water0.49 sq mi (1.27 km2)
Elevation
[6]
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2020)[7]
 • Total209
 • Density203.51/sq mi (78.58/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
29920[8]
Area code(s)843 and 854
FIPS code45-32172
GNIS feature ID2812934[6]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2020209—
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
2020[10][7]

The residential portion of the island was listed as a census-designated place in 2020.[6] Per the 2020 census, the population was 209.[1]

2020 census
Harbor Island CDP, South Carolina – Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2020[10] % 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
  1. "Harbor Island CDP, South Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  2. "Beached Houses Is What You Get" "South Carolina Environmental Law Project" - Accessed February 28, 2019
  3. "These 3 beach houses were left abandoned in the water. The effect could ripple across SC".
  4. "Harbor River Bridge" "South Carolina Department of Transportation" - Accessed March 28, 2021
  5. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  6. "Harbor Island Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  7. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Oct 15, 2022.
  8. "Harbor Island SC ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  9. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  10. "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.

32.39032°N 80.45006°W / 32.39032; -80.45006

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