✨ 2026 Cultural Patron Sponsor ✨

Where Hilton Head’s Gullah History Still Lives.

Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation

Hilton Head Island’s historic Gullah neighborhoods trace their roots to the late 1860s, when formerly enslaved Gullah people established self-sustaining communities across the island. Many of these neighborhoods remain centered on Hilton Head’s north end and are part of what has traditionally been known as the island’s Native Islander communities.

Each neighborhood developed its own character, shaped by the families who lived there and the skills, traditions and resources that allowed the communities to thrive. Churches, local stores, one-room schoolhouses, fishing and food-gathering traditions, access to the island’s waterways, and family-owned land passed down through generations became the foundation of community life.

Together, these historic neighborhoods tell an important story of freedom, family, land ownership, resilience and Gullah culture—a living legacy that continues to shape the identity of Hilton Head Island today.

Hilton Head Island’s Historic Gullah Neighborhoods:
Baygall • Big Hill • Big Stoney • Chaplin • Gardner • Grassland • Jarvis • Jonesville • Little Stoney • Marshland • Mitchelville • Old House Creek • Spanish Wells • Squire Pope