The Creek Indians were the first known human inhabitants of St. George Island. According to archaeological evidence, these Native Americans occupied the island from at least the 10th century.
In 1528, Spanish explorers located the island during an expedition along the Florida Panhandle coastline. Within 200 years, Europeans established a number of settlements in the area, but left St. George Island for the native residents.
Throughout the 1800s, the region surrounding the island became a major hub of shipping. This prompted authorities to construct a lighthouse on St. George Island to help navigation.
During the early 1900s, the island became a prime location for the United States Navy. The military slashed much of the pine forest to make turpentine. With the onset of World War II, the military used the island as a practice range for B-24 bombers launched from a nearby base.
St. George Island was the site of a major construction project in 1954. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers developed and built a ship channel through the island. This channel became known as Bob Sikes Cut, used by fishing fleets of the region.
