Edisto Island is one of the barrier islands off the coast of South Carolina. It has a rich cultural history, one of the most diverse undeveloped wetlands on the Eastern coast, and a pristine beach. The history of Edisto Island is diverse and significant to the history of the coastal South.
Edisto Island is located just off the coast of South Carolina. The island is one of the coastal or barrier islands dotting the South Carolina coast. It is approximately an hour's drive from Charleston.
Edisto Island is named after the original inhabitants, the Edisto Indians. In the 1500s, the Spanish settled on the island, followed by the English in the 1600s. In 1674, the island was purchased from the Edisto Indians by the Earl of Shaftsbury.
Edisto Island has been known historically for the quality of the cotton produced on the island. During the 18th century, Edisto Island cotton as so revered that the Vatican insisted that all of the Pope's clothing be made from the island's cotton. The cotton plantations were destroyed during the Civil War, and today, Edisto Island relies heavily on the tourist industry.
In 1986, several Edisto residents started the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Society. The goal of the EIHPS is to preserve the history and culture of the island, including funding renovations of historic buildings. Several buildings are now listed on the National Historic Registry.
Botany Bay Plantation is over 4,000 acres of undeveloped wetland, one of the largest on the East Coast. The area is managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and provides protected breeding grounds for the endangered loggerhead sea turtles.
