Kiawah ( ) is a sea island, or barrier island, on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Located southwest of Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina, it is a seasonal beach and golf community. It is home to the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, with vacation houses and condos, beaches, golf courses, and other resort-like amenities. As of the 2020 census, Kiawah Island's full-time population was 2,013, up from 1,163 at the 2000 census. During the busy season, the population increases to over 10,000. The island is part of the Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. Alternative spellings and variants of the name itself include "Kiawa", "Kittiwar" (in DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy), and "Kittiwah" (in George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess). The island, has a per capita income of $47,782, the fifth highest in South Carolina.
History
The Bass Pond Site and Arnoldus Vander Horst House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Kiawah was named for the Kiawah People who were led by their head chieftain or cassique. In the year 1670, the cassique of the Kiawah led English colonists to settle at Charlestowne Landing.
In 1699, former pirate Captain George Raynor gained possession of Kiawah Island. On November 1, 1701, Raynor sold half of the island to Captain William Davis and left the other half in his will for his granddaughter. The half left to his will was passed through family members until John Stanyarne acquired the property. Stanyarne subsequently purchased the remaining half of the island from the family of Captain Davis.
The island was primarily used for cattle farming prior to the Civil War. Stanyarne built an estate that was valued highly, falling into a category of value that only 19% of the properties of South Carolina qualified for. In his will he left the southwestern portion of the island to his granddaughter Mary Gibbs, and the northeastern portion to his granddaughter Elizabeth Vanderhorst. Both portions were to be passed down until the third generation, when they would become considered fee simple ownerships. Gibbs died at a young age; it is assumed that her father, Robert Gibbs, maintained her portion of the island. The Vanderhorst property was burned down during the time of the Revolutionary War, but was rebuilt shortly after, and finished in the beginning of the 19th century.
The Civil War impacted Kiawah Island as it did the entire South. There were not damages recorded. The Vanderhorst family was not presently residing there, but they did check the state of the property in the earlier years of the war.
In 2013, Darby and associates sold Kiawah Partners to the South Street Partners for an estimated $350 million. This transaction included Kiawah Island Club, Kiawah Island Real Estate, Freshfields Village, Kiawah Island Utility, and other domestic and international holdings.
The island is a private gated community; visitors must obtain a pass from the security gate on Kiawah Island Parkway, at its intersection with Beachwalker Drive.
Geography
thumb|right|The marshes at Kiawah Island
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 18.36%, is water.
Demographics
2020 census
{| class="wikitable"
|+Kiawah Island racial composition
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|White (non-Hispanic)
|1,915
|95.13%
|-
|Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|20
|0.99%
|-
|Asian
|22
|1.09%
|-
|Other/Mixed
|25
|1.24%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino
|31
|1.54%
|}
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,013 people, 869 households, and 675 families residing in the town.
2000 census
As of the census The island features seven award-winning golf courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye. The courses snake along the narrow island, moving from the dense wooded interior of the island to the breezy oceanfront. Five of the courses are owned and maintained by Kiawah Island Golf Resort. These include the Ocean Course, Turtle Point, Osprey Point, Oak Point, and Cougar Point. Two courses, the River Course and Cassique, are owned and maintained by Kiawah Island Club.
The Ocean Course
Pete Dye designed the Ocean Course in 1991 and the course has since proved to be one of the toughest on the East Coast. The Ocean Course was the home of the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997 World Cup of Golf, the 2007 Senior PGA Championship, the 2012 PGA Championship and the 2021 PGA Championship, becoming only the fourth golf course in history to host each of the PGA of America's men's major championships. The Ocean Course was featured in the 2000 movie The Legend of Bagger Vance.
County parks
The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) operates a park on the island, Beachwalker County Park, located on the west end of the island. In 2013, Forbes ranked the park's beach as the 10th best in the United States.
Walking and biking
Thirty miles of paved trails and 10 miles of beach provide a natural setting for biking and walking.
Government
The city is run by an elected mayor–council government system. The mayor until November 2029 is Brad Belt.
The Kiawah Island Community Association (KICA) is a non-profit corporation established in 1976 that governs and manages the business and property that contribute to the overall ambiance and property values of Kiawah Island, South Carolina. The association maintains and insures the roads, ponds, facilities, parks and open areas built or conveyed by the developer, and offers social and recreational programs for property owners.
Education
There is one school district in the county, Charleston County School District.
It is zoned to Mount Zion Elementary School, Haut Gap Middle School, and St. John's High School.
Notable people
The following people own homes on Kiawah Island:
- Ray Allen, NBA basketball player
- Ty Cobb, former White House lawyer in Trump administration
- Joe Gibbs, retired Hall of Fame NFL head coach for the Washington Redskins
- Nikki Haley, former Governor of South Carolina and United States Ambassador to the United Nations
- Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of General Electric
- Tara Lipinski, Olympic gold-medalist figure skater
- Dan Marino, retired NFL quarterback
- George Will, syndicated columnist
References
External links
- Town of Kiawah Island official website