Daufuskie Island Map

Description:

Description: This map shows where Daufuskie Island is located in South Carolina.

Daufuskie Island is a sea island located in Beaufort County, South Carolina, between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, Georgia. Measuring approximately 5 miles (8 km) long and 2.5 miles (4 km) wide, it encompasses about 8 square miles (21 sq km) of land area. The island is accessible only by ferry or private boat, as there is no bridge connecting it to the mainland, making it one of the few remaining unbridged inhabited sea islands in South Carolina.

The name "Daufuskie" is derived from the Muscogee language, meaning "sharp feather" or "land with a point," likely referring to the island's distinctive shape. Archaeological evidence indicates human habitation on the island dating back at least 9,000 years. Native American tribes, including the Creek and later the Yemassee, occupied the island before European settlement began in the early 18th century.

During the antebellum period, Daufuskie was home to several large cotton plantations worked by enslaved people. After the Civil War, the island developed a significant Gullah community—descendants of freed slaves who maintained many African cultural traditions and developed a distinct Creole language. The isolation of the island helped preserve this unique culture. The oyster industry became the economic backbone of the island in the early 20th century, employing many residents until pollution from the Savannah River forced the closure of the oyster beds in the 1950s.

Today, Daufuskie Island has a permanent population of approximately 550 residents. The island is divided into several distinct areas, including the Haig Point Club, a private residential community; Melrose Resort; Bloody Point; and the Historic District. The Historic District contains many original Gullah homes and historic structures that have been preserved to maintain the island's cultural heritage.

Notable landmarks include the First Union African Baptist Church, established in 1881; the Mary Fields School, a two-room schoolhouse made famous in Pat Conroy's memoir "The Water is Wide"; the Bloody Point Lighthouse; and the Silver Dew Winery, one of the oldest in South Carolina. Daufuskie Island Museum, housed in the historic Oyster Society Hall, showcases artifacts and exhibits detailing the island's rich history.

Daufuskie's beaches are pristine and largely undeveloped. Bloody Point Beach on the southern end and beaches along the eastern shore offer spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. The western shore faces the Intracoastal Waterway with views toward Hilton Head Island.

In 1982, the Historic District of Daufuskie Island was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its cultural and historical significance. Despite increasing development in recent decades, the island maintains its remote character and continues to be a unique example of preserved Lowcountry and Gullah culture in the Sea Islands of South Carolina.