History

In pre-colonial times, numerous Indian cultures occupied Callawassie Island for 5,000 years and left their mark in archeologic remains, shell middens, and an Indian burial mound. Some artifacts are exhibited in the Clubhouse entrance hall. In the early 17th century, the Yemassee Indians gave Callawassie Island its name and occupied the Lowcountry until their expulsion by the English. Subsequently, Callawassie Island's connections to Lowcountry commerce and South Carolina politics helped define America's coastal culture. It is very likely that James Hamilton, a legislator and general, constructed a sugar mill during the plantation era. Although sugar cane did not prosper in this area of the South, ruins of this tabby structure can be found on Callawassie today. The island evolved over the centuries from a thriving indigo plantation to a southern playground for the nation's industrial elite. Acquired by Chaffin & Light in 1981, Callawassie established its modern identity as a serene residential community featuring signature amenities and a vibrant civic rhythm among its inhabitants.