Sandy Island, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Sandy Island is the name of a small unincorporated community
in Georgetown County, South Carolina
, United States
, and a larger island
between the Pee Dee
and Waccamaw River
s that has been preserved as a refuge and nature center.
The island is about 9,000 acres (36 km²) of a prehistoric sand dune. It is bounded east and west by the rivers, on the north by Bull Creek, and on the south by Thoroughfare Creek.
The northern part of the island is higher and is mostly a longleaf pine
forest, which provides a refuge for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker
and numerous other species of plants and animals. About 9,000 acres (36 km²) of the island has been purchased by The Nature Conservancy
for permanent protection from development.
On the southern, lower end of the island are the remnants of old rice plantations, with the watergates and earthwork
canals, built by African slaves skilled in rice culture. Such development was used to manage the water supply for irrigating the rice fields. A small community in the south is made up of a few families who are descendants of former slaves. Some still work the rice fields. The island is only accessible by boat, and workers and school children commute to the mainland daily for work and school.
Because of its resources, the island is regularly visited by naturalists, planters, archaeologists, and geologists. Brookgreen Gardens
runs daily "scenic" boat rides to and from the island.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Georgetown County, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a larger island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
between the Pee Dee
Pee Dee River
The Pee Dee River, also known as the Great Pee Dee River, is a river in North Carolina and South Carolina. It originates in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, where its upper course above the mouth of the Uwharrie River is known as the Yadkin River. It is extensively dammed for flood...
and Waccamaw River
Waccamaw River
The Waccamaw River is a river, approximately 140 miles long, in southeastern North Carolina and eastern South Carolina in the United States. It drains an area of approximately 1110 square miles in the coastal plain along the eastern border between the two states into the Atlantic Ocean...
s that has been preserved as a refuge and nature center.
The island is about 9,000 acres (36 km²) of a prehistoric sand dune. It is bounded east and west by the rivers, on the north by Bull Creek, and on the south by Thoroughfare Creek.
The northern part of the island is higher and is mostly a longleaf pine
Longleaf Pine
Pinus palustris, commonly known as the Longleaf Pine, is a pine native to the southeastern United States, found along the coastal plain from eastern Texas to southeast Virginia extending into northern and central Florida....
forest, which provides a refuge for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is a woodpecker found in southeastern North America.- Description :About the size of the Northern Cardinal, it is approximately 8.5 in. long, with a wingspan of about 14 in. and a weight of about 1.5 ounces...
and numerous other species of plants and animals. About 9,000 acres (36 km²) of the island has been purchased by The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
for permanent protection from development.
On the southern, lower end of the island are the remnants of old rice plantations, with the watergates and earthwork
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
canals, built by African slaves skilled in rice culture. Such development was used to manage the water supply for irrigating the rice fields. A small community in the south is made up of a few families who are descendants of former slaves. Some still work the rice fields. The island is only accessible by boat, and workers and school children commute to the mainland daily for work and school.
Because of its resources, the island is regularly visited by naturalists, planters, archaeologists, and geologists. Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden and wildlife preserve, located just south of Murrells Inlet, in South Carolina. The property includes several themed gardens with American figurative sculptures placed in them, the Lowcountry Zoo, and trails through several ecosystems in nature reserves on...
runs daily "scenic" boat rides to and from the island.
External links
- "Sandy Island", Nature Conservancy
- "Saving Sandy Island", ETV film