Edisto Beach and Edisto Island, South Carolina

The first known inhabitants of Edisto were the Edistow Indians who lived on the banks of the North Edisto River. During the 1500's the Spanish arrived on the scene, followed by English settlers in the 1600's. Records show the Earl of Shaftsbury, one of the original Lord Proprietors, purchased Edisto from the Edistow tribe of Indians for some cloth, hatchets, beads and other goods in 1674.

The English settlers lived off the fruits of the sea and later began cultivating money crops of rice and indigo.

By the late 1700's most planters had turned their fields to the production of the world famous Sea Island Cotton. Known for its smooth and luxurious feel, these cotton crops brought great wealth to the local planters. Sea Island Cotton had such a world wide reputation the Catholic Pope in Rome supposedly upon his garments being made of Edisto Island cotton.

After the decline of the cotton industry, Edistonians turned returned to living off the sea and land via farming, fishing, and shrimping.