Pawleys Island Real Estate

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Pawleys Island, South Carolina, located 70 miles north of Charleston and 25 miles south of Myrtle Beach, is known as one of the oldest summer resorts on the East Coast.

The families of rice planters who owned plantations on the nearby rivers first settled Pawleys Island in the early 1700's. The planters knew that it was unhealthy for their families to remain on the rivers during the summer and that the seashore was much healthier. Even though they didn't know about malaria in the 1700's, they knew enough to get away! They moved their families, horses, cows, bedding, provisions and furniture to Pawleys in May of each year, where they remained until the first frost in November!

From this leisurely existence has developed the charm of Pawleys that still remains. Also still remaining are 12 residences in the historic district, which date from the late 1700's to the mid 1800's. Pawleys continues to be known for its shoeless, carefree, laid-back life style, which includes crabbing in the adjacent creeks, fishing, the stories of ghosts, the rope hammocks and the unspoiled, unsophisticated, casual, delightful stretch of wide beach and sand dunes.

The Civil War and several major hurricanes have changed the face of the island but it still retains the nickname "arrogantly shabby." Pawleys is an island of simple virtues and lack of pretense.

In our historic district you will see a number of signs with a brief history of the antebellum homes. As you traverse our island you will note the variety of shapes and sizes of our beach houses, most of which are available for summer rental.

Often is heard the quote "we like the kind of people who like Pawleys" and among these people is a special feeling of treasure shared.

Pawleys Island is a barrier island less than 4 miles long and mostly 1 house wide, separated from the mainland by a beautiful salt marsh and accessible by two short causeways. Generations of visitors have returned with the feeling that "their blood pressure goes down when they cross the causeway."

www.rockonthebeach.com/area/pawleysisland

 

Fun Facts:

The earliest known inhabitants of the area were Waccamaw and Winyah Indians. They called the area "Chicora," meaning "the land," and the term is frequently used by local businesses.

With European colonization, George Pawley was an early settler, giving his name to the community. The breezy island quickly became a refuge from the mosquitoes that were notable during the summer. With African slaves that were brought to the area came malaria, so those of means would move to summer cottages on the island to avoid the mosquito-vectored malaria and other sicknesses.

In 1791, two years after he was elected president, George Washington toured the Grand Strand. He passed right down The King's Highway in the unincorporated portion of Pawleys Island to visit the Alstons, who were wealthy plantation owners just to the south. Rice plantations occupied the Waccamaw River side of the neck.