The historic Edisto people are known to have occupied the island as well as mainland areas and traded with the upcountry Catawba.

[6] Landowners first harvested timber and deerskins, planted indigo and some rice, and kept herds of free-ranging cattle to produce hides for the European market and salt beef for Caribbean plantations.

During the American Revolution, there were huge amounts of British soldiers present on Edisto Island.

[8] Edisto Island was largely abandoned by planters in November and December 1861, and escaped slaves began setting up their own refugee camps there.

In February, Union forces were stationed on the island to develop it as a staging area for future campaigns against Charleston, twenty-five miles away, as well as to protect the colony, which would eventually number thousands of settlers.

Pineberry Battery was further up the Edisto River from the island, which was one likely path for a land campaign against Charleston.

For the rest of the war, a small number of escaped slaves and plantation owners remained and farmed the island, but it was largely abandoned.

While Klan terror effected much of the state, Edisto Island was largely spared this by coincidence.

There were large amounts of troops from the United States Army present on Edisto Island, and the population was overwhelmingly African-American.

[10] Since the twentieth century, the island has been redeveloped for use as a tourist destination and resorts, although some private plantations remain.

The park has a ranger station, bathrooms with running water and showers, a playground, and an education center.

Each site is equipped with electricity and water hook ups, a fire pit, and a picnic table.