Census Tract 21.04, located on the island, has a per capita income of $168,369, the highest in South Carolina.

[7] The Bass Pond Site and Arnoldus Vander Horst House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the year 1670, the cassique of the Kiawah led English colonists to settle at Charlestowne Landing.

The half left to his will was passed through family members until John Stanyarne acquired the property.

Stanyarne subsequently purchased the remaining half of the island from the family of Captain Davis.

[13] During the Revolutionary War the island has very few records of events, other than its use as a safe recovery space for American soldiers and their families.

[14] The Vanderhorst property was burned down during the time of the Revolutionary War, but was rebuilt shortly after, and finished in the beginning of the 19th century.

[11] The Vanderhorst family infrequently inhabited the island, and often stayed in their homes elsewhere along the Carolina coast.

The Vanderhorst family was not presently residing there, but they did check the state of the property in the earlier years of the war.

[11] There are not records of what occurred on Kiawah during the war in terms of battles, but it was sieged by the North with Charleston and taken over by Northern troops.

Royal in 1950 for logging and timber; he went on to develop the first summer home neighborhood in 1954 along the beach and named the street Eugenia, after his wife.

In 1974 Royal's heirs sold the island to Kuwait Investment Corporation; soon after, a thorough environmental survey was conducted, and a master plan for Kiawah's development was produced with help from the Sea Pines Company.

Kiawah Island is widely hailed as one of the premier golf destinations on the East Coast.

[10][20] The island features seven award-winning golf courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Fazio, and Pete Dye.

[25] Tidal creeks, salt marshes, and the Kiawah River itself provides the opportunity for various canoeing and kayaking expeditions.

There are numerous water access points, including a community kayak rental dock at Mingo Point and boat storage near the 15th green of the Cassique golf course, as well as a full marina just outside Kiawah's gate, for more expansive Kiawah Island fishing and deep sea fishing excursions.

Also, Kiawah Island Club Members enjoy private access to a kayak dock in Cassique, and the Kiawah Island Community Association (KICA) maintains a launch at Rhett's Bluff and storage at Cinder Creek.

The association maintains and insures the roads, ponds, facilities, parks and open areas built or conveyed by the developer, and offers social and recreational programs for property owners.