Historical Background about the St. Simons Island, Georgia Real Estate Market

St. Simons Island, called “San Simone” by 16th century Spanish explorers, is now called “delightful” by those who experience its oak-sheltered beauty today.  Visitors come in all seasons to swim, sail, fish, golf, play tennis and experience history.  The gloriously mild weather from January to December allows residents and visitors alike to indulge in all kinds of recreation and relaxation on St. Simons Island…. From a quiet afternoon of crabbing from the Village Pier to the thrill of parasailing, plus miles of sunny fairways, acres of tennis courts, sport fishing, boating, sailing, scuba and a network of bike and walking paths that offer discoveries around each bend.  St. Simons Island is also known for one-of-a-kind shopping… no “big box” retailers here! 

The earliest inhabitants of St. Simons Island were the Mocama, Timucua and Guale Indians (pronounced “Wallie”); French and Spanish explorers soon followed.  In 1540, DeSoto, looking for the fabled city of gold, began his exploration of the Southeast. Then, in 1566, Spain sent missionaries and soldiers to establish Spain’s claim to the New World.

In 1667, during the height of the missionary age, three Spanish missions operated on St. Simons.  However, by 1687, the Spanish had withdrawn all of their missions north of St. Augustine.

In 1736, the first permanent English settlement on St. Simons was established, only two years after the founding of Savannah. James Edward Oglethorpe had begun a colony in Georgia “for the settling of the poor persons of London.”  Because Savannah required defense against possible attack by the Spanish to the south, Oglethorpe founded the fortified town of Frederica on the north end of St. Simons Island. In addition, a battery named Fort St. Simons was established on the south end of the Island, connected to Frederica by a military road.

In 1742 a Spanish fleet from St. Angustine with a force of 3,000 men attacked St. Simons from the south.  Oglethorpe withdrew his men from the battery back to Frederica and led the Spanish into an ambush in the marsh on the east side of the Island.  The thick marsh mud slowed the progress of the debarking soldiers, making them easy targets for the Colonial sharpshooters.  So many Spaniards were slain that the battle became known as the Battle of Bloody Marsh.    

Eventually, the troops stationed at Frederica were withdrawn. The town declined and was eventually destroyed by a fire. Although a few settlers remained on the Island to harvest the ancient live oaks, the Colonial era of the Island’s history was over.

Timber gave way to the Island’s next phase, the plantation era. The rich delta soil of St. Simons was ideal for agriculture. Soon, large plantations growing longstaple cotton commanded the Island’s landscape.  European consumption of cotton provided great wealth to the plantation owners.  However, the Civil War and the end of slavery as a source of inexpensive labor destroyed the agricultural economy.  Most of the plantations were destroyed.

The residents of St. Simons Island suffered after the Civil War. Sharecropping failed. The recently freed slaves were destitute. Many of the former slave owners deeded small parcels of land to their former slaves and left the area entirely. This was not enough to sustain the freed men and often food had to be brought in by charitable organizations from the north.

In 1874, economic conditions began to improve when A. G. P. Dodge established a lumber mill on Gascoigne Bluff. There were four mills, houses for the workers, warehouses, commissaries, a school and even a church. The lumber business began to decline with the over-harvesting of timber. The mill ceased operation in 1906.

At last, in the 1920’s, the Island’s resort industry blossomed. The present lighthouse had been completed in 1872. A pier and many summer homes were constructed. A resort hotel was built at what is now Massengale Park. In 1924, the causeway, which was built entirely without state or federal funds, was completed.  Following completion of the causeway, the Cloister on Sea Island was opened and wealthy businessmen began building summer “cottages” on Sea Island.  Gradually, the area became a destination for summer tourists, winter visitors, and year-round residents.