Why Does Moss Creek Have a Hilton Head Island Address?

Hilton Head Island and Bluffton are filled with anomalies and fun facts. Both of these towns evolved from small seaside communities and have grown by leaps and bounds, and through their evolution remnants of the past have lingered adding to their quirkiness. There are reasons behind decisions that helped with growth and made sense at the time but now can seem antiquated. It is these anomalies that permeate our unique, beautiful, and fun-loving Lowcountry. Throughout the growth there is an animated, laid-back southern vibe that keeps the Lowcounty mentality alive and keeps vacationers coming back and oftentimes returning to become locals themselves. Let us know if you have a local tidbit to share or if you have a question we can research and answer.

Did you ever wonder why Moss Creek, which is on the Bluffton side of the bridge, has a Hilton Head Island address instead of a Bluffton address? There are a couple of stories circling around town about why it was given a Hilton Head mailing address, and honestly, they are probably both true. One story is that the Town of Hilton Head Island wanted to get approval for a post office on the north end of the island and at the time there were not enough residents on that side of the island to make that happen. The town agreed to incorporate a brand new community, Moss Creek, just over the bridge in order to get the approval.

The second story is that Moss Creek was the first community “off island” and at the time everyone moving down to Hilton Head wanted to be on Hilton Head Island proper. Hilton Head Island was what people had heard of and where they thought they needed to live. At the time it offered a little more panache while Bluffton was a sleepy and more rural town without the prestige of Hilton Head Island, or at least that is what transplants and retirees believed at the time. In order to get residents to invest in Moss Creek and feel that there was value in their community, a Hilton Head Island address was issued.

With a Hilton Head Island address, Moss Creek families were zoned for Hilton Head Island public schools and still are today. Bluffton has continued to grow and is now home to many fabulous neighborhoods including the evolution of Old Town Bluffton which is “Southern Living Magazine” worthy. Bluffton is just as popular now as living on Hilton Head Island and is one of the fastest-growing cities in South Carolina. Many people moving down to the Lowcountry only want to look for houses in Bluffton and don't want to cross the bridge onto Hilton Head Island.

A few interesting facts that make Moss Creek unique include that Moss Creekers, as they are called, are not allowed to partake in getting an Islanders Beach Pass. All beaches on Hilton Head Island are public, but Hilton Head Island residents can get a beach pass at Islanders Beach that allows them to park without paying for the meters. This is a small sacrifice for those living in Moss Creek as the beaches are only about 20 minutes away, and there is usually plenty of parking. Moss Creekers are also not able to vote for Hilton Head Island elections or Bluffton elections. Locally they can only vote in Beaufort County and State elections. Moss Creek is classified as unincorporated Beaufort County.

As Realtors we address this question a lot, especially when purchasers pull up homes in Moss Creek on Google Earth and they are confused by the location. Moss Creek is an absolutely wonderful, gated, membership community with 2 Fazio golf courses, 2 swimming pools, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, a kayak ramp, a deep water marina, dog park, clubhouse, social activities, bocci ball courts, fire pits, a super playground, miles of walking and biking paths, and a nature preserve. The community is marsh-front with deep waterfront homesites. Moss Creek has about 1,200 rooftops and offers affordable community fees. As fees continue to climb in some neighborhoods Moss Creek has worked hard to continue to offer top-notch amenities and community offerings while keeping fees competitive. It is a dynamite place to live. We should know. Some of us in The Cobb Group live in Moss Creek and have lived in there for many years. I think we might be the only 4th generation family living in Moss Creek and that is something pretty impressive!