A once-thriving economy, Wadmalaw Island boasted cotton, indigo, and rice plantations, but even after hardship, Wadmalaw has remained a timeless representation of a bygone era.

Wadmalaw wasn't home to just plantations, but also the town of Rockville, a quaint, seaside retreat for the local planters. Lowcountry architecture was seen throughout the island in the designs of the plantation and summer vacation homes, and it became a favored holiday spot for the wealthy elite. Time and events did not leave the island unscathed though, and Wadmalaw fell victim to war and financial hardship as did the rest of the South after the Civil War. Wadmalaw weathered the harsh conditions and was able to continue its sleepy way of life into the 20th century. Rockville also became home to the well-known Rockville Regatta that brings thousands of visitors to the island every year. Despite surrounding growth that has threatened it, Wadmalaw has continued to maintain its unique noncommercial air and retains the agricultural focus on which it was founded.