High Island is a coastal community at the east end of Bolivar Peninsula that sits atop a salt dome about 45 feet above sea, the only dry land visible during storms and flooding, and took its name from that elevation. Settled by anglos in the early 1800s, nearly all of the community lies within the Martin Dunman survey granted in 1837. Its early settlers were mostly farmers, though George E. Smith became known for patented bottled water from natural springs on his land. The town grew in 1886 when the gulf and interstate railroad began operating there and a depot and many new businesses were built. In 1897, C.T. Cade built the Sea View hotel on the hill overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and it served as a refuge in 1900 and 1915 when hurricanes flooded the peninsula. Oil was discovered at High Island, with successful drilling beginning in 1916, and petroleum deposits found at the perimeter of the salt dome in 1931 triggered an oil boom and brought employment to the region. High Island later became internationally recognized as an important habitat for migratory birds, drawing birdwatchers to the area each year.