12 Facts About Block Island

Block Island is an island in the U S state of Rhode Island located in Block Island Sound approximately 9 miles south of the mainland and 14 miles east of Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, named after Dutch explorer Adriaen Block.

Block Island is a popular summer tourist destination and is known for its bicycling, hiking, sailing, fishing, and beaches.

Block Island was formed by the same receding glaciers that formed the Outer Lands of Cape Cod, the Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket during the end of the last ice age thousands of years ago.

Block Island'sname was Sarah Sands nee Walker and she has been suggested as a very early abolitionist.

Block Island has no natural harbors; breakwaters were constructed in 1870 to form Old Harbor.

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Isaac Church was the Block Island's last recorded full-blooded Manisses Indian; he died in 1886 at age 100.

Block Island's airport was opened in 1950 and remains open today as a general aviation airport.

Block Island's weather is greatly influenced by the surrounding ocean and prevailing winds that generally blow offshore.

Block Island stays warmer than the mainland during the fall and winter months when the ocean remains relatively warmer than the mainland.

Block Island has at least 40 restaurants, but most are closed outside of tourist season; mainland restaurants use New England Airlines to deliver food to the island.

Block Island is known for participating in the commercial aquaculture and kelp farming sectors.

Block Island is connected year-round by a ferry to Point Judith, and in summer to New London, Connecticut; Orient and Montauk, New York; and Newport, Rhode Block Island, with the latter service offering an extended route to Fall River, Massachusetts.