Why do they call it Block Island?

Block Island was named after Adrian Block, the Dutch navigator who re-discovered the Island in 1614. Sixteen families from the English colony of Massachusetts settled on Block Island in 1661 and in 1664, the Island became part of the English colony of Rhode Island.



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Block Island is a popular summer tourist destination known for its bicycling, hiking, sailing, fishing, and beaches. It is home to the historic lighthouses Block Island North Light, on the northern tip of the island, and Block Island Southeast Light, on the southeastern coast.

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The Narragansett Indians were the first inhabitants of Block Island as evidenced by remains that date back thousands of years. Their name for the island was “Manisses” which translates to “ Island of the Little God.” In 1614, Adrian Block, a Dutch explorer sailed to the island and gave it his name.

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Approximately 1000 year round residents, 15,000 to 20,000 seasonal visitors a day.

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Unfortunately Block Island real estate is exremely high. Even with the market so low, you still have to pay steep prices for anything on the Block. This is true for most islands simply because there is just so much land.

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The price of a night's stay on Block Island starts at $170. If you're interested in a bed and breakfast rental, the average price is $594 per night. A house rental Block Island will cost on average $1,007 per night.

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The Block Island Medical Center is a Primary Care Facility providing community health care, able to handle urgent and emergent needs.

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The Sullivan House is a much-admired architectural gem. It was built in 1904 for Col. LU Maltby, the owner of the Continental Hotel in Philadelphia. During WWI, a naval base was established on Block Island to hunt German U-boats and protect the coast.

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The Block Island Water Com- pany serves the island's commercial district, providing almost 50 per- cent of the annual supply from July through August. This municipal water system relies on 5 active wells located in the Sands Pond well- head protection area. Fresh Pond serves as an auxiliary reservoir.

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Being a coastal destination, seafood is the most popular type of food you'll find on the island. Can you walk everywhere on Block Island? The main tourist area is highly walkable, but there are parts of the island you cannot get to unless you rent a bike or moped.

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Block Island is very casual, much more so than Nantucket. It does not have the same refined architecture and cobblestone streets as Nantucket but Block Island has a lovely Victorian front street facing the Old Harbor and the ocean. Block Island is smaller, with only one town and two harbors, Old Harbor and New Harbor.

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Although there are very few tourists in the winter months the nine hundred or so year round residents manage to keep active and enjoy the quiet time.

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There are no fees to enter any beach. All beach parking is free. Block Island and its beaches are extremely dog friendly, so long as they are on a leash.

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Getting Around Block Island As mentioned, it's not necessary to bring a vehicle. The island is highly walkable and bikeable, and you can either bring your own bicycle or rent one on the island. Mopeds are also available for rent on the island and a fun way to zip around to its beaches, cliffs, and lighthouses.

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Unfortunately, there are no public campgrounds or designated tent camping areas on Block Island. Camping is not allowed on the beaches or in public parks. If you're looking for beach camping options, you might consider nearby Watch Hill in Rhode Island or Shelter Island in New York.

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Block Island is by and large a very safe locale, but as with any place there are certain precautions you can and should take to stay out of harm's way.

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Block Island lies 9 miles off the southern coast of Rhode Island, and is home to about 1,000 year-round residents. Its population swells to more than 12,000 during the summer months as partygoers and tourists fill the ferries for the 55-minute trip from the mainland.

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