Why is New Shoreham called Block Island?

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

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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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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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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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Dorry's Cove is a black-sand beach. It is small and generally uncrowded, with nice sunset views of Long Island. The waters are usually calm and access is easy, making this an excellent beach for swimming and snorkeling, and for picnics! Hike northward and you will approach a second cove, Grace's Cove.

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Q. Is the water on Block Island safe to drink? A. Yes, The water provided by the Block Island Water Company meets or exceeds all Rhode Island Department of Health and E.P.A.

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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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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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New Shoreham, R.I., née Manisses (translation: Island of the Little God), better known as Block Island, is 7 miles long and 3 miles wide. The smallest town (by population) in the smallest state in the country, it is home to 1,000 or so year-round residents, and its principal industry is tourism.

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