New Shoreham at a Glance


 

"One of the 12 last great places in the Western Hemisphere" -- Nature Conservancy

 

Click Here for info. on your town's environmental quality

www.scorecard.org

 

"Block Island is a small, fragile, isolated, subject to volatile change in weather and growth, beautiful, home to endangered species and an endangered lifestyle. No community ever had a stronger mandate to plan for its future than that." - New Shoreham Comprehensive Plan, 1994

Area: approximately 6,000 acres

Winter Population: approximately 1000 year round residents (2000 census)

Summer Population: approximately 10,000 people staying overnight (Growth Management Study, Phil Herr and Associates)

Summer Day Visitors: approximately 3,000

Town Contacts:
Town Hall - (401) 466-3200 -Monday-Friday 9-3

Town Websites:
newspaper: www.blockislandtimes.com
town site: www.blockisland.com
tourist information: www.ultranet.com/block-island/

Transportation: 2 harbors (Old Harbor and New Harbor) and Block Island Air Port

Schools: Block Island School- grades K-12, serving 130 students

Wildlife: home to 40 rare or endangered species and a large number of "distinctive ecosystems." The island's ecosystems are predominately maritime scrublands with many fruiting shrubs that provide a crucial food resource for migrating song birds. (visit www.nature.org/states/rhodeisland/misc/ for more information.)

 

 

 

 

History: New Shoreham, the smallest town in Rhode Island, was incorporated in 1672. Until roughly the time of the Civil War, the town grew as an isolated farming and fishing community. At this time, because of the new dominance in transportation of the steam boat and the construction of Block Island's first harbor, the island began its history as a tourist haven and magnificent Victorian hotels dotted the landscape. As the automobile took over as the primary method of transportation, with no auto routes to the island, Block Island again became an isolated farming and fishing community. Enjoying a resurgence in tourism, the island is again a vibrant summer resort community which attracts visitors because of its natural beauty and old- fashioned community character.
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   last updated may 7, 2001