Chappaquiddick Island

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The On Time Ferry shuttling cars to Chappaquiddick.

Chappaquiddick Island is a small island off the eastern end of the larger island of Martha's Vineyard and is part of the town of Edgartown, Massachusetts. The two islands are connected, along their southern coast, by a narrow barrier beach not accessible by paved roads. The southeastern point of this beach is called Wasque Point – a popular fishing point to catch bluefish, striped bass, etc.

A privately owned bargelike ferry called the On Time shuttles three cars at a time between Chappaquiddick and downtown Edgartown, on Martha's Vineyard. The ferry can also shuttle walk-on passengers as well as bicyclists. In the summer two ferries run, while the off-season only has need for one.

Chappaquiddick Island as seen from Edgartown.

1 Geography
2 Ted Kennedy
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Geography

Geographically, Chappaquiddick is considered an island, despite the fact that it becomes entirely separate only when storms breach the barrier beach. On a map, Chappaquiddick can be located at 41°22′34″N, 70°28′33″W. The United States Census Bureau defines it as Block Group 1, Census Tract 2003 of Dukes County, Massachusetts. It has 15.915 km² (6.145 sq mi) of land.^[1] Politically, it is part of the town of Edgartown in Dukes County. Socially, its residents form a tight-knit community and see themselves as distinctly separate from the rest of Edgartown. Longtime residents speak of "going to the mainland" when they travel to Edgartown, and of "going to America" when (for example) they travel to Boston or Cape Cod. As of the 2000 census the island had only 172 year-round residents and 475 houses, as well as numerous wildlife preserves and beaches. It has just one combination general store/automobile mechanic's garage, which is only open in the summer.

[edit] Ted Kennedy

Main article: Ted Kennedy Chappaquiddick incident

Chappaquiddick received international notoriety in 1969, when Mary Jo Kopechne was killed in a car driven by U.S. Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy which drove off the island's Dike Bridge (also spelled Dyke Bridge). Kennedy entered a plea of guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury and received a sentence of two months in jail, which was suspended.