Chappaquiddick Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The On Time Ferry shuttling cars to Chappaquiddick.
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. Until the winter of 2007 the two islands were connected by a narrow two-mile (3 km) strip of beach (Katama Beach), which from time to time would become breached due to weather. As of April 2007, the two entities are not connected, separated by a 300-yard (270 m) breach caused by a strong storm. [1]

The southeastern point of this beach is called Wasque Point—a popular fishing point to catch bluefish, striped bass, etc.

A privately owned barge-like ferry called the On Time shuttles walk-on passengers, bicycles and up to three cars at a time between Chappaquiddick and downtown Edgartown, on Martha's Vineyard. Two ferries run during the summer, and one during the off-season.

Contents

[edit] Origin

Chappaquiddick Island comes from an Indian word "cheppiaquidne" meaning "separated island"; so named because this island is separated from Martha's Vineyard by a narrow strait [2] [3]

Historically spelled as "Chaubaqueduck" or alternately spelled "Chappaquidgick" [4]

[edit] Geography

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.[5]

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.[citation needed] 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] Incident involving Ted Kennedy

Main article: 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 did not report the incident until the following morning, and Kopechne's body was later recovered from the submerged vehicle. 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sigelman, Nelson. "Storm breaches Norton Point Beach", Martha's Vineyard Times, 2007-04-19. Retrieved on 2007-04-30. 
  2. ^ GNIS Geographic Names Information System Query. USGS.
  3. ^ (Steel; Douglas-Lithgow 1909; MGB 1932).
  4. ^ Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. Bulletin 30 - Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico, Edited by Frederick Webb Hodge, part 1 published in 1907, part 2 published in 1910. Use either code US-T142/B30/PT1/1907/p# or US-T142/B30/PT2/1910/p#. B30/pt1/1907/p238
  5. ^ Block Group 1, Census Tract 2003, Dukes County United States Census Bureau

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 41°22′34″N, 70°28′33″W