Chincoteague, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chincoteague, Virginia
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West side of Chincoteague at sunrise.
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Location of Chincoteauge in Accomack County, Virginia and of Accomack County in Virginia
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 Chincoteague, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Chincoteague, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Virginia | ||
| County | Accomack | ||
| Incorporated | 1908 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 37.48 sq mi (97.07 km2) | ||
| • Land | 9.26 sq mi (23.98 km2) | ||
| • Water | 28.22 sq mi (73.09 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) | ||
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,941 | ||
| • Estimate
(2019)
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2,875 | ||
| • Density | 310.48/sq mi (119.87/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Code |
23336
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| Area code(s) | 757, 948 | ||
| FIPS code | 51-16512 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1492764 | ||
| Website | Official website: http://www.chincoteague-va.gov/ | ||
Chincoteague (pronounced shin-kuh-TEEG) is a small town in Accomack County, Virginia, in the United States. It covers all of Chincoteague Island and some nearby water. In 2020, about 3,344 people lived there.
Chincoteague is a popular place for tourists. It's the main entry point to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island. This refuge has a beautiful beach and is home to the famous Chincoteague Ponies. These ponies and their yearly swim are featured in the children's book Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. The book was even made into a movie called Misty in 1961, filmed right there!
Contents
Exploring Chincoteague's Location
Chincoteague is located at 37.934673 degrees North and -75.367805 degrees West. The town has a total area of about 37.48 square miles (96.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 75.58%, is water. The land area is about 9.26 square miles (23.6 square kilometers). The town sits at a very low elevation of just three feet above sea level.
A Look at Chincoteague's Past
Chincoteague Island was once a barrier island, protecting the mainland from the ocean. In the mid-1800s, Assateague Island moved south, taking over that protective role. The first land grant on Chincoteague Island was given in 1650 for 1,500 acres. Daniel Jenifer was the first English landowner.
Settlers began arriving in 1671. By 1672, large farms were established by families like the Bishops and Bowdens. By 1838, there were 36 houses on the island. During the American Civil War in 1861, the island voted strongly against leaving the Union and against slavery. A small battle, the Battle of Cockle Creek, took place in the bay in 1861.
The original Native American name for the island was Gingoteague. The name "Chincoteague" was officially recognized in 1943.
In 1962, a huge winter storm called the Ash Wednesday Storm hit the coast. The entire town of Chincoteague was underwater, and people lost electricity for days. The storm destroyed almost all buildings on Assateague Island. After this, most of Assateague Island was protected as the Assateague Island National Seashore in 1965.
Two important historical buildings, the Assateague Lighthouse and the Captain Timothy Hill House, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In March 2020, Chincoteague received a large amount of money to help protect it from future floods.
The Famous Chincoteague Ponies
The wild ponies on Assateague Island are very famous. A popular story says they are descendants of horses that survived a Spanish ship sinking in 1750. However, it's more likely they came from horses brought to the island by farmers in the 1600s. Farmers would put their horses on the island to avoid building fences and paying taxes.
The Annual Pony Swim
Every year since 1925, the "Saltwater Cowboys" of Chincoteague gather the wild ponies. This event is called the Pony Penning. On the Wednesday before the last Thursday of July, they herd the ponies from Assateague Island. The ponies swim across the shallow Assateague Channel to Chincoteague Island. If a pony is too small or weak, it gets a ride on a barge.
After the swim, all the horses are herded through the middle of town and down Main Street into large pens. The Pony Penning event happens on the last Wednesday and Thursday in July. The swim is on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company auctions off the foals (baby ponies) born that year. On Friday, the remaining ponies swim back to Assateague Island.
Visiting Chincoteague: Fun for Tourists
Chincoteague has many small hotels, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds. These places welcome visitors who come to enjoy the beaches and island life. You can also find many restaurants, miniature golf courses, and ice cream parlors, like the popular Island Creamery.
The island has two museums: the Beebe Ranch and the Museum of Chincoteague Island. Chincoteague also sees many visitors when rockets launch from the nearby Wallops Flight Facility. This facility is where the Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo module launch to resupply the International Space Station.
Chincoteague's Weather
Chincoteague has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.
Getting Around Chincoteague
Main Roads
SR 175
Public Transport
STAR Transit offers public transportation services. These services connect Chincoteague with Oak Hall and other towns in Accomack and Northampton counties on the Eastern Shore.
Well-Known People from Chincoteague
- Delbert "Cigar" Daisey: A famous wood carver known for waterfowl decoys.
- Bill Hinnant: An actor who appeared on stage, in movies, and on TV. He was born in Chincoteague in 1935.
- Skip Hinnant: An actor and comedian, born in Chincoteague in 1940.
- Thomas Downing: A well-known restaurateur, born in Chincoteague in 1787.
See also
In Spanish: Chincoteague para niños
