Gibson Island (Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gibson Island, Maryland
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Gibson Island in late winter, as seen from the mainland
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 Gibson Island, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Gibson Island, Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Anne Arundel |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
21056
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| GNIS feature ID | 590298 |
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Gibson Island is a special island community located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It's part of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in the United States. The island is the very end of Maryland Route 177. It connects to Pasadena, Maryland by a special road called a causeway. Even though they are connected, Gibson Island and Pasadena have different ZIP codes.
Contents
Exploring Gibson Island's History
Gibson Island has a long and interesting past.
Early Days of Gibson Island
In the 1600s, Native Americans used Gibson Island as a summer home. Captain John Smith sailed by it in 1608 while exploring the Chesapeake Bay. People started getting official land ownership papers, called land grants, around the 1680s. The island is named after an early owner, Mr. Gibson.
Developing a Community on the Island
In the early 1900s, two brothers, W. Stuart Symington Jr. and Thomas Symington, bought the island. They wanted to turn it into a residential community. They even bought three farms that were already on the island. They got advice from Edward H. Bouton, who developed famous neighborhoods in Baltimore.
The Symingtons hired a landscape architect named Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.. He created a big plan for the island. They set aside areas for shared community spaces. The rest of the land was divided into lots for building homes. These lots were sold by the Gibson Island Company.
Changes Over Time
The Great Depression in the 1930s slowed down the island's growth. An 18-hole golf course, built in the 1920s, had to shrink to nine holes. It's still that size today. In 1936, the island's ownership was changed. This gave homeowners more control over the island.
This change led to a focus on protecting the island's natural beauty. About two-thirds of the island is now kept for fun activities, forests, and open spaces.
Gibson Island Today
Today, Gibson Island is a gated community. This means access is limited to residents and those with a good reason to visit. It's managed by the Gibson Island Corporation and the Gibson Island Club. Many people who live here are seasonal residents. They might live in Washington, D.C. or Baltimore most of the time.
Homes on the island are quite expensive, often starting at over $1 million. In 2023, the average sale price was about $2.5 million. This makes Gibson Island's ZIP code the most expensive in Maryland. The island offers many activities like a yacht club, golf, tennis, and skeet shooting. It also has its own post office, a historical society, and a church.
Keeping Gibson Island Safe
The people living on Gibson Island have their own security team. This team is made up of Special Police officers. They have full law enforcement power while working on the island. Their main job is to keep the community safe and secure.
Education for Island Children
There are not many families with children living on Gibson Island. All the children who live there go to private schools. However, Gibson Island is part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district. If children from the island were to attend public schools, they would go to Bodkin Elementary School, Chesapeake Bay Middle School, and Chesapeake High School.
