Holland Island facts for kids
The last house on Holland Island in October 2009. It fell into the Bay in October 2010.
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Chesapeake Bay |
| Coordinates | 38°7′44″N 76°5′20″W / 38.12889°N 76.08889°W |
| Area | 0.125 sq mi (0.32 km2) |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Maryland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Holland Island was a small, marshy island located in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. It was once home to many families who made a living from the water. However, the island slowly disappeared due to the land sinking and rising sea levels.
Today, Holland Island is mostly underwater. It is found in the Holland Strait, between Bloodsworth Island and Smith Island.
Contents
The Story of Holland Island
Holland Island was first settled in the 1600s. It was named after Daniel Holland, who bought the land. By 1850, a small community of fishing and farming families lived there.
Life on the Island
By 1910, Holland Island was a busy place. About 360 people lived there, making it one of the biggest islands in the Chesapeake Bay. The community had:
- 70 homes
- Stores
- A post office
- A two-room school with two teachers
- A church
- A baseball team
- A community center
- A doctor
The islanders were mostly watermen. They earned their living by:
- Catching oysters
- Fishing for shad
- Crabbing
They had a large fleet of workboats, including 41 skipjacks, 10 schooners, and 36 bugeyes. Some of these boats were even built right on the island!
Why People Left the Island
In 1914, strong winds and tides began to wash away the western side of the island. This was where most of the houses were built. Families had to move to the mainland, often taking their homes with them. They would take apart their houses and rebuild them in places like Crisfield.
People tried to save the island by building stone walls, but it didn't work. The last family left Holland Island in 1918 after a big storm damaged the church. Some former residents still visited during fishing season until 1922. That year, the church itself was moved to Fairmount, Maryland.
A minister named Stephen White later looked after the island for many years. He even started a group called The Holland Island Preservation Foundation. In 2010, the last house standing on Holland Island, built in 1888, finally collapsed into the water.
The Island's Lighthouse
A lighthouse called the Holland Island Bar Light was built near the island in 1889. It helped guide boats safely. In 1960, the lighthouse was taken down and replaced with an automatic light.
How the Island Disappeared
Holland Island slowly disappeared because of two main reasons:
- The land itself was sinking.
- The sea level was rising due to climate change.
Island's Makeup
Like other islands in the Chesapeake Bay, Holland Island was mostly made of clay and silt. The western side of the island was very open to strong waves. This made it erode, or wear away, much faster.
The island's size was cut in half. In 1915, it was about 160 acres (0.65 km²). By 2005, it was only about 80 acres (0.32 km²).
Wildlife and Nature
Most of the land that remains of Holland Island is now marshland. However, much of the time, the entire island is underwater.
The island used to be a home for many birds, including:
In 1995, a survey counted over 600 pairs of herons nesting on the island. But in 2003, a storm called Hurricane Isabel destroyed many of the trees where the birds nested. This caused a big loss for the bird community.
