Little Beach, New Jersey facts for kids

Little Beach is a special barrier island located off the coast of New Jersey. It's thought to be the very last uninhabited barrier island on the whole U.S. Atlantic coast! This means no one lives there permanently. It's part of Galloway Township in Atlantic County, New Jersey.

Today, Little Beach is part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge helps protect nature. Only scientists and researchers can visit the island, and they need a special permit from the government.

Even though it's empty now, Little Beach wasn't always like this. Long ago, it had small fishing cabins. These cabins were used for many years before they were burned down to help make the island a wildlife refuge. Also, for many generations, the Lenape Native Americans used Little Beach as a popular spot for summer fishing, just like nearby Brigantine.

What is Little Beach?

Little Beach is a barrier island. These are long, narrow islands that run parallel to the coastline. They help protect the mainland from ocean storms.

Where is Little Beach Located?

Little Beach sits right along the Atlantic Ocean. It's found between two important water passages: Little Egg Inlet to the northeast and Brigantine Inlet to the southwest.

Behind Little Beach, away from the ocean, you'll find a large area of salt marsh and tidal channels. These watery areas separate Little Beach from bigger bodies of water called Great Bay and Little Bay.

Early Descriptions of Little Beach

In 1834, people described Little Beach as being in Burlington County (though it's now in Atlantic County). They said it was near Little Egg Harbour Township, between Little Egg Harbour and Old Brigantine Inlet.

Later, in 1878, Little Beach was described again. It was said to be between Little Egg Harbor Inlet and Brigantine. At that time, it was considered part of a larger island called Short Beach Island before a new inlet broke through. It was described as a low, flat, and empty island, about two or three miles long. The description also mentioned that a hotel for sea-bathing was started there in 1877 but was never finished. This shows people once had big plans for the island.

History of Little Beach

In the early 1900s, Little Beach was almost a big beach resort! There were plans to build a bridge from the mainland to the island. This would have made it easy for many people to visit.

The "Lost Island" Plans

However, these plans were stopped in 1929. This decision left Little Beach isolated forever. Because of this, some people call it the "Lost Island of New Jersey." It never became the busy resort town it was meant to be.

Signs of a Past Community

Even though it's mostly wild now, you can still find a few clues that people once lived or worked there. You might see the old ruins of a lifesaving station. This station would have helped people in trouble at sea. There are also old poles that once held power lines, a small outhouse, and a dock that is slowly falling apart. These things remind us that Little Beach has a past.