Maury Island facts for kids
Maury Island is a unique island in Puget Sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It's known as a "tied island" because it's connected to Vashon Island by a narrow strip of land called an isthmus. This connection was built by local people in 1913. Before that, the islands were only connected when the tide was very low. Maury Island is mostly rural, with lots of farms, forests, and natural shorelines. People are very interested in protecting its environment.
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Discovering Maury Island
Maury Island got its name in 1841 during the Wilkes Expedition. It was named to honor William Lewis Maury. The island is also famous for the Maury Island incident, which was an alleged encounter with a UFO.
Important Places on Maury Island
Point Robinson Light is a lighthouse located on Point Robinson. This is the easternmost point on Maury Island. Dockton was once a busy place. It had a dry dock, which is a place to repair boats, and a salmon cannery, where fish were prepared and canned.
Protecting the Islands
Maury and Vashon Islands are home to the Vashon-Maury Island Community Council. This group works to keep the islands natural and rural. In the past, there was a group called the "Civic Assembly" that did similar work. Today, the Community Council's main goal is to make sure the islands stay beautiful and undeveloped.
The Gravel Mine Controversy
Maury Island was once at the center of a big disagreement. A company called Glacier Northwest, which makes concrete, wanted to greatly expand its gravel mine on the island. They wanted to dig up much more gravel than before.
Locals Fight for Nature
Local islanders formed a group called Preserve Our Islands. They strongly opposed the mine's expansion. They were worried that the project would seriously harm the sensitive shoreline and its diverse marine life. This area is special because it's the state's only existing aquatic preserve, meaning it's protected for its unique ocean ecosystems.
A Victory for the Environment
The good news is that the locals won! On December 30, 2010, King County bought the property from Glacier Northwest. This meant the mining expansion would not happen. King County's plan is to work with the community to turn the land into a public open space. They also want to restore the natural habitat for wildlife. The mile of shoreline that was purchased is the longest undeveloped stretch of shore in King County. It will be a very important place for fish, birds, and other Puget Sound marine life to live and thrive.
