Spesutie Island facts for kids
Spesutie Island, Maryland
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Harford County, Maryland |
| Coordinates | 39°27′21″N 76°04′36″W / 39.4559467°N 76.0766160°W |
| Area | 1,500 acres (610 ha) |
| Highest elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Administration | |
| Part of | Aberdeen Proving Ground |
Spesutie Island is a large island in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, United States. It covers about 1,500-acre (610 ha) (which is about 6 square kilometers). The island is located in Harford County, about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) southeast of Aberdeen, Maryland.
Spesutie Island is surrounded by water on three sides: the north, east, and south. A narrow waterway called Spesutie Narrows is on its western side. Today, the island is part of a military base called Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Contents
Island History
People have lived on Spesutie Island for a very long time. Evidence shows that Native American groups lived there in the past.
Early Ownership
In 1658, a leader named Lord Baltimore gave the island to Nathaniel Utie. Utie named his home on the island after his last name and the Latin word for hope, spes. This is how the island got its unique name.
The Utie family owned the island until 1779. Then, a person named Samuel Hughes bought it. In 1802, William Smith became the new owner. His family lived on the island for almost 100 years.
War of 1812 Events
During the War of 1812, the island saw some action. In April 1813, British troops led by Rear Admiral George Cockburn briefly took over the island. British ships, like HMS Highflyer, would stop by and sometimes force people to sell them cattle.
Later Owners and Military Use
The Smith family sold Spesutie Island in 1900. By 1927, a company called Susquehanna Development Company owned it. In 1936, a famous banker named J. P. Morgan, Jr. built a house on the island. He used it as a place for hunting.
A group called the Spesutie Island Hunting and Fishing Club took care of the island until 1945. That year, the United States government bought the island. It then became part of Aberdeen Proving Ground, a military testing site.
Other Names for the Island
Over time, Spesutie Island has been known by a few different names. The United States Geological Survey (which maps the land) has recorded these other names:
- Bearsons Island
- Spes Island
- Spes Utia Island
- Spes Utie Island
- Spesutia Island
Wildlife on the Island
Spesutie Island is an important home for animals. It has a large number of bald eagles, which are the national bird of the United States. These majestic birds thrive in the island's natural environment.
