Smith Island is the only inhabited off-shore
island on Maryland's Chesapeake Bay. As of 2000, only 364 people lived there.
The island is only accessible by boat. Most people on the island make their
living as commercial fishermen. In truth, Smith Island is made up of several
islands, and three quaint communities. The communities of Ewell and Rhodes Point
are connected by a one-mile long single-lane road. From there, the other
community, Tylerton, can only be reached by boat. British settlers first came
here in the 1600s by way of Virginia. This helps explain the unique dialect that
sets Smith Island apart from the rest of the Chesapeake Bay region. It is
similar to that of the West Country of England. There is also a museum here, and
golf carts or bicycles can be rented for a self-guided tour of the island.
Unfortunately, over 3000 acres of wetlands have been lost here due to erosion
over the past 200 years. However, there are ongoing restoration efforts to help
turn the tide.