the island contains potters beach, a private vineyard owned by the purcell family, summer gift shops, four active beef farms, historic but now abandoned farmlands, and private non-government conservation lands owned by the thousand island land trust (tilt). new york state's last operating one-room school was on the island and closed in 1989. the current number of year-round households on the island is ten, however the population climbs to 700 people during the summer months.