Discover the Largest Island in Maryland (And the Creatures that Call It Home)

Maryland is one of the smallest states in the United States, but that says nothing of its contents. Have you heard the expression, “Good things come in small packages?” This is true of the 42nd largest – or 8th smallest – state in the United States. Today, we’ll explore the biggest of the small – the largest island in Maryland. This place carries immense history and interesting ecology, and we’re going to explore all of that in the following sections.

How Many Islands Are There in Maryland?

Maryland is home to 281 named islands. The United States has the fifth most islands – boasting 18,617 named isles – in a single nation, and Maryland is happy to lay claim to about 1.5 percent of them. We’ve included a table that lists some of the most significant islands in Maryland.

What is the Largest Island in Maryland?

Kent Island is the largest island in Maryland. It boasts 31.6 square miles of space and has a population of 19,503 (2021). That’s about 626 people per square mile! The Chesapeake Bay Bridge connects it to the mainland of Maryland, allowing for vehicle transportation.

Where is Kent Island on a Map?

We’ve included a helpful interactive map to give you a better idea of Kent Island’s location. You can see in this map that the isle rests in the water between the eastern and western portions of Maryland.

Kent’s Early History

Kent Island is an important place in Maryland’s history. 12,000 years of Indigenous history begin the human journey here. Several tribes inhabited the island, including the Matapeake Tribe. This tribe belonged to the Algonquin nation. In these times, they called it “Monoponson”. The Matapeake existed on the island as hunter-gatherers first and foremost, but they were also farmers. They were a fairly peaceful tribe but sometimes had skirmishes with Susquehannock raiders. When Europeans came to the island, they brought gifts of war and disease. They assumed ownership of lands the Matapeake used for gardening. The Matapeake retreated slowly from the island to avoid these conflicts but they were unsuccessful, and are now extinct as a tribe.

European Settlement

Now, we move on to European settlement. The first known Europeans to set eyes on Kent Island were Captain John Smith and his crew, but the island wasn’t settled until much later. In 1631, William Claiborne established the first permanent European settlement on the island. The establishment of this settlement followed four years of exploration of the Chesapeake Bay. Claiborne wanted to establish trading with the remaining native peoples in the area – mostly the Susquehannock. He decided Kent Island was a perfect place to create a base of operations for these trades, and he purchased the island from the Susquehannock to actualize this goal.

Claiborne’s base of operations consisted of a group of men, a trading post, and a fort (Fort Kent). This small settlement added a grist mill, a courthouse, and some private residences by 1634 and, by 1638, had a population of 120 men plus an unknown number of women and children.

During this time, forces battled over the ownership of the island. King Charles I granted the Calvert family a charter to establish a colony in Maryland. This 1932 charter triggered disputes that ended up deciding the fate of Kent Island. The Calvert family saw the current population and trading post as a lucrative opportunity and claimed it was included in their charter. Claiborne argued that Kent Island was excluded from the charter because it was actually a part of Virginia. Naval battles ensued, and the Calvert family seized the island from Claiborne’s grasp in 1938. Claiborne was forced to return to Virginia with his family as Kent Island became a part of Maryland’s colony.

Kent Island’s Economy

The first economy on Kent Island relied completely on trading. As the population changed, so did the economy. As Europeans settled in Kent, the economy moved from trading to agricultural exports. These exports consisted mainly of tobacco until the 19th century when soil depletion ended the industry. The economy pivoted to seafood, and the Kent Narrows spent some time as the heart of the booming seafood industry in the area. Now, it is seafood and recreation that drive Kent Island’s economy. Many seafood processing plants have moved out of the area, but fishing is still a huge part of the economy and culture. Several seafood restaurants pepper the island to delight visitors and locals alike.

People visit the area for delicious seafood, wildlife viewing, and nature exploration. We’ll explore all of that in the next section!

Things to Do on Kent Island

We’ll break our exploration of recreation on Kent Island down into categories. There is so much to do when you visit, so we’ll be sure to include some of the wonderful things that Kent Island has to offer. The island is home to a great collection of parks, fishing opportunities, swimming holes, places to shop, and dining experiences.

Parks

• Sandy Point State Park features several beautiful beaches, along with boat launches and fishing opportunities. People love the park for its picnic tables situated over scenic views of the Chesapeake Bay. The park also provides boat rentals, food and beverage options, and a marina store.
• Terrapin Nature Park offers beautiful walking trails and beaches. The trails lead visitors through wetlands, wildflower meadows, woodlands, and tidal ponds. Wander the sandy beaches or spend time watching wildlife on the park’s 276 acres of preserved land.

Fishing

• The Romancoke Pier is a great local fishing spot.
• Prime Time Fishing Charter is one of many fishing charter businesses in the area that helps connect fishermen with unique fishing opportunities in the waters surrounding Kent Island.
• Matapeake State Park is rich with fishing opportunities.

Beaches

There are several beaches in the area to visit or go swimming. Since we’ve already listed the locations of a couple of them, we’ll just briefly mention them. The beaches at Terrapin Nature Park and Matapeake State Park are both wonderful options. You’ll also find welcoming waters at Ferry Point Park Beach.

Food

There is no shortage of food options on the island, especially if you love seafood. Harris Crab House and Seafood Restaurant boasts a full seafood menu and many other restaurants offer their own astounding fare. Dock House Restaurant, Frix’s Fire Grill, and Libby’s Coastal Kitchen are just some of the other delicious options in the area.

Wildlife on Kent Island

There is abundant wildlife on Kent Island. Islands have distinct wildlife because of their relationship with the marine life that lives in the water surrounding them. You can see coastal birds such as osprey, great blue herons, and snow egrets. Horseshoe crabs, the strange, alien creatures that predate dinosaurs, inhabit the waters around Kent Island. Painted turtles, black vultures, and white-tail deer also make Kent Island their home.

The area is small and human life is expanding. Make sure to respect nature when you visit, and tread lightly as you tour the parks and preserves. We want to ensure that the local wildlife has a chance to survive – and thrive – on the shores of their home.