Kent Island (Maryland): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:45, 25 June 2005

Revision as of 15:20, 25 June 2005

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Until the 19th century, Kent Island was used almost entirely for farming. Around the time of the [[Industrial Revolution]], the town of [[Stevensville, Maryland|Stevensville]] developed after the sale of farms owned by James and Charles Stevens, and prospered as a major hub for steamboat travel across the Chesapeake Bay. Also during this time, small resorts on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] became common in the area. Such a resort existed at Love Point, north of Stevensville. Love Point was also the home of a railroad station that marked the western end of the Love Point Railroad, which carried [[ferry]] passengers to other parts of the Eastern Shore.

As roads replaced railroads and steamboats into the 20th century, there was a growing need for a road bridge connecting the two shores of the Chespeake Bay. In 1952 the [[Chesapeake Bay Bridge]] was built, connecting the island directly to the [[Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area]],. the The bridge completely replaced the steamboat system and also led to further growth of Kent Island and the rest of the Eastern Shore. In 1973, In order to accomodate growing traffic across the bay the bridge was expanded by buildingwith an additional span next to the existing one. InThen, in the late 1980's and early 1990's [[U.S. Highway 50|US 50]] was expaded across the island in orderconverted to accomadatea growing traffic[[freeway]] across the bayisland.

In 2003, Kent Island was one of the many places in the Chesapeake Bay Area affected by [[Hurricane Isabel]]. Local buisinesses and historic local landmarks were either damaged or destroyed in the storm and the [[storm surge]] associated with it. Many of the damages from the hurricane, mostly caused by flooding, took several months to repair.

Today, Kent Island is a [[suburban]] area and home to over 8,000 residents (as of the 2000 census). Many of the island's historical places are still preserved. Both the [[Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway]] and the [[American Discovery Trail]] pass through the island and run by some of these historic places, including Downtown Stevensville and the Love Point Railroad Station.