Located mere minutes from the majestic Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Maryland’s Kent Island can itself be considered a natural wonder with its gorgeous waterfront vistas and an abundance of wildlife that has thrilled visitors and residents alike for decades.
Bounded to the west by the Bay Bridge and to the east by the Kent Narrows Bridge, Kent Island comprises 30 square miles of land mass surrounded by water and is home to some of the most beautiful waterfront properties on the East Coast. It is the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay, located in Queen Anne County and home to the unincorporated communities of Stevensville and Chester.
Waterfront parks, nature trails, fishing and water sports are popular activities on the island. Many of the local restaurants are known for delicious seafood and lively nightlife.
The first permanent European settlement was established in 1631 by Virginia based William Claiborne who named the island after his home in Kent, England, making it the third oldest still-existing English settlement in America. By 1638, after disputes and a series of naval battles, the Calvert family claimed Kent Island as a part of Maryland on behalf of King Charles I.
Natural growth and new transportation routes increased the population of Kent Island in the nineteenth century. First ferry routes, then steamboat and railroad transportation expanded settlements and trade.
In 1952 the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was built, linking Kent Island to the Western Shore and playing a significant role in further development of the island. It also made commuting from the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area a possibility, and the proximity to Historic Annapolis a true convenience. A second span of the bridge was built in 1973 to accommodate the increasing traffic from the Western Shore to the ocean-side resorts.
Kent Island is served by Queen Anne County Public Schools. Some of the schools serving the Kent Island area include: