Chincoteague Bay
Encyclopedia
Chincoteague Bay (ˈʃɪŋ.kə.tiːɡ, ˈʃɪŋ.kə.tɪɡ, or ˌʃɪŋ.kə.ˈtiːɡ) is a lagoon
between the Atlantic
barrier island
s of Assateague
and Chincoteague
and the mainland of Worcester County, Maryland
and northern Accomack County, Virginia
. At the bay's northern end, where it narrows between Assateague and Sinepuxent Neck, it becomes Sinepuxent Bay
; Chincoteague Bay's southern end drains into the Atlantic Ocean
via Queen Sound and Chincoteague Inlet
. No major river flows into Chincoteague Bay—its largest tributaries are Newport Creek in Worcester County and Swans Gut Creek in Accomack County.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chincoteague Bay was well-known for its shellfish industry, which shipped oysters, crabs, and clams
to Baltimore
, Philadelphia, and New York
. The shellfish industry was based in several landings and small towns: Taylors Landing at Girdletree, Maryland
, George Island Landing at Stockton, Maryland
, and Franklin City
and Greenbackville
in Virginia
. Girdletree, Stockton, and Franklin City were all on the now-defunct southern end of what is today the Maryland and Delaware Railroad
that ran south from Snow Hill, Maryland
. Unfortunately, overfishing
depleted shellfish stocks, which have still not recovered.
Currently, the largest settlements on the Bay are Public Landing, Maryland
, Greenbackville, Captain's Cove (a planned residential community
near Greenbackville), and the town of Chincoteague.
The bay is an important stop on the Atlantic Flyway
. The E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area
and parts of the Sinepuxent Bay Wildlife Management Area
are located on the Maryland portion of the Bay, and the Assateague Island National Seashore
and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
form its eastern shore.
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
between the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
barrier island
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
s of Assateague
Assateague Island
Assateague Island is a long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is best known for its herds of feral horses, pristine beaches, and the Assateague Lighthouse. The island also contains numerous marshes, bays and coves, including Toms Cove...
and Chincoteague
Chincoteague, Virginia
Chincoteague is a town on Chincoteague Island in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census. The town is perhaps best known for the Chincoteague Ponies, although these are not actually on the island of Chincoteague but on nearby Assateague Island...
and the mainland of Worcester County, Maryland
Worcester County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and northern Accomack County, Virginia
Accomack County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile...
. At the bay's northern end, where it narrows between Assateague and Sinepuxent Neck, it becomes Sinepuxent Bay
Sinepuxent Bay
Sinepuxent Bay is an inland waterway which connects Chincoteague Bay to the Ocean City Inlet. It separates Sinepuxent Neck, in Worcester County, Maryland, from Assateague Island, and is crossed by the Verrazano Bridge on Maryland State Highway 611 Sinepuxent Bay is an inland waterway which connects...
; Chincoteague Bay's southern end drains into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
via Queen Sound and Chincoteague Inlet
Chincoteague Inlet
Chincoteague Inlet is an inlet on the Eastern Shore of Virginia at the mouth of the Chincoteague Channel between Wallops Island and Assateague Island....
. No major river flows into Chincoteague Bay—its largest tributaries are Newport Creek in Worcester County and Swans Gut Creek in Accomack County.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chincoteague Bay was well-known for its shellfish industry, which shipped oysters, crabs, and clams
CLaMS
CLaMS is a modular chemistry transport model system developed at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany. CLaMS was first described by McKenna et al. and was expanded into three dimensions by Konopka et al....
to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Philadelphia, and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The shellfish industry was based in several landings and small towns: Taylors Landing at Girdletree, Maryland
Girdletree, Maryland
Girdletree is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 117 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Girdletree is located at ....
, George Island Landing at Stockton, Maryland
Stockton, Maryland
Stockton is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 143 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, and Franklin City
Franklin City, Virginia
Franklin City is an unincorporated community in Accomack County, Virginia.Greenbackville and neighboring Franklin City grew as a result of the railroad line laid in the late 19th century to transport oysters and other shellfish from Chincoteague to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City...
and Greenbackville
Greenbackville, Virginia
Greenbackville is a census-designated place 4.5 miles south of Stockton, Maryland in Accomack County, Virginia, located just south of the Maryland state line at . The population as of the 2010 Census was 192...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Girdletree, Stockton, and Franklin City were all on the now-defunct southern end of what is today the Maryland and Delaware Railroad
Maryland and Delaware Railroad
The Maryland and Delaware Railroad Company is a Class III short-line railroad, formed in 1977 to operate several branch lines of the former Penn Central Railroad in both Maryland and Delaware. These branches were omitted from the system plan for Conrail in 1976 and would have been discontinued...
that ran south from Snow Hill, Maryland
Snow Hill, Maryland
Snow Hill is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Worcester County.-History:...
. Unfortunately, overfishing
Overfishing
Overfishing occurs when fishing activities reduce fish stocks below an acceptable level. This can occur in any body of water from a pond to the oceans....
depleted shellfish stocks, which have still not recovered.
Currently, the largest settlements on the Bay are Public Landing, Maryland
Public Landing, Maryland
Public Landing is a small unincorporated community 6.5 miles east of Snow Hill in Worcester County, Maryland, located at . Public Landing is located on Chincoteague Bay, at the end of Maryland Route 365....
, Greenbackville, Captain's Cove (a planned residential community
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
near Greenbackville), and the town of Chincoteague.
The bay is an important stop on the Atlantic Flyway
Atlantic Flyway
The Atlantic Flyway is a bird migration route that generally follows the Atlantic Coast of North America and the Appalachian Mountains. The main endpoints of the flyway include the Canadian Maritimes and the region surrounding the Gulf of Mexico; the migration route tends to narrow considerably in...
. The E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area
E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area
E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area is a state wildlife management area of Maryland that consists of two separate parcels of land on Chincoteague Bay in Worcester County, between the villages of Girdletree and Stockton....
and parts of the Sinepuxent Bay Wildlife Management Area
Sinepuxent Bay Wildlife Management Area
Sinepuxent Bay Wildlife Management Area is a state wildlife management area of Maryland that consists of several islands in Sinepuxent Bay, Isle of Wight Bay, and Chincoteague Bay in Worcester County....
are located on the Maryland portion of the Bay, and the Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island National Seashore
Assateague Island National Seashore is a unit of the National Park Service occupying much of Assateague Island along the Atlantic coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is a barrier island shaped by stormy seas and gentle winds. It lies adjacent to Assateague State Park and Chincoteague National...
and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. It is primarily located on the Virginia side of Assateague Island with portions located on the Maryland side of the island as well as Morris Island and Wildcat Marsh...
form its eastern shore.