Reedy Island
Encyclopedia
Reedy Island is a small island in the middle of the channel of the Delaware River
near its mouth on Delaware Bay
in the U.S. state
of Delaware
. It is located approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) east of Port Penn, Delaware
and 5 mi (8 km) southwest of Salem, New Jersey
.
The island was the location of Reedy Island Range Front Light. The Reedy Island Range Rear light, in nearby Taylors Bridge, is a historic lighthouse
first established in 1910. The light is operated by the United States Coast Guard
. The nearby keeper's house was destroyed by arson
in 2002.
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
near its mouth on Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. It is located approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) east of Port Penn, Delaware
Port Penn, Delaware
Port Penn is an unincorporated community located in southern New Castle County, Delaware below the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Port Penn is home to the Port Penn Interpretive Center....
and 5 mi (8 km) southwest of Salem, New Jersey
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
.
The island was the location of Reedy Island Range Front Light. The Reedy Island Range Rear light, in nearby Taylors Bridge, is a historic lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
first established in 1910. The light is operated by the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. The nearby keeper's house was destroyed by arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
in 2002.