Holland Island was a rapidly eroding and waterlogged Chesapeake Bay island. The island was located west of Salisbury in Dorchester County, Maryland. It was specifically located in the Holland Strait between Bloodsworth and Smith Islands. The island which currently lies in despair was home to farmers and watermen.

Birth of Holland Island

Holland Island first became a settlement area in the 1600s. The name was derived from the property's owner, early colonist Daniel Holland. Daniel purchased the island from the Sheriff of Dorchester County. By 1850, the Island had developed its first fishing and farming community. By 1910, the Island had a population of about 360 people. As the island's population grew, it became one of the most populous in Chesapeake Bay. The Holland Island Bar Light was demolished and replaced by an automated light. Herons, terns, songbirds, and brown pelicans were among the birds found on the island. 609 nesting pairs were counted in a heron rookery in a single day.

The Final Stretch

The island began to be affected by wind and tide in 1914, which severely eroded the west side of the island. The eroding occurred primarily when more houses were built. Because of the constant eroding, the habitants were forced to relocate to the mainland. When migrating, residents may destroy their homes and other obsolete things that they could not carry. For the rest of their valuables, they carried to the mainland where they relocated. Those who still had hopes for the Island suggested the construction of a wall. They were given the chance to implement their suggestions to no fruition. The last residents left the town in 1918 when the only church left standing was destroyed by a storm. The land was later submerged in water forcing the residents who remained to fish in the town to relocate.

An Island In Despair

Stephen White, an investor who endlessly had a soft spot for the historic island, formed Concorde Foundation in June 2020. The same year, the Island's last building collapsed. Today, the land is disowned and no one is allowed on it. Isostatic subsidence causes the land surface to sink. This process resulted in a significant loss of land on the island. Because the land is marshy and contains a variety of hazards, caution should be exercised. This implies that anyone visiting the location should be informed by the owner, who is required to grant permission. Despite those few hazards that people should look out for, the island is a good place to relax and forget about your problems even if it is for a minute. The ocean waters that surround it provide cool and a breathtaking breeze every time a wave passes by. Swimming in the waters is discouraged since all around the island, the harbors were deepened in the heydays to facilitate the docking of larger ships