The Island Life

Stevensville thrives on Kent Island

The community of Stevensville is the centerpiece of Kent Island on the Chesapeake Bay.

Kent Island on Maryland’s eastern shore is the largest island on the Chesapeake. The eastern side is squeezed into Kent Narrows, which just barely separates it from the Delmarva Peninsula. The western side is separated from Sandy Point near Annapolis by about four miles of water.

Part of Queen Anne’s County, Kent Island can be reached from the mainland via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. At just under 32-square miles, Kent Island is completely unincorporated — but that hasn’t stopped some thriving communities like Stevensville from cropping up. Of the island’s almost 17,000 residents with many living in Stevensville.

Start your sightseeing journey at the Historic Stevensville Arts & Entertainment District, where you’ll find art galleries and antique stores. Stevensville also offers unique finds such at Blackwater Distilling, which produces small batches of vodka, rum and rye whiskey. Then there is the waterfront Cascia Vineyards & Winery.

Stop and enjoy savory seafood dishes and spectacular views at Hemingway’s at the Bay Bridge Marina or dine at Kentmorr Restaurant & Crab House, which specializes in farm- and boat-to-table cuisine. And for a long weekend, stay at the beautiful Historic Kent Manor Inn. Situated on 220 acres of waterfront property, the inn is 200 years old.

Speaking of old, Kent Island holds a special place in U.S. history. Founded by the English as Kent Fort in 1631 after being spotted by Capt. John Smith in 1608, the island is the “Oldest English Settlement in The Upper Chesapeake Bay,”

Stevensville residents may live on an island, but they’re not far from some of the most popular sites on the East Coast; 45 minutes from BWI Airport, just more than one hour from the White House, two hours from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and a bit more than three hours away from New York City’s famed Rockefeller Center.

With traffic going both ways, Stevensville is wooing commuters who work in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. You can buy a lot for less than $50,000 to build your dream home or buy a home or townhouse starting at $300,000.

Most of the island’s schools are located in Stevensville, with six pre-K private schools and six public schools. The public schools are well-regarded.

So if you’re looking to live the island life with a thriving community that is still be close to major cities, Stevensville is the place to be.

Need help finding your dream home? We can help. Email Hugh Smith at hsmith@cbchesapeake.com

Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Chesapeake listing