Naushon Island is the largest of the Elizabeth Islands in southeastern Massachusetts. It is part of the town of Gosnold, Massachusetts, and is owned by the Forbes family. As of the 2000 census, the island had a permanent population of 30 people.

The island is long and 7.4 square miles in land area (19.18&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). It is separated from Cape Cod by a narrow strait and the smaller islands of Uncatena and Nonamesset, and is located four statute miles (6&nbsp;km) northwest of Martha's Vineyard.

History

Early ownership

Along with the rest of the Elizabeth Islands, Naushon Island was under British jurisdiction following its discovery in 1602 by Bartholomew Gosnold.

Topography

Naushon and the smaller islands that surround it, Uncatena, Nonamesset, Monohansett, Bull, Cedar, Bachelor, Veckatimest, Weepecket, and some smaller ones, are private property and closed to the public. Despite largely being private property, there are several public areas: Kettle Cove, West Beach, and Tarpaulin Cove, and Weepeckit Island, which is off the north shore of Naushon, in Buzzards Bay.

Opening to the east northeast, Hadley Harbor, on the east end of Naushon, is relatively deep and is well protected from storms. At the mouth of Hadley Harbor, Bull Island is open to picnickers. Other bays include Inner Harbor, Lackeys Bay, Monsod Bay, and Northwest Gutter.

On Naushon, there are no paved roads. Instead, there are many miles of trails through the mostly beech woods. Notably, a lighthouse sits above Tarpaulin Cove.

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File:Naushon Island locator map.png|The location of Naushon Island within the Elizabeth Islands.

File:Naushon Island 2015.jpg|Southwestern end of Naushon Island in 2015

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References

  • Cuttyhunk Historical Society, the Museum of the Elizabeth Islands