Crabbing, oystering and tourism define life on Tangier
Cornish families first settled Tangier Island in the 17th century to work as oystermen and crabbers on Chesapeake Bay. Today, these roots remain strong, with fishing, as well as tourism, driving the economy. The island’s remote location, about 12 miles from the mainland, has also influenced residents’ dialect, often described as a mix of Tidewater twang and British English. “Most of our families have lived here for generations,” says Beth Thomas, a lifelong local and descendant of one of the island’s original families. Though new residents, locally dubbed “come-heres,” are rare, and the island is at major risk of sinking within the next few decades, there’s a reason people stick around. “I’m pretty sure I know all 400 people who live here,” Thomas says. “And I’m biased, but I don’t think any community is more close-knit or friendlier than we are.”
Houses rarely sell here
Colonial Revivals, cottages and ranch styles dot Tangier’s narrow roads. Some homes sit on compact lots shaded by oak trees, and others back up to cordgrass-covered marshland. Houses along the water may have small fishing platforms and boat tie-ups. Only two homes were sold within the past 5 years, one for $90,000 and another for $200,000. According to a Homes.com calculation, which uses a combination of estimate data, the average home value here is around $158,000.
Flood insurance is required on Tangier
Rising sea levels and shore erosion are causing the island to sink, and homeowners must have flood insurance. Multiple reports predict the entire community will be underwater within 50 years. The Army Corps of Engineers has dredged beaches and built a seawall on the island's west side to repair and deter erosion. Studies to save Tangier and efforts to gain more funding are ongoing, though some locals are losing hope. “Scientists have studied the island for as long as I can remember, and we don’t want our community to disappear, but they haven’t come up with any substantial ways to prevent it,” Thomas says
There’s a public beach here, and some locals are still watermen
A short boardwalk leads to a public beach on the southwestern end of the island. Water gently laps against the sandy shoreline, where locals often go for walks. Sailboats, tour boats and workboats dock at Park’s Marina in north Tangier. Watermen usually head to nearby marsh islands, like Port Isobel, to catch crabs and oysters in uninhabited channels. While fishing still backs much of Tangier’s economy, erosion has destroyed a lot of wildlife in the area. “At one point, just about everybody I knew was a crabber or an oysterman,” Thomas says. “But now, I barely know 100 people who do it full-time.”
Tangier’s remote location is popular with tourists
Souvenir shops, bed and breakfasts and a local history museum sit along Main Ridge Road, which is busy with vacationers every summer. “We welcome tourists,” Thomas says. “Most of them are very respectful, and they do a lot for our economy.” The island has a few small grocery stores and longstanding seafood restaurants, like Four Brothers, a crab shack and an ice cream shop where visitors can rent bikes and golf carts. Mail is delivered by boat and dropped off at the local post office six days a week. Alcohol isn’t sold anywhere, and cell service is spotty, but locals don’t mind this remote location. “There are just enough businesses and resources to get by,” Thomas says.
Tangier Combined School serves every grade level
Kids can attend Tangier Combined School for kindergarten through 12th grade. The school, which Niche grades a C-plus, only educates around 40 students, and teachers often have multiple grade levels in their classroom. “Most graduating classes only have one to five students,” Thomas says. High school graduation is held at the Gothic Revival-style Swain Memorial United Methodist Church, built in 1899. New Testament Church is the island’s only other house of worship.
Tangier has a few Christmas celebrations
The Tangier Volunteer Fire Department hosts several community events, including a Fourth of July fireworks show. Locals decorate their golf carts in tinsel and ornaments and drive around town for the Christmas Parade, which ends at the firehouse with a potluck. The Tangier Holly Run is another annual Christmas event. Kids gather at the general aviation Tangier Island Airport as pilots dressed as Santa land planes filled with candy canes, toys and holly wreaths.
The only way to get off Tangier is by boat
Some residents have cars, but most get around by golf cart, bike or walking. Tidal and storm flooding often submerge roads, making them briefly inaccessible. The only way to reach the mainland is by boat. Ferries go in and out of Onancock, Crisfield and Reedville. Some routes only run during the summer, but that’s not a problem for locals. “Most of us don’t leave the island that often,” Thomas says. “And we all have boats if something urgent comes up.” A doctor's office is in town, and helicopters will land at the airport to take locals to the nearest hospital in emergencies.
