Back Chappaquiddick Island CEB Chappaquiddick German Chappaquiddick Island Finnish Chappaquiddick French Pulau Chappaquiddick ID Chappaquiddick Italian 채퍼퀴딕섬 Korean Chappaquiddick Dutch Chappaquiddick Portuguese Chappaquiddick Island SIMPLE
Native name: Noepetchepi-aquidenet Nickname: Chappy | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Chappaquiddick Island Location of Chappaquiddick off Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts  Chappaquiddick Island Location in the United States | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Peninsula and occasional island east of Martha’s Vineyard |
| Coordinates | 41°22′34″N 70°28′33″W / 41.37611°N 70.47583°W |
| Area | 15.915 km2 (6.145 sq mi) |
| Length | 7.96 km (4.95 mi) |
| Width | 5.26 km (3.27 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 28 m (92 ft) |
| Highest point | Sampson Hill |
| Administration | |
United States | |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Dukes |
| Town | Edgartown |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 253 |
| Additional information | |
| ZIP Code | 02539 |
| Area code(s) | 508/774 |
Chappaquiddick Island (/ˌtʃæpəˈkwɪdɪk/ CHAP-uh-KWID-ik;[1] Massachusett language: Noepetchepi-aquidenet;[2] colloquially known as "Chappy”) is a peninsula and occasional island off the eastern end of Martha's Vineyard. Norton Point, a narrow barrier beach, connects Martha's Vineyard and Chappaquiddick between Katama and Wasque (/ˈweɪskwiː/). Breaches occur due to hurricanes and strong storms separating the islands for periods of time. The two islands most recently reconnected on December 31, 2023. While both land forms have mostly been connected to one another in modern history, Chappaquiddick is nevertheless referred to as an island.
Visitors come to the isolated island for beaches, cycling, hiking, nature tours and birding, and the MyToi Gardens, a small Japanese garden created amidst the native brush. Two fire trucks are stationed on the island from Edgartown. Chappaquiddick Road and Poucha Road, both paved, provide access to sandy, woodland roads, trails, and shorelines.
Chappaquiddick became internationally known following an incident of the same name in 1969, when U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy accidentally drove his car off the island's Dike Bridge into Poucha Pond. Kennedy's 28-year-old passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, suffocated inside the car.
- ^ Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
- ^ "Chappaquiddick Wampanoag". www.chappaquiddick-wampanoag.org. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2015.