Cedar Island is a former island

Island

An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...

 in Long Island Sound

Long Island Sound

Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...

 belonging to the town of Clinton, Connecticut

Clinton, Connecticut

Clinton is a town located on Long Island Sound in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,094 at the 2000 census. The town center along the shore line was listed as a census-designated place by the U.S...

 in Middlesex County, Connecticut

Middlesex County, Connecticut

Middlesex County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was created in 1785 from portions of Hartford and New London counties. As of 2010, the population was 165,676....

. Currently the island is a peninsula attached to Hammonasset State Park in Madison, CT due to the filling of the strait in a public works project to improve flow of the Hammonasset River through Clinton Harbor.

Physical description

The average elevation is 3 foot (0.9144 m) at high tide; low tide can add 5 to 6 ft (1.5 to 1.8 m).

The island measures one and a half miles long by a quarter-mile wide and lies about a quarter of a mile from Clinton Harbor. It has about 54 houses and summer cottages (mostly built before 1950). Many have piers for boats and fishing. The normal summertime population of the island is between 100 and 150 people.

Amenities

The island does not have grid electricity or telephones, the sole exception being a solar powered telephone on the town dock connected directly to the Clinton Police Department for emergencies. Many of the houses and cottages use propane for heat and hot water, while some also have solar power

Solar power

Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...

.

The island is serviced by a public water supply, and the water system serving the homes is seasonal. A permanent water line has been installed to the island providing year round fire protection from a single hydrant. The project was completed over budget amid allegations of embezzlement.

Transportation

All transportation to and from the island is by boat. There is no airstip or bridge, and foot travel via Hammonasset is possible but difficult due to the salt marsh conditions.

The closest port is Cedar Island Marina

Cedar Island Marina

Cedar Island Marina is located on Clinton, Connecticut. It is a full-service marina/boatyard with 400 slips. It was operating at 94% capacity in 1995, with many transient visitors filling slips vacated when homeport vessels are away. Three boats are year-round liveaboards...

, approximately a quarter mile north.

There are five roads on the island, forming a rough sideways "figure 8" pattern. Hammonasett Avenue and Central Avenue run roughly east-west. Wigwam Street, Indian Street and Fort Lane run roughly north-south. The roads cannot handle vehicle traffic.