A living genre scene of isolated mid-atlantic society, Tangier Island sits in the Chesapeake Bay, just about an equal distance from Maryland’s own eastern shore, and the Virginian coast. Despite being in Virginia, it is known as the “Soft Crab Capital” of the United States, as the economy of the island is almost entirely dependent on the shellfish market. Only accessible by ferry or plane, this small town has developed its own culture due to its relative isolation from the mainland.
The isolation of Tangier island has even sparked the creation of a new dialect that is only used by the townspeople, with accents and phraseology that is supposedly reminiscent of Elizabethan England and Cornish, combined with characteristics of a Southern drawl. Many of these phrases that have continued today can be traced to older nautical references that have persevered through this lack of exposure to newer language.
Not only is this island vibrant in culture and language, but also in history, specifically being seen as a landmark of African-American history. Habitation of the island first began in the late 18th century, as farmers and colonists began to settle on the island from England and became sedentary in their location. Through this time however, the townsfolk adapted to their surroundings and learned specifically how to take advantage of the geographic location’s benefits in crabbing and oyster farming. During the battle of 1812, a new increase in population took place when the British established Fort Albion on Tangier. Over 1,000 Africans found refuge at the fort, after being offered their freedom for service by the British. During the American civil war, Tangier Island was also the only portion of Virginia to have remained part of the Union, as the town’s strong religious roots in the Northern Methodist Church fostered a particular desire for abolition. The religion on Tangier as a whole has also affected the legislature, as the island as a whole prohibits the sale of Alcohol.
The population of Tangier as a whole is just under 500, and the paths connecting the island folk together are only just wide enough for golf carts or bicycles. The community itself is tight knit and consists of many who share similar lineage. However, Tangier Island is not as idyllic as it may seem. The size of the population and their familial relations to one another have led to a low level of inbreeding and higher health risk among the townspeople. This health risk can particularly be tracked to genetic damage in the islanders who have “full pedigrees” linked to older settlers (and hence more endogamy). Tangier Island specifically has a disease named after itself (Tangier disease), which targets good cholesterol and heart health. Tangier disease itself has no casualty rate or set life expectancy, but causes an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. The confirmed cases remain under 100, as the disease is hereditary and primarily confined to the island. It is not uncommon to find families who have been here since the civil war or before, such as the Crocketts, the Pruitts and the Dises (some of the earliest settlers on Tangier). A paper written in Harper’s Weekly on Tangier in 1913 even marks the prevalence of inbreeding in the community and lack of migration from the mainland.
Apart from the medical difficulties that seem to plague the community, another more impending crisis seems to be threatening the livelihoods of the people of Tangier. Populations on Tangier are not only shrinking because of the death of the older populations, but townsfolk are also beginning to migrate from Tangier to the mainland. Why? Due to gradual climate change causing rising sea levels, the island itself has lost over ⅔ of its full land mass since 1850, and it is likely that Tangier will be entirely underwater within the next 50 years.
Most of the residents of Tangier deny that there is any causality linking climate change and the decreasing landmass and have hence stated that this major loss of land can be entirely attributed to natural erosion. The mayor and town council have advocated for resource allocation for sea walls and protections from this alleged erosion, but have rarely qualified for these resources. Many of the townsfolk have noted that the Maryland habitat, Poplar Island, has been provided with significant state resources for restoration, as it has lost landmass similarly, but acts solely as an animal refuge. Former President Donald Trump assured the people of Tangier personally during his presidency that the island would not sink, but gave no additional resources. Most recently, the DEQ has provided a 2.3 million dollar grant for safe fuel storage and environmental provisions.