Jamestown

The 9-mi-long, 1-mi-wide landmass that goes by the names Jamestown and Conanicut Island is encompassed by the east and west passages of Narragansett Bay. Valuable as a military outpost in days gone by, the island was once considered an impediment to commercial cross-bay shipping. In 1940 the Jamestown Bridge linked it to western Rhode Island, and in 1969 the Newport Bridge completed the cross-bay route, connecting Newport to the entire South County area. Summer residents have come to Jamestown since the 1880s, but never to the same extent as to Watch Hill, Narragansett, or Newport. The locals' "We're not a T-shirt town" attitude has resulted in a relatively low number of visitors, even in July and August, making this a peaceful alternative to the bustle of nearby Newport and South County.