The small Connecticut community of 81 houses located on a number of islands off the coast of Branford is quite unique. This archipelago in the Long Island Sound is called the Thimble Islands. Beautiful and serene, the tiny community lives life a bit differently from those of us on the mainland. Let’s take a look at this little haven that is unlike any other in the world.
The archipelago of islands were actually hilltops before the last ice age. They are formed of pink granite and have many rocks, ledges, and outcroppings.
Only 23 of the islands are inhabited. Money island has 32 homes and Governor's island has 14. Many of the other islands have only a few houses on them.
The plant life on the Thimble Islands differs from the rest of the state. Most of the plants are shrubs and trees that are produced by berries or fruit carried to the islands by birds. The pitch pines that are present have air born seeds that make their way over from the shore.
Generally, humans are the only mammals on the island. Squirrels and deer are almost never sighted. There are the occasional populations of bats, voles, mice and rats. Once in a while, you may run across a snake, but these may have appeared as stowaways on boats from the mainland.
Only six of the islands have electricity via underground cables from the shore. The others use solar, generators, kerosene or propane to power their homes.
Around half of the islands have fresh water coming in through underground pipes from the coast. The others have water delivered, use wells, or rainwater barrels. There are no sewer lines so all homes have a septic system.
During the warm weather, Thimble Island Ferry Service transports goods and passengers back and forth from the mainland to the islands. Islanders used to hang a red flag on their dock to signal the need of a ferry visit, now they just use their phones.
Have you ever visited this archipelago off the Connecticut shore? Are you interested in seeing this tiny community up close? You can learn more here about the cruises available to view the islands. The Thimble Islands are beautiful and ranked among some of the most amazing in the United States. Take a look at all of these featured islands.
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