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.
Flickr/slack12
The islands number between 100 and 365 depending on how you differentiate between an island and a simple rock.
Google Maps
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.
Wikimedia Commons/JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D.
Horse Island is the largest of the group at 17 acres. It is owned by Yale University and is maintained as an ecological laboratory.
Flickr/slack12
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.
Flickr/Daniel Hartwig
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.
Flickr/BEVNorton
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.
Facebook/Daniel Hartwig
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.
Flickr/Daniel Hartwig
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.
Thimble Island Ferry Service
Most residents have their own boats and some even arrive to the islands by seaplane.
Flickr/Daniel Hartwig
There are many different styles of houses on the Thimble Islands. Some are very large.
Flickr/Daniel Hartwig
Some houses are smaller and exist on an island all to themselves.
Flickr/Richard Smith
Some houses are built on stilts to avoid any potential flooding that might occur during storms.
Flickr/squishyray
There are a few footbridges connecting islands together.
Flickr/John Cudworth
No two homes are alike in this unique little community.
Flickr/Daniel Hartwig
One thing that can’t be denied is the phenomenal sunsets that grace the Thimble Islands.
Flickr/slack12
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.
Flickr/slack12
Google Maps
Wikimedia Commons/JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D.
Flickr/Daniel Hartwig
Flickr/BEVNorton
Facebook/Daniel Hartwig
Thimble Island Ferry Service
Flickr/Richard Smith
Flickr/squishyray
Flickr/John Cudworth
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