Jamestown, Rhode Island's history has been formed--both for good and
ill--by its geography. The town officially encompasses three islands in
Narragansett Bay--Conanicut, Dutch and Gould--plus a number of small
islets known as dumplings. Jamestown was part of the larger world when
merchants and travelers used the common roadway of the bay. As the speed
of transportation on land increased, that same bay isolated the town.
Reliable ferry transport fostered the growth of a low-key resort, and
the bridges that followed moved the community from resort to suburb. The
changes have left Jamestowners torn. Some look back nostalgically at the
ferries and the solitude they allowed, while others look forward to a
vibrant village and grand suburban homes. Still, whether one is
reviewing Jamestown's past or anticipating its future, the constraints
of its geography remain forever unchanged.