Grover Island
Encyclopedia
Grover Island is an island
located near the mouth of Crooked River
in Camden County
, Georgia
. The island has over 400 acres (1.6 km²) of forest and about 1600 acres (6 km²) of connected salt marsh
and small waterways. Grover Island is four miles (6 km) west of Cumberland Island National Seashore
. It was the site of the United States' first national forest
preserve.
in 1799 as the first of several preserves for live oak
timber. At that time, live oak was a valuable timber in the U.S., used to build ships such as the USS Constitution, the ship known as Old Ironsides because of the strength of its live oak framing. The federal government recognized the critical importance of a continuing supply of this timber
for the U.S. Navy, and took action to maintain a sustainable source by establishing these preserves.
Not only was Grover Island the nation’s first national forest preserve, it was probably the very first land set aside by the federal government for any conservation
purpose, being established well before any of our national parks, national monuments, national wildlife refuges, or national forests. Grover Island could rightfully be termed the nation’s first national forest, as the preserve was in existence more than ninety years before the creation of any of the forest preserves that we currently call “national forest”.
In 1926, no longer needed for its live oak in an age of steel, Grover Island was sold into private hands.
Grover Island is known to have a number of archaeological sites, including aboriginal sites dating centuries prior to the arrival of Europeans on this continent. There is an historical record of a house on the island that was present in the 18th century and its archaeological remains are likely still present. Dwight Kirkland, an archaeologist familiar with the island, has stated that there are very few archaeological sites that remain as extensive and as intact in the coastal plain of Georgia as those on Grover Island.
As of summer 2006 the island is owned by a real estate development company. Preliminary plans of this company are to build a quarter-mile long bridge to connect the island with the mainland and develop Grover into a gated community with a full golf course. Local historical and land conservation groups, along with other concerned citizens, are working to preserve the island.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
located near the mouth of Crooked River
Crooked River (Georgia)
The Crooked River is a river in Camden County in the U.S. state of Georgia. Primarily tidal, it is an inlet of Cumberland Sound.It rises in freshwater wetlands northwest of Kingsland and flows east into saltmarsh. Grover Island lies to the north of the main channel, and Crooked River State Park...
in Camden County
Camden County, Georgia
Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is one of the original counties of Georgia, created February 5, 1777. As of 2000, the population was 43,664. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 48,689. The county seat is Woodbine.-History:The first European to land...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The island has over 400 acres (1.6 km²) of forest and about 1600 acres (6 km²) of connected salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
and small waterways. Grover Island is four miles (6 km) west of Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Cumberland Island National Seashore preserves most of Cumberland Island in Camden County, Georgia, the largest of Georgia's Golden Isles. The seashore features beaches and dunes, marshes, and freshwater lakes...
. It was the site of the United States' first national forest
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
preserve.
Background
Grover Island’s place in history was established with its purchase by the United States for the country’s first national forest preserve. It was bought at the direction of President John AdamsJohn Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
in 1799 as the first of several preserves for live oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
timber. At that time, live oak was a valuable timber in the U.S., used to build ships such as the USS Constitution, the ship known as Old Ironsides because of the strength of its live oak framing. The federal government recognized the critical importance of a continuing supply of this timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
for the U.S. Navy, and took action to maintain a sustainable source by establishing these preserves.
Not only was Grover Island the nation’s first national forest preserve, it was probably the very first land set aside by the federal government for any conservation
Conservation ethic
Conservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
purpose, being established well before any of our national parks, national monuments, national wildlife refuges, or national forests. Grover Island could rightfully be termed the nation’s first national forest, as the preserve was in existence more than ninety years before the creation of any of the forest preserves that we currently call “national forest”.
In 1926, no longer needed for its live oak in an age of steel, Grover Island was sold into private hands.
Present day
Grover Island is now forested with a mature maritime forest. This landscape is characterized by its live oaks, but is rapidly disappearing because of poorly planned coastal development and industrial forestry practices. In its current naturally forested state, Grover Island provides habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the endangered wood stork, and is a refuge for many other migratory and nonmigratory birds, such as ospreys, which are known to nest here.Grover Island is known to have a number of archaeological sites, including aboriginal sites dating centuries prior to the arrival of Europeans on this continent. There is an historical record of a house on the island that was present in the 18th century and its archaeological remains are likely still present. Dwight Kirkland, an archaeologist familiar with the island, has stated that there are very few archaeological sites that remain as extensive and as intact in the coastal plain of Georgia as those on Grover Island.
As of summer 2006 the island is owned by a real estate development company. Preliminary plans of this company are to build a quarter-mile long bridge to connect the island with the mainland and develop Grover into a gated community with a full golf course. Local historical and land conservation groups, along with other concerned citizens, are working to preserve the island.