Selden Island Explained

Selden Island
Pushpin Map:Maryland
Pushpin Map Caption:Selden Island (Maryland)
Coordinates:39.0753°N -77.4528°W
Location:Potomac River
Area Acre:408
Length Km:4.0
Width Min Km:0.3
Width Max Km:0.5
Elevation M:65
Country:United States
Country Admin Divisions Title:State
Country Admin Divisions:Maryland
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:County
Country Admin Divisions 1:Montgomery
Population:0
Population As Of:2022

Selden Island is a 408-acre island in the Potomac River, located about 32km (20miles) WNW of Washington, DC. It is about 4 km long and 0.4–0.5 km wide (2.5 x 1/4–1/3 miles). Although it is located within Montgomery County, Maryland, the only road access is via a bridge connecting it to the Loudoun County, Virginia side of the river.

Archaeological evidence indicates the island has been a site of human activity since the Early Woodland period, around 1000 BC. A characteristic type of pottery known as Selden Island ware dates from this period.[1] It is also the site of a significant Late Woodland period settlement known as the Walker Prehistoric Village, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.[2]

In 2002, following the diagnosis of two Loudoun County teenagers with malaria, mosquitoes from the island were found to carry the Plasmodium vivax malarial parasite.[3]

In 2004, Selden Island was purchased by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as an addition to the Janelia Farm Research Campus.[4] It was formerly leased as a sod farm.

References

  1. Web site: Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland. Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboritory. 1 January 2014.
  2. Web site: [{{MHT url|id=296}} Walker Prehistoric Village Archeological Site ]. Maryland Historical Trust. 15 February 2011.
  3. 1169563. Teenagers catch malaria from local mosquitoes near Washington, DC. Janice . Hopkins Tanne. 19 October 2002. British Medical Journal. 325. 7369. 854. 12386025 . 10.1136/bmj.325.7369.854/c.
  4. Web site: HHMI Opens the Doors to Discovery at the Janelia Farm Research Campus. Howard Hughes Medical Institute. 6 September 2006. 28 July 2014.