Block Island, a part of Rhode Island, is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 13 miles south of the coast of Rhode Island and 14 miles east of Montauk Point on Long Island. As of the 2000 census, the population of 1,010 lived on a land area of 9.734 square miles. The island is a popular summer tourist destination and is known for its bicycling, hiking, sailing, fishing, and beaches. Two historic lighthouses are present on the island.

The Nature Conservancy added Block Island to its list of "The Last Great Places", which consists of twelve sites in the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 20 percent of the Island is set aside for conservation.