Selden Island is a 408-acre island in the Potomac River, located about 32 km (20 mi) 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.

Selden Island
USGS Map of Selden Island
Selden Island is located in Maryland
Selden Island
Selden Island
Selden Island (Maryland)
Geography
LocationPotomac River
Coordinates39°04′31″N 77°27′10″W / 39.07528°N 77.45278°W / 39.07528; -77.45278
Area408 acres (165 ha)
Length4.0 km (2.49 mi)
Width0.3–0.5 km (0.19–0.31 mi)
Highest elevation65 m (213 ft)
Administration
United States
StateMaryland
CountyMontgomery
Demographics
Population0 (2022)

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

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  1. ^ "Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland". Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboritory. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Walker Prehistoric Village Archeological Site". Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  3. ^ Hopkins Tanne, Janice (19 October 2002). "Teenagers catch malaria from local mosquitoes near Washington, DC". British Medical Journal. 325 (7369): 854. doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7369.854/c. PMC 1169563. PMID 12386025.
  4. ^ "HHMI Opens the Doors to Discovery at the Janelia Farm Research Campus". Howard Hughes Medical Institute. 6 September 2006. Retrieved 28 July 2014.