2019 Map of Cobb Island

About this map

Cobb Island and the neighboring barrier islands of Northampton County define this 2019 survey of Virginia's Atlantic coastline. The landscape is a complex network of marshes and tidal channels, where larger water bodies like Cobb Bay and South Bay transition into narrower passages such as Eckichy Channel and Ramshorn Channel. The map illustrates the fragile coastal morphology of the Eastern Shore, from the protected interior of Mockhorn Island to the exposed sands of Wreck Island. Local landmarks like Big Easter Marsh and Gull Marsh represent the extensive wetland systems that buffer the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. Genealogists and historians interested in maritime heritage can trace the historical naming conventions of these waterways, including the Man and Boy Channel and Spidercrab Bay, which reflect the region's long-standing connection to coastal seafaring and commercial fishing.