Tangier
Town in Accomack County, Virginia
Tangier is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, with 436 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 3 ft (1 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Smith Island, 10.8 miles N.
- 436residents (2020 Census)
- 3 ftelevation · 1 m
- 0.5 sq miland area · 1.4 km²
- 805 / sq mipopulation density
- 23440ZIP code
About Tangier
Tangier is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States, on Tangier Island in the Chesapeake Bay. The population was 436 at the 2020 census. Since 1850, the island's landmass has been reduced by 67%. Under the mid-range sea level rise scenario, much of the remaining landmass is expected to be lost in the next 50 years and the town will likely need to be abandoned.
The people who came to permanently settle the island arrived in the 1770s, and were farmers. In the late 19th century, the islanders began to become more dependent on harvesting crabs and oysters from the Chesapeake Bay. As the waterman livelihood became more important and more lucrative, there were often conflicts among the oyster dredgers and oyster tongers in the bay, and between those living in Maryland and those living in Virginia.
Many people who live on Tangier speak a distinctive dialect of Southern American English. Scholars have disputed how much of the dialect is derived from British English lexicon and phonetics, particularly from Cornish. Linguist David Shores has argued that there is little evidence for this claim and, while the Tangier dialect is distinctive, it is more likely a mixture of several regional dialects on the Eastern Seaboard. The persistence of this dialectal variety is often attributed to the geographic isolation of the population from the mainland. Tangier Island is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Living in Tangier
- Median household income
- $35,991
- Median home value
- $157,900
- Median age
- 65.9
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Map of Tangier
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Open in Google Maps ›Tangier, VA population
Tangier had 436 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 436 |
|---|---|
| Density | 805 per sq mi (311 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Tangier at a glance
| State | Virginia (VA) |
|---|---|
| County | Accomack County |
| Type | Town |
| Population | 436 (2020) |
| Land area | 0.54 sq mi (1.4 km²) |
| Water area | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Coordinates | 37.8234° N, 75.9928° W |
| ZIP code | 23440 |
| Official website | tangierislandva.com |
| Census code (GEOID) | 5177520 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Tangier
- Smith Island, MD10.8 mi N
- Southside Chesconessex12.9 mi SE
- Schooner Bay13.0 mi E
- Crisfield, MD13.2 mi NE
- Deep Creek13.6 mi E
- Harborton14.3 mi SE
- Onancock15.7 mi SE
- Bobtown16.0 mi SE
- Bayside16.0 mi E
- Savageville16.1 mi SE
- Saxis16.3 mi NE
- Pungoteague16.6 mi SE
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Tangier
What county is Tangier in?
Tangier is in Accomack County, Virginia.
What is the population of Tangier, VA?
436 people lived in Tangier at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Tangier, VA?
The ZIP code of Tangier is 23440.
What is the elevation of Tangier?
3 feet (1 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Tangier?
Smith Island (10.8 mi), Southside Chesconessex (12.9 mi), Schooner Bay (13.0 mi), Crisfield (13.2 mi), Deep Creek (13.6 mi).
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