Little Diamond Island


Little Diamond Island is an island in Casco Bay, Maine. It is part of the city of Portland, Maine. As of the 2000 census, the island had a year-round population of 5. Most of the island is private property. It is served by the Casco Bay Lines ferry service.
At low tide, Little Diamond Island connects to Great Diamond via a semi-submerged sandbar. At high tide, the sandbar makes for a fully covered beach. This is how the City of Portland is capable of picking up the trash on both islands. Little Diamond Island's water supply comes from the City of Portland, with the majority of the houses/cottages receiving their water through aboveground pipes. The aboveground pipes are turned off and emptied in the winter, leaving the south end of the island with no water. Casco Bay Lines stops first at Little Diamond Island on its regular run; the dock is located on the south end of the island.
On the Fourth of July the island holds a huge community event which includes games, and a "Horribles Parade," ending with candy and donuts. In the middle of the dock is a large building which the islanders call the casino. Every Saturday night during the summer season a select number, about 5, families cook for the rest of the island. Therefore, in the casino, there is a kitchen, and a small library is housed on the second floor. Downstairs, accessible from the outside, is a tiny store. The island children call it the candy store. It sells island merchandise and, of course, candy. It has no schedule as it is run by numerous residents of the island, and is only open in the summer months.
As of February 2007, there were 55 homes/cottages on Little Diamond Island.