Patience Island - Narragansett Bay, RI

Soil Types

The northeastern third of the island is overlaid with glacial outwash; most of the rest of the island is glacial till. The outwash soils are predominantly stratified sand and gravel, while the westerly side of the island with its till-derived soils is made up of silty, richer soils.

The silt loam (Newport series) soils on the western side of the island helped to support the farming efforts that were carried on at the site for more than 200 years.

The southern tip of the island is overlain with Popuonock loamy, fine sand, which is primarily wind-blown sand that was deposited after the glacier receded. These are dry soils that have a depth of up to four feet overlying the richer loam beneath.

Patience Island

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