Biles Island, River island in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, US.
Biles Island is a 567-acre river island in the Delaware River located south of Trenton with natural formations along its banks. The island features both natural river landscapes and industrial zones that define its current appearance and land use.
William Biles purchased the island from four Lenape individuals in 1680, establishing early colonial ownership. A 1783 commission officially confirmed the island's jurisdiction as part of Pennsylvania.
The Lenape people named this land Minachkonk, reflecting their presence and influence on the Delaware River's geography before European settlement.
The island functions today as a designated site for depositing silt dredged from the Delaware River, with industrial operations since 1968. Access to the island requires verification as it serves primarily as an industrial deposit area rather than a recreational space.
A 1783 commission specifically determined Biles Island's jurisdiction, declaring it part of Pennsylvania as the sole island below the Falls on Bucks County shore.
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