Block Island is an island of the Outer Lands coastal archipelago in New England, located approximately 9 miles south of mainland Rhode Island and 14 miles east of Long Island's Montauk Point. The island is coterminous with the town of New Shoreham, Rhode Island and is part of Washington County. The island is named after Dutch explorer Adriae…Block Island is an island of the Outer Lands coastal archipelago in New England, located approximately 9 miles south of mainland Rhode Island and 14 miles east of Long Island's Montauk Point. The island is coterminous with the town of New Shoreham, Rhode Island and is part of Washington County. The island is named after Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, and the town was named for Shoreham, Kent, in England.