Star Island is one of the Isles of Shoals that straddle the border between New Hampshire and Maine, approximately 7 miles (11 km) from the mainland in the Atlantic Ocean. At 38 acres (15 ha), Star Island is the largest of the four islands that are located in New Hampshire and second largest overall, after Appledore Island. The island was supposedly assigned its name by sailors who imagined the shape of the island as the points of a shining star. Originally known by the local "Shoalers" as the town of Gosport, in 1876 the island was annexed to the town of Rye.