東沙鎮距縣城高(gao)亭鎮9.73公里(li)。海(hai)(hai)上(shang)交(jiao)通(tong)便(bian)捷。清(qing)康熙時,定海(hai)(hai)知縣繆燧詳請投立山(shan)咀頭“泗州堂航(hang)船(chuan)”開往定海(hai)(hai)、寧波(bo)。民國初有(you)至定海(hai)(hai)、普陀、嵊泗及各(ge)小島(dao)航(hang)船(chuan),抗日(ri)戰(zhan)爭前(qian)后(hou)有(you)“慈北(bei)”、“寧象”、“東海(hai)(hai)”、“小岱山(shan)”等(deng)20多(duo)艘客貨班輪航(hang)于定海(hai)(hai)、鎮海(hai)(hai)、寧波(bo)、溫州、上(shang)海(hai)(hai)、江陰、鎮江等(deng)地。解放后(hou)水陸交(jiao)通(tong)日(ri)益發展,運輸船(chuan)隊北(bei)往青島(dao)、大連,南達廈門、廣州、深圳、海(hai)(hai)南島(dao)等(deng)口岸。陸上(shang)公路連接本島(dao)各(ge)鄉鎮,車輛經(jing)輪渡可(ke)通(tong)往全(quan)國各(ge)地。
東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)建(jian)置可上溯到(dao)唐宋(song)時期。隋以前無考。宋(song)元(yuan)豐元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1078),岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)為蓬萊鄉(xiang)(xiang),東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)屬(shu)之。元(yuan)沿宋(song)制(zhi)。明(ming)洪武二(er)(er)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1387)廢昌國(guo)縣(xian)(xian)為鄉(xiang)(xiang),東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)屬(shu)昌國(guo)鄉(xiang)(xiang)。清康熙二(er)(er)十七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1688)建(jian)置定海縣(xian)(xian),鄉(xiang)(xiang)一(yi)下(xia)設圖、岙(ao),東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)屬(shu)于蓬萊鄉(xiang)(xiang)念母涂(tu)岙(ao)。清道光(guang)二(er)(er)十一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1841)鄉(xiang)(xiang)以下(xia)改為莊,東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)屬(shu)于岱(dai)(dai)二(er)(er)莊。清光(guang)緒《定海廳志》始(shi)稱(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)角鎮(zhen)。清宣(xuan)統二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1910)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)建(jian)置為鎮(zhen),東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)屬(shu)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)鎮(zhen)。民國(guo)二(er)(er)十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1934)東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)始(shi)建(jian)置為鎮(zhen)。1939年(nian)(nian)(nian)日寇侵入(ru)東(dong)沙(sha)(sha),設“自(zi)治會”,內稱(cheng)(cheng)“東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)特(te)別(bie)市(shi)”。1949年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)立(li)滃洲(zhou)縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)列為甲級鎮(zhen)。1950年(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)解放后隸屬(shu)定海縣(xian)(xian)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)區,建(jian)立(li)建(jian)制(zhi)鎮(zhen)。1953年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)建(jian)立(li)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)為縣(xian)(xian)政府駐地,直(zhi)至(zhi)1956年(nian)(nian)(nian)1月(yue),稱(cheng)(cheng)直(zhi)屬(shu)鎮(zhen)。1958年(nian)(nian)(nian)10月(yue)屬(shu)舟山(shan)縣(xian)(xian),改鎮(zhen)為東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)人(ren)民公(gong)社。1960年(nian)(nian)(nian)6月(yue)稱(cheng)(cheng)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)人(ren)民公(gong)社東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)鎮(zhen)。1961年(nian)(nian)(nian)10月(yue)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)為區,東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)又名為公(gong)社。1962年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)回(hui)復(fu)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)沙(sha)(sha)復(fu)稱(cheng)(cheng)鎮(zhen)至(zhi)今(jin)。
黨(dang)的(de)十一屆三中全會以來,中共東(dong)沙(sha)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)委(wei)、鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)政(zheng)府(fu)堅持改(gai)革(ge)開(kai)放,發揮(hui)海島優勢,積極調整(zheng)產業結構,使古(gu)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)東(dong)沙(sha)再次(ci)煥發出生機和活(huo)力(li)。2011年浙江省舟(zhou)山群(qun)島新(xin)區(qu)成立(li)以來,中國唯(wei)一的(de)海島古(gu)漁鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)——東(dong)沙(sha)古(gu)漁鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)迎(ying)來嶄新(xin)的(de)發展機遇,以新(xin)的(de)姿(zi)態跨入了新(xin)的(de)發展紀元!