東沙(sha)鎮(zhen)(zhen)距(ju)縣城高亭鎮(zhen)(zhen)9.73公里。海(hai)(hai)上交通(tong)(tong)便(bian)捷。清(qing)康熙時(shi),定(ding)(ding)海(hai)(hai)知縣繆燧詳請(qing)投(tou)立(li)山咀(ju)頭“泗(si)州堂航船”開往(wang)定(ding)(ding)海(hai)(hai)、寧(ning)波(bo)。民國(guo)初有(you)至定(ding)(ding)海(hai)(hai)、普(pu)陀、嵊(sheng)泗(si)及各小(xiao)島航船,抗(kang)日戰爭前后(hou)有(you)“慈(ci)北”、“寧(ning)象”、“東海(hai)(hai)”、“小(xiao)岱山”等20多艘客(ke)貨班(ban)輪航于定(ding)(ding)海(hai)(hai)、鎮(zhen)(zhen)海(hai)(hai)、寧(ning)波(bo)、溫州、上海(hai)(hai)、江(jiang)陰、鎮(zhen)(zhen)江(jiang)等地。解放后(hou)水(shui)陸交通(tong)(tong)日益(yi)發展,運輸船隊(dui)北往(wang)青島、大連,南(nan)達廈門(men)、廣(guang)州、深(shen)圳、海(hai)(hai)南(nan)島等口岸。陸上公路連接本島各鄉鎮(zhen)(zhen),車(che)輛經輪渡可通(tong)(tong)往(wang)全國(guo)各地。
東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)建(jian)(jian)置可上(shang)溯到唐宋時期。隋以前無考。宋元豐元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1078),岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)為蓬萊(lai)(lai)鄉(xiang)(xiang),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)屬(shu)之(zhi)。元沿宋制。明洪武二十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1387)廢(fei)昌(chang)國縣(xian)(xian)(xian)為鄉(xiang)(xiang),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)屬(shu)昌(chang)國鄉(xiang)(xiang)。清康熙二十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1688)建(jian)(jian)置定(ding)海(hai)縣(xian)(xian)(xian),鄉(xiang)(xiang)一(yi)下設圖(tu)、岙,東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)屬(shu)于蓬萊(lai)(lai)鄉(xiang)(xiang)念母(mu)涂岙。清道光二十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1841)鄉(xiang)(xiang)以下改為莊,東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)屬(shu)于岱(dai)(dai)二莊。清光緒《定(ding)海(hai)廳志》始稱(cheng)東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)角鎮(zhen)(zhen)。清宣統二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1910)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)建(jian)(jian)置為鎮(zhen)(zhen),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)屬(shu)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)鎮(zhen)(zhen)。民(min)國二十(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1934)東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)始建(jian)(jian)置為鎮(zhen)(zhen)。1939年(nian)(nian)(nian)日寇侵入東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha),設“自治會”,內稱(cheng)“東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)特別(bie)市(shi)”。1949年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)立滃(weng)洲(zhou)縣(xian)(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)列為甲級鎮(zhen)(zhen)。1950年(nian)(nian)(nian)5月岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)解(jie)放后隸屬(shu)定(ding)海(hai)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)區(qu),建(jian)(jian)立建(jian)(jian)制鎮(zhen)(zhen)。1953年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月建(jian)(jian)立岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)為縣(xian)(xian)(xian)政府駐地,直至1956年(nian)(nian)(nian)1月,稱(cheng)直屬(shu)鎮(zhen)(zhen)。1958年(nian)(nian)(nian)10月屬(shu)舟(zhou)山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)(xian),改鎮(zhen)(zhen)為東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)人(ren)民(min)公社。1960年(nian)(nian)(nian)6月稱(cheng)岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)人(ren)民(min)公社東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)鎮(zhen)(zhen)。1961年(nian)(nian)(nian)10月岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)為區(qu),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)又名為公社。1962年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月回(hui)復岱(dai)(dai)山(shan)縣(xian)(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)復稱(cheng)鎮(zhen)(zhen)至今。
黨的(de)十一屆三中全會(hui)以來(lai)(lai)(lai),中共(gong)東沙(sha)鎮委、鎮政府堅持改革開(kai)放,發揮海(hai)島優勢,積極調整產業結(jie)構,使古(gu)(gu)鎮東沙(sha)再次(ci)煥發出生機和活力。2011年浙江(jiang)省舟(zhou)山群(qun)島新(xin)(xin)區成立以來(lai)(lai)(lai),中國唯一的(de)海(hai)島古(gu)(gu)漁(yu)鎮——東沙(sha)古(gu)(gu)漁(yu)鎮迎來(lai)(lai)(lai)嶄新(xin)(xin)的(de)發展機遇,以新(xin)(xin)的(de)姿態跨入了新(xin)(xin)的(de)發展紀元!