東沙(sha)鎮(zhen)距縣(xian)城高亭(ting)鎮(zhen)9.73公(gong)里(li)。海(hai)上交(jiao)通(tong)便捷(jie)。清康熙時(shi),定(ding)海(hai)知縣(xian)繆(mou)燧詳請投立山咀頭“泗州(zhou)堂航船(chuan)”開往定(ding)海(hai)、寧波(bo)。民(min)國初有至定(ding)海(hai)、普陀、嵊泗及各小島航船(chuan),抗日戰爭前后有“慈北”、“寧象”、“東海(hai)”、“小岱山”等20多(duo)艘(sou)客貨班輪航于定(ding)海(hai)、鎮(zhen)海(hai)、寧波(bo)、溫(wen)州(zhou)、上海(hai)、江陰、鎮(zhen)江等地(di)。解放后水陸(lu)交(jiao)通(tong)日益發(fa)展,運輸船(chuan)隊北往青島、大連,南(nan)(nan)達廈門、廣州(zhou)、深圳、海(hai)南(nan)(nan)島等口(kou)岸。陸(lu)上公(gong)路連接(jie)本(ben)島各鄉鎮(zhen),車(che)輛經輪渡可通(tong)往全國各地(di)。
東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)建(jian)置(zhi)可(ke)上(shang)溯到唐宋(song)時(shi)期(qi)。隋以前(qian)無考。宋(song)元豐元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1078),岱山(shan)(shan)為(wei)(wei)蓬(peng)萊鄉(xiang),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬之。元沿宋(song)制。明(ming)洪武二(er)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1387)廢(fei)昌國(guo)縣(xian)(xian)為(wei)(wei)鄉(xiang),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬昌國(guo)鄉(xiang)。清(qing)康(kang)熙二(er)十七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1688)建(jian)置(zhi)定(ding)(ding)海(hai)縣(xian)(xian),鄉(xiang)一(yi)下設圖、岙(ao)(ao),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬于蓬(peng)萊鄉(xiang)念母(mu)涂岙(ao)(ao)。清(qing)道光(guang)二(er)十一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1841)鄉(xiang)以下改(gai)為(wei)(wei)莊,東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬于岱二(er)莊。清(qing)光(guang)緒《定(ding)(ding)海(hai)廳志》始稱(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)角(jiao)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)。清(qing)宣統二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1910)岱山(shan)(shan)建(jian)置(zhi)為(wei)(wei)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬岱山(shan)(shan)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)。民(min)國(guo)二(er)十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1934)東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)始建(jian)置(zhi)為(wei)(wei)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)。1939年(nian)(nian)(nian)日寇侵入(ru)東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha),設“自治會(hui)”,內稱(cheng)(cheng)“東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)特別(bie)市”。1949年(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)立(li)滃洲縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)列為(wei)(wei)甲級鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)。1950年(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)岱山(shan)(shan)解放后隸屬定(ding)(ding)海(hai)縣(xian)(xian)岱山(shan)(shan)區(qu),建(jian)立(li)建(jian)制鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)。1953年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)建(jian)立(li)岱山(shan)(shan)縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)為(wei)(wei)縣(xian)(xian)政府駐地(di),直至1956年(nian)(nian)(nian)1月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue),稱(cheng)(cheng)直屬鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)。1958年(nian)(nian)(nian)10月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)屬舟山(shan)(shan)縣(xian)(xian),改(gai)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)為(wei)(wei)東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)人(ren)民(min)公社(she)。1960年(nian)(nian)(nian)6月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)稱(cheng)(cheng)岱山(shan)(shan)人(ren)民(min)公社(she)東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)。1961年(nian)(nian)(nian)10月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)岱山(shan)(shan)為(wei)(wei)區(qu),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)又名為(wei)(wei)公社(she)。1962年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)回(hui)復岱山(shan)(shan)縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)復稱(cheng)(cheng)鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)至今。
黨的十一屆(jie)三(san)中(zhong)(zhong)全會以(yi)(yi)來,中(zhong)(zhong)共東(dong)(dong)沙鎮委、鎮政府堅(jian)持改革開(kai)放,發揮海島(dao)優勢,積極(ji)調整產業結構,使古(gu)(gu)鎮東(dong)(dong)沙再次煥發出(chu)生機和活(huo)力。2011年浙(zhe)江(jiang)省(sheng)舟山群島(dao)新區成立以(yi)(yi)來,中(zhong)(zhong)國唯一的海島(dao)古(gu)(gu)漁(yu)(yu)鎮——東(dong)(dong)沙古(gu)(gu)漁(yu)(yu)鎮迎來嶄新的發展機遇(yu),以(yi)(yi)新的姿態跨入了新的發展紀元!