東沙鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)距縣城高亭鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)9.73公里。海上(shang)交(jiao)通便捷。清(qing)康熙時,定(ding)海知縣繆燧(sui)詳請投立山咀頭(tou)“泗州堂航船(chuan)(chuan)”開往(wang)定(ding)海、寧(ning)波。民(min)國初有至(zhi)定(ding)海、普陀、嵊(sheng)泗及各(ge)小島(dao)航船(chuan)(chuan),抗(kang)日戰爭前后(hou)有“慈北”、“寧(ning)象(xiang)”、“東海”、“小岱山”等20多艘(sou)客貨班輪航于定(ding)海、鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)海、寧(ning)波、溫州、上(shang)海、江(jiang)陰(yin)、鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)江(jiang)等地。解放后(hou)水陸(lu)交(jiao)通日益(yi)發展,運輸(shu)船(chuan)(chuan)隊北往(wang)青島(dao)、大連,南達廈門(men)、廣(guang)州、深圳、海南島(dao)等口岸。陸(lu)上(shang)公路連接本島(dao)各(ge)鄉鎮(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen),車輛經輪渡可通往(wang)全(quan)國各(ge)地。
東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)建(jian)(jian)(jian)置可上溯到唐宋(song)時期。隋以前無考。宋(song)元(yuan)豐元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1078),岱(dai)(dai)山為(wei)蓬萊鄉(xiang)(xiang),東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬(shu)之。元(yuan)沿(yan)宋(song)制。明洪武二(er)(er)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1387)廢昌國(guo)縣(xian)(xian)為(wei)鄉(xiang)(xiang),東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬(shu)昌國(guo)鄉(xiang)(xiang)。清(qing)康熙二(er)(er)十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1688)建(jian)(jian)(jian)置定海縣(xian)(xian),鄉(xiang)(xiang)一(yi)下設圖、岙,東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬(shu)于蓬萊鄉(xiang)(xiang)念母(mu)涂岙。清(qing)道光二(er)(er)十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1841)鄉(xiang)(xiang)以下改為(wei)莊(zhuang),東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬(shu)于岱(dai)(dai)二(er)(er)莊(zhuang)。清(qing)光緒《定海廳志》始稱(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)角鎮(zhen)。清(qing)宣統二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1910)岱(dai)(dai)山建(jian)(jian)(jian)置為(wei)鎮(zhen),東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)屬(shu)岱(dai)(dai)山鎮(zhen)。民國(guo)二(er)(er)十(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1934)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)始建(jian)(jian)(jian)置為(wei)鎮(zhen)。1939年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)日寇侵入東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha),設“自治會”,內稱(cheng)(cheng)“東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)特別市(shi)”。1949年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)立(li)滃洲縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)列(lie)為(wei)甲級鎮(zhen)。1950年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue)(yue)岱(dai)(dai)山解放(fang)后隸屬(shu)定海縣(xian)(xian)岱(dai)(dai)山區,建(jian)(jian)(jian)立(li)建(jian)(jian)(jian)制鎮(zhen)。1953年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(yue)建(jian)(jian)(jian)立(li)岱(dai)(dai)山縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)為(wei)縣(xian)(xian)政府駐地,直至1956年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)1月(yue)(yue),稱(cheng)(cheng)直屬(shu)鎮(zhen)。1958年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)10月(yue)(yue)屬(shu)舟(zhou)山縣(xian)(xian),改鎮(zhen)為(wei)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)人民公社。1960年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)6月(yue)(yue)稱(cheng)(cheng)岱(dai)(dai)山人民公社東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)鎮(zhen)。1961年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)10月(yue)(yue)岱(dai)(dai)山為(wei)區,東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)又(you)名(ming)為(wei)公社。1962年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(yue)回復(fu)岱(dai)(dai)山縣(xian)(xian),東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)沙(sha)復(fu)稱(cheng)(cheng)鎮(zhen)至今(jin)。
黨(dang)的(de)(de)十一屆(jie)三中(zhong)(zhong)全(quan)會以(yi)(yi)來(lai),中(zhong)(zhong)共(gong)東沙(sha)鎮(zhen)委(wei)、鎮(zhen)政府堅持改革開放,發揮海島(dao)優勢,積極(ji)調整(zheng)產業結構,使古鎮(zhen)東沙(sha)再次(ci)煥發出(chu)生機和活力(li)。2011年浙江省舟(zhou)山群島(dao)新(xin)(xin)區(qu)成立(li)以(yi)(yi)來(lai),中(zhong)(zhong)國唯一的(de)(de)海島(dao)古漁鎮(zhen)——東沙(sha)古漁鎮(zhen)迎(ying)來(lai)嶄新(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)發展機遇,以(yi)(yi)新(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)姿(zi)態(tai)跨入了新(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)發展紀元(yuan)!