Smith Island's population is divided among the separate villages of Ewell, Tylerton and Rhodes Point. The population of the whole island presently does not exceed 650.

The village of Ewell, Smith Island's largest community, is divided into two roughly equal parts called "Over the Hill" and "Down the Field". It is periodically flooded by storm tides during which graves have been dislodged and coffins known to float away. But the islanders have learned to live with these floods, and some even consider the island's vulnerability an advantage of sorts. A group of older men in Filmore Brimer's general store once took great care to explain why this is so.

"We got it nice some ways," one said. "Water passes right over the island. People think we fare bad, but the island's low and it's got plenty of outlets. If it weren't for that, we'd be sunk for rain and tide!"

"Oh, my heavens, yes," a second agreed. "Now you take Crisfield. High tides and a southwest storm, the water pushes right up into town and stays there."