[12] The United States Geological Survey (USGS) gave Stony Island's elevation as 577 ft (176 m) in 1980,[1] and it has an area of approximately 100 acres (40 ha).

[4] Stony Island was originally inhabited by the Potawatomi, Native Americans who hunted and fished there;[4] in 1781, it was deeded to the Macomb family of Grosse Ile.

[4] This was meant to enable rail transport from the East Coast, through Ontario to the Midwest (with a ferry link from Amherstburg to Stony Island).

[15] However, Canadian Southern experienced financial issues, and was purchased by Michigan Central in 1880, who ran ferries to Amherstburg directly from Detroit and "saw little need for" the line to Stony Island.

[4] By the late 20th century, a single caretaker was its only inhabitant;[2] Jack Mather, a retired sailor employed by Dunbar & Sullivan, lived in a two-room shack on a barge with his two dogs (Sweetheart and Bruiser).

[3] Most of Stony Island is part of the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, and accessible to the public for hunting and camping, except for a small portion of north-south pilings on the northeast corner.

[4] The "upland" area, consisting of approximately 50 acres (20 ha), contains various old-growth vegetation (including chinkapin oak, hackberry and cottonwood).

Its waters are partially shielded by a limestone barrier, creating a shallow "bay" that more than 23 species of waterfowl have been found to use as a staging area during migration.