Dukes County, Massachusetts

History

The original inhabitants of the islands were Wampanoag, who had several villages. Political jurisdiction over the lands were granted by the English monarchy in overlapping claims to two different British nobles, from which Massachusetts Bay Company settler Thomas Mayhew purchased them in 1641. Mayhew established a colony in his new domain, carefully purchasing land ownership rights from the native inhabitants, and maintaining native governments to continue unimpeded. In 1665, Mayhew's lands were included in a grant to James, Duke of York (later King James II). In 1671, a settlement was arranged, allowing Mayhew to continue to rule while placing his territory under the jurisdiction of the Province of New York.

Dukes County was thus established as Dukes County, New York, on November 1, 1683, and included all of Mayhew's lands – Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands. The county was transferred to Massachusetts on October 7, 1691, and at the same time Nantucket Island was split into the separate Nantucket County, Massachusetts. The 1695 incorporation statute created a county "by the name of Dukes County," as opposed to the standard form "the county of Dukes" which is the reason for the redundancy in the formal name, "County of Dukes County".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 491 sqmi, of which 103 sqmi is land and 388 sqmi (79%) is water. It is the third-smallest county by land area in Massachusetts.

Named Islands

• Martha's Vineyard
  • Chappaquiddick Island, Edgartown
  • Skiff's Island, south of Chappaquiddick
  • Ferry Boat Island, Tisbury
  • Wood Island, Oak Bluffs
  • Brush Island, Oak Bluffs
  • Gravel Island, Oak Bluffs
  • Sarson Island, Oak Bluffs
  • Haystack Island, Oak Bluffs
  • Edy's Island, Chilmark
  • Mayhew Island, Chilmark
  • Beach Grass Island, Chilmark
  • Strawberry Island, Chilmark
  • Great Island, Chilmark
  • Nomans Land, Chilmark
• Elizabeth Islands, Gosnold
  • Naushon Island
  • Nashawena Island
  • Pasque Island
  • Cuttyhunk Island
  • Penikese Island
  • Gull Island
  • Baret Island
  • Rock Island
  • Uncatena Island
  • Nonamesset Island
  • Veckatimest Island
  • Monohansett Island
  • Cedar Island
  • Bull Island
  • Pine Island
  • Weepecket Islands

Nearby counties

• Barnstable County – northeast
• Plymouth County – north
• Bristol County – northwest
• Nantucket County – east

National protected area

• Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge

Climate

The climate of Dukes County is now humid subtropical (Cfa.) |Jan record high F = 65 |Feb record high F = 64 |Mar record high F = 75 |Apr record high F = 90 |May record high F = 91 |Jun record high F = 95 |Jul record high F = 95 |Aug record high F = 99 |Sep record high F = 92 |Oct record high F = 88 |Nov record high F = 74 |Dec record high F = 67 |year record high F = 99

|Jan avg record high F = 55.1 |Feb avg record high F = 54.9 |Mar avg record high F = 60.6 |Apr avg record high F = 70.2 |May avg record high F = 80.5 |Jun avg record high F = 86.1 |Jul avg record high F = 89.7 |Aug avg record high F = 87.6 |Sep avg record high F = 83.6 |Oct avg record high F = 75.7 |Nov avg record high F = 67.1 |Dec avg record high F = 59.1 |year avg record high F = 91.0

|Jan avg record low F = 6.8 |Feb avg record low F = 10.1 |Mar avg record low F = 16.3 |Apr avg record low F = 27.5 |May avg record low F = 35.1 |Jun avg record low F = 45.8 |Jul avg record low F = 53.7 |Aug avg record low F = 53.0 |Sep avg record low F = 44.0 |Oct avg record low F = 32.8 |Nov avg record low F = 22.7 |Dec avg record low F = 15.1 |year avg record low F = 5.1

|Jan record low F = −6 |Feb record low F = −9 |Mar record low F = −7 |Apr record low F = 12 |May record low F = 28 |Jun record low F = 37 |Jul record low F = 45 |Aug record low F = 41 |Sep record low F = 32 |Oct record low F = 22 |Nov record low F = 14 |Dec record low F = −5 |year record low F = −9 | access-date = May 30, 2021 | archive-date = November 13, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201113170419/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=box | url-status = dead}} | access-date = May 30, 2021}}

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 20,600. Of the residents, 16.1% were under the age of 18 and 27.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 49.3 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.9 males. 68.3% of residents lived in urban areas and 31.7% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 78.8% White, 3.9% Black or African American, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.04% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.4% from some other race, and 9.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.6% of the population.

There were 8,932 households in the county, of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 17,530 housing units, of which 49.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.2% were owner-occupied and 28.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 16,535 people, 7,368 households, and 4,221 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023157/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US25007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183948/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US25007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

The largest ancestry groups were:{{cite web |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020220/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US25007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

• 18.5% Irish
• 17.1% English
• 11.7% Portuguese
• 10.0% American
• 9.2% German
• 7.6% Italian
• 5.5% French
• 2.9% West Indian
• 2.9% Scottish
• 2.5% Dutch
• 2.3% Scotch-Irish
• 2.1% Swedish
• 2.1% Polish
• 1.9% French Canadian
• 1.4% Russian
• 1.1% Arab
• 1.0% Sub-Saharan African

Of the 7,368 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 42.7% were non-families, and 33.4% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 45.3 years.

The median household income was $62,407 and the median family income was $77,231. Males had a median income of $43,850 versus $41,994 for females. The per capita income for the county was $33,390. About 5.5% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032839/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US25007 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 14,987 people, 6,421 households, and 3,788 families living in the county. The population density was 144 PD/sqmi. There were 14,836 housing units at an average density of 143 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 90.69% White, 2.40% Black or African American, 1.71% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 3.19% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.4% were of English, 13.3% Irish, 8.6% Portuguese, 6.4% Italian and 5.7% American ancestry, 93.1% spoke English, 3.7% Portuguese and 1.7% Spanish as their first language and 0.285% speak Irish at home. Of the 6,421 households 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.40% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.00% were non-families. 32.00% of households were one person and 11.10% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 22.70% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 29.60% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median household income was $45,559 and the median family income was $55,018. Males had a median income of $38,945 versus $30,346 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,472. About 5.00% of families and 7.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.

Real estate

As of the fourth quarter 2021, the median value of homes in Dukes County was $883,820, an increase of 22.3% from the prior year.

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

Religion

Politics

|}

Similar to most of the state of Massachusetts, Dukes County heavily supports the Democratic Party. The last Republican Party candidate to receive over 40% of the county's vote was Ronald Reagan in 1984, and the last Republican to win the county was Richard Nixon in 1972. Before 1964, however, the county was a stronghold of the Republicans, supporting Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 by an especially large margin, well over 50%, and was one of the few counties where William Howard Taft finished ahead of Woodrow Wilson in 1912. (See table).

Voter registration

Communities

Towns

• Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head)
• Chilmark
• Edgartown (shire town or county seat)
• Gosnold
• Oak Bluffs
• Tisbury
• West Tisbury

Census-designated places

• Edgartown
• Oak Bluffs
• Vineyard Haven

Other villages

• Cuttyhunk
• Menemsha

Education

School districts include:

K-12:

• Gosnold School District

Secondary:

• Martha's Vineyard School District

Elementary:

• Edgartown School District
• Oak Bluffs School District
• Tisbury School District
• Up-Island Regional School District

References

References

1. "Dukes County, Massachusetts".
2. "Dukes County, Massachusetts".
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. Cheek, Alexander. (January 6, 2023). "Martha's Vineyard Map".
5. [http://www.dukescounty.org/Pages/DukesCountyMA_Administration/about Dukes County, MA – An Ancient Heritage] {{webarchive. link. (May 2, 2006)
6. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Skiff's Island Is Here Today But Gone Tomorrow".
8. Baer, Chris. (May 13, 2015). "This was then: Ferry Boat Island".
9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Decennial Census by Decade". [[US Census Bureau]].
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
14. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
15. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
16. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dukes County, Massachusetts".
18. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dukes County, Massachusetts".
19. "TIGER/Line Shapefile, 2020, State, Massachusetts, 2020 Census Block". U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division, Spatial Data Collection and Products Branch (Point of Contact).
20. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. (January 4, 2019). "County Median Home Price".
22. "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau.
23. "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau.
24. "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau.
25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
26. (February 24, 2024). "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts".
27. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dukes County, MA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].