Dukes County, Massachusetts

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Dukes County
Dukes County MA Office Building.jpg
County Administration Building at the Martha's Vineyard Airport
Seal of Dukes County, Massachusetts.png
Map of Massachusetts highlighting Dukes County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts in United States.svg
Massachusetts's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°24′53″N70°36′46″W / 41.414841°N 70.612679°W / 41.414841; -70.612679
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts
Founded1695
Named after James, Duke of York
Seat Edgartown
Largest town Oak Bluffs
Area
  Total
491 sq mi (1,270 km2)
  Land103 sq mi (270 km2)
  Water388 sq mi (1,000 km2)  79%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
20,600
  Density199.6/sq mi (77.1/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 9th
Website www.dukescounty.org

Dukes County is a county in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. At the 2020 census, the population was 20,600, [1] making it the second-least populous county in Massachusetts. Its county seat is Edgartown. [2]

Contents

Dukes County comprises the Vineyard Haven, MA Micropolitan Statistical Area . The county consists of 32 named islands, [3] the largest of which is Martha's Vineyard. It also includes Chappaquiddick Island (sometimes peninsula of the Vineyard), the Elizabeth Islands, including Cuttyhunk, and Nomans Land.

History

An early seal of the Dukes County government, c. 1722, representing a crude portrayal of grapevines Early seal of Dukes County, Massachusetts.svg
An early seal of the Dukes County government, c.1722, representing a crude portrayal of grapevines

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". [4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 491 square miles (1,270 km2), of which 103 square miles (270 km2) is land and 388 square miles (1,000 km2) (79%) is water. [5] It is the third-smallest county by land area in Massachusetts.

Named Islands

Nearby counties

National protected area

Climate

The climate of Dukes County is now humid subtropical (Cfa.)

Climate data for Martha's Vineyard (Edgartown, Massachusetts) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1946–present
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)65
(18)
64
(18)
75
(24)
90
(32)
91
(33)
95
(35)
95
(35)
99
(37)
92
(33)
88
(31)
74
(23)
67
(19)
99
(37)
Mean maximum °F (°C)55.1
(12.8)
54.9
(12.7)
60.6
(15.9)
70.2
(21.2)
80.5
(26.9)
86.1
(30.1)
89.7
(32.1)
87.6
(30.9)
83.6
(28.7)
75.7
(24.3)
67.1
(19.5)
59.1
(15.1)
91.0
(32.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)40.1
(4.5)
41.5
(5.3)
46.4
(8.0)
55.4
(13.0)
64.9
(18.3)
73.8
(23.2)
80.4
(26.9)
79.9
(26.6)
74.0
(23.3)
64.0
(17.8)
54.4
(12.4)
45.5
(7.5)
60.0
(15.6)
Daily mean °F (°C)32.9
(0.5)
34.1
(1.2)
39.0
(3.9)
47.5
(8.6)
56.7
(13.7)
65.7
(18.7)
72.3
(22.4)
71.9
(22.2)
66.2
(19.0)
56.1
(13.4)
47.0
(8.3)
38.4
(3.6)
52.3
(11.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)25.6
(−3.6)
26.8
(−2.9)
31.7
(−0.2)
39.5
(4.2)
48.6
(9.2)
57.6
(14.2)
64.2
(17.9)
63.9
(17.7)
58.4
(14.7)
48.2
(9.0)
39.7
(4.3)
31.3
(−0.4)
44.6
(7.0)
Mean minimum °F (°C)6.8
(−14.0)
10.1
(−12.2)
16.3
(−8.7)
27.5
(−2.5)
35.1
(1.7)
45.8
(7.7)
53.7
(12.1)
53.0
(11.7)
44.0
(6.7)
32.8
(0.4)
22.7
(−5.2)
15.1
(−9.4)
5.1
(−14.9)
Record low °F (°C)−6
(−21)
−9
(−23)
−7
(−22)
12
(−11)
28
(−2)
37
(3)
45
(7)
41
(5)
32
(0)
22
(−6)
14
(−10)
−5
(−21)
−9
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm)4.10
(104)
3.57
(91)
4.80
(122)
4.18
(106)
3.74
(95)
3.39
(86)
2.64
(67)
3.72
(94)
3.89
(99)
4.63
(118)
4.21
(107)
4.84
(123)
47.71
(1,212)
Average snowfall inches (cm)8.8
(22)
8.1
(21)
4.7
(12)
0.3
(0.76)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
3.4
(8.6)
25.3
(64)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)11.99.811.411.912.010.27.88.99.311.211.412.1127.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)3.53.32.00.20.00.00.00.00.00.00.11.410.5
Source: NOAA [8] [9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1790 3,255
1800 3,118−4.2%
1810 3,2905.5%
1820 3,2920.1%
1830 3,5176.8%
1840 3,95812.5%
1850 4,54014.7%
1860 4,403−3.0%
1870 3,787−14.0%
1880 4,30013.5%
1890 4,3691.6%
1900 4,5614.4%
1910 4,504−1.2%
1920 4,372−2.9%
1930 4,95313.3%
1940 5,66914.5%
1950 5,633−0.6%
1960 5,8293.5%
1970 6,1174.9%
1980 8,94246.2%
1990 11,63930.2%
2000 14,98728.8%
2010 16,53510.3%
2020 20,60024.6%
2024 (est.)21,061 [10] 2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]
1790–1960 [12] 1900–1990 [13]
1990–2000 [14] 2010 [15] 2020 [16]

2020 census

Dukes County, Massachusetts – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2010 [15] Pop 2020 [16] % 2010%2020
White alone (NH)14,27516,23086.33%78.79%
Black or African American alone (NH)4777952.88%3.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1752021.06%0.98%
Asian alone (NH)1231840.74%0.89%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)490.02%0.04%
Other race alone (NH)(NH)5717013.45%3.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)5261,9453.18%9.44%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3845342.32%2.59%
Total16,53520,600100.00%100.00%

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 16,535 people, 7,368 households, and 4,221 families living in the county. [17] The population density was 160.2 inhabitants per square mile (61.9/km2). There were 17,188 housing units at an average density of 166.5 per square mile (64.3/km2). [18] The racial makeup of the county was 87.6% white, 3.1% black or African American, 1.1% American Indian, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 3.9% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population. [17]

The largest ancestry groups were: [19]

  • 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. [17]

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. [20]

Population density of Dukes County by census block (2020) Dukes County MA population density.png
Population density of Dukes County by census block (2020)

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 inhabitants per square mile (56/km2). There were 14,836 housing units at an average density of 143 per square mile (55/km2). 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. [22] 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. [23]

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. [24] [25] [26]

RankTownPer capita
income
Median
household
income
Median
family
income
PopulationNumber of
households
1 Chilmark Town$45,210$59,583$79,688801302
2 Edgartown Town$38,083$74,214$82,5834,0341,466
3 West Tisbury Town$36,592$75,759$87,5662,506926
Massachusetts State$35,051$65,981$83,3716,512,2272,522,409
Dukes CountyCounty$33,228$69,760$82,65916,3535,568
Vineyard Haven CDP$30,298$77,935$92,1122,465652
4 Gosnold Town$29,511$52,813$61,25018363
5 Tisbury Town$29,384$54,762$60,5213,9141,290
6 Oak Bluffs Town$29,117$78,890$84,8464,4491,429
United States Country$27,915$52,762$64,293306,603,772114,761,359
7 Aquinnah Town$25,512$82,500$106,25046692

Religion

Year1980199020002010
ReligionCongregationsAdherentsCongregationsAdherentsCongregationsAdherentsCongregationsAdherents
Catholic Church32,00035,00039,951312,896
Episcopal Church2871356236083473
United Methodist6620658755242176
American Baptist3279340334614456
Regular Baptist0n/a162183190
United Church of Christ1110116612171165
Unitarian-Universalist183183183174
Assemblies of God1516921741160
Friends (Quakers)1n/a12215219
Church of Christ, Scientistn/an/a1n/a1n/a1n/a
Congregationaln/an/a130012951331
Jehovah's Witnessesn/an/an/an/an/an/a1n/a
Evangelical Christian0n/a0n/a0n/a160
Mormonn/an/a127149184
Buddhist0n/a0n/a0n/a172
Jewish1138126013001923
Ba'hai00000504
Unaffiliated0n/a0n/a0n/a010,562

Politics

United States presidential election results for Dukes County, Massachusetts [27]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 2,74522.48%9,13774.84%3272.68%
2020 2,63120.56%9,91477.47%2531.98%
2016 2,47721.22%8,40071.95%7976.83%
2012 2,79225.46%7,97872.74%1981.81%
2008 2,44223.14%7,91374.98%1981.88%
2004 2,60226.03%7,26572.67%1301.30%
2000 2,31526.14%5,47461.81%1,06712.05%
1996 1,73922.58%5,13766.70%82610.72%
1992 1,82723.16%4,29254.41%1,76922.43%
1988 2,44134.75%4,49563.99%891.27%
1984 2,78845.52%3,31354.09%240.39%
1980 1,80933.52%2,37043.91%1,21822.57%
1976 2,36546.06%2,51348.94%2575.00%
1972 2,31253.32%2,00146.15%230.53%
1968 1,57649.31%1,54048.19%802.50%
1964 1,01531.58%2,18768.05%120.37%
1960 1,99860.80%1,28239.01%60.18%
1956 2,61882.85%54117.12%10.03%
1952 2,43276.05%76023.76%60.19%
1948 1,73169.69%72028.99%331.33%
1944 1,37261.41%86138.54%10.04%
1940 1,64361.54%1,01437.98%130.49%
1936 1,65563.29%93135.60%291.11%
1932 1,33068.80%58330.16%201.03%
1928 1,48775.94%47024.00%10.05%
1924 1,18286.91%1087.94%705.15%
1920 1,01386.73%15012.84%50.43%
1916 46458.96%30939.26%141.78%
1912 26934.75%21527.78%29037.47%
1908 58976.79%13317.34%455.87%
1904 60280.16%12015.98%293.86%
1900 61779.10%11414.62%496.28%
1896 69180.54%9110.61%768.86%
1892 58866.52%23826.92%586.56%
1888 57064.19%19922.41%11913.40%
1884 56867.70%20224.08%698.22%
1880 57676.60%17423.14%20.27%
1876 39972.81%14927.19%00.00%
1872 55682.74%11617.26%00.00%
1868 43680.15%10819.85%00.00%

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

Voter registration and party enrollment as of February 2024 [28]
Unenrolled9,710
Democratic 5,762
Republican 1,117
Libertarian 42
Other parties 65
Total16,696

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other villages

Education

School districts include: [29]

K-12:

Secondary:

Elementary:

See also

References

  1. "Dukes County, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Cheek, Alexander (January 6, 2023). "Martha's Vineyard Map" . Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  4. Dukes County, MA – An Ancient Heritage Archived May 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  6. "Skiff's Island Is Here Today But Gone Tomorrow". The Vineyard Gazette - Martha's Vineyard News. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  7. Baer, Chris (May 13, 2015). "This was then: Ferry Boat Island". Martha’s Vineyard Times. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  8. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  9. "Station: Edgartown, MA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  11. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  15. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dukes County, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau .
  16. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dukes County, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau .
  17. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  18. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  19. "DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  20. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  21. 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), retrieved May 22, 2025
  22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  23. "County Median Home Price". National Association of Realtors . January 4, 2019. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  24. "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  25. "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  26. "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  27. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  28. "The Commonwealth of Massachusetts" (PDF). Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. February 24, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  29. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dukes County, MA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list

41°22′N70°42′W / 41.37°N 70.70°W / 41.37; -70.70