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Dukes County, Massachusetts facts for kids

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Dukes County
County of Dukes County
Town Hall, Edgartown
Town Hall, Edgartown
Official seal of Dukes County
Seal
Map of Massachusetts highlighting Dukes County
Location within the U.S. state of Massachusetts
Map of the United States highlighting Massachusetts
Massachusetts's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Massachusetts
Founded 1695
Named for James, Duke of York
Seat Edgartown
Largest town Oak Bluffs
Area
 • Total 491 sq mi (1,270 km2)
 • Land 103 sq mi (270 km2)
 • Water 388 sq mi (1,000 km2)  79%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 20,600
 • Density 199.6/sq mi (77.1/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 9th

Dukes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,600, making it the second-least populous county in Massachusetts. Its shire town is Edgartown.

Dukes County comprises the Vineyard Haven, MA Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county consists of the island of Martha's Vineyard (including Chappaquiddick Island), the Elizabeth Islands (including Cuttyhunk), the island of Nomans Land, and other associated islets.

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 the Duke of York. 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 square miles (1,270 km2), of which 103 square miles (270 km2) is land and 388 square miles (1,000 km2) (79%) is water. It is the third-smallest county by land area.

Nearby counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 3,255
1800 3,118 −4.2%
1810 3,290 5.5%
1820 3,292 0.1%
1830 3,517 6.8%
1840 3,958 12.5%
1850 4,540 14.7%
1860 4,403 −3.0%
1870 3,787 −14.0%
1880 4,300 13.5%
1890 4,369 1.6%
1900 4,561 4.4%
1910 4,504 −1.2%
1920 4,372 −2.9%
1930 4,953 13.3%
1940 5,669 14.5%
1950 5,633 −0.6%
1960 5,829 3.5%
1970 6,117 4.9%
1980 8,942 46.2%
1990 11,639 30.2%
2000 14,987 28.8%
2010 16,535 10.3%
2020 20,600 24.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 16,535 people, 7,368 households, and 4,221 families living in the county. 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). 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.

The largest ancestry groups were:

  • 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.

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.

Rank Town Per capita
income
Median
household
income
Median
family
income
Population Number of
households
1 Chilmark Town $45,210 $59,583 $79,688 801 302
2 Edgartown Town $38,083 $74,214 $82,583 4,034 1,466
3 West Tisbury Town $36,592 $75,759 $87,566 2,506 926
Massachusetts State $35,051 $65,981 $83,371 6,512,227 2,522,409
Dukes County County $33,228 $69,760 $82,659 16,353 5,568
Vineyard Haven CDP $30,298 $77,935 $92,112 2,465 652
4 Gosnold Town $29,511 $52,813 $61,250 183 63
5 Tisbury Town $29,384 $54,762 $60,521 3,914 1,290
6 Oak Bluffs Town $29,117 $78,890 $84,846 4,449 1,429
United States Country $27,915 $52,762 $64,293 306,603,772 114,761,359
7 Aquinnah Town $25,512 $82,500 $106,250 466 92

Religion

Year 1980 1990 2000 2010
Religion Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents Congregations Adherents
Catholic Church 3 2,000 3 5,000 3 9,951 3 12,896
Episcopal Church 2 871 3 562 3 608 3 473
United Methodist 6 620 6 587 5 524 2 176
American Baptist 3 279 3 403 3 461 4 456
Regular Baptist 0 n/a 1 62 1 83 1 90
United Church of Christ 1 110 1 166 1 217 1 165
Unitarian-Universalist 1 83 1 83 1 83 1 74
Assemblies of God 1 5 1 69 2 174 1 160
Friends (Quakers) 1 n/a 1 22 1 52 1 9
Church of Christ, Scientist n/a n/a 1 n/a 1 n/a 1 n/a
Congregational n/a n/a 1 300 1 295 1 331
Jehovah's Witnesses n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 n/a
Evangelical Christian 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 60
Mormon n/a n/a 1 27 1 49 1 84
Buddhist 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 1 72
Jewish 1 138 1 260 1 300 1 923
Ba'hai 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 4
Unaffiliated 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 n/a 0 10,562

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other villages

See also

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