West Tisbury, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Tisbury, Massachusetts
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Front of Alley's General Store
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Location in Dukes County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Dukes | ||
| Settled | 1669 | ||
| Incorporated | April 28, 1892 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 41.8 sq mi (108.2 km2) | ||
| • Land | 25.0 sq mi (64.8 km2) | ||
| • Water | 16.7 sq mi (43.3 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 37 ft (11 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,555 | ||
| • Density | 142/sq mi (54.9/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP code |
02575
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| Area code(s) | 508/774 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-78235 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618291 | ||
West Tisbury is a charming town on Martha's Vineyard island in Massachusetts, USA. In 2020, about 3,555 people lived here. It's part of the "Up-Island" area of Martha's Vineyard, along with Chilmark and Aquinnah.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
West Tisbury was first settled by English people in 1669. It was originally part of the town of Tisbury. The town officially became its own separate town in 1892. This made it the last town on Martha's Vineyard to be incorporated.
Even though it separated from Tisbury, the original settlement area is still located in West Tisbury. For a long time, West Tisbury was known as the farming center of the island. It was also one of the fastest-growing communities on the island until the 1980s.
Where is West Tisbury?
West Tisbury covers about 108.2 square kilometers (41.8 square miles). About 64.8 square kilometers (25.0 square miles) is land, and 43.3 square kilometers (16.7 square miles) is water. This means about 40% of the town's total area is water.
West Tisbury is the second-largest town on Martha's Vineyard, after Edgartown. It is bordered by Vineyard Sound to the northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. Other towns bordering it include Tisbury to the northeast, Edgartown to the east, and Chilmark to the west. The areas known as Lambert's Cove and Makonikey are also part of West Tisbury.
Most of West Tisbury is rural, meaning it has a lot of open land and forests. You'll find more forests in the north and east parts of town. The farming areas are mostly around the brooks that flow into Tisbury Great Pond.
There are also several natural protected areas in town. The largest is the Long Point Wildlife Refuge, located near Tisbury Great Pond. About half of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest is also in West Tisbury. This large forest covers a big part of the center of Martha's Vineyard.
Getting Around
Just south of the state forest is Martha's Vineyard Airport. West Tisbury shares this airport with Edgartown, but most of the airport facilities are in West Tisbury. The airport offers flights to other airports on the mainland and to Nantucket island.
People Who Live Here
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1900 | 442 | — |
| 1910 | 437 | −1.1% |
| 1920 | 345 | −21.1% |
| 1930 | 270 | −21.7% |
| 1940 | 260 | −3.7% |
| 1950 | 347 | +33.5% |
| 1960 | 360 | +3.7% |
| 1970 | 453 | +25.8% |
| 1980 | 1,010 | +123.0% |
| 1990 | 1,704 | +68.7% |
| 2000 | 2,467 | +44.8% |
| 2010 | 2,740 | +11.1% |
| 2020 | 3,555 | +29.7% |
| 2023* | 3,586 | +0.9% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. | ||
In 2000, there were 2,467 people living in West Tisbury. About 1,034 households and 668 families called the town home. The population density was about 98.6 people per square mile.
Many households (35.1%) had children under 18 living with them. About 49.4% were married couples. The average household had 2.38 people.
The population of West Tisbury is spread out across different age groups. About 25.7% of residents were under 18. About 10.1% were 65 years or older. The average age in town was 41 years old.
Ancestry and Backgrounds
People in West Tisbury come from many different backgrounds. The largest groups by ancestry include:
- English (30.4%)
- Irish (13.6%)
- German (9.7%)
- Scottish (7.1%)
- French (6.0%)
- Portuguese (5.8%)
- Italian (3.5%)
- Norwegian (3.4%)
- Polish (2.6%)
- Russian (2.1%)
Learning in West Tisbury
West Tisbury is part of the Martha's Vineyard Regional School District. This district also includes students from Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Tisbury.
Younger students in West Tisbury attend West Tisbury Elementary School. This school teaches students from kindergarten through 8th grade. After 8th grade, high school students go to Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.
West Tisbury is also home to the Martha's Vineyard Charter School. This school offers a different learning option for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is located next to the West Tisbury Fire Department building.
Famous People from West Tisbury
Some notable people who have lived in West Tisbury include:
- Michael Craughwell, a sword maker known from the TV show Big Giant Swords
- Nancy Luce, a poet and folk artist
- Willy Mason, a musician
- David McCullough, a well-known historian
- Ryen Russillo, a sports commentator
Fun Places to Visit
West Tisbury has several interesting places to explore:
- Polly Hill Arboretum: A beautiful garden with many different trees and plants.
- Grange Hall: A historic building often used for events.
- Alley's General Store: A classic general store.
- Waskosim's Rock: A natural landmark.
- Split Rock: Another interesting rock formation.
- Old Mill: A historic mill.
- The Mill Pond: A scenic pond.
- Field Gallery: An art gallery featuring sculptures and other artworks.
See also
In Spanish: West Tisbury para niños
