Dukes County, Massachusetts

Dukes County, Massachusetts

Seal
Map of Massachusetts highlighting Dukes County
Location in the state of Massachusetts
Map of the United States highlighting Massachusetts
Massachusetts's location in the U.S.
Founded 1695
Seat Edgartown
Largest town Edgartown
Area
 • Total 491 sq mi (1,272 km2)
 • Land 103 sq mi (267 km2)
 • Water 388 sq mi (1,005 km2), 79%
Population
 • (2010) 16,535
 • Density 160/sq mi (62/km²)
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.dukescounty.org

The County of Dukes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,535,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Massachusetts. Its county seat is Edgartown.[2]

Dukes County comprises the Vineyard Haven, MA Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county consists of the island of Martha's Vineyard, Chappaquiddick Island, the Elizabeth Islands (including Cuttyhunk) 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".[3]

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.[4] It is the third-smallest county by land area.

Nearby Counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
17903,255—
18003,118−4.2%
18103,2905.5%
18203,2920.1%
18303,5176.8%
18403,95812.5%
18504,54014.7%
18604,403−3.0%
18703,787−14.0%
18804,30013.5%
18904,3691.6%
19004,5614.4%
19104,504−1.2%
19204,372−2.9%
19304,95313.3%
19405,66914.5%
19505,633−0.6%
19605,8293.5%
19706,1174.9%
19808,94246.2%
199011,63930.2%
200014,98728.8%
201016,53510.3%
Est. 201317,2564.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 14,987 people, 6,421 households, and 3,788 families residing in the county. The population density was 144 people 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 according to Census 2000. 93.1% spoke English, 3.7% Portuguese and 1.7% Spanish as their first language and 0.285% speak Irish at home.

There were 6,421 households out of which 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 all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 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% who were 65 years of age 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 income for a household in the county was $45,559, and the median income for a family 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.

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.[10][11][12]

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
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 13, 2010[13]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
  Democratic 4,920 36.43%
  Republican 1,415 10.48%
  Unaffiliated 7,081 52.44%
  Minor Parties 88 0.65%
Total 13,504 100%

Politics

Presidential election results[14]
Year Democratic Republican
2012 72.7% 7,978 25.5% 2,792
2008 75.0% 7,913 23.1% 2,442
2004 72.7% 7,265 26.0% 2,602
2000 61.8% 5,474 26.1% 2,315
1996 66.7% 5,137 22.6% 1,739
1992 54.4% 4,292 23.2% 1,827
1988 64.0% 4,495 34.7% 2,441
1984 54.1% 3,313 45.5% 2,788
1980 43.9% 2,370 33.5% 1,809
1976 48.9% 2,513 46.1% 2,365
1972 46.1% 2,001 53.3% 2,312
1968 48.2% 1,540 49.3% 1,576
1964 68.0% 2,187 31.6% 1,015
1960 39.0% 1,282 60.8% 1,998

Communities

Towns

Villages

Villages are census divisions, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Dukes County, MA - An Ancient Heritage
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ↑ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
  11. ↑ "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
  12. ↑ "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
  13. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 13, 2010" (PDF). Massachusetts Elections Division. Retrieved 2011-01-31.
  14. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2011-06-11.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dukes County, Massachusetts.
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Coordinates: 41°22′N 70°42′W / 41.37°N 70.70°W