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

Dukes County comprises the Vineyard Haven, MA Micropolitan Statistical Area. The county consists of about 40 named islands, 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

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".Dukes County, MA – An Ancient Heritage

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

Nearby counties Barnstable County – northeast Plymouth County – north Bristol County – northwest Nantucket County – east

National protected area Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge

Named islands Island NameLand AreaShorelineTownLocation and NotesCoordinatesMartha's VineyardArea and shoreline includes ChappaquiddickNaushon IslandGosnoldChappaquiddick IslandEdgartownPeriodic peninsula of Martha’s VineyardNashawena IslandGosnoldElizabeth IslandsPasque IslandGosnoldNomans LandChilmarkManaged by United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceCuttyhunk IslandGosnoldNonamesset IslandGosnoldUncatena IslandGosnoldPenikese IslandGosnoldGoats NeckGosnoldConnected to Naushon Island by land bridgeVeckatimest IslandGosnoldGreat IslandChilmarkSquibnocket Pond; connected in the 1970sMonohansett IslandGosnoldWeepecket IslandsGosnoldThree islands and one rockBull IslandGosnoldBuck IslandGosnoldMayhew IslandChilmarkNashaquitsa PondBeach Grass IslandChilmarkSquibnocket PondWood IslandTisburyRhoda’s PondEdy’s IslandChilmarkMenemsha PondSarson IslandOak BluffsSengekontacket PondBachelor IslandGosnoldEphemeral sandbar off Naushon IslandGull IslandGosnoldAllen’s IslandChilmarkLower Chilmark PondGravel IslandOak BluffsSengekontacket PondWood IslandOak BluffsFarm PondBaret IslandGosnoldRocky islet off Nashawena IslandGull IslandChilmarkSquibnocket Pond; connected in the 1980sGosnold IslandGosnoldWest End Pond, CuttyhunkCedar IslandGosnoldHaystack IslandEdgartownSengekontacket PondSkiff’s IslandEdgartownEphemeral sandbar off WasqueSlates IslandGosnoldCuttyhunk PondFerry Boat IslandTisburyLagoon Pond; connected in 2019Rock IslandGosnoldRocky islet off Nashawena IslandBrush IslandOak BluffsSengekontacket PondPine IslandGosnoldRocky islet off Nonamesset IslandStrawberry IslandChilmarkSquibnocket PondViking RingChilmarkRocky islet in Round Pond

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

Demographics

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%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Dukes County, Massachusetts – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)8,33910,89613,48914,27516,23093.26%93.62%90.00%86.33%78.79%Black or African American alone (NH)2933233464777953.28%2.78%2.31%2.88%3.86%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1542382531752021.72%2.04%1.69%1.06%0.98%Asian alone (NH)1639661231840.18%0.34%0.44%0.74%0.89%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census1049xx0.07%0.02%0.04%Other race alone (NH)62222035717010.69%0.19%1.35%3.45%3.40%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census4655261,945xx3.10%3.18%9.44%Hispanic or Latino (any race)781211553845340.87%1.04%1.03%2.32%2.59%Total8,94211,63914,98716,53520,600 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census At the 2010 census, there were 16,535 people, 7,368 households, and 4,221 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 17,188 housing units at an average density of . 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. 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 . There were 14,836 housing units at an average density of . 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. Rank Town Per capitaincome Medianhouseholdincome Medianfamilyincome Population Number ofhouseholds 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 Year1980199020002010ReligionCongregationsAdherentsCongregationsAdherentsCongregationsAdherentsCongregationsAdherentsCatholic Church32,00035,00039,951312,896Episcopal Church2871356236083473United Methodist6620658755242176American Baptist3279340334614456Regular Baptist0n/a162183190United Church of Christ1110116612171165Unitarian-Universalist183183183174Assemblies of God1516921741160Friends (Quakers)1n/a12215219Church of Christ, Scientistn/an/a1n/a1n/a1n/aCongregationaln/an/a130012951331Jehovah's Witnessesn/an/an/an/an/an/a1n/aEvangelical Christian0n/a0n/a0n/a160Mormonn/an/a127149184Buddhist0n/a0n/a0n/a172Jewish1138126013001923Ba'hai00000504Unaffiliated 0n/a0n/a0n/a010,562

Politics

Similar to much 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 Unenrolled Democratic Republican Libertarian Other parties Total

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