Map of Martha's Vineyard. The island is roughly triangular in shape and is approximately 33 kilometers in length.

Gay Head Cliffs in Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard (including nearby Chappaquiddick Island), is an 87.48 square mile (231.75 km²) island off the southern coast of Cape Cod (both forming a part of the Outer Lands region) and is often known simply as "the Vineyard". Located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, the Vineyard makes up most of Dukes County, Massachusetts (the rest of the county consists of Cuttyhunk and the other Elizabeth Islands and the island of Nomans Land). It was home to one of the earliest known deaf communities; consequently, a special dialect of sign language, Martha's Vineyard Sign Language, developed on the island. The island is now primarily known as a summer colony, though its year-round population has grown quite considerably since the 1960s, despite being accessible only by boat and by air. In a recent study by the Martha's Vineyard Commission it was found that the cost of living on the island is 60 percent higher than the national average and housing prices are 96 percent higher. Full Article. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x738, 307 KB) Map showing the island of Marthas Vineyard and the communities on it. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x738, 307 KB) Map showing the island of Marthas Vineyard and the communities on it. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2006x1478, 1750 KB) Summary This photo was taken in November at the Gay Head Cliffs in Marthas Vineyard. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2006x1478, 1750 KB) Summary This photo was taken in November at the Gay Head Cliffs in Marthas Vineyard. ... Chappaquiddick Island is a small island off the eastern end of the larger island of Marthas Vineyard. ... Cape Cod (or simply the Cape) is an arm-shaped peninsula nearly coextensive with Barnstable County, Massachusetts and forming the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States. ... The Outer Lands The Outer Lands is a term denoting the prominent archipelagic region off of the southern coast of New England in the United States. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... A U.S. state is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, with the District of Columbia, forms the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Area  Ranked 44th  - Total 10,555 sq mi (27,360 km²)  - Width 183 miles (295 km)  - Length 113 miles (182 km)  - % water 13. ... Dukes County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... An aerial view of the island Cuttyhunk Island is the outermost of the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts, located between Buzzards Bay to the north and Vineyard Sound to the south. ... The Elizabeth Islands, off the coast of Massachusetts The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of small islands extending southwest from the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States. ... 1995 USGS Photograph of Nomans Land Island Nomans Land is an uninhabited island 628 acres (2. ... The word deaf can have very different meanings depending on the background of the person speaking or the context in which the word is used. ... A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος, dialektos) is a variety of a language characteristic of a particular group of the languages speakers. ... Sign language interpreter on stage A sign language (also signed language) is a language which uses manual communication, body language and lip patterns instead of sound to convey meaning—simultaneously combining handshapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to express fluidly a speakers... Marthas Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) is a sign language (now extinct), once widely used on the island of Marthas Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts, U.S., from the early 18th century to the mid 20th century. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ...

History

Originally (and still) inhabited by the Wampanoag Indians, Martha's Vineyard was known in their language as Noepe, or "land amid the streams". It was named Martha's Vineyard by the English explorer, Bartholomew Gosnold, who sailed to the island in 1602. Gosnold's mother-in-law as well as his second child, who died in infancy, were each named Martha. Gosnold named Martha's Vineyard after his daughter who was christened in St James' Church (now St Edmundsbury Cathedral), Bury St Edmunds in the English county of Suffolk. Martha is buried in the Great Churchyard which lies in front of the Abbey ruins between St Mary's Church and the Cathedral. The Wampanoag (Wôpanâak in the Wampanoag language) are a Native American people. ... Bartholomew Gosnold (1572 - August 22, 1607) was an English lawyer, explorer, and privateer. ... This page is about the year. ... Mary anoints Jesus in Bethany in this icon. ... The nave of Bury St Edmunds Cathedral, facing east Bury St Edmunds Cathedral or St Edmundsbury Cathedral is the cathedral for the Church of Englands Diocese of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich and is the seat of the Bishop of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich and is in Bury St Edmunds. ... Bury St Edmunds is a town in the county of Suffolk, England. ... Suffolk (pronounced ) is a large historic and modern non-metropolitan county in East Anglia, England. ... Bury St. ...

The original name of the island was Martin's Vineyard (after the captain of Gosnold's ship, John Martin); many islanders up to the 1700s called it by this name^[1]. The United States Board on Geographic Names worked to standardize placename spellings in the late 19th century, including the dropping of apostrophes. Thus for a time Martha's Vineyard was officially named Marthas Vineyard, but the Board reversed its decision in the early 20th century, making Martha's Vineyard one of the few placenames in the United States today with a possessive apostrophe^[2]. The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is an American federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the U.S. government. ...

English Settlement had its origins in the purchase of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands by Thomas Mayhew of Watertown, Massachusetts. Mayhew worked through the claims of two English "owners" of the islands and during his lifetime had friendly relations with the Wampanoags on the island in part because he was careful to honor their land rights as well. His son, also Thomas Mayhew, began the first English settlement in 1642 at Great Harbor (later Edgartown, Massachusetts). Thomas Mayhew, Sr. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1630 Incorporated 1630 Government  - Type Town Council  - City Manager Michael J. Driscoll Area  - City  4. ... Edgartown is a town located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts. ...

The younger Mayhew began a relationship with Hiacoomes, an Indian neighbor, which eventually led to Hiacoomes' family converting to Christianity. Ultimately, many of the tribe became Christian, including the paw-waws (spiritual leaders) and sachems (political leaders). It became arguably the first successful cross cultural church planting mission in the history of Protestantism (Eliot's work on the mainland began a few years later). By most evidence the Mayhew approach was remarkably free of cultural imperialism so often a part of other missions of that and later eras. During King Phillip's War later in the century the Martha's Vineyard band did not join their tribal relatives in the uprising and remained armed, a testimony to the good relations cultivated by the Mayhews as the leaders of the English colony. Christianity percentage by country, purple is highest, orange is lowest Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch... King Philips War was a general Indian uprising in 1675-1676 to resist continued expansion of the English colonies in New England. ...

The younger Thomas Mayhew was lost at sea on a trip to England in 1657. The site of his farewell address became a memorial stone pile created by the Wampanoags which is preserved today. The elder Mayhew took over leadership of the English component of the Indian mission, and the Mayhew involvement continued for another three generations.

Indian literacy in the schools founded by Mayhew and taught by Peter Folger, the grandfather of Benjamin Franklin, was such that the first Native American graduates of Harvard were from Martha's Vineyard, including the son of Hiacoomes. They were literate in Wampanoag, English, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Sadly, all of the early Indian graduates died shortly after completing their course of study. However, there were many native preachers on the island who also preached in the English churches from time to time. Benjamin Franklin (January 17 [O.S. January 6] 1706 – April 17, 1790) was one of the most well known Founding Fathers of the United States. ...

In 1683, Dukes County, New York was incorporated, including Martha's Vineyard. In 1691, the entire county was transferred to the newly formed Province of Massachusetts Bay, being split into Dukes County, Massachusetts and Nantucket County, Massachusetts. Dukes County, New York was formed on November 1, 1683 by New York from the Elizabeth Islands, Marthas Vineyard, and Nantucket Island, all beyond the eastern end of Long Island in the Province of New York. ... A map of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. ... Dukes County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, formed of glacial moraine. ...

Like the nearby island of Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard was brought to prominence in the 19th century by the whaling industry, sending ships around the world to hunt whales for their oil and blubber. The discovery of petroleum in Pennsylvania produced a cheaper source of oil for lamps and led to an almost complete collapse of the industry by 1870. After the Old Colony railroad came to mainland Woods Hole in 1872, summer residences began to develop on the island. Although the island struggled financially through the Great Depression, its reputation as a resort for tourists and the wealthy continued to grow. There is still a substantial Wampanoag population on the Vineyard, mainly located in the town of Aquinnah. Aquinnah (which means "land under the hill" in the Wampanoag language) was formerly known as Gay Head but was recently renamed its original Indian name. Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, formed of glacial moraine. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... The crew of the oceanographic research vessel Princesse Alice, of Albert Grimaldi (later Prince Albert I of Monaco) pose while flensing a catch. ... Remains of seventeenth century blubber cauldrons at the abandoned Dutch settlement of Smeerenburg in Svalbard, Norway This article is about the body tissue. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Lubbock, Texas Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 280 miles (455 km)  - Length 160 miles (255 km)  - % water 2. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Great Depression was a time of economic down turn, which started after the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. ... Resorts combine a hotel and a variety of recreations, such as swimming pools. ... A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ... Aquinnah is a town, formerly known as Gay Head, located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 344. ...

The linguist William Labov wrote his MA essay on changes in the Martha's Vineyard dialect of English. The 1963 study is widely recognised as a seminal work in the foundation of sociolinguistics. Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2006-02-04, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... This article or section cites its sources but does not provide page references. ...

The island received international notoriety on July 18, 1969, when Mary Jo Kopechne was killed when a car driven by U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy drove off the Dike Bridge. The bridge crossed Pocha Pond on Chappaquiddick Island (A smaller island connected to the Vineyard and part of Edgartown). As a foot bridge, it was intended for people on foot and bicycles, as well as the occasional emergency vehicle when conditions warranted them. Currently, 4x4 vehicles with passes are allowed to cross the reconstructed bridge. July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Mary Jo Kopechne (July 26, 1940 – July 18, 1969) was an American teacher, secretary and administrator, notable for her death in a car accident on Chappaquiddick Island in a car driven by Senator Ted Kennedy. ... Edward Moore Ted Kennedy (born February 22, 1932) is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts and a member of the Democratic Party. ... Chappaquiddick Island is a small island off the eastern end of the larger island of Marthas Vineyard. ... This mountain bicycle features oversized tires, a sturdy frame, front shock absorbers, and handlebars oriented perpendicular to the bikes axis Bicycle may also refer to Bicycle Playing Cards. ... Four wheel drive or 4x4, is a type of four wheeled vehicle drivetrain configuration that enables all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously in order to provide maximum traction. ...

On November 23, 1970, in the Atlantic Ocean just west of Aquinnah, Simas Kudirka, a Soviet seaman of Lithuanian nationality, attempted to defect to the United States by leaping onto a United States Coast Guard cutter from a Soviet ship. In what is known as a significantly embarrassing incident in modern American history (prior to the breakup of the Soviet Union), the Coast Guard allowed a detachment of KGB agents to board the cutter, and subsequently arrest Kudirka, taking him back to the then-Communist Soviet Union. November 23 is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 38 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... A defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. ... USCG HH-65 Dolphin The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces and is involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense. ... Note: This article is about the KGB of the Soviet Union. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...

Martha's Vineyard received further unwanted infamy on July 16, 1999 when a small plane crashed off its coast, claiming the lives of pilot John F. Kennedy, Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette and her sister, Lauren Bessette. Kennedy's mother, former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, maintained a home in Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head) until her death in 1994. July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Jr. ... Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (January 7, 1966 _ July 16, 1999) was born Carolyn Jeanne Bessette, the daughter of William J. Bessette and his then-wife, née Ann Messina. ... Lauren Gail Bessette (November 5, 1964 – July 16, 1999) was the daughter of William J. Bessette and his wife, née Ann Messina. ... Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994) was the wife of John F. Kennedy from 1953 to 1963 and was known as Jacqueline Kennedy or Jackie Kennedy. ... Aquinnah is a town, formerly known as Gay Head, located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 344. ... Aquinnah is a town, formerly known as Gay Head, located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 344. ...

Martha's Vineyard received more world-wide attention when U.S. President William J. Clinton spent vacation time on the island during his presidency, along with his wife, future US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and their daughter Chelsea. While the Clintons have made the Island famous in recent years, during the 1800s another famous President Ulysses S. Grant was also a summer visitor, staying in a Gingerbread cottage in the Methodist campground in Oak Bluffs. William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... Hillary Rodham Clinton (born Hillary Diane Rodham on October 26, 1947) is the Biggest loser/retard these united states have seen from New York. ... In the White House: Chelsea (lower right), together with her parents, Bill and Hillary Clinton. ... Ulysses S. Grant[2] (born Hiram Ulysses Grant, April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was an American general and the 18th President of the United States (1869–1877). ... Manchester Town Hall is an example of Victorian architecture found in Manchester, UK. The term Victorian architecture can refer to one of a number of architectural styles predominantly in the Victorian era. ...

In 1974, Steven Spielberg filmed the movie Jaws on Martha's Vineyard. Spielberg selected island natives Christopher Rebello for the part of Sheriff Brody's oldest son Michael Brody and Jay Mello for the part of the younger son Sean Brody. Scores of other island natives appeared in the film as extras. Later, scenes from Jaws 2 and Jaws the Revenge were filmed on the island as well. In June, 2005 the island celebrated the 30th anniversary of Jaws with a weekend long "JawsFest". Steven Allan Spielberg KBE (born December 18, 1946)[1] is an American film director and producer. ... Jaws is a 1975 horror thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Peter Benchleys best-selling novel of the same name, which was inspired in turn by the Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of 1916. ... Jaws 2 is a 1978 horror–thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc. ... Jaws The Revenge is a 1987s horror film. ... JawsFest was a weekend long celebration of the 30th anniversary of the movie Jaws. ...

Distressed over redistricting, in 1977, Martha's Vineyard tried to secede from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts along with the island of Nantucket to become the nation's 51st state [2]. Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or political entity. ... Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, formed of glacial moraine. ... A U.S. 51 star flag has been designed in case of a 51st state actually joining the United States. ...

On March 5, 1982, John Belushi died of a drug overdose in Los Angeles, California, and was buried four days later in Abel's Hill Cemetery in Chilmark. On his gravestone is the quote: "Though I may be gone, Rock 'N' Roll lives on". Due to the many visitors to his grave and the threat of vandalism, his body was moved elsewhere within the cemetery. Many people visit his grave and in the summer it is often littered with beer cans, joints and other "tokens" for Belushi. This article is about the day. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an Emmy Award-winning American actor, comedian and singer, most notable for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoons Animal House and The Blues Brothers. ...

In the summer of 2000, an outbreak of tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, resulted in one fatality and piqued the interest of the CDC who wanted to test the island as a potential investigative ground for aerosolized Francisella tularensis. Over the following summers, Martha's Vineyard was identified as the only place in the world where documented cases of tularemia resulted from lawn mowing^{[citation needed]}. The research may prove valuable in preventing bioterrorism. Tularemia (also known as rabbit fever) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. ... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, is recognized as the leading United States agency for protecting the public health and safety of people. ... Species Francisella is a genus of pathogenic bacteria. ... A lawn mower (often spelled as one word—lawnmower) is a machine (electric or mechnical) used to cut grass to an even length. ... Bioterrorism is terrorism using germ warfare, an intentional human release of a naturally-occurring or human-modified toxin or biological agent. ...

Political geography

Martha's Vineyard is made up of six towns:

• Tisbury, including the main village of Vineyard Haven in the town center
• Edgartown, which includes Chappaquiddick Island
• Oak Bluffs, often mistakenly referred to as Oaks Bluff
• West Tisbury, the "Athens" of the island.
• Chilmark, including the fishing village of Menemsha
• Aquinnah, formerly known as Gay Head.

The Lighthouse of Tisbury (West Chop Light) in 1891 Northern view of Holmes Hole, East Tisbury, 1841 Tisbury is a town located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts. ... Vineyard Haven is a census-designated place and village located in the town of Tisbury on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts. ... Edgartown is a town located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts. ... Chappaquiddick Island is a small island off the eastern end of the larger island of Marthas Vineyard. ... Oak Bluffs is a town located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts. ... West Tisbury is a town located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,467. ... Chilmark is a town located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts. ... Menemsha is a delightful small fishing town that is what many such harbors were a hundred years ago. ... Aquinnah is a town, formerly known as Gay Head, located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 344. ...

Access

Martha's Vineyard is located approximately 3 miles off the southern coast of Cape Cod. It is reached by a ferry that departs from Woods Hole, Massachusetts and by several other ferries departing from Falmouth, New Bedford, Hyannis, and Quonset Point, Rhode Island. There is regularly scheduled air travel (in season from June-October) from Boston, Providence, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC to the Martha's Vineyard Airport. Cape Cod (or simply the Cape) is an arm-shaped peninsula nearly coextensive with Barnstable County, Massachusetts and forming the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States. ... Woods Hole is a census-designated place and village within the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near the island of Marthas Vineyard, and is the site of three famous scientific institutions: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Marine Biological Laboratory... The garden of the historical society of Falmouth Falmouth is a town located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. ... New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, located about 56 miles (90 kilometers) south of Boston, 31 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about 8 miles (13 kilometers) east of Fall River. ... Hyannis Harbor, Hyannis Statue of Iyannough, in downtown Hyannis. ... Quonset Point is a small peninsula in Narragansett Bay in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. ... Logan International Airport with aircraft taking off over harbor Bostons Logan International Airport from the airside lounge of Terminal E, illustrating how the airport is largely surrounded by water. ... Runway layout at PVD T. F. Green Airport (IATA: PVD, ICAO: KPVD, FAA LID: PVD), also known as Theodore Francis Green State Airport, is a public airport located in Warwick, six miles (10 km) south of Providence, in Kent County, Rhode Island, USA. Dedicated in 1931, the airport was named... LaGuardia Airport (IATA: LGA, ICAO: KLGA) is an airport serving New York, New York, United States, located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst in the borough of Queens. ... Philadelphia International Airport (IATA: PHL, ICAO: KPHL, FAA LID: PHL) is an airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is the largest airport in the Delaware Valley region. ... Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (IATA: DCA, ICAO: KDCA) in Arlington County, Virginia is the closest commercial airport to Washington, D.C. Originally Washington National Airport, it was renamed after former President Ronald Reagan in 1998. ... Marthas Vineyard Airport (IATA: MVY, ICAO: KMVY) is a public airport located in the middle of the island of Marthas Vineyard, south of Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. ...

Residents

Locals refer to Martha's Vineyard as "The Island" or "The Vineyard" and its residents as "Islanders" or "Vineyarders".

Its relatively small year round population has led to a very activist citizenry who are highly involved in the Island's day to day activities. Tourism, over-development, politics and many other subjects are of keen interest to the community. Keeping the balance between the much needed tourist economy and the ecology and wildlife of the island is of paramount importance. in contrast to the seasonal influx of wealthy visitors, Dukes County remains one of the poorest in the state. Residents have established resources to balance the contradictions and stresses that can arise in these circumstances, noteably the Martha's Vineyard Commission and Martha's Vineyard Community Services, founded by the late Dr. Milton Mazer, whose book People and Predicaments remains a valuable source of insight.^[3] Tourists on Oahu, Hawaii Tourism is travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes or the provision of services to support this leisure travel. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Image:FRANKIE COBB.jpg Various species of deer are commonly seen wildlife across the Americas and Eurasia. ...

Due to its many high profile residents, movie stars, politicians, writers and artists also band together with residents in fundraisers and benefits to raise awareness for the fragile ecosystem of the Vineyard and to support community organizations and services. The largest of these is the annual Possible Dreams Auction.

The best known celebrities that live or frequently visit "The Island" are president Bill Clinton, comedian and talk show host, David Letterman, and musician Carly Simon. Also, retired anchorman Walter Cronkite and Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes are summer residents of Martha's Vineyard. David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and Indy race car owner. ... Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1945 in New York City) is an Academy Award, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy Award winning American musician who emerged as one of the leading lights of the early 1970s singer-songwriter movement. ... Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. ... Mike Wallace can refer to: Mike Wallace, the long-time television correspondent for CBS. Mike Wallace, the historian. ... 60 Minutes is an investigative television newsmagazine on United States television, which has run on CBS News since 1968. ...

In addition to the national celebrities who have homes on Martha's Vineyard, "The Island" has also become a summer retreat for many of the nation's most prominent Jewish families. The first Jews to build summer estates on the island did so in the mid 20th century when Jews were implicitly discouraged from settling on the equally exclusive island of Nantucket. Today the island is famous as a summer hideaway for wealthy Jewish families, like the Rosenwald family, Pillsbury family, Fleishman family, Tishman family, Sulzberger family and Scheuer family. Pillsbury is a brand name used by Minneapolis-based General Mills and the The J. M. Smucker Company. ... Sulzberger is a surname and may refer to: Arthur Hays Sulzberger (1891-1968), publisher of The New York Times from 1935 to 1961 Arthur Ochs Sulzberger (born 1926), publisher of The New York Times from 1963 to 1992 Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. ... Scheuer may refer to: Abraham Naftali Hertz Scheuer (1755 – 1812), rabbi, son of David Tebele Scheuer David Tebele Scheuer (1712 – 1782), rabbi James H. Scheuer (1920 – 2005), New York politician Mechel Scheuer (1739 – 1810), rabbi, son of David Tebele Scheuer Michael Scheuer, CIA analysist Sandra Scheuer (1949 – 1970), victim of...

Martha's Vineyard has also been or is home to a number of artists and musicians including Evan Dando, Tim "Johnny Vegas" Burton of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Ray Ellis, James Taylor, Willy Mason, and Unbusted, Mike Nichols, Diane Sawyer, and Kahoots. Historian and author David McCullough is also an island resident. The late author William Styron also lived on the Vineyard. The Academy Award winning Patricia Neal owns a home on the island. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Timothy Burton grew up on Marthas Vineyard with two brothers, Steve and Sledge. ... The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were a ska-core band from Boston, Massachusetts (Bosstones being a play on Boston). They are credited, along with bands such as Operation Ivy and The Suicide Machines, with creating the ska-core genre, a form of ska punk that mixes to various degrees elements of... James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in Belmont, Massachusetts. ... Willy Mason (born 21 November 1984) is an American singer-songwriter. ... Unbusted is a 3-piece rock band from Marthas Vineyard, MA expected to release their debut album You Are Young in the fall of 2006. ... Mike Nichols (born Michael Igor Peschkowsky) is an Academy Award winning movie director of films such as The Graduate and Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. He was born on November 6, 1931 in Berlin, to a Jewish Russian family. ... Diane Sawyer is a television journalist for the U.S. network ABC News and co-anchor of ABCs Good Morning America, along with with Robin Roberts. ... David McCullough (mÉ™-kÅ­lÉ™) (born July 7, 1933) is an American historian and bestselling author. ... William Clark Styron, Jr. ... Patricia Neal (born January 20, 1926, Packard, Kentucky) is an Academy Award winning American actress. ...

Scenic landmarks, stores and locations

Aquinnah

• Gay Head cliffs
• Gay Head Lighthouse

  Aquinnah is a town, formerly known as Gay Head, located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 344 at the 2000 census. ...

Chilmark

• Menemsha Harbor (sunset location of the island)
• Menemsha Pond (great for sailing or kayaking)
• the Bite ( #10 in nation fry shack)
• Remnants of the JAWS boats
• Lucy Vincent Beach (LVB)
• Arabella Boat tours
• Larsens Fish Market
• The Homeport
• Chilmark Public School
• Squid row
• Menemsha Deli
• The Galley
• Chilmark Chocolates
• Chilmark Pond
• Menemsha Blues
• Allen Farm Sheep and Wool

Edgartown

Edgartown Lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard at dawn, one of five lighthouses on the island. It is located at the opening of Edgartown harbor. It can be viewed by walking north on North Water Street to an area adjacent to the Harborview Inn. Click on photo to enlarge.

The On Time Ferry (also known as the Chappy Ferry) is so named not because there is no schedule but because the boats running the route were built "on time" without delays in construction. The trip between Martha's Vineyard and Chappaquiddick takes 2-3 minutes. Click on photo to enlarge.

Edgartown is an old whaling town that re-emerged in the 20th century as a summer sailing and beach town. It is characterized by 18th and 19th century homes, including well-preserved whaling captains' homes, unique historic churches, and a small-town ambiance. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 955 KB) Photo of Edgartown light at dawn, taken in July 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 955 KB) Photo of Edgartown light at dawn, taken in July 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 2276 KB) This is the Ontime or Chappy ferry. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 2276 KB) This is the Ontime or Chappy ferry. ...

• Edgartown Lighthouse
• The Wharf
• The Wharf Restaurant
• Mad Martha's Ice Cream
• Edgartown Public School (Grades K-8)
• Murdick's Fudge
• Dock Street Cafe
• Outerland (formerly The Hot Tin Roof)
• Entertainment Cinemas
• Edgartown Books
• Aboveground Records
• The Chappy Ferry (as seen in the movie Jaws)
• Edgartown Yacht Club
• Edgartown Harbor
• Edgartown Seafood
• Espresso Love
• The Bike Shop
• Mad Max Boat Tours
• The Seafood Shanty
• The Sun Dog
• Letoile Restaurant

Katama (part of Edgartown)

• South Beach

South Beach at Katama, Edgartown, MA. This is an open ocean beach with waves that range from docile to large and dangerous. Spectacular beach, but children must be watched closely because of wave action. Click on photo to enlarge.

Aerial view of South Beach at Katama on Martha's Vineyard (1998) on a perfect beach day. Click on photo to enlarge.

A beach runs the entire length of the southern end of Martha's Vineyard. Portions of this beach have been named to represent the locale (Lucy Vincent Beach in Chilmark and Long Point in Tisbury). The name "South Beach" generally refers to a stretch of this larger beach that is demarcated by Herring Creek Road on the west and Katama Road on the east. This stretch of beach is open to the public, has lifeguards during the season, and is easily accessible by car. Some would also include the stretch from Katama Road to the beginning of Chappaquiddick Island. On a sunny mid-summer day the beach is stunning — a combination of crashing surf (that may be dangerous for children if the waves are high), warm sand, and a cool ocean breeze. The combined effect draws beachgoers back year after year. It is a beach to be enjoyed most in July, August, and September when the water warms to a tolerable level. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 306 KB) South Beach at Katama, Edgartown, MA. This is an open ocean beach with waves that range from docile to large and dangerous. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 306 KB) South Beach at Katama, Edgartown, MA. This is an open ocean beach with waves that range from docile to large and dangerous. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1536x1002, 2554 KB) Aerial view of South Beach on Marthas Vineyard Island. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1536x1002, 2554 KB) Aerial view of South Beach on Marthas Vineyard Island. ...

• Right Fork Diner at the Edgartown (Katama) Air Field

The "Right Fork Diner" is the most recent name for the diner at the Edgartown Air Field. The restaurant is located immediately adjacent to the airfield and the parade of planes taxiing by the restaurant has provided endless entertainment for generations of children. The addition of a biplane ride from Classic Aviators and the soaring glider rides concession in the 1980s (or so) added another level of entertainment.

• Katama General Store

This small store on Katama Road on the way to the beach has morphed from a farm/feed store into a small general store focusing on essential food/pharmacy items without disrupting the flavor of the farm-like building. Immediately adjacent to the Katama General Store is the American Legion where bingo can be played every Thursday evening.

• Mattakesett

Mattakesett refers to the southern most portion of Katama immediately adjacent to the beach. Although the term is historical, in recent times it has been most commonly associated with a resort named "Mattakesett", first developed in the mid-1970s. A second resort hotel named "Winnetu" was opened in the same area in 2001. The term is also used in the street "Mattakesett Way" (runs along the east side of Katama Airpark and The Right Fork Diner to Navy Way (see aerial photo in Katama Airpark) and "Mattakesett Herring Creek" (a small tidal creek running parallel to South Beach that functioned as a herring run earlier in the 20th century). Katama Airpark, (IATA: 1B2, ICAO: K1B2) in Edgartown, Massachusetts, is a public airport owned by the Town of Edgartown. ... Katama Airpark, (IATA: 1B2, ICAO: K1B2) in Edgartown, Massachusetts, is a public airport owned by the Town of Edgartown. ...

• Katama Airpark

Katama Airpark (508-627-9018) is a public airport owned by the Town of Edgartown, Massachusetts. It has three runways, averages 22 flights per day, and has approximately four aircraft based on its field.[1] Katama Airpark, (IATA: 1B2, ICAO: K1B2) in Edgartown, Massachusetts, is a public airport owned by the Town of Edgartown. ...

Aerial view of Katama (Edgartown) airfield in Edgartown, MA. Photo shows the airfield on the left and Katama Farm on the right. South Beach is at the bottom of the photo. The road running vertically in the center of the photo is Mattakesett Way, separating the airfield on the left and Katama Farm on the right. The large structure bisected by a strut between the upper and lower wing of the airplane is the Winnetu Resort[1]. Click on photo to enlarge.

During World War II, Martha's Vineyard functioned as an outer defense and a training facility for gunnery and pilots. In addition to the main Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY), there was a small airport at Katama near a gunnery practice area at the beach. Following WW II this airport was purchased by Steven Gentle who ran the Katama Airpark until the 1980s when it was purchased with state conservation funds. It is currently managed by the municipal government of Edgartown. It is the quintessential grass airfield — no fancy navigation equipment. Its uniqueness lies in the ability to use a small plane to fly to the beach. It is possible to land and park the plane no more than 100 feet from the spectacular South Beach. During the season (roughly May 31 to Labor Day), there are biplane and glider rides available. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 342 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Aerial view of Katama (Edgartown) airfield in Edgartown, MA. Photo shows the airfield on the left and Katama Farm on the right. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 342 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Aerial view of Katama (Edgartown) airfield in Edgartown, MA. Photo shows the airfield on the left and Katama Farm on the right. ...

• The Farm Institute

The Farm Institute operates from two large farms in Katama. The first, Katama Farm (pictured in aerial view of Katama Airpark), was purchased by the town of Edgartown with state conservation funds. The second, Herring Creek Farm, was purchased from its original owners after a long and protracted legal battle. Both are within a half mile of South Beach. The Farm Institutes's mission is to reconnect children and the community with farming. Through a variety of programs centered around farming, they have provided a rural farming experience for many children since its creation in 2000.[3] Katama Airpark, (IATA: 1B2, ICAO: K1B2) in Edgartown, Massachusetts, is a public airport owned by the Town of Edgartown. ...

• The Boat Landing

The Town of Edgartown maintains a boat launch on Edgartown Bay Road in the southeast corner of Katama. Boats are launched into Katama Bay and exit to the ocean through Edgartown Harbor to the north. The boat landing is rarely crowded and accommodates 20-foot boats from an inclined ramp. (Directions: Take Katama Road south from Edgartown center almost to the beach. Turn left on Edgartown Bay Road. The ramp is approximately 3/4 of a mile on the right.)

• Katama Bay (popular for kayaking)

Katama Bay is defined by the eastern end of Martha's Vineyard Island, the western end of Chappaquiddick Island, and on the south by a barrier beach. The tide replenishes Katama Bay through Edgartown Harbor to the north.

Oak Bluffs

A gingerbread house at Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard.

• The Flying Horses Carousel (The oldest operating carousel in the United States)
• The Island and Strand Movie theatres
• Gingerbread Cottages
• Oak Bluffs Harbor (Seasonal transport to Hyannis, MA; Nantucket, MA & Point Judith, RI) (Transport to Falmouth, MA)
• Martha's Vineyard Ferry dock (Transport to Woods Hole, MA & New Bedford, MA)
• Oak Bluffs Public Library
• Martha's Vineyard Regional Hight School (Grades 9-12)
• Oak Bluffs Public School (Grades K-8)
• East Chop Lighthouse
• Tabernacle
• Gazebo
• Hiawatha Park
• Vierra Park
• Dick's bait and tackle
• Anderson's Bike Shop
• Nancy's Restaurant
• Farm Neck Golf Course
• Mocha Motts Coffee Shop
• Sharky's Cantina http://www.sharkyscantina.com/
• Oyster Bar Grill http://www.oysterbargrillmv.com
• Circuit Ave.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 68 KB) Summary Kaushik Ghose, Digital photo, Marthas Vineyard, Gingerbread House, Cape Cod, MA, USA Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 68 KB) Summary Kaushik Ghose, Digital photo, Marthas Vineyard, Gingerbread House, Cape Cod, MA, USA Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby grant the permission to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the... The Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest operating platform carousel in America. ...

Vineyard Haven

• The Black Dog Tavern
• Tisbury Public School (Grades K-8)
• The Toy Box
• The Mansion House
• Capawock Movie Theatre
• The Green Room
• The Boneyard
• Bunch of Grapes Bookstore
• Mocha Motts Coffee Shop

West Tisbury

• Alley's General Store
• Summer IMPers performances at the Grange Hall
• Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School (Grades K-12)
• West Tisbury School (Grades K-8)
• Lambert's Cove Beach (LCB)

Annual events !

All Towns

• Annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby (Sept. 15 - Oct. 15)

Edgartown

• 4th of July parade and fireworks
• Edgartown Ghost Tour
• 12 Meter Boat Race at the Edgartown Yacht Club (Featuring many winning America's Cup boats)

The Americas Cup trophy The Americas Cup is the most famous and most prestigious regatta in the sport of sailing, and the oldest active trophy in international sport, predating the FA Cup by two decades and the Modern Olympics by 45 years. ...

Tisbury

• Last Day/First Night. Many events and fireworks.
• Tisbury Street Fair
• Santa arrives on the ferry every December.

Oak Bluffs

• Illumination Night
• Oak Bluffs Harbour Festival
• August fireworks
• Oak Bluffs Ghost Tour
• 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration, P.A. Club, June 23rd, 2007
• Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament (covered on ESPN)
• Chili Festival
• Annual VFW Fluke Derby

West Tisbury

• The Agricultural Fair
• Farmer's Market
• Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Fair every August.

Tourism

The Vineyard grew as a tourist destination primarily because of its very pleasant summer weather (during summers, the temperature rarely breaks 90°F) and many beautiful beaches.

Wealthy Boston sea captains and merchant traders formerly created estates on Martha's Vineyard with their trading profits. Today, the Vineyard has become one of the Northeast's most prominent summering havens, having attracted celebrities like The Clintons, Tom Welling, Warren Buffett, Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ted Danson and Mary Steenbergen, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Peter Simon, Alfred Eisenstadt, Dan Aykroyd , John Belushi, and Donna Dixon, Spike Lee, Michael J. Fox, William F. Buckley, Alan Dershowitz, former US Senator Bill Bradley, Diana Ross, Beverly Sills, Art Buchwald, Walter Cronkite, Dorothy West, Mike Wallace, David Letterman, Jay-Z, David McCullough, the late Katherine Graham, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Patricia Neal, Luke and Owen Wilson, Tom Hanks, and Meg Ryan. Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... The U.S. Northeast is a region of the United States of America defined by the US Census Bureau. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... Thomas John Patrick Welling (born April 26, 1977 in Putnam Valley, New York) is an American actor and former male fashion model, most famous for playing Clark Kent on the current television series Smallville. ... Warren Buffett (b. ... Jacob Benjamin Jake Gyllenhaal[2] (born December 19, 1980) is an Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning American actor. ... Maggie Ruth Gyllenhaal (born November 16, 1977) is an American actress. ... Ted Danson (born Edward Bridge Danson III on December 29, 1947) is an American actor most notable for his television work, and specifically, for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. ... Mary Steenburgen today. ... Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1945 in New York City) is an Academy Award, Golden Globe and two-time Grammy Award winning American musician who emerged as one of the leading lights of the early 1970s singer-songwriter movement. ... James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in Belmont, Massachusetts. ... bid tv Auctioneer, Peter Simon awaits the next lot. ... Eisenstaedts magnum opus, the V-J Day kiss. ... Daniel Edward Aykroyd CM (born July 1, 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) is an Academy Award-nominated Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, and musician. ... John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982) was an Emmy Award-winning American actor, comedian and singer, most notable for his work on Saturday Night Live, National Lampoons Animal House and The Blues Brothers. ... Donna Dixon was an actress on the 1980s sitcom Bosom Buddies. ... This section has been identified as trivia. ... For other persons named Michael Fox, see Michael Fox (disambiguation). ... William Francis Buckley Jr. ... Alan Morton Dershowitz (born September 1, 1938) is a Jewish-American political figure and criminal law professor at Harvard Law School, known for his extensive published works, support for Zionism and Israel and work as an attorney in several high-profile law cases. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross[1] on March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress, whose musical repertoire spans R&B, soul, disco, and pop. ... Beverly Sills (born Belle Miriam Silverman on May 25, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York) was perhaps the best-known American opera singer in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Art Buchwald Arthur Buchwald (October 20, 1925 – January 18, 2007) was an American humorist best known for his long-running column that he wrote in The Washington Post newspaper, which in turn was carried as a syndicated column in many other newspapers. ... Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. ... Dorothy West (June 2, 1907 - August 16, 1998) was a novelist and short story writer who was part of the Harlem Renaissance. ... Mike Wallace can refer to: Mike Wallace, the long-time television correspondent for CBS. Mike Wallace, the historian. ... David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and Indy race car owner. ... David McCullough (mÉ™-kÅ­lÉ™) (born July 7, 1933) is an American historian and bestselling author. ... Katharine Graham (June 16, 1917 – July 17, 2001) was the head of The Washington Post newspaper for more than two decades, overseeing its most famous period, the Watergate coverage that helped bring down President Richard Nixon. ... Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (July 28, 1929 – May 19, 1994) was the wife of John F. Kennedy from 1953 to 1963 and was known as Jacqueline Kennedy or Jackie Kennedy. ... Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances;[2] née Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. ... Patricia Neal (born January 20, 1926, Packard, Kentucky) is an Academy Award winning American actress. ...

Grammy Award-Winning music artist Sheryl Crow had album cover stills taken here. A collection of these photos can be seen in her The Very Best of Sheryl Crow CD booklet. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is a nine-time Grammy winning American blues rock singer, guitarist, bassist, and songwriter. ... The Very Best of Sheryl Crow is a greatest hits album by American singer/songwriter Sheryl Crow, released in 2003 (see 2003 in music). ...

Martha's Vineyard is one of the traditional resorts of U.S.'s African-American upper class. Due to a long history of racial harmony on the island, many black families started vacationing there a century ago. The center of black culture on Martha's Vineyard is the town of Oak Bluffs, where many African American celebrities own houses. Its main beach has been dubbed "The Inkwell" by African-American residents. Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ... Oak Bluffs is a town located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts. ... The Inkwell is a 1994 romance-comedy-drama film, directed by Matty Rich. ...

The island now boasts a year-round population of about 15,000 people in six towns; in summer, the population swells to 100,000 residents, with more than 25,000 additional visitors coming and going on ferries every day. The most crowded weekend is July 4. In general, the summer season runs from June to the end of August, correlating with the months most American children are not in school. Martha's Vineyard Airport links the island to the mainland with scheduled air carrier service. The easiest way to travel to Martha's Vineyard if you are flying would be to fly into the Providence Airport and then connect to the Martha's Vineyard Fast Ferry in Quonset point, North Kingstown, Rhode Island. They have a shuttle service which operates between their ferry terminal and the Providence Airport. The ferryboat Dongan Hills, filled with commuters, about to dock at a New York City pier, ca. ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Marthas Vineyard Airport (IATA: MVY, ICAO: KMVY) is a public airport located in the middle of the island of Marthas Vineyard, south of Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. ...

The Vineyard is home to Troubled Shores, a theater company that teaches and performs comedy improv along with other types of theater. Its improv troupe, WIMP, held their last show on July 6, 2005. The IMPers, a teenage improv troup, perform regularly. Troubled Shores also runs a summer theater camp, known as IMP All Things Theater Camp. The Vineyard's only Equity theatre is The Vineyard Playhouse located in Vineyard Haven. During the summers the theatre converts from community based productions to a SPT (Small Professional Theatre) approved space featuring equity actors from around the country. The Troubled Shores logo Troubled Shores, Inc. ... The Actors Equity Association (commonly simply Equity) is the trade union of American theatrical performers and stage managers. ...

The island has been designated an official American Viticultural Area and is home to the winemaker Chicama Vineyards in West Tisbury. An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a delimited grape-growing region distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the United States governments Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). ...

Other popular attractions include the annual Illumination festival in Oak Bluffs; Katama Farm in Tisbury; and the Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs, the oldest carousel in the United States.

Genetic deafness and sign language

A high rate of genetic deafness was documented in Martha's Vineyard for almost two centuries. The island's deaf heritage cannot be traced to one common ancestor and is thought to have originated in the Weald, a region in the English county of Kent, prior to immigration. Researcher Nora Groce estimates that by the late 1800s, 1 in 155 people on the Vineyard was born deaf (0.7 percent), almost 20 times the estimate for the nation at large (1 in 2,730, or 0.04 percent).^[4] A weald once meant a dense forest, especially the famous great wood once stretching far beyond the ancient counties of Sussex and Kent, England, where this country of smaller woods is still called the Weald. ... coat of Arms of Kent For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation). ...

Mixed marriages between deaf and hearing spouses comprised 65% of all deaf marriages in the late nineteenth century, (higher than the US average of 20%)^[5] and Martha's Vineyard Sign Language was commonly used by hearing residents as well as deaf ones until the middle of the twentieth century.^[6] This allowed deaf residents to smoothly integrate into society. Marthas Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) is a sign language (now extinct), once widely used on the island of Marthas Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts, U.S., from the early 18th century to the mid 20th century. ...

In the twentieth century, tourism became a mainstay in the island economy. However, jobs in tourism were not as deaf-friendly as fishing and farming had been. Consequently, as intermarriage and further migration joined the people of Martha's Vineyard to the mainland, the island community more and more resembled the wider community there.

The last deaf person born into the island's sign language tradition, Katie West, died in 1952, but a few elderly residents were able to recall MVSL as recently as the 1980s when research into the language began. Marthas Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) is a sign language (now extinct), once widely used on the island of Marthas Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts, U.S, from the early 18th century to the late 20th century. ...

Education

Martha's Vineyard is served by Martha's Vineyard Public Schools.

Five of the six towns have their own elementary schools, while Aquinnah residents are closest to Chilmark's elementary school.

Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, which is located in Oak Bluffs, serves the entire island. The principal is Margaret Regan. Marthas Vineyard Regional High School is the one of the two public schools in Oak Bluffs on the island of Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States. ... Oak Bluffs is a town located on Marthas Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts. ...

See also

• Dukes County, Massachusetts (for towns and villages of Martha's Vineyard)
  • Elizabeth Islands
    • Cuttyhunk
    • Naushon Island
  • Nomans Land (Massachusetts)
• Martha's Vineyard Regional High School
• Martha's Vineyard Sign Language
• Nantucket Island
• The Steamship Authority
• Martha's Vineyard Fast Ferry

Dukes County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... A street in Ynysybwl, Wales, relatively stereotypical of a small town A town is usually an urban area which is not considered to rank as a city. ... A village is a human settlement commonly found in rural areas. ... The Elizabeth Islands, off the coast of Massachusetts The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of small islands extending southwest from the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the United States. ... An aerial view of the island Cuttyhunk Island is the outermost of the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts, located between Buzzards Bay to the north and Vineyard Sound to the south. ... The Elizabeth Islands, off the coast of Massachusetts Naushon Island, part of the Elizabeth Islands, is seven miles (11 km) long, just off (SW of) Cape Cod, and four statute miles (6 km) NW of Marthas Vineyard. ... 1995 USGS Photograph of Nomans Land Island Nomans Land is an uninhabited island 628 acres (2. ... Marthas Vineyard Regional High School is the one of the two public schools in Oak Bluffs on the island of Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, United States. ... Marthas Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) is a sign language (now extinct), once widely used on the island of Marthas Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts, U.S., from the early 18th century to the mid 20th century. ... Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, formed of glacial moraine. ... The Woods Hole, Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (known more briefly as The Steamship Authority) operates ferries in Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts, United States. ...

References

1. ^ Charles Edward Banks, M.D.. The History of Martha's Vineyard. Published by George H. Dean: Boston (1911), Volume I, pg. 73
2. ^ George R. Stewart. Names on the Land. Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston (1967), pg. 345
3. ^ Milton Mazer, M.D. People and Predicaments: Of Life and Distress on Martha’s Vineyard. Published by Harvard University Press (1976), Cambridge, MA.
4. ^ Groce, Nora Ellen (1985). Everyone here spoke sign language: Hereditary deafness on Martha's Vineyard, Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-27040-1
5. ^ Lane, Harlan L., Richard C. Pillard and Mary French. Origins of the American Deaf-World: Assimilating and Differentiating Societies and Their Relation to Genetic Patterning. Sign Language Studies 1.1 (2000) 17-44. Online. Accessed via Project Muse on April 23, 2006
6. ^ Bahan, B., and J. Poole-Nash. "The Signing Community on Martha's Vineyard". Unpublished address to the Conference on Deaf Studies IV. Haverhill, Mass. 1995. Quoted in Lane 28

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Counties	Barnstable | Berkshire | Bristol | Dukes | Essex | Franklin | Hampden | Hampshire | Middlesex | Nantucket | Norfolk | Plymouth | Suffolk | Worcester This is a list of Massachusetts counties: Massachusetts counties Barnstable County: one of three original counties created in the Plymouth Colony in 1685. ... Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Berkshire County is a county located in on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Bristol County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Dukes County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the state of Massachusetts. ... Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Hampden County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Hampshire County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Middlesex County is a county located in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Nantucket County Settled 1641 Incorporated 1671 Government type Open town meeting Area    - Town  105. ... Norfolk County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Suffolk County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ... Worcester County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. ...
Cities	Agawam | Amesbury | Attleboro | Barnstable | Beverly | Boston | Brockton | Cambridge | Chelsea | Chicopee | Easthampton | Everett | Fall River | Fitchburg | Franklin | Gardner | Gloucester | Greenfield | Haverhill | Holyoke | Lawrence | Leominster | Lowell | Lynn | Malden | Marlborough | Medford | Melrose | Methuen | New Bedford | Newburyport | Newton | North Adams | Northampton | Peabody | Pittsfield | Quincy | Revere | Salem | Springfield | Somerville | Southbridge | Taunton | Waltham | Watertown | West Springfield | Westfield | Weymouth | Woburn | Worcester This is a complete list of cities in Massachusetts. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Hampden County Settled 1635 Incorporated 1855 Government Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Richard A. Cohen (D) Area  - City  24. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Essex County Settled 1654 Incorporated 1668 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Thatcher W. Kezer III Area  - City  13. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Bristol County Settled 1634 Incorporated 1694 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Kevin Dumas Area  - City  28. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Barnstable County Settled 1637 Incorporated 1638 Government  - Type Council-manager city  - Town    Manager John C. Klimm Area  - City  76. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Essex County Settled 1626 Incorporated 1626 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor William Scanlon, Jr. ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts, USA Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Suffolk County Government  - Mayor Thomas M. Menino (D) Area  - City  89. ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Plymouth County Settled 1700 Incorporated 1821 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor James E. Harrington (D) Area  - City  21. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: , Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1630 Incorporated 1636 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Kenneth Reeves (D) Area  - City  7. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Suffolk County Settled 1624 Incorporated 1739 Government  - Type Council-manager city  - City Manager Jay Ash Area  - City  2. ...   Settled: 1652 â€“ Incorporated: 1848 Zip Code(s): 01013, 01020, 01021 â€“ Area Code(s): 413 Official website: http://www. ...   The Town of Easthampton is a city[1] in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Everett is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts near Boston. ... The Fall River skyline, as seen from Somerset. ...   Nickname: River City Settled: 1730 â€“ Incorporated: 1764 Zip Code(s): 01420 â€“ Area Code(s): 351 / 978 Official website: http://www. ... The Town of Franklin is a city[1] in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Settled: 1764 â€“ Incorporated: 1785 Zip Code(s): 01440 â€“ Area Code(s): 351 / 978 Official website: http://www. ... Settled: 1623 â€“ Incorporated: 1642 Zip Code(s): 01930 â€“ Area Code(s): 351 / 978 Official website: http://www. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Franklin County Settled 1686 Incorporated 1775 Government  - Type Mayor-council city Area  - City  21. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Essex County Settled 1640 Incorporated 1641 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor James J. Fiorentini Area  - City  35. ... See Holyoke, Colorado for the city in Colorado. ...   Settled: 1655 â€“ Incorporated: 1847 Zip Code(s): 01840 â€“ Area Code(s): 351 / 978 Official website: http://www. ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Worcester County Settled 1653 Incorporated 1740 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella  - City Council Dennis A. Rosa John Dombrowski James Lanciani, Jr Virginia Tocci David E. Rowlands (Ward 1) Wayne A. Nickel (Ward 2) Claire M... Nickname: Motto: Art is the Handmaid of Human Good Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1653 Incorporated 1826 A city 1836 Government  - Type Manager-City council  - Mayor William F. Martin, Jr. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Essex County Settled 1629 Incorporated 1850 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Chip Clancy Area  - City  13. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1640 Incorporated 1649 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Richard C. Howard Area  - City  5. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1630 Incorporated 1630 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Michael J. McGlynn Area  - City  8. ... Melrose is a city located in the Greater Boston metropolitan area and Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Methuen is a city[1] in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. ... New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, located about 56 miles (90 kilometers) south of Boston, 31 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about 8 miles (13 kilometers) east of Fall River. ... Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, 38 miles (61 km) northeast of Boston. ... Nickname: The Garden City Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1639 Incorporated 1688 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor David B. Cohen (Dem) Area  - City  18. ... North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Hampshire County Settled 1654 Incorporated 1656 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Mary Clare Higgins Area  - City  35. ... Peabody is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Pittsfield redirects here. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Norfolk County Settled 1625 Incorporated 1792 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor William J. Phelan Area  - City  26. ... Revere is a city located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts and borders Winthrop, East Boston and Chelsea to the south, Everett and Malden to the west, Saugus and Lynn to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. ...   Nickname: Witch City Settled: 1626 â€“ Incorporated: 1626 Zip Code(s): 01970 â€“ Area Code(s): 351 / 978 Official website: http://www. ... Nickname: City of Homes Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Hampden County Settled 1636 Incorporated 1636 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Charles Ryan (D) Area  - City  33. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1630 Incorporated 1842 Government  - Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone Area  - City  4. ... The Town of Southbridge is a city[1] in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. ...   Settled: 1638 â€“ Incorporated: 1639 Zip Code(s): 02718, 02780, 02783 â€“ Area Code(s): 508 / 774 Official website: http://www. ...   Often called the true birthplace of the industrial revolution, Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Middlesex County Settled 1630 Incorporated 1630 Government  - Type Town Council  - City Manager Michael J. Driscoll Area  - City  4. ... The Town of West Springfield (familiarly known as West Side) is a city[1] in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. ... Nickname: Coordinates: Country United States of America State Massachusetts Counties Hampden County Settled 1660 Incorporated (town) May 19, 1669 Incorporated (city) November 2, 1920 Government  - Mayor Richard K. Sullivan Jr. ... Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Norfolk County Settled 1630 Incorporated 1635 Government Type Mayor-council city  - Mayor David M. Madden (D) Area  - City  21. ... Benjamin Thompson House, Woburn, Massachusetts. ... Nickname: Location in Massachusetts Coordinates: Country United States State Massachusetts County Worcester County Settled 1673 Incorporated 1684 Government  - Type Council-manager also known as Plan E  - City Manager Michael V. OBrien  - Mayor Konstantina B. Lukes  - City Council Dennis L. Irish Michael C. Perotto Joseph M. Petty Gary Rosen Kathleen...
Topics	Culture | Geography | Government | History | Images | Towns | Villages This is the History of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a state in the United States. ... The following is a list of towns in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. ... This is a list of villages in Massachusetts, arranged alphabetically. ...

Coordinates: 41°24′N, 70°37′W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...