Cape Cod MA Mass. - Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts

Cape Cod Map

Martha's Vineyard Map

Beaches

Boat Ramps

Cape Cod Business Directory
3000+ Cape Cod Web Sites
Travel Vacation Business

Cape Cod Lodging
Hotels Motels Resorts
Bed & Breakfasts Inns
Cottages Condos
Houses for Rent

Real Estate Realtors Rentals
Restaurants Dining

Bookmark
CapeLinks

Home

Martha's Vineyard consists of five towns:
 Aquinnah Chilmark Oak Bluffs Tisbury West Tisbury

Aquinnah

Located on the western tip of Martha's Vineyard, an island 20 miles long and 10 miles wide situated five miles south of the southwest tip of Cape Cod. Aquinnah (previously knows as Gay Head) is bordered by Chilmark on the east and the Atlantic Ocean on the north, west, and south.

The Town of Chilmark is a small rural community located toward the western end of the island of Martha's Vineyard. Most of its 10,639 acres are devoted to residential and agricultural use. The center of town houses a small elementary schoolhouse, originally a one-room school built circa 1850 and still in use for younger grades, a public library, originally a house built in 1790, a town hall built circa 1897, and a handsome church built in 1843. These buildings have all had additions during recent years.

Within Chilmark is a fishing village named Menemsha. During the spring, summer and fall, fishing vessels come in with their catches and fresh seafood can be purchased there. The harbor, in addition to a commercial pier where fishing vessels tie up, has a small yacht marina that is extremely popular during the summer months. Menemsha is also the home of a Coast Guard Station.

Chilmark is particularly welcoming in the fall of the year. The busy tourist season is over, the weather is beautiful and the rolling hills, woodlands and lovely panoramic ocean views make the town an extraordinary place to visit.

Located on Martha's Vineyard, an island 20 miles long and 10 miles wide situated five miles south of the southwest tip of Cape Cod. Chilmark is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the north, northeast, and south; West Tisbury on the west; and Gay Head on the southeast.

Oak Bluffs

Located on the northern shore of Martha's Vineyard, an island 20 miles long and 10 miles wide situated five miles south of the southwest tip of Cape Cod. Oak Bluffs is bordered by Nantucket Sound on the north and east, Edgartown on the south, and Tisbury on the west and northwest.

The Town of Tisbury is a resort community on the north shore of Martha's Vineyard. In 1663, Indians sold West Chop to whites and the first permanent European settlement was made in 1674, although European explorers, traders and fishermen had roamed the area from early in the 16th century. Gosnold, among other explorers, recorded his impressions during a voyage in 1602. The area abounded in shellfish, striped bass, bluefish and swordfish and drew Indians as well as Europeans for offshore fishing as well as to the massive herring runs.

Early settlers relied on agriculture, grazing and raising hay for cattle but the town grew very slowly. By 1700 there were only three families in Tisbury with a total of 27 people; in 1775 there were only 45 families with 225 people. In 1787 there were 21 licensed inn holders, again clearly servicing a transient population much larger than the permanent one and certainly foreshadowing the town's modern character. Residents managed the port, fishing boats and salt works and the town built deep water wharves in 1836 as well as two marine railways to facilitate boat handling. The first submarine telegraph line was laid across Vineyard Sound to West Chop in 1856, significantly improving communications for townspeople. Residents fished for whales and operated 125 farms at the end of the 19th century but by the turn of the century, Tisbury had shifted from a maritime to a land economy and were operating a steam corn factory, embossing leather, building harnesses and raising poultry and fruit.

By the 1950's, the town had established its modern character, which relies heavily on the servicing of a growing and affluent summer community which continues to build large summer homes on the island. Fishing and farming are still carried on to a lesser degree.

Located on the northernmost portion of Martha's Vineyard, an island 20 miles long and 10 miles wide situated five miles south of the southwest tip of Cape Cod. Tisbury is bordered by Vineyard Sound on the north, Oak Bluffs on the east and south, and West Tisbury on the west.

West Tisbury

Located on Martha's Vineyard, an island 20 miles long and 10 miles wide situated five miles south of the southwest tip of Cape Cod. West Tisbury is bordered by Tisbury on the northeast, Edgartown on the east, the Atlantic Ocean on the south, Chilmark on the west, and Vineyard Sound on the northwest.

Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce

Barnstable Brewster Bourne Chatham Dennis Eastham Falmouth Harwich Mashpee
Orleans Provincetown Sandwich Truro Wellfleet Yarmouth Martha's Vineyard Nantucket

Real Estate Rentals

Cottages

B & B Inns