Dukes County, Massachusetts


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 32 named islands, the largest of which is Martha's Vineyard. It also includes Chappaquiddick Island, 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. 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".

Geography

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

Named Islands

The climate of Dukes County is now humid subtropical

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%.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010% 2010
White alone 14,27516,23086.33%78.79%
Black or African American alone 4777952.88%3.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 1752021.06%0.98%
Asian alone 1231840.74%0.89%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone 490.02%0.04%
Other race alone 5717013.45%3.40%
Mixed race or Multiracial 5261,9453.18%9.44%
Hispanic or Latino 3845342.32%2.59%
Total16,53520,600100.00%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.
RankTownPer capita
income		Median
household
income		Median
family
income		PopulationNumber of
households
1ChilmarkTown$45,210$59,583$79,688801302
2EdgartownTown$38,083$74,214$82,5834,0341,466
3West TisburyTown$36,592$75,759$87,5662,506926
MassachusettsState$35,051$65,981$83,3716,512,2272,522,409
Dukes CountyCounty$33,228$69,760$82,65916,3535,568
Vineyard HavenCDP$30,298$77,935$92,1122,465652
4GosnoldTown$29,511$52,813$61,25018363
5TisburyTown$29,384$54,762$60,5213,9141,290
6Oak BluffsTown$29,117$78,890$84,8464,4491,429
United StatesCountry$27,915$52,762$64,293306,603,772114,761,359
7AquinnahTown$25,512$82,500$106,25046692