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 33 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
left|130px|thumb|An early seal of the Dukes County government, , representing a crude portrayal of grapevines
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".
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.
Named Islands
- Martha's Vineyard
- Chappaquiddick Island, Edgartown
- Skiff's Island, south of Chappaquiddick
- Ferry Boat Island, Tisbury
- Wood Island, Oak Bluffs
- Brush Island, Oak Bluffs
- Gravel Island, Oak Bluffs
- Sarson Island, Oak Bluffs
- Haystack Island, Oak Bluffs
- Allen’s Island, Chilmark
- Edy's Island, Chilmark
- Mayhew Island, Chilmark
- Beach Grass Island, Chilmark
- Strawberry Island, Chilmark
- Great Island, Chilmark
- Nomans Land, Chilmark
- Elizabeth Islands, Gosnold
- Naushon Island
- Nashawena Island
- Pasque Island
- Cuttyhunk Island
- Gosnold Island, Cuttyhunk
- Penikese Island
- Gull Island
- Baret Island
- Rock Island
- Uncatena Island
- Nonamesset Island
- Veckatimest Island
- Monohansett Island
- Cedar Island
- Bull Island
- Pine Island
- Weepecket Islands
- Bachelor Island
Nearby counties
- Barnstable County – northeast
- Plymouth County – north
- Bristol County – northwest
- Nantucket County – east
National protected area
- Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge
Climate
The climate of Dukes County is now humid subtropical (Cfa.)