News Archives - The Martha's Vineyard Times (2024)

FAQs

What was the original name of Martha's Vineyard? ›

Originally called Noepe, or “land between the streams” by the indigenous inhabitants of the Wampanoag Native American Tribe, the Island was renamed in 1602 by a British explorer named Bartholomew Gosnold, who named it after his daughter Martha and the viney undergrowth found along the coast.

The first Black people who came to the island were enslaved, servants, and – in the mid 1800s – whalers. (The Northeast was a prominent center of the whale oil trade at the time.) After the economy shifted towards more efficient forms of energy, Martha's Vineyard was reborn as a vacation destination.

During the height of summer, the average number of people on the island swells from its normal population of 15,000 to around 100,000. While the small island can feel a tad cramped and restaurant reservations may be hard to come by, summer on Martha's Vineyard often has the exuberant air of a neverending clambake.

Barack Obama. Many African American residents and vacationers are concentrated in the town of Oak Bluffs on the northern side of the island.

The oldest settlement on the island, Edgartown dates from 1642 and was incorporated in 1671 and named for Edgar, son of James II of England; the town had previously been called Nunnepog (Algonquian for “Fresh Pond”). In the 18th century Edgartown was the prosperous home port of many whaling vessels.

The town on Martha's Vineyard with the highest concentration of millionaires is called "Edgartown". They're the only ones who can. How many millionaires are on Martha's Vineyard? 50 or so.

Santa Monica, California, also had an “Inkwell Beach” (1900–60)—a two-city-block area south of its pier where Black beachgoers were relegated by whites who wanted to contain the Black population. Historical research suggests that the name “Inkwell” was used pejoratively by whites in California (paywalled).

Most of the towns in Martha's Vineyard are about 90% white, according to the local government's statistical analysis of the region. Hispanics make up about 2% of the population.

In recent years, Martha's Vineyard was given the nickname of “The Black Hamptons,” due to its popularity as a place for wealthy African-Americans to vacation.

Does anyone live on Martha's Vineyard year round? ›

The island's year-round population has considerably increased since the 1960s. In the 2023 Martha's Vineyard Commission report, the year-round population was 20,530, an increase from 16,460 in 2010. The summer population swells to more than 200,000 people.

Weather-wise, it's best to visit Martha's Vineyard in the spring (April, May) or fall (September, October). Average temperatures for the spring range from 13-20 degrees Celsius and from 18-24 degrees Celsius in the fall. Generally you can guesstimate that Martha's Vineyard will be around 10 degrees (Fahrenheit?)

Bartholomew Gosnold charted Martha's Vineyard for the British Crown in 1602 and is credited with naming it, supposedly after his infant daughter or mother-in-law (or both) and the wild grapes he found growing in profusion.

Yet, Martha's Vineyard is primarily known as a summer enclave for many of America's so-called Black elites. The tradition of Black middle-class and upper-middle-class families vacationing on the island began in the 1800s and continues today, with the largest percentage congregating in Oak Bluffs.

Martha's Vineyard is renowned for its stunning scenery – with rolling hills, wildflower fields, and miles of pristine coastline. It also has some of the best seafood restaurants in New England and numerous activities and attractions that cater to all types of interests.

The Martha's Vineyard Wampanoags called the island Noepe, meaning "Dry Land amid Waters," a prescient name given their traditional endeavors of farming and fishing.

Nantucket Island “The Faraway Land” as translated from the language of the native Wampanoag tribe is located 30 miles off the south coast of Cape Cod.

History. West Tisbury was first settled by English settlers in 1669 as part of the town of Tisbury. The town was officially incorporated in 1892, the last town on Martha's Vineyard to be incorporated. Despite its separation from Tisbury, the original settlement of the town is still located in West Tisbury.