Island information
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Island Information
Where is Martha’s Vineyard? Martha's Vineyard is a small Massachusetts Island located just 7 miles (11k) off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. How big is Martha’s Vineyard? Roughly triangular-shaped with its base the straight south shore, and northern points facing Cape Cod. It is 9 miles (12.8k) wide and 26 miles (40k) long at its furthest points; the total land area is approximately 96 square miles. |
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Martha's Vineyard has a total of 124.6 miles of tidal shoreline spread over six small towns, and approximately one-third of the Island’s land mass is protected – meaning you’ll never find big pink hotels on our beaches, and the miles of hiking and biking trails will invite you to go for a spin! MAP
Who is Martha?
Originally called Noepe, or “land between the streams” by the original people, members of the Wampanoag Native American Tribe, the island was renamed in 1602 by a British sailor named Bartholomew Gosnold, who named it after his daughter Martha, and the viney undergrowth found along the coast. Sadly, there are no vineyards on Martha’s Vineyard. But you are very welcome to console yourself at one of our fabulous micro-breweries.
Population
The population changes dramatically from one season to the next. The year-round population is close to 17,000, and in the summer there can be as much as 200,000 people on the Island.
For demographic information, please visit the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s website.
Climate
Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Martha’s Vineyard enjoys a very temperate climate. In Summer, the Island is typically 8-12 degrees cooler than mainland Massachusetts, and in Winter, between 8-12 degrees warmer. Spring and Autumn are nearly on par with the rest of the State, and foliage arrives late, typically late October to early November.
Average Temperatures
December & January 54-40 F 12-4 C
April & May 56-65 F 13-18 C
July & August 82-79 F 27-26 C
September & October 77-63 F 23-17 C
What makes Martha's Vineyard such a special place?
Authenticity: No chain stores, restaurants or hotels here; rather, a perfect place for entrepreneurs, and to find one-of-a-kind shopping, dining and lodging.
Lifestyle: A vibrant arts and culture scene means that year round you can enjoy sophisticated experiences such as galleries, live music, theatre, dance and exciting speakers series in a wonderfully casual environment.
Romance: If your idea of romance is being out all day, enjoying the robust natural beauty in any number of ways, and then enjoying a fabulous meal or delightful entertainment or a cozy blanket on the beach for sunset, then you can’t help but fall in love.
Ahh, the FOOD! 50 local farms, plentiful oceans and local commitment to sustainable agriculture means whether you’re at a picnic table or the finest restaurant, you will enjoy wonderful locally grown, made or caught food prepared with you in mind. Farmers Markets operate Summer and throughout the year; walking taste tours operate in Spring and Autumn, curated foodie tours are available at Farm.Field.Sea and the bounty of the oceans and the harvests invite you to celebrate nearly every weekend September – October.
Casualness: Nearly every native has a great story to tell about being an extra in JAWS or meeting President Clinton; Dressing up means exchanging your flip-flops for sandals; You swear you just passed a celebrity on the bike path; Island time reminds you of college time (anything within 15 minutes is “on time”); What's a tie?
