Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate

In this article “Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate” you will learn everything About Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate including the History of Martha’s Vineyard, the Modern Period at Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate, History of African Americans on Martha’s Vineyard and much more.

About Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate

A popular and rich summer colony, Martha’s Vineyard, sometimes known as the Vineyard, an island in the Northeastern United States that is south of Cape Cod in Dukes County, Massachusetts. The smaller neighboring Chappaquiddick Island is part of Martha’s Vineyard and connected to the Vineyard. The last time this happened was between 2007 and 2015. With a land area of about 96 square miles (250 km2), it is the 58^th largest island in the United States and the third-largest on the East Coast, behind Long Island and Mount Desert Island. Dukes County, which also includes the Elizabeth Islands and the island of Nomans Land, primarily made up of Martha’s Vineyard.

The Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language developed on the island among both Deaf and hearing islanders as a result of the Vineyard having one of the earliest known Deaf communities in the United States. The 2010 census revealed a year-round population of 16,535 people, although the summer population can soar to more than 750,000 people. 14,621 residences on the Vineyard are occupied seasonally in around 56 percent of those homes.

History of Martha’s Vineyard

When Martha’s Vineyard first became colonized, they called it Noepe, which means “place amid the streams” in the Massachusetts language. On the island, there were about 3,000 Wampanoag people in 1642. That number decreased to 313 by 1764.

Thomas Mayhew of Watertown, Massachusetts bought Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Elizabeth Islands from two New England settlers, marking the beginning of European settlement. Because he was cautious to respect their land rights, he maintained good ties with the Wampanoags living on the island. In 1642, at Great Harbor, his son Thomas Mayhew, also named Thomas, founded the first settlement on the island (later Edgartown, Massachusetts).

The 19^th Century

Martha’s Vineyard, like the neighbouring island of Nantucket, rose to prominence in the 19^th century as a result of the whaling trade, in which ships dispatched all over the world to hunt whales for their oil and blubber. When petroleum became discovered in Pennsylvania, a less expensive source of lamp oil became created, and by 1870, the business had almost completely collapsed.

Summer homes started to emerge on the island after the Old Colony railroad reached mainland Woods Hole in 1872, including Harthaven, founded by William H. Hart, and Ocean Heights, later built by renowned island businessman Robert Marsden Laidlaw near Sengekontacket Pond in Edgartown. Despite the island’s financial struggles during the Great Depression, its reputation as a getaway for wealthy visitors and tourists persisted. In the Vineyard, there are still a lot of Wampanoag people living there, mostly in the town of Aquinnah. The Wampanoag language has the phrase “land under the hill” as the definition of Aquinnah.

The larger prairie fowl, an extinct subspecies, formerly a widespread game bird in the Northeastern United States, found its last refuge on the island. Despite protection efforts made in the 19^th century, just 13 birds remained in the population by 1927. “Booming Ben,” the last known heath hen, died on Martha’s Vineyard in 1932.

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Modern Period at Martha’s Vineyard Real Estate

From 1941 to 1945, the Army, Navy, and Air Force used Martha’s Vineyard for training exercises that included landing on beaches, scaling cliffs, and practicing bombing.

William Labov, a linguist, focused his MA thesis on changes to the Martha’s Vineyard dialect of English in 1963. This study is regarded as a key contribution to the field of sociolinguistics .

With the “Chappaquiddick incident” on July 18, 1969, in which Mary Jo Kopechne was killed in a car driven off the Dike Bridge by a U.S. citizen, the island gained international attention. Edward “Ted” Kennedy, a senator. Poucha Pond became bridged by the bridge on Chappaquiddick Island (a smaller island formerly connected to the Vineyard and part of Edgartown). It became built as a footbridge and meant to be used by pedestrians, bicyclists, and occasionally emergency vehicles when the situation called for it. Presently, only 44 vehicles with passes have permission to cross the rebuilt bridge.

Simas Kudirka, a Soviet seaman of Lithuanian descent, made an attempt to defect to the United States on November 23, 1970, in the Atlantic Ocean just west of Aquinnah. He jumped from a Soviet fishing trawler onto a U.S. Coast Guard cutter and requested asylum.

In an effort to draw attention to what Republican governors view as “the Biden administration’s failed border policies,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent two planeloads of Venezuelan refugees to Martha’s Vineyard in September 2022. DeSantis became roundly criticized for this action, primarily because the migrants became flown there unexpectedly and then abandoned, before island residents stepped in, welcoming the migrants and generously providing needed essentials.

History of African Americans on Martha’s Vineyard

On Martha’s Vineyard, there is plenty of proof that persons have been purchased, sold, and probated as property. One of the first people to openly oppose slavery in the New England Colonies was Reverend Samuel Sewall, a seasonal resident of Martha’s Vineyard, in 1700. In 1646, Massachusetts magistrates ordered the return of two imported slaves from Africa. Abolishing slavery and mandating that Africans be released after ten years, like indentured servants, Rhode Island passed this law in 1652.

After a submission from the nonprofit organization The African American History Trail of Martha’s Vineyard, Edgartown Harbour was accorded official recognition as an Underground Railroad Site by the National Park Service on October 15, 2020. Carrie Camillo Tankard, a vice president of the NAACP on Martha’s Vineyard, and Elaine Cawley Weintraub, a teacher, launched the company in 1998. In addition to engaging the island community in recognizing and celebrating the contributions made by people of color to the island of Martha’s Vineyard, their mission is to “continue researching previously undocumented history and publishing it.” There are 31 distinct stops along the trail, and each designated by a descriptive plaque.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is living on Martha’s Vineyard expensive?

As with any island, Martha’s Vineyard has a high cost of living that can be problematic because most products must be brought into the island, driving up the price of both housing and supplies.

Which famous people reside on Martha’s Vineyard?

A few famous celebrities who have taken vacations there include Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and NBA player Chris Paul, according to Business Insider.

What makes Martha’s Vineyard so well-known?

While Martha’s Vineyard’s downtown districts are fantastic and offer fantastic shopping and dining opportunities, its natural beauty is what the island is most well-known for. There is a lot to discover, including cliffs, gorgeous beaches, wetlands, and two wildlife sanctuaries.

Is Martha’s Vineyard a prosperous community?

Martha’s Vineyard, also known as the Vineyard, a popular summer destination in the Northeastern United States. It is an island in Dukes County, Massachusetts, south of Cape Cod.

Who are the home owners on Martha’s Vineyard?

Among the well-known property owners on the island are Spike Lee, David Letterman, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Mike Nichols, and Diane Sawyer. Larry David is another regular, one of the island’s hottest new restaurants, 7a Foods, recently tweeted that he came twice in a row.

What proportion of Black people reside on Martha’s Vineyard?

According to the 2020 United States Census, Martha’s Vineyard has a population of 5,341 and only 12% of the population is black; even in Oak Bluffs, less than 5% of the population is Black. Martha’s Vineyard has always been and continues to be primarily a White community.

Who has the most money and resides in Martha’s Vineyard?

Who Are Massachusetts’ Richest Citizens? Abigail Johnson, the president of Fidelity and a resident of Milton, has an astounding net worth of $17.2 billion, according to Forbes. Information from Tobias J. Vanderhoop, a former WTGH(A) Tribal Chairman, shared on this website.

Which community on Martha’s Vineyard is the wealthiest?

One of these areas is Chilmark whose 02535 ZIP Code has the most expensive residential real estate in all of New England, according to www.realtor.com.

Where on Martha’s Vineyard do African Americans reside?

The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel manual for African American families on vacation that became popular from the 1940s through the 1960s. Even named the region as the “Inkwell,” as it’s affectionately known, in the Oak Bluffs section of Martha’s Vineyard.

Conclusion

Located just off the coast of Massachusetts, Martha’s Vineyard has been a favorite of travelers and became a significant summer resort. A spectacular coastal experience became created by the abundance and variety of beaches and waterfront. Amazing fields and vistas, ancient New England architecture, and incredible recreational, culinary, and cultural activities.