Nantucket

Nantucket is an island located in Massachusetts, United States, about 30 miles south of the Cape Cod peninsula. Together with two small nearby islands, Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it forms the Town and County of Nantucket, which has a special combined government for both town and county matters. Nantucket is the farthest southeast town in all of Massachusetts. The name "Nantucket" comes from an old Algonquian word that people used for the island long ago.

Today, Nantucket is a popular place for tourists and people who visit only during the summer. Because of all the visitors and seasonal residents, the number of people living on the island grows to around 80,000 in the summer time.

The island is very special and was named a National Historic Landmark District in 1966 by the National Park Service. This means that Nantucket is one of the best examples of what a New England seaport town looked like in the late 1700s and early 1800s, with its old buildings and natural surroundings still mostly intact.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Nantucket.

Etymology

Nantucket likely gets its name from a Wampanoag word. The Wampanoag are a group of Native American people from southern New England. The meaning of the name is not certain, but it might mean "far away island" or refer to the island's sandy soil. The Wampanoag language is part of the Eastern Algonquian languages.

Nantucket's nickname is "The Little Grey Lady of the Sea". This name describes how the island looks from the ocean when it is covered in fog.

European colonization

The first European settlers arrived on a nearby island called Martha's Vineyard. In 1641, a man named Thomas Mayhew got permission to control Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and other nearby islands. He brought families to live there and made agreements with the Wampanoag people who already lived on Nantucket. These agreements helped prevent fights with other settlers during a big conflict called King Philip's War. More people came to the island over time, and by 1695, Nantucket became its own county.

Nantucket settlers

Many more settlers came to Nantucket starting in 1659. They included people with names like Tristram Coffin and Thomas Macy. These settlers needed help from skilled workers, so they invited tradespeople to live there. At first, the settlers farmed and raised sheep, but the land became too crowded. They turned to the sea for work instead.

Sherburne

Before 1795, the main town was called Sherburne. The first homes were near a small pond, but the pond's entrance closed up. The settlers moved their homes about two miles northeast to where the town is today. In 1795, the town was officially renamed "Town of Nantucket".

New Guinea

Some freed African Americans settled in an area called New Guinea in the 1700s. They built homes, shops, churches, and schools there. Later, Nantucket became a safe place for people escaping unfair treatment. People from Hawaii also lived there because they worked on whaling ships.

The Wampanoags

When settlers arrived in 1659, the Wampanoag people had lived on Nantucket for thousands of years. There were as many as three thousand Wampanoag people living in groups led by leaders called sachems. The settlers convinced two sachems to give up the island in exchange for money. Over time, the Wampanoag population grew smaller because of changes to their land, health problems, and other difficulties. By 1763, only 358 Wampanoag people remained. The last two Wampanoag people born on Nantucket lived until the mid-1800s. Today, Wampanoag people from nearby areas live on Nantucket.

In 2021, the people of Nantucket voted to change the holiday called Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day.

Whaling industry

Nantucket's history includes whaling, which began when settlers killed a whale that came close to shore. Small boats were used to hunt whales, and Wampanoag people often worked on these boats. Whaling became very important to Nantucket's economy. The famous book Moby-Dick by Herman Melville talks about Nantucket's whaling. However, by the mid-1800s, whaling began to decline because of fires, changes in transportation, and new opportunities elsewhere. The American Civil War also hurt the whaling industry.

Later history

After the whaling industry declined, Nantucket became quiet and isolated. In the mid-1900s, developers began restoring old buildings, attracting visitors and wealthy people from the Northeastern United States. In 1977, some people on Nantucket and nearby islands considered leaving the state of Massachusetts but decided not to.

Geology and geography

Nantucket is a small island with a total area of 304 square miles, of which 45 square miles is land and 259 square miles is water. It is the smallest county in Massachusetts by land area. The highest points on the island are Saul's Hill at 102 feet, Altar Rock at 100 feet, and Sankaty Head at 92 feet.

The island was formed during an ancient period when huge glaciers covered the land. After the glaciers melted, rising sea levels separated it from the mainland about 5,000–6,000 years ago. Nantucket, along with nearby islands Tuckernuck and Muskeget, makes up the Town and County of Nantucket. The main village is located at the western end of Nantucket Harbor. Other places on the island include Madaket, Surfside, Polpis, Wauwinet, Miacomet, and Siasconset (often called "'Sconset").

Climate

Nantucket has an oceanic climate, which is rare on the east coast of North America. The Atlantic Ocean helps keep temperatures comfortable throughout the year. In January, the average high temperature is around 40 °F (4 °C), and in July and August, it’s around 75 °F (24 °C). The island gets about 41 inches (1,000 mm) of rain each year, spread evenly.

In 2021, a plan was made to help protect Nantucket from effects of climate change, like rising water and coastal flooding. The plan suggests projects over the next fifteen years to reduce future damage.

Demographics

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,255 people living on the island, more than in 2010.

The island’s population in 2020 was mostly white (71.3%), with smaller groups of Black or African American (7.2%), Asian (1.9%), and American Indian (0.6%) people. Many people also came from other races or a mix of races (9.3% and 9.7%). About 16.2% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino origin. The average age was 39.9 years, with many young children and older adults living there.

The biggest groups by family history were Irish Americans, English, German, and Italian. There were also people from Jamaican and Scottish backgrounds, as well as many with Hispanic origins like Salvadoran and Dominican.

There were many homes on the island, with most used by people who owned them. Many families lived together, and some homes were only used for vacations. In recent years, homes on the island were very expensive, with the average home value being one of the highest in the country.

Government

Nantucket has a special way of running its government, combining town and county roles into one. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 14,255, the smallest county in Massachusetts. Part of the town is called the Nantucket CDP.

Nantucket’s leaders include a Select Board that helps set goals and policies, with decisions made by voters at a Town Meeting. A town manager handles daily operations, except for schools, the airport, and water services.

At the state level, Nantucket is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Dylan Fernandes and in the Massachusetts Senate by Julian Cyr. Nationally, it is part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district, represented by Bill Keating in the United States House of Representatives. The state’s senators are Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey.

Politics

Party affiliations

In 2024, most people on Nantucket, about 63%, did not belong to any big political party. About 25% were registered as Democrats, and 10% were registered as Republicans.

^*The Commonwealth of Massachusetts lets voters choose to join a political party or stay without joining one.

Voting patterns

For many years, from the late 1800s to most of the 1900s, Nantucket usually voted for Republican candidates in big elections. Only two Democratic presidents, Woodrow Wilson and Lyndon Johnson, won Nantucket during that time, from 1876 to 1984. But since 1988, Nantucket has started to vote more for Democratic candidates.

Economy

Top employers

The largest jobs in Nantucket come from many different places. This list shows where the most people work in the town.

Education

Nantucket has public schools for children of all ages, from early childhood to high school. The public school system had over 1,500 students and more than 130 teachers in 2017. There are also a few private schools on the island for younger children.

The island also has special programs and classes for older students, including summer courses for teens and young adults. Local museums and groups work with the schools to offer extra learning opportunities.

Arts and culture

Nantucket has many museums and galleries, such as the Maria Mitchell Association and the Nantucket Whaling Museum. The island has been a place for artists since the 1920s, who enjoy painting its beautiful landscapes and seascapes.

The island hosts many festivals, including a book festival, a wine and food festival, a comedy festival, a daffodil festival, and a cranberry festival. Many stories and films feature Nantucket, such as Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, where the adventure begins on the island. Other works include books by Nathaniel Philbrick, films like Summer of '42 and One Crazy Summer, and TV shows such as Wings.

Transportation

Water

You can reach Nantucket by ferry all year. The Steamship Authority and Hy-Line Cruises offer regular service. In the summer, there are also ferries from New Bedford, Harwich, and Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard. Private boats can also dock at Nantucket Harbor.

Air

Nantucket Memorial Airport serves the island. In summer, it gets very busy with many small planes and seasonal flights. Airlines like Cape Air fly small planes such as the Cessna 402 and Tecnam P2012 Traveler. Bigger jets from JetBlue, American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express also fly to places like Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago during the summer.

Bus

The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority runs buses on the island all year.

Bike

Nantucket has many bike paths, and many people enjoy riding bikes to explore the island.

Car

You can find taxis, rental cars, and ride-sharing services, but there aren't many.

Historic

From 1900 to 1918, Nantucket did not allow cars. There was a special narrow railway called the Nantucket Railroad from 1881 to 1917. It went from Nantucket town to Surfside and later to Siasconset but closed because it was losing money. Before ferries and planes, steamboats were the main way to get to the island.

[Sankaty Head Light](/wiki/Sankaty_Head_Light) [lighthouse](/wiki/Lighthouse)

[Great Point Lighthouse](/wiki/Great_Point_Light)

Brant Point Light in Nantucket Harbor

Nantucket Boat Basin

National Register of Historic Places

The following places on Nantucket are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

• Nantucket Historic District, a National Historic Landmark District (added December 13, 1966); it was expanded to cover the whole island in 1975.
• Brant Point Light Station—Brant Point (added October 28, 1987)
• Jethro Coffin House—a National Historic Landmark, Sunset Hill Road (added December 24, 1968)
• Sankaty Head Light (added November 15, 1987)

Notable people

Nantucket has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some of these include:

• Askamaboo, a leader from the Wampanoag tribe in the 1600s
• Eliza Starbuck Barney, who worked to end slavery and studied family history
• Caio Canedo, a soccer player for the United Arab Emirates national team
• Donick Cary, a writer and television producer
• A. J. Cronin, a well-known novelist
• James A. Folger, who started the Folger coffee company
• Rowland Hussey Macy, who founded the Macy's department store
• Maria Mitchell, an astronomer who made important discoveries
• Nathaniel Philbrick, an author known for his books
• Meghan Trainor, a popular singer and songwriter

Many other writers, artists, and leaders have also lived on the island, making Nantucket a special place for history and culture.

Sister cities

Nantucket has a sister city named Beaune, Côte d'Or, France. This means the two places work together and share friendly connections.