Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts:
Including the towns of Chilmark, Edgartown, Gay Head (Aquinnah), Oak Bluffs, and Tisbury.
(Derived from various state and town sources*)
Chilmark:   The Town of Chilmark is a small rural community located toward the western end of the island of Martha's Vineyard. Most of its 10,639 acres are devoted to residential and agricultural use. The center of town houses a small elementary schoolhouse, originally a one-room school built circa 1850 and still in use for younger grades, a public library, originally a house built in 1790, a town hall built circa 1897, and a handsome church built in 1843. These buildings have all had additions during recent years.
Edgartown: Seen by some to be one of New England's most elegant communities, Edgartown was Martha's Vineyard's first colonial settlement and has been the county seat since 1642. The stately Greek Revival houses built by the whaling captains have been carefully maintained and make the town a seaport village preserved from the early 19th century. Main Street views include the harbor and waterfront and although the tall square-riggers that sailed all the world's oceans have passed from the scene, the heritage of these vessels and their captains remains. For the past hundred years, Edgartown has been one of the world's great yachting centers. The town is also known for its architecture with many buildings that pre-date the whaling era and still serve as family homes.
Gay Head (Aquinnah):  The most outstanding natural feature of Gay Head is the magnificent display of varicolored clay cliffs in strange formations which spill down to the sea on the border of the town. These cliffs marked the homeward leg of Gay Head's Indian and Yankee fishermen and whalers. The European settlers learned from their Indian neighbors the skills needed for coast-wise whaling and Gay Headers maintained a shore fishing fleet. From the early 17th century to the last day an American whaler sailed, Gay Head Indians and Yankees were prominent in whaling. Although much of their fishing and whaling was done in small boats close to shore, Gay Headers also sailed with whalers of the Nantucket and New Bedford fleets. The Gay Head cliffs have also been a source of clay for pottery and of myriads of fossils which show the variety of animal and marine life in earlier ages of the island.
Oak Bluffs:  The Town of Oak Bluffs is a resort town on the northeast shore of Martha's Vineyard. There was a large pre-Colonial Indian population that took advantage of the fishing and shellfishing in Oak Bluffs, probably on a seasonal basis. The explorer Gosnold was among the first European adventurers, fishermen and traders who set up temporary or seasonal camps on Cuttyhunk beginning as early a 1602. The first grant of 500 acres of land made to a European was in 1642 to John Dagget but it wasn't until 1667 that the first permanent European settlement took place. Subsistence farming, fishing and shellfishing supported the early settlers.
In modern times Oak Bluffs has come to terms with all of the strands in its past, and among the most sought after houses are the small, colorful, carpenter Gothic cottages built by revivalists.
Tisbury:  The Town of Tisbury is a resort community on the north shore of Martha's Vineyard. In 1663, Indians sold West Chop to whites and the first permanent European settlement was made in 1674, although European explorers, traders and fishermen had roamed the area from early in the 16th century. Gosnold, among other explorers, recorded his impressions during a voyage in 1602. The area abounded in shellfish, striped bass, bluefish and swordfish and drew Indians as well as Europeans for offshore fishing as well as to the massive herring runs.

Click on photo to expand

Gay Head

Vineyard Canoe's

Vineyard Lighthouse

Martha's Vineyard at a glance ...

Population (year round)		Tax rates ( 2000 )	Map (of Martha's Vineyard)	Town Hall (phone #)
Chilmark Edgartown  Gay Head (Aquinnah) Oak Bluffs Tisbury W.Tisbury	---- 3062 201 ( " ) 2804 3120 704	$2.38 $6.24 $6.65 ( " ) $11.18 $13.37 $8.30	Click Here	(508) 645 - 2100 (508) 627 - 6100 (508) 645 - 2300 ( " ) (508) 693 - 5515 (508) 696 - 4215 (508) 696 - 0100

Location
For Map Click Here

Transportation

ON-ISLAND SHUTTLE BUSES
Island Transport, Inc. - Yellow Line Public Bus
(508) 693-1589, (508) 693-0058
Comprehensive Island-Wide Public Bus Service
Service Provided Within and Between All 6 Towns
Daily, Weekly and Monthly Passes Available.

Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority - VTA
Recorded Schedule Info: (508) 627-7448
TTY and Paratransit : (508) 693-4633.

Cape Cod Area Transit Information Line :
An automated line for information on bus and steamship schedules, and fares. 
(508) 771-6191

Cape Cod Airports:

Bus and Trolley service:

• Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (Seasonal trolley service in Cape towns) 1-800-352-7155

• B-Bus Service (ride by appointment serving the entire Cape) 1-800-352-7155

• Plymouth and Brockton Street Railway (with routes , Plymouth, Brockton, Plymouth, Hyannis, Provincetown,Boston & Logan Airport) 508-746-0378

Ferry Service:

• Hy-Line (Hyannis, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard) 508-778-2600

• Island Queen (Falmouth and Martha's Vineyard) 508-548-4800

• Steamship Authority (Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard; Hyannis and Nantucket, passenger and automobiles). 508-477-8600

Railroad

• Cape Cod Central Railroad (scenic and excursion) 508-771- 3800

Public Schools

• M.V. Regional High School: (508) 693-1033 
  Vinyard Haven Rd. P.O. Box 1385
  Oak Bluffs, MA. 02557

• Edgartown Elementary: (508) 627-3316
  RR1, P.O.Box 6, West Tisbury Road
  Edgartown, MA. 

• Menemsha Elementary: (508) 645-2562
  State Road, Chilmark, MA.

• Oak Bluff Elementary: (508) 693-0951
  P.O.Box 1325, Oak Bluffs

• Tisbury Elementary: (508) 696-6500
  William Street, P.O.Box 878
  Vineyard Haven, MA. 

Recreational Facilities

•  

• Beaches for information on some great Cape Cod beaches click HERE

• Golf for information on Cape Cod golf courses click HERE

Health Facilities

• Martha's Vineyard Hospital: (508) 693-0410
  Linton Lane, Oak Bluffs, MA. 02557

Places of Worship

• APOSTOLIC
  Apostolic House of Prayer of Martha's Vineyard, Inc., Pequot Ave., Oak Bluffs, Pastor Marcia Buckley, 693-9470. Sunday school, 10 am. Sunday service, 12 noon. Evening service, Wednesday and Friday, 7:30 pm.

•  ASSEMBLY OF GOD
  Vineyard Assembly of God, 1048 State Rd., Vineyard Haven, Rev. Greg Bar, 696-7576. Sunday school, 9:30 am; Sunday morning worship, 10:30 am, includes nursery and children's church; Sunday night worship, 6:30 pm. Mid-week service, adult Bible study, children's ministries, Wednesday 6:30 pm.

• BAPTIST
  Community Baptist Church, Meetinghouse Way, Gay Head, Rev. Roger Spinney, 693-1539. Sunday service, 9 am.
  First Baptist Church, Spring St., Vineyard Haven, Rev. Roger Spinney, 693-1539. Sunday church school, 10 am; Sunday worship service, 11 am. Nursery & Kindergarten facilities.

• CHRISTIAN
  Faith Community Church, Meeting House Way, Edgartown, 627-8918. Kenneth Campbell, pastor (evangelical and reformed). Sunday: worship at 10 am. Nursery and children's Sunday school available. Call for summer schedule (June-Sept.).
  Island Christian Church has joined with Faith Community Church.

• CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
  Christian Science Society, New York Ave., Oak Bluffs, 696-7369. Sunday service and Sunday school, 10 am. Wed. service, 7:30 pm. Reading Room: Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, below Tisbury Inn, 693-6464. Hours: 10 - 1.

• THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS
  693-8642, 696-5844. Sunday meeting, 9:30 am, 2 Merchant's Mart, State Rd., Vineyard Haven.

• CONGREGATIONAL
  First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, U.C.C., State Rd, West Tisbury, Rev. James Martin, 693-2842. Sunday service and Sunday school, 10 am. June 28-Aug. 28: Sunday services 9 and 10:30 am; no Sunday school, but child care available.

• EPISCOPAL
  Grace Church, Woodlawn Ave., Vineyard Haven, Rev. Donnel O'Flynn, Rector, 693-0332. Sunday services (Holy Eucharist), 8 and 10 am; Memorial Day to Labor Day, 8 and 9:30 am. Morning Prayer, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am. Healing Service, Wednesday, 6:00 pm. Holy Eucharist, Thursday noon.
  St. Andrew's, N. Summer St., Edgartown, Rev. Robert D. Edmunds, Rector, 627-5330. Year-round: Tuesday, Evening Prayer, 6:30 pm; Wednesday, Holy Eucharist, 11:30 am. Friday, Morning Prayer, 8 am. Summer: Sunday service (Holy Eucharist), 8 and 10:30 am. Sunday family service, 9:15 am. Winter: Sunday service (Holy Eucharist), 8 and 10 am; Sunday school, 10 am.
  Trinity Episcopal Church, Ocean Ave., Oak Bluffs, 693-3780 or 693-1095. Visiting Episcopal clergy of Diocese of Massachusetts. Late June - Labor Day. Sun. service, 9 am. Holy Eucharist.

• FEDERATED
  Federated Church, S. Summer St., Edgartown, Pastor John Schule, 627-4421. Congregational and Baptist. Sunday service and church school, 10:30 am. Organ recital, Friday 12:10 pm.

• INTERDENOMINATIONAL
  Old Whaling Church, Main St., Edgartown, 627-4440.
  The Tabernacle, Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, 693-0525. July and August. Sunday service, 9:30 am. Community sing, Wednesday 8 pm.
  Union Chapel (The Oak Bluffs Christian Union, Inc.), Kennebec Ave., Oak Bluffs. July and August. Sunday service, 10 am. For information call 693-5350.

• JEHOVAH'S WITNESS
  Kingdom Hall, Pine Tree Road, Vineyard Haven, 693-3932. Sunday talk, 10 am. Watchtower study, Sunday 10:50 am. Book study, Thursday 7 pm. Theocratic Ministry school, Tuesday 7 pm. Service meeting, Thurs. 7:45 pm.

• JEWISH
  Martha's Vineyard Hebrew Center, http://www.vineyard.net/org/mvhc/ - Pine and Center Streets, Vineyard Haven, Rabbi Joshua E. Plaut, 693-0745. Services Friday evening or Saturday morning. Call for weekly update.

• METHODIST
  Chilmark Community Church, Menemsha Cross Rd., Chilmark, Rev. Arlene Bodge, 645-3100. Sunday service, 10:30 am. Child care available.
  Christ United Methodist Church, Church St., Vineyard Haven, Rev. Lloyd Chorpenning, 693-0476. Sunday school and adult Bible study, 9:30 am. Sunday service, 10:30 am. Child care provided.
  Edgartown United Methodist Church, Old Whaling Church, Main St., Edgartown, Rev. Arlene Bodge, 645-3100. Sunday service, 9 am.
  Trinity United Methodist Church, Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, Rev. Dan Freitas, 693-0589. Sunday school for children and youth, September through June, 10 am; Sunday service, 11 am. Nursery in parish house during service.

• QUAKER MEETINGS
   Sunday meeting, 10:30 am, at the Community Center of Hillside Village, Edgartown Rd., Vineyard Haven. For further information call 693-0512, 693-1834, or 693-0040.

• ROMAN CATHOLIC
  The Roman Catholic Parish of Martha's Vineyard includes three churches: Sacred Heart Parish (Our Lady Star of the Sea Church) in Oak Bluffs, St. Augustine's Parish in Vineyard Haven, and St. Elizabeth's Parish in Edgartown. For Parish Information, call, (508) 693-0342. Fax: (508) 696-8408. E-mail: mnagle@vineyard.net.
  Sacred Heart Parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 22 Massasoit St., Oak Bluffs. Winter Schedule: Saturday, 5:30 pm; Sunday, 9 am (children's liturgy) and 5 pm LifeTeen Liturgy. Summer Schedule (July and August): Saturday, 5:30 pm; Sunday, 9 am (children's liturgy), 10:30 am, and 5 pm LifeTeen Liturgy.
  St. Augustine's, 56 Franklin St., PO Box 1058, Vineyard Haven, 693-0103. Fax: 693-8517. Winter Schedule: Saturday, 4 pm; Sunday, 8 am and 11:15 am; Daily Mass, 8 am Monday through Friday and first Saturday in the Chapel; Sacrament of Reconciliation, Saturday 3 pm. Summer Schedule (July & August): Saturday, 4 pm; Sunday, 7 am and 11:15 am; Daily Mass, 8 am Monday through Friday in the Chapel.
  St. Elizabeth's, 86 Main St., PO Box 156, Edgartown, 627-5017. Fax: 627-6021. Winter Schedule: Saturday, 4 pm; Sunday, 10 am; Sacrament of Reconciliation, Saturday 3:30 pm; no daily mass during the winter. Summer Schedule (July and August): Saturday, 4 pm; Sunday, 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11 am; Daily Mass, 9 am Monday through Friday.

• SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST
   Pastor Steve Beckwith, 696-8309. Sabbath Services: Windemere Chapel, M. V. Hospital. Sabbath school / divine worship, 10am. Sunday TV Channel 8, 8:30am; Thursday Bible class, 7pm.

• UNITARIAN - UNIVERSALIST
  Unitarian Universalist Society, 238 Main St. (a half block from Vineyard Haven Library), Vineyard Haven, Rev. Bruce E. Kennedy, Minister; Rev. Ken Smith, Minister Emeritus, 693-8982 (answering machine). Sunday service and children's program, 11 am year-round.

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*Sources include; Comm of Massachusetts, including the Dept. of Education, Department of Environment Management, and Dept.of Public Health. Information is deemed accurate but is not guaranteed.