Nantucket

Nantucket is an 30 miles (48.3 km) south of, , in the. Together with the small islands of and, it constitutes the  of Nantucket, Massachusetts and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the , or. The region of Surfside on Nantucket is the southernmost settlement in Massachusetts. Siasconset, usually shortened to  "Sconset", is the closest point in the US to Portugal and Spain.

Nantucket is a destination and. The population of the island soars from approximately 10,000 to 50,000 during the summer months, due to tourists and summer residents. According to, in 2006, Nantucket had the highest median property value of any Massachusetts zip code.

The, comprising all of Nantucket Island, was added to the on ,. In doing so the  paid particular note to the settlements of Nantucket and Siasconset. The island features one of the highest concentrations of pre-Civil War structures in the United States.

Origin of the name
Also nicknamed "The Grey Lady", Nantucket takes its name from a word in an of southern New England, originally spelled variously as natocke, nantican, and nautican. The meaning of the term is uncertain, though it may have meant "in the midst of waters."

Beginnings
The island's beginnings in western history can possibly be traced to its conjectured sighting by in the 11th century. But it was not until that Captain  of  sailed his bark Concord past the bluffs of Siasconset and really put Nantucket on the map. The island's original inhabitants, the, lived undisturbed until  when the island was deeded by the English (the authorities in control of all land from the coast of Maine to New York) to  and his son, merchants of Watertown and Martha's Vineyard. Nantucket was part of until, when it was transferred to the newly formed  and split off to form Nantucket County. The entire area of the New York county had been purchased by of, in 1641, buying out competing land claims. The earliest English settlement in the area began on neighboring island.

As Europeans began to settle Cape Cod, the island became a place of refuge for regional Indians, as Nantucket was not yet settled by Europeans. The growing population of Native Americans welcomed seasonal groups of Indians who traveled to the island to fish and later harvest whales that washed up on shore.

English settlement
The history of Nantucket's settlement by the English did not began in earnest until 1659, when Thomas Mayhew sold his interest to the "nine original porchasers": Tristram Coffin, Thomas Macy, Christopher Hussey, Richard Swayne, Thomas Barnard, Peter Coffin, Stephen Greenleafe, John Swayne and William Pike-"For the sum of thirty Pounds...and also two beaver hats, one for myself, and one for my wife." At this time, the true demise of the island's Indian population began. This English presence drastically changed the healthy Indian population, and over the next Nantucket was formerly the world's leading  (and still serves as home port for a small fishing industry). comments on Nantucket's whaling dominance in , Chapter 14: "Two thirds of this terraqueous globe are the Nantucketer's. For the sea is his; he owns it, as Emperors own empires." By the, whaling was in decline and the island suffered great economic hardships, worsened by the 1846 "Great Fire" that, fueled by whale oil and lumber, devastated the main town, burning some 36 acres. It left hundreds homeless and poverty stricken, and many people left.

Later history
As a result the island depopulated and was left under-developed and isolated until the mid-20th century. The isolation kept many of the pre-Civil War buildings intact and by the 1950s, enterprising developers began buying up large sections of the island and restoring them to create an upmarket destination for the wealthy in the Northeastern United States. This highly controlled development can be compared to neighboring, whose development served as a model for what the developers of Nantucket were trying to avoid.

In 1977, Nantucket and unsuccessfully attempted to secede from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The secession vote was sparked by a proposed change to the, which reduced the islands' representation in the.

Geology and geography
Nantucket was formed by the uttermost reach of the during the recent, shaped by the subsequent rise in sea level. The island's low ridge across the northern section was deposited as during a period of glacial standstill, a period during which  continued to arrive, but melted at a stationary front. The southern part of the island is an, sloping away from the arc of moraine and shaped at its margins by the sorting actions and transport of. Nantucket became an island when rising sea levels reflooded Buzzards Bay about 5000-6000 years ago.

According to the, Nantucket County has a total area of 303.5 mi² (786 ), 84.25% of which is water. The area of Nantucket Island proper is 47.8 mi²(123.8 km²). The triangular region of ocean between Nantucket,  and, is. The highest point on the island is Folger Hill which stands 109 feet above sea level. Altar Rock is a close second at a height of 108 feet above sea level.

The entire island, as well as the adjoining islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, comprise both the Town of Nantucket and the County of Nantucket. The main settlement, also called Nantucket, is located at the western end of Nantucket Harbor, where it opens into Nantucket Sound. Key localities on the island include Madaket, Surfside, Polpis, Wauwinet, Miacomet and Siasconset (often abbreviated as 'Sconset).

Coatue
Coatue is a long on Nantucket Island, separating  from Nantucket Harbor. It has six points: First Point is situated due north of the village of Shimmo's Pimneys Point. Second Point, is north-northeast of the village of Shawkemo. Second Point is salt marsh. Third Point is due north of the Pocomo Peninsula, which contains the villages of Pocomo and West Wauwinet.

The gap between Coatue and Pocomo is called the Wauwinet Straits, this deep and swift waterway has currents that reach 5 knots. This spot is a favorite of Nantucket's kayak group The Rip Riderz. Bass Point is the first point totally within Wauwinet Harbor. Wyers Point, the last point of land on Coatue, Wyers is connected to Coskata. At the head of Coatue is Coskata Pond.

Hummock Pond
Hummock Pond is a large pond on the south shore of Nantucket Island. It was created in the last ice age by the ice melt and used to be much larger, but during the large swells from the Atlantic closed off the smaller western half, known as Clark's Cove. The pond is one of the deepest on Nantucket. Hummock Pond is a deep, narrow pond. The north head of the pond is connected by a small river. The north head is an extremely deep with steep sides. The pond offers many kayaking opportunities, but is prone to strong south to southwesterly breezes.

Miacomet Pond
Miacomet Pond is a narrow, slender pond on the south shore of. The pond was once a river, but the oceans rose to make Nantucket an island in the last ice age. On average the pond is approximately 100 yards wide, thus giving the appearance of a river. The northern head of the pond is only ten feet wide and was once connected to Nantucket Harbor via. The maximum depth of the pond is twenty eight feet. The southern end of the pond is a sandy beach. Occasionally the pond is opened up to the sea.

Popsquatchet Hills
The Popsquatchet Hills are a range of peaks on Nantucket Island. Seldom reaching 100, they can be considered the divide of Nantucket. Prospect Hill, the westernmost, is the location of the town's municipal cemetery. Chicken Hill is the next hill to the northeast. On the eastern side of Chicken Hill, there is a very deep valley known as Dead Horse Valley. Dead Horse Brook rises on top of the hill, and plummets 70 feet to Dead Horse Pond, at the bottom. On the north face of the hill, is Colt Valley.

Mill Hill, the hill nearest Hospital Valley, has the Old Mill sitting on its summit. Roads are frequent in the hills, but are poorly maintained. Prospect Street, the main thoroughfare on the west end of town, is the northern side of the hills. Vesper Lane, is the southern boundary. Milk Street, is the northern boundary of the range. There are several smaller roads leading into the hills, but some of them have grown over.

In the time, Dead Horse Valley is the island's best sledding area. Even during the summer, the town keeps a snow machine on hand. Chicken Hill was named for an old chicken farm maintained by William G. Egan.

Squam Swamp
Squam Swamp, a large swamp in the northeastern portion of the island of Nantucket, is located between Wauwinet Road, Squam Road, and Quidnet Road, just northwest of Quidnet and northeast of Polpis Harbor.

Demographics

 * There is also a , with a 2000 population of 3,830, which is located within the Town of Nantucket.

As of the undefined of 2000, there were 9,520 people, 3,699 households, and 2,104 families residing in Nantucket. The was 76.9/km² (199.1/mi²). There were 9,210 housing units at an average density of 74.4/km² (192.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.85%, 8.29% , 0.64% , 0.04% , 0.01% , 1.60% from , and 1.58% from two or more races. or of any race were 2.23% of the population. 19.9% were of, 17.1% , 7.2% , 6.1% , 6.0% and 5.1%  ancestry according to. 92.6% spoke, 4.1% and 1.6%  as their first language.

There were 3,699 households out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 40.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% at 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.

The median income for a household for year-round residents in the town is $55,522, and the median income for a family was $66,786. Males had a median income of $41,116 versus $31,608 for females. The for the town was $31,314. About 3.0% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

 * Local:
 * Town and county governments have been combined in Nanucket per.
 * Members of the town Board of Selectmen, who are also County Commissioners, with the year their term expires, are:
 * Whiting R. Willauer, Chairman (2008)
 * Brian Chadwick (2008)
 * Michael Kopko (2009)
 * Allen Reinhard (2010)
 * Patricia Roggeveen (2010)
 * State:
 * , Democrat, of represents Precincts 1, 2, 5 and 6, of Falmouth, in ; and Chilmark, Edgartown, Aquinnah, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury, all in ; and Nantucket.
 * , Democrat of has represented the  and  since 2000.
 * National:
 * Nantucket is in the which has existed since 1795.  It is currently represented in the  by, a Democrat.
 * Massachusetts is represented in th by  and, both Democrats.
 * Nantucket is in the which has existed since 1795.  It is currently represented in the  by, a Democrat.
 * Massachusetts is represented in th by  and, both Democrats.

Education
Nantucket is served by. The Nantucket school system has approximately 1,200 students, about 400 of whom attend the high school.

Schools include:
 * Nantucket Elementary School
 * Cyrus Peirce Middle School
 * Nantucket Community School
 * Nantucket Community School

Transportation

 * Nantucket is served by, a three-runway airport on the south side of the island. The airport is one of the busiest in the Commonwealth and often logs more take-offs and landings on a pleasant summer day than Boston's Logan airport. This is due in part to the large number of private/corporate planes used by wealthy summer inhabitants, and in part to the 10-seat s used by several commercial air carriers to serve the island community.
 * Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) - Seasonal Island-wide shuttle services that goes to many destinations including Surfside Beach, Sconset and the Airport.
 * Nantucket can be reached by sea from the mainland by using one of three commercial ferry services or by private boat.

Disasters
Major disasters on or near Nantucket, include:
 * On, , 51 people were killed in the collision of the Italian ocean liner with the  in heavy fog 45 miles south of Nantucket.
 * On, , the   ran aground southeast of  Nantucket. Six days later, on , the shipwreck broke apart, causing one of the largest s in history.
 * On, , , traveling from to , crashed off the coast of Nantucket, killing all 217 on board.

National Register of Places
The following Nantucket places are listed on the ; and the :
 * &mdash; Brant Point (added, )


 * &mdash; Sunset Hill Road (added, )


 * (added, )


 * (added 1982) - Structure - #82005272) Also known as Great Point Light; Located at Sandy Point, Nantucket Island, Nantucket. Built in 1784, the original wooden tower was destroyed by fire in 1816. The following year, 1817, a stone tower was erected which stood until toppled in a storm in March, 1984. This second tower was what was listed on the National Register. In 1986, a new stone tower was built to replicate the old one. This third tower remains in operation today.


 * &mdash; Sankaty Head (added, )

17th, 18th & 19th Centuries

 * Abiah Folger, 's mother, was born on Nantucket. Her birthsite is marked by a plaque and is known to locals as "The Bench." In 2002 Nantucket High School seniors staged a celebration of her birth at the site - a tradition which has continued every year.
 * was born in 1793 on Nantucket. Mott was an American Quaker minister, abolitionist, social reformer and proponent of women's rights. She is credited as the first American "feminist" in the early 1800s but was, more accurately, the initiator of women's political advocacy.
 * , native of Nantucket, first woman astronomer and Vassar professor of astronomy is buried in Prospect Hill.
 * , first principal of Nantucket High School and later first president of what is now, married Nantucket native, Harriet Coffin. They are both buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Cyrus Peirce Middle School is named for him.
 * , Nantucket native, was the first graduate of the and attained the rank of.

20th & 21st Centuries

 * , New England Patriots Head Coach, has a house out in 'Sconset, and a boat in the harbor.
 * and have a house on the island.
 * and own a summer residence on Brant Point.
 * , American fashion designer, as shown in the television series
 * , former CEO of Tyco, lived on the island.
 * , aviation pioneer, is a neighbor of Kerry '04 and Obama '08 financier, Louis Sussman on the north shore of the island.
 * , NBC correspondent, has purchased a home on the island.
 * , television producer of Julia Child shows, This Old House, New Yankee Workshop, and Victory Garden, etc.  has a home here.
 * , NBC correspondent, has purchased a home on the island.
 * , billionaire and Clinton antagonist, visits his small villa seasonally.
 * and have a place right on Children's Beach.
 * has an estate on the east side of the island near 'Sconset.

Television

 * The television series  was based in Nantucket.
 * In "", the tenth episode of The Simpsons' fifteenth season, the story upon which is writing occurs in the island of Nantucket, even though she didn't know it was an island at all.
 * In NBC's, Nathan Petrelli sent his wife and two children to the island of Nantucket to escape the foretold explosion.
 * devoted most of the 1996 season to a Nantucket house renovation.

Film

 * The 1986 Warner Brothers film , was mostly filmed and took place on the island.
 * The 1996 Columbia Pictures movie  was filmed and took place on Nantucket.
 * The 2007 Weinstein Co movie  was partially set in Nantucket.

Literature

 * Nantucket is home to the  "" made famous in the opening line of countless  (some of which are vulgar).
 * In 's , the protagonist is from Nantucket.
 * One of 's most famous early poems, "," with rich allusions to whaling and death at sea, is set here.
 * One of the most famous lines from 's play mentions Nantucket; "FIRST DROWNED: I lost my step in Nantucket".
 * 's book In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex describes the sinking of the .
 * In 's novel , Nantucket is the port town of departure for whaling ship, the Pequod.
 * In the  trilogy, Nantucket gets sent back in time 3,000 years and ends up as the capital of the world-spanning Republic of Nantucket.

Music

 * In the song Downeaster 'Alexa' (1989) Nantucket is mentioned.

Resources

 * Bond, C. Lawrence, Native Names of New England Towns and Villages, privately published by C. Lawrence Bond, Topsfield, Massachusetts, 1991.
 * Philbrick, Nathaniel, In The Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, Penguin, NY, NY, 2000.