Aquinnah, Massachusetts

Aquinnah, Massachusetts
Âhqunah
Town of Aquinnah
The Clay Cliffs of Aquinnah and the Gay Head Lighthouse on the western end of Martha's Vineyard.
The Clay Cliffs of Aquinnah and the Gay Head Lighthouse on the western end of Martha's Vineyard.
Official seal of Aquinnah, Massachusetts
Location in Dukes County in Massachusetts
Location in Dukes County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 41°20′4″N 70°47′45″W / 41.33444°N 70.79583°W / 41.33444; -70.79583
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyDukes
Settled1669
IncorporatedApril 13, 1870 (as Gay Head)
Government
 • TypeOpen town meeting
Area
 • Total40.8 sq mi (105.6 km2)
 • Land5.4 sq mi (13.9 km2)
 • Water35.4 sq mi (91.7 km2)
Elevation
98 ft (30 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total439
 • Density81.3/sq mi (31.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
02535
Area code508 / 774
FIPS code25-01585
GNIS feature ID0618289
Websiteaquinnah-ma.gov

Aquinnah (/əˈkwɪnə/ uh-KWIN-uh; Wampanoag: Âhqunah[1]) is a town located on the western end of Martha's Vineyard island, Massachusetts, United States. From 1870 to 1997, the town was incorporated as Gay Head. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 439.[2] Aquinnah is known for its beautiful clay cliffs and natural serenity, as well as its historical importance to the native Wampanoag people. In 1965, Gay Head Cliffs were designated as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.[3]

Aquinnah is celebrated as a center of Wampanoag culture and a center of pride and tradition among members of the federally recognized Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head. They comprise approximately one-third of the town's voters and are one of two federally recognized tribes of Wampanoag people in Massachusetts. This area is one of the earliest sites of whaling, with the Wampanoag harpooning their catch long before commercial whaling became the major maritime industry of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and New Bedford, Massachusetts in the 19th century.

  1. ^ Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project - "Fun with words" https://www.wlrp.org/fun-with-words
  2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Aquinnah town, Dukes County, Massachusetts)". Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  3. ^ "National Natural Landmarks – National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". nps.gov. Retrieved March 22, 2019. Year designated: 1965

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