Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

Oak Bluffs is a town located on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 3,713 at the 2000 census.

History

Oak Bluffs was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1880 as Cottage City, Massachusetts. Before its incorporation, it was part of Edgartown. The town re-incorporated in 1907 as Oak Bluffs.

Oak Bluffs originally began as the center for tourism on the Vineyard. While the other towns were more focused on industry, Oak Bluffs became a Mecca for travelers from around the world as early as the beginning of the 1800‘s. It also became a center of the thriving 19th Century Methodist movement.

In the area known now as the Camp Meeting Association or “The Campground“, members of the Methodist church would come each summer to pitch tents and have open air meetings. As these meetings became more and more popular, returning visitors began replacing the tents with small wooden buildings generally known now as Gingerbread Cottages. This name originated from the ornate molding and bright colors that these summer homes were painted and because of their quaint, almost storybook look. With the Methodist camp meetings taking place in the center, the campground expanded in a circular pattern around the meeting area until hundreds of the small cottages sprang up. Later a more permanent structure was built, called the Tabernacle. This covered open sided structure allowed speakers and meeting attendees to weather the elements and gave rise to a community center which is still in use today.

The campground Gingerbread cottages are cherished historic landmarks as well as very expensive real estate. Many are still family owned and passed on generation to generation.

In 1884, the Flying Horses Carousel was brought to Oak Bluffs, where it remains the oldest platform carousel still in operation.

It is still a yearly event to hold what residents call “Illumination”. This traditional celebration is held once a year, usually in August. For one special night, residents of the Campground place ornate Chinese lanterns (some electric, some still lit with just a candle), around each Gingerbread Cottage. The lanterns remain dark until after dusk. At an appointed hour, people gather in the Tabernacle for a sing-along and community gathering. At the end all the lights go out and thousands of Chinese lanterns spring to life in a brilliant cascade of light throughout the campground. The celebration ends after visitors walk through the Campground enjoying the sights and sounds of an event taken straight from the turn of the century and brought to life yearly in the small town of Oak Bluffs.

On April 5, 2005, the grounds and buildings in the Campground were designated a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior.

"The Highlands" is the traditionally black area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 67.2 km² (26.0 mi²). 19.1 km² (7.4 mi²) of it is land and 48.1 km² (18.6 mi²) of it (71.61%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 3,713 people, 1,590 households, and 914 families residing in the town. The population density was 194.5/km² (504.1/mi²). There were 3,820 housing units at an average density of 200.1/km² (518.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.72% White, 4.31% African American, 1.51% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 2.50% from other races, and 4.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 1,590 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,044, and the median income for a family was $53,841. Males had a median income of $39,113 versus $31,797 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,829. About 6.2% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Oak Bluffs is served by Martha's Vineyard Public Schools. Oak Bluffs has and is served by Oak Bluffs Elementary School and Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.

External links

Coastal towns of Massachusetts | Dukes County, Massachusetts | Martha's Vineyard | Towns in Massachusetts | National Historic Landmarks of the United States