Woods Hole is a census-designated place and village within the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands.

It is the site of several famous marine science institutions, including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution the Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole Research Center ^*," target="_blank" >a NOAA [http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/woodshole/ fisheries center, a USGS coastal and marine geology center, and the home campus of the Sea Education Association. It is also the site of a United States Coast Guard station (the USCG Group Woods Hole), the Nobska Light lighthouse, and the terminus of the Steamship Authority ferry route between the cape and Martha's Vineyard.

The local lighthouse, at Nobska Point, is operated by the USCG and the accompanying house is the home of the commandant of the USCG station on Little Harbor.

Historically, Woods Holewas one of the few good harbors on the southern side of Cape Cod (along with Hyannis) and became a center for whaling, shipping, and fishing prior to its dominance today by tourism and marine research. The term "Woods Hole" refers to a passageway for ships between Vineyard sound and Buzzard's Bay known for its extremely strong current, approaching four knots [http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/7064.html.

The Knob is a local landmark, a rocky outcropping that overlooks Buzzards Bay and Quisset Harbor, a part of the privately owned Salt Pond bird sanctuaries. It was "armored" with rip-rap during the winter of 2004-2005 to slow erosion and is currently (11/2005) being repaired.

Geography

---

Woods Hole is located at (41.526730, −70.663184).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 10.0 km² (3.9 mi²). 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²) of it is land and 4.5 km² (1.7 mi²) of it (44.33%) is water.

Demographics

---

As of the census of 2000, there were 925 people, 459 households, and 212 families residing in the village. The population density was 165.3/km² (427.9/mi²). There were 942 housing units at an average density of 168.4/km² (435.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 94.70% White, 1.62% African American, 0.54% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.

Of the 459 households, 14.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.6% were non-families. 40.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.58.

In the village, the age of the population is spread out, with 13.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there are 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $47,604, and the median income for a family was $57,969. Males had a median income of $31,964 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income for the village was $30,752. None of the families and 5.3% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 6.4% of those over 64.

The Prime Miniser of Woods Hole is Matthew Stokey.

External links

---

Barnstable County, Massachusetts | Villages in Massachusetts | Census-designated places in Massachusetts