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Nantucket, MA

Frequently asked questions

Nantucket, MA

Nantucket is an island about 30 miles (48 km) south of Cape Cod. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the Town and County of Nantucket, a combined county/town government in the state of Massachusetts. Nantucket is the southeasternmost town in both Massachusetts and the New England region.

The name "Nantucket" is adapted from similar Algonquian names for the island, but is very similar to the endonym of the native Nehantucket tribe that occupied the region at the time of European settlement.

Nantucket is a tourist destination and summer colony. Due to tourists and seasonal residents, the population of the island increases to around 80,000 during the summer months. The average sale price for a single-family home was $2.3 million in the first quarter of 2018. The National Park Service cites Nantucket, designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1966, as being the "finest surviving architectural and environmental example of a late 18th- and early 19th-century New England seaport town." Nantucket is accessible by boat, ferry, or airplane.

Nantucket probably takes its name from a Wampanoag word, transliterated variously as natocke, nantaticu, nantican, nautica or natockete, which is part of Wampanoag lore about the creation of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The meaning of the term is uncertain, although according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, it may have meant "far away island" or "sandy, sterile soil tempting no one". Wampanoag is an Eastern Algonquian language of southern New England. The Nehantucket (known to Europeans as the Niantic) were an Algonquin-speaking people of the area. Nantucket's nickname, "The Little Grey Lady of the Sea", refers to the island as it appears from the ocean when it is fog-bound.

European settlement of Nantucket did not begin in earnest until 1659, when Thomas Mayhew sold nine-tenths of his interest to a group of investors, led by Tristram Coffin, "for the sum of thirty pounds (equal to £5,363 today) also two beaver hats, one for myself, and one for my wife".

When the English settlers arrived on Nantucket in 1659, the island was populated by Wampanoag Native Americans, one of the Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, who had been living there for thousands of years. As many as three thousand people lived on the island in groups governed by sachems.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 304 square miles (790 km2), of which 45 square miles (120 km2) is land and 259 square miles (670 km2) (85%) is water. It is the smallest county in Massachusetts by land area and second-smallest by total area. The area of Nantucket Island proper is 47.8 square miles (124 km2). The triangular region of the ocean between Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Cape Cod is Nantucket Sound. The highest points on the island include Saul's Hill at 102 feet (31 m), Altar Rock at 100 feet (30 m), and Sankaty Head at 92 feet (28 m).

Nantucket was formed by the outermost reach of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the recent Wisconsin Glaciation, shaped by the subsequent rise in sea level. The low ridge across the northern section of the island was deposited as a glacial moraine during a period of glacial standstill, a period during which till continued to arrive and was deposited as the glacier melted at a stationary front. The southern part of the island is an outwash plain, sloping away from the arc of the moraine and shaped at its margins by the sorting actions and transport of longshore drift. Nantucket became an island when rising sea levels covered the connection with the mainland, about 5,000–6,000 years ago.

The island and adjoining islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget comprise the Town and County of Nantucket, which is operated as a consolidated town and county government. 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 (generally shortened to "'Sconset").

Nantucket places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Nantucket Cottage Hospital offers a top-notch medical staff and a full spectrum of high-quality, state-of-the-art healthcare services. Nantucket Cycling and Fitness offers indoor cycling classes and fitness programs suitable for all levels. Enjoy yoga sessions at various scenic spots on the island by the ACK Clean Team, promoting relaxation and mindfulness. Nantucket Holistic Health provides holistic health services such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutritional counseling. Nantucket Health Club offers state-of-the-art gym facilities, group fitness classes, and personal training sessions. Join group runs or find specialized running gear at Nantucket Run Centre to explore the island's scenic trails. Attend wellness workshops and seminars by Nantucket Atheneum on various health topics at the island's public library. 

Top Sites in Nantucket, MA are the Whaling Museum, The Wauwinet, Nantucket Shipwreck and Life Saving Museum.

ZIP Codes: 02554, 02564, 02584. Area: 272.7 km². Area code: 508. Elevation: 30 ft (9 m). Population: 14,255 (2020).

FAQs

What is so special about Nantucket, MA?

Part of what makes Nantucket so special is its location. 14 miles long by 3-5 miles wide, the island lies 30 miles off of the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Nantucket Sound lies between our island and the mainland, while all our other shores are bordered by the Atlantic. Many years ago, Nantucket was formed by a massive glacial ice sheet. When the glacier reached its maximum eastward advance, it deposited rocks and other sediment at its edge, or terminal moraine.

Why is Nantucket, MA famous?

Nantucket MA is known for whaling, Nantucket bay scallops, foggy weather, lighthouses (three of them!), This is no surprise, considering the island was the whaling capital of the world in the early 19th century. Fleets of ships hundreds strong would depart from our shores. If they were lucky, captains returned years later with barrels full of oil used to light homes across the globe. This legacy is continued by the on Broad Street- pop over to learn more about our whaling tradition.

Is Nantucket, MA a good place to live?

Nantucket is in Nantucket County and is one of the best places to live in Massachusetts. Living in Nantucket offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. In Nantucket, there are a lot of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. The public schools in Nantucket are above average.

Sources

Town of Nantucket

Wikipedia

Niche

Fisher Nantucket

Whaling Museum 

The Wauwinet 

Nantucket Shipwreck and Life Saving Museum

Nantucket Cottage Hospital

Nantucket Cycling and Fitness

ACK Clean Team

Nantucket Holistic Health

Nantucket Health Club

Nantucket Run Centre

Nantucket Atheneum

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