Massachusetts

Dukes

20,600
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Dukes

Dukes, Massachusetts, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 3,265. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 20,600.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them British Raid on Martha's Vineyard, and 24 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202020,600
201016,535
200014,987
199011,639
19808,942
19706,117
19605,829
19505,633
19405,669
19304,953
19204,372
19104,504
19004,561
18904,369
18804,300
18703,787
18604,403
18504,540
18403,958
18303,517
18203,292
18103,290
18003,118
17903,265
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Dukes

Military engagements that took place in Dukes, Massachusetts.

British Raid on Martha's Vineyard
1778

Historic places in Dukes

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dukes, Massachusetts.

Gay Head-Aquinnah Town Center Historic District
Aquinnah
East Chop Light
Oak Bluffs
Old Mill
West Tisbury
Tucker, Dr. Harrison A., Cottage
Oak Bluffs
Tarpaulin Cove Light
Gosnold
Edgartown Harbor Light
Edgartown
Flying Horses
Oak Bluffs
Gay Head-Aquinnah Town Center Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Aquinnah
Ritter House
Vineyard Haven
Arcade, The
Oak Bluffs
Barn House
Chilmark
Union Chapel
Oak Bluffs
West Chop Light Station
Tisbury
Gay Head Light
Aquinnah
Martha's Vineyard Campground
Oak Bluffs
West Chop Club Historic District
Tisbury
Vanderhoop, Edwin DeVries, Homestead
Aquinnah
Tashmoo Springs Pumping Station
Tisbury
Edgartown Village Historic District
Edgartown
Cape Poge Light
Edgartown
William Street Historic District
Tisbury
Browse all Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Other counties in Massachusetts

Explore census history and historic records for more Massachusetts counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Dukes County, Massachusetts

This page charts the census history of Dukes County, Massachusetts. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Dukes

When does Dukes first appear in the US census?
Dukes, Massachusetts first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 3,265.
What is the population of Dukes?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Dukes had a recorded population of 20,600.
Were any battles fought in Dukes?
1 documented military engagement took place in Dukes, including British Raid on Martha's Vineyard.
How many historic places are in Dukes?
24 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dukes, Massachusetts.
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