Aquinnah, Massachusetts
Aquinnah (/əˈkwɪnə/ uh-KWIN-uh; Wampanoag: Âhqunah) is a town located on the western end of Martha's Vineyard island, Massachusetts. From 1870 to 1997, the town was incorporated as Gay Head. At the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 439. 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.
Aquinnah, Massachusetts
Âhqunah | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Town of Aquinnah | |
The Clay Cliffs of Aquinnah and the Gay Head Lighthouse on the western end of Martha's Vineyard. | |
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Seal | |
Location in Dukes County in Massachusetts | |
| Coordinates: 41°20′4″N 70°47′45″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Dukes |
| Settled | 1669 |
| Incorporated | April 13, 1870 (as Gay Head) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| • Total | 40.8 sq mi (105.6 km2) |
| • Land | 5.4 sq mi (13.9 km2) |
| • Water | 35.4 sq mi (91.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 439 |
| • Density | 81.3/sq mi (31.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 02535 |
| Area code | 508 / 774 |
| FIPS code | 25-01585 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618289 |
| Website | aquinnah-ma |
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 make up about 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.