*** Welcome to piglix ***

Gosnold, Massachusetts

Gosnold, Massachusetts
Town
Gosnold Town Hall in the village of Cuttyhunk
Gosnold Town Hall in the village of Cuttyhunk
Official seal of Gosnold, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Dukes County in Massachusetts
Location in Dukes County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 41°28′54″N 70°45′25″W / 41.48167°N 70.75694°W / 41.48167; -70.75694Coordinates: 41°28′54″N 70°45′25″W / 41.48167°N 70.75694°W / 41.48167; -70.75694
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Dukes
Settled 1641
Incorporated 1864
Government
 • Type Open town meeting
Area
 • Total 140.2 sq mi (363.0 km2)
 • Land 13.2 sq mi (34.2 km2)
 • Water 127.0 sq mi (328.9 km2)
Elevation 85 ft (26 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 75
 • Density 6/sq mi (2.2/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02713
Area code(s) 508 / 774
FIPS code 25-26325
GNIS feature ID 0618290

Gosnold is a town that encompasses the Elizabeth Islands in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States. At the 2010 census, the town population was 75, making it the least populous town in Massachusetts. Most of the residents live in the village of Cuttyhunk, while most of the land in the town is owned by the Forbes family.

The earliest settlers of the Elizabeth Islands were the Wampanoag Native Americans. The tribe did not settle permanently on the Elizabeth Islands, but used them in summer for hunting, fishing, and gardening. Occasionally, arrowheads or stone tools are discovered on the islands. The islands' names come from the Wampanoag language.

Bartholomew Gosnold was among the first Europeans to become aware of the Elizabeth Islands, including Cuttyhunk, in 1602. He and his crew attempted to establish a trading post on Cuttyhunk so that they could trade with the natives, the first attempt by Europeans to do so. The trading post was abandoned after only a few weeks, and Gosnold decided to return home. Upon his return to England, the British Crown claimed jurisdiction of the island chain.

Gosnold was first settled in 1641, the year of purchase of the islands by Thomas Mayhew, Sr. The islands were claimed by the Wampanoag until 1658, when the Wampanoag sachem transferred the deed of ownership to Mayhew. Constituting Dukes County, New York since 1683, the Elizabeth Islands, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, were transferred to the newly created Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1691. Gosnold was separately incorporated as a municipality in 1864; previously it was a part of the town of Chilmark.


...
Wikipedia

...