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2005 aerial view of Vineyard Haven. Vineyard Haven Harbor is in the upper right; the Lagoon on the lower right. The peninsula is Hines Point.

Vineyard Haven is a census-designated place and village located in the town of Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County, Massachusetts, United States.

Known by the original Wampanoag inhabitants as Nobnocket, this area was first referred to by the colonial settlers as Homes Hole; "Homes" from a Wampanoag term for "old man," and "Hole" meaning a sheltered inlet. By the 1800s it was more commonly spelled Holmes Hole after the descendants of John Holmes (1730-1812) who had settled in the village during the second half of the eighteenth century. In 1871 the village officially changed its name to Vineyard Haven.^[1]

Vineyard Haven is the main port of entry to Martha's Vineyard, and one of the three main population centers (with Edgartown and Oak Bluffs). The Steamship Authority wharf is located in Vineyard Haven, at which ferries arrive and depart year-round. (A second, seasonal wharf is located in neighboring Oak Bluffs.) As of the 2000 census, the village had a total year-round population of 2,048. This population increases tremendously in the summer, as most houses on the Vineyard are owned by summer residents.

Vineyard Haven is located at 41°27′22″N, 70°36′26″W (41.456109, -70.607176)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.1 km² (1.6 mi²). 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (20.89%) is water.

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,048 people, 941 households, and 479 families residing in the village. The population density was 632.6/km² (1,635.9/mi²). There were 1,420 housing units at an average density of 438.6/km² (1,134.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 88.92% White, 3.22% African American, 1.86% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.71% from other races, and 4.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 941 households out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.0% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the village the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,318, and the median income for a family was $44,844. Males had a median income of $35,824 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $26,225. About 6.5% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.2% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

1. ^ Banks, Charles E. The History of Martha's Vineyard, Vol. II (Dukes County Historical Society)

• Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts is at coordinates 41°27′22″N 70°36′26″W / 41.456109, -70.607176Coordinates: 41°27′22″N 70°36′26″W / 41.456109, -70.607176
• Images of Lake Tashmoo, Vineyard Haven, Dana Morris