61-532: Katama ( / k ə ˈ t eɪ m ə / kuh- TAY -muh ) is a residential area in the town of Edgartown, Massachusetts , on the south shore of the island of Martha's Vineyard . It is bordered on the west by Edgartown Great Pond, on the east by Katama Bay (separating Katama from the island of Chappaquiddick) and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. It starts at a fork in the road when you head south on Katama Road out of central Edgartown; Katama Road leads to
122-410: A textural class of soil or soil type; i.e., a soil containing more than 85 percent sand-sized particles by mass. The composition of sand varies, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non- tropical coastal settings is silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO 2 ), usually in the form of quartz . Calcium carbonate
183-434: A diameter of between 0.074 and 4.75 millimeters. By another definition, in terms of particle size as used by geologists , sand particles range in diameter from 0.0625 mm (or 1 ⁄ 16 mm) a volume of approximately 0.00012 cubic millimetres, to 2 mm, a volume of approximately 4.2 cubic millimetres, the difference in volumes being 34,688 measures difference. Any particle falling within this range of sizes
244-434: A documentary called " Sand Wars " about the impact of the lack of construction sand. It shows the ecological and economic effects of both legal and illegal trade in construction sand. To retrieve the sand, the method of hydraulic dredging is used. This works by pumping the top few meters of sand out of the water and filling it into a boat, which is then transported back to land for processing. All marine life mixed in with
305-459: A group of families to start a colony on the island after its purchase by his father Thomas Mayhew . Originally called Great Harbor , it was incorporated on July 8, 1671, as Edgar Towne , named for Edgar , whose father James II of England , was heir presumptive to the English throne. Those who chose the name to honor the monarchy did not know Edgar had died at the age of three on June 8, 1671. It
366-610: A high olivine content. Many sands, especially those found extensively in Southern Europe , have iron impurities within the quartz crystals of the sand, giving a deep yellow color. Sand deposits in some areas contain garnets and other resistant minerals, including some small gemstones . Rocks erode or weather over a long period of time, mainly by water and wind, and their sediments are transported downstream. These sediments continue to break apart into smaller pieces until they become fine grains of sand. The type of rock
427-414: A multitude of houses built by whaling captains and other prominent people of prior centuries. The growth of the population over the past 25 years has led to a period of intense renewal of these old houses. Water Street along the harbor is the location of many of these "Captain's Homes" which line both sides of the street. The town has also encouraged renovation of historical structures. As part of this effort,
488-622: A part of the Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket district, which includes all of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, as well as a portion of Falmouth . The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a portion of the Cape and Islands district, which includes all of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and most of Barnstable County (with the exception of Bourne , Sandwich , Falmouth and a portion of Barnstable ). All of Dukes County
549-489: A result. People sometimes dig holes in the sand at beaches for recreational purposes, but if too deep they can result in serious injury or death in the event of a collapse. Manufactured sand (M sand) is sand made from rock by artificial processes, usually for construction purposes in cement or concrete. It differs from river sand by being more angular, and has somewhat different properties. In Dubai , United Arab Emirates , sand needed to construct infrastructure and create
610-402: A sailor than decreasing longitude.] The town of Edgartown includes the smaller island of Chappaquiddick , sometimes connected to the rest of Martha's Vineyard only by a barrier beach which can be breached during storms. Chappaquiddick is separated from the town center by Edgartown Harbor and Katama Bay. The town is close to Nantucket's Muskeget Island , which is seven miles east of Wasque Point,
671-576: A ship travels east, it is said to be traveling "down east" as longitude decreases towards the Prime Meridian ). [An alternative explanation and one prevalent in Maine, is that down east is down wind in the prevailing winds of the New England coast, down island would also be down wind. For those who have spent a lot of time sailing (as opposed to 'power boating'), down wind is more important to
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#1732782344526732-483: A significant dredging industry, raising environmental concerns over fish depletion, landslides, and flooding. Countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia ban sand exports, citing these issues as a major factor. It is estimated that the annual consumption of sand and gravel is 40 billion tons and sand is a US$ 70 billion global industry. With increasing use, more is expected to come from recycling and alternatives to sand. The global demand for sand in 2017
793-418: A spring storm in 2007. This has led to a three-knot current through Katama Bay and Edgartown Harbor. This protected body of water provides ample mooring for small and large boats. The opening of the harbor will accommodate large sailing and motorized boats, but will not accommodate large ships or yachts which may anchor outside the harbor. Another feature is South Beach, a small part of the ocean beach that runs
854-515: Is a town on the island of Martha's Vineyard in Dukes County , Massachusetts , United States, for which it is the county seat . The town's population was 5,168 at the 2020 census. It was once a major whaling port, with historic houses that have been carefully preserved. Today it hosts yachting events around its large harbor. Edgartown also includes Chappaquiddick Island , a peninsula accessible by ferry. In 1642, Rev. Thomas Mayhew, Jr. led
915-487: Is bordered by Nantucket Sound to the northeast and east, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, West Tisbury to the west, and Oak Bluffs to the north. The town also shares a common corner with Tisbury (along with West Tisbury and Oak Bluffs). Edgartown is located at the eastern end of Martha's Vineyard (referred to as "down-island", a vestige of the island's traditional maritime manner of speaking in that as
976-508: Is called grus in geology or sharp sand in the building trade where it is preferred for concrete, and in gardening where it is used as a soil amendment to loosen clay soils. Sand that is transported long distances by water or wind will be rounded, with characteristic abrasion patterns on the grain surface. Desert sand is typically rounded. People who collect sand as a hobby are known as arenophiles . Organisms that thrive in sandy environments are psammophiles. Only some sands are suitable for
1037-574: Is found in places such as White Sands National Park and Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in the U.S. Sand is a non-renewable resource over human timescales, and sand suitable for making concrete is in high demand. Desert sand, although plentiful, is not suitable for concrete. Fifty billion tons of beach sand and fossil sand are used each year for construction. The exact definition of sand varies. The scientific Unified Soil Classification System used in engineering and geology corresponds to US Standard Sieves, and defines sand as particles with
1098-592: Is patrolled by the Fifth (Oak Bluffs) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police . Edgartown is governed on the local level by the open town meeting form of government and is led by a Town Administrator and a board of selectmen . The town has its own police and fire departments, both located just west of the historic center of town. The current police chief is Bruce McNamee. The town has one post office, located further west and south of
1159-568: Is provided by two ferries, the "On Time II" and "On Time III". A common myth is that the original ferry "On Time" was given its name because the ferry has never had scheduled runs and thus is never late. In fact, the ferry was given this name because a new owner, Foster B. Silva of Chappaquiddick, had less than two weeks to build it before taking over the service on August 1, 1948. The work crew—led by Captain Samuel B. Norton and master boatbuilder Manuel Swartz Roberts, both of Edgartown—built and launched
1220-433: Is termed a sand grain . Sand grains are between gravel (with particles ranging from 2 mm up to 64 mm by the latter system, and from 4.75 mm up to 75 mm in the former) and silt (particles smaller than 0.0625 mm down to 0.004 mm). The size specification between sand and gravel has remained constant for more than a century, but particle diameters as small as 0.02 mm were considered sand under
1281-565: Is the county seat of Dukes County. On the national level, Edgartown is a part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district , and is currently represented by William R. Keating . The state's junior (Class II) member of the United States Senate is Ed Markey , and the senior (Class I) Senator is Elizabeth Warren . On the state level, Edgartown is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as
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#17327823445261342-474: Is the most common mineral resistant to weathering . The composition of mineral sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions. The bright white sands found in tropical and subtropical coastal settings are eroded limestone and may contain coral and shell fragments in addition to other organic or organically derived fragmental material, suggesting that sand formation depends on living organisms, too. The gypsum sand dunes of
1403-494: Is the second most common type of sand. One such example of this is aragonite , which has been created over the past 500 million years by various forms of life, such as coral and shellfish . It is the primary form of sand apparent in areas where reefs have dominated the ecosystem for millions of years, as in the Caribbean . Somewhat more rarely, sand may be composed of calcium sulfate , such as gypsum and selenite , as
1464-614: Is used for commercial commuter flights from nearby sites on the mainland and Nantucket. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,779 people, 1,582 households, and 957 families residing in the town. The population density was 140.0 inhabitants per square mile (54.1/km ). There were 4,360 housing units at an average density of 161.5 per square mile (62.4/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 93.3% White , 1.8% African American , 0.5% Native American , 0.5% Asian , <0.1% Pacific Islander , 1.5% from other races , and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of
1525-738: The Albert Atterberg standard in use during the early 20th century. The grains of sand in Archimedes ' The Sand Reckoner written around 240 BCE, were 0.02 mm in diameter. A 1938 specification of the United States Department of Agriculture was 0.05 mm. A 1953 engineering standard published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials set the minimum sand size at 0.074 mm. Sand feels gritty when rubbed between
1586-514: The Krumbein phi scale , where size is Φ = -log 2 D; D being the particle size in mm. On this scale, for sand the value of Φ varies from −1 to +4, with the divisions between sub-categories at whole numbers. The most common constituent of sand, in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal settings, is silica (silicon dioxide, or SiO 2 ), usually in the form of quartz , which, because of its chemical inertness and considerable hardness,
1647-581: The On Time Ferry, Edgartown is home to another ferry, the Pied Piper , which runs seasonally between the town and Falmouth, on Cape Cod. There are two airports in the town. Katama Airpark is a grass field and located between Katama Bay and Edgartown Great Pond in the southern part of town; it serves smaller private aircraft. Along the border of the state forest lies Martha's Vineyard Airport , which Edgartown shares with West Tisbury. This airport
1708-687: The White Sands National Park in New Mexico are famous for their bright, white color. Arkose is a sand or sandstone with considerable feldspar content, derived from weathering and erosion of a (usually nearby) granitic rock outcrop. Some sands contain magnetite , chlorite , glauconite , or gypsum . Sands rich in magnetite are dark to black in color, as are sands derived from volcanic basalts and obsidian . Chlorite - glauconite bearing sands are typically green in color, as are sands derived from basaltic lava with
1769-795: The Oak Bluffs Wharf and Mattakeeset Lodge in Katama. The Mattakeeset Lodge (note the spelling variations of Mattakesett) was located on the shore of Katama Bay and is pictured below in a photo from the New York Library collection. A portion of the lodge including one tower was incorporated into a wing of the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown. Components of the Third Army , later led to fame by General George Patton in
1830-487: The Sahara is sand dunes, while 70% is bare rock. The wind is responsible for creating these different environments and shaping the sand to be round and smooth. These properties make desert sand unusable for construction. Beach sand is also formed by erosion. Over thousands of years, rocks are eroded near the shoreline from the constant motion of waves and the sediments build up. Weathering and river deposition also accelerate
1891-546: The Vineyarders, and their colors are violet and white. The school has a longstanding rivalry with Nantucket High School, with both competing for the Island Cup on an annual basis. Sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt . Sand can also refer to
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1952-624: The Whaling Church, a large 18th-century church, has been converted to a performing arts center and the adjacent Daniel Fisher House is now used for a variety of social functions. In addition to the architecture of the town, Edgartown is easily traversed on foot or bicycle, making it attractive to tourists. Edgartown was used as the main shooting location for the town of Amity in Steven Spielberg's 1975 blockbuster Jaws . Many landmarks and buildings in Edgartown that were filmed in
2013-406: The average family size was 2.92. In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males. The median income for a household in the town
2074-553: The climate more resembles far inland Central Europe . Winters are mild with occasional snow and summers are hot and humid. Edgartown is among the most northerly locations with a semi-tropical climate in North America. Diurnal temperature variation is lower than on the mainland. The warmest night on record is 76 °F (24 °C) in August 2010 and the annual average is 72 °F (22 °C). When wind conditions come from
2135-527: The cold interior during winter, Edgartown can experience heavy cold snaps in spite of its offshore position and low latitude. The mean for the coldest day is at 20 °F (−7 °C) and the daytime maximum fell to 7 °F (−14 °C) in December 1980. Even with 40 °F (4 °C) average January highs and the mild water temperatures, ice days were recorded every year at the station in its first 75 years operating. Auto transportation to Chappaquiddick
2196-441: The construction industry, for example for making concrete . Grains of desert sand are rounded by being blown in the wind, and for this reason do not produce solid concrete, unlike the rough sand from the sea. Because of the growth of population and of cities and the consequent construction activity there is a huge demand for these special kinds of sand, and natural sources are running low. In 2012 French director Denis Delestrac made
2257-420: The entire southern length of the island from Edgartown to Aquinnah. It can be reached by driving or riding the bus south from Edgartown center for approximately 2.5 miles. South Beach is a crashing ocean beach. It is a major destination for tourists. Much of the beach in Edgartown is open to the public, with ample parking available. The section of the beach near Katama is often crowded, while the sections further to
2318-438: The extracted sand is killed and the ecosystem can continue to suffer for years after the mining is complete. Not only does this affect marine life, but also the local fishing industries because of the loss of life, and communities living close to the water's edge. When sand is taken out of the water it increases the risk of landslides, which can lead to loss of agricultural land and/or damage to dwellings. Sand's many uses require
2379-660: The fingers. Silt , by comparison, feels like flour . ISO 14688 grades sands as fine, medium, and coarse with ranges 0.063 mm to 0.2 mm to 0.63 mm to 2.0 mm. In the United States, sand is commonly divided into five sub-categories based on size: very fine sand ( 1 ⁄ 16 – 1 ⁄ 8 mm diameter), fine sand ( 1 ⁄ 8 mm – 1 ⁄ 4 mm), medium sand ( 1 ⁄ 4 mm – 1 ⁄ 2 mm), coarse sand ( 1 ⁄ 2 mm – 1 mm), and very coarse sand (1 mm – 2 mm). These sizes are based on
2440-408: The island with a summer increase to 105,000. Over the last 20 years there has been a continuous growth in the population of the island, although many of the large expanses of undeveloped land and many vistas remain. The summer season, which previously lasted from mid-June through Labor Day weekend has been gradually extended and now includes the period from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Edgartown
2501-550: The left and Herring Creek Road leads to the right. The word "Katama" comes from a Wampanoag word meaning "crab-fishing place." The terrain is a flat outwash plain , characterized by sandy soil and few trees. It is sometimes referred to as the "Great Plains." Katama has been a popular summer resort since the late 19th century. From 1874-1896, Katama was the terminus of the Martha's Vineyard Railroad . The train Active ran between
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2562-505: The movie can still be seen today. The Edgartown Harbor Light at the end of north Water Street defines the entrance to the Harbor. The harbor is large and entered through a modest sized channel on the North side of Edgartown. It opens into Katama Bay, created by a barrier beach that sometimes connects the south end of Chappaquiddick to the remainder of Edgartown, The barrier beach opened during
2623-409: The new ferry "on time." This original "On Time" was converted to a barge dispensing fresh water to visiting yachtsmen after its service as a ferry ended in 1975. The barge was sold and lost track of in the late 1990s. The "On Time II," built in 1969, and the "On Time III," built in 1975 and now owned by Peter. S. Wells and his wife Sally T. Snipes of Chappaquiddick, are still in service. In addition to
2684-409: The population. There were 1,582 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and
2745-413: The primary ports for the whaling industry during the 1800s. Ships from all over the world would dock in its sheltered bay and captains would build grand mansions for their families with ornate top floor rooms called widow's walks , which overlooked the harbor. A myth developed that wives would watch for months from these tiny rooms, hoping to see the sails of ships that would bring their husbands home from
2806-437: The process of creating a beach, along with marine animals interacting with rocks, such as eating the algae off of them. Once there is a sufficient amount of sand, the beach acts as a barrier to keep the land from eroding any further. This sand is ideal for construction as it is angular and of various sizes. Marine sand (or ocean sand) comes from sediments transported into the ocean and the erosion of ocean rocks. The thickness of
2867-461: The rate the sand can replenish, making it a non-renewable resource. Sand dunes are a consequence of dry conditions or wind deposition. The Sahara Desert is very dry because of its geographic location and proximity to the equator . It is known for its vast sand dunes, which exist mainly due to a lack of vegetation and water. Over time, wind blows away fine particles, such as clay and dead organic matter, leaving only sand and larger rocks. Only 15% of
2928-460: The sand because they do not have as much time to dissolve away. The term for sand formed by weathering is "epiclastic." Sand from rivers are collected either from the river itself or its flood plain and accounts for the majority of the sand used in the construction industry. Because of this, many small rivers have been depleted, causing environmental concern and economic losses to adjacent land. The rate of sand mining in such areas greatly outweighs
2989-480: The sand layer varies, however it is common to have more sand closer to land; this type of sand is ideal for construction and is a very valuable commodity. Europe is the main miners of marine sand, which greatly hurts ecosystems and local fisheries. The study of individual grains can reveal much historical information as to the origin and kind of transport of the grain. Quartz sand that is recently weathered from granite or gneiss quartz crystals will be angular. It
3050-441: The sea. There is little or no evidence that widow's walks were intended or regularly used for this purpose. They were frequently built around the chimney of the residence, thus creating an easy access route to the structure, allowing the residents of the home to pour sand down burning chimneys in the event of a chimney fire in the hopes of preventing the house from burning down. As more economical alternatives became available
3111-411: The sediment originated from and the intensity of the environment give different compositions of sand. The most common rock to form sand is granite , where the feldspar minerals dissolve faster than the quartz , causing the rock to break apart into small pieces. In high energy environments rocks break apart much faster than in more calm settings. In granite rocks this results in more feldspar minerals in
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#17327823445263172-681: The southeasternmost point of Chappaquiddick. Katama is the south-central portion of Edgartown. In addition to a beach, Katama has within its boundaries the Katama Airpark , the Katama Farm , the Herring Creek Farm and two resorts. Edgartown is also home to half of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest , which extends into neighboring West Tisbury. There are nine beaches, a yacht club, and several preserves and reservations in
3233-567: The sweep across France and the Battle of the Bulge, camped at Katama and practiced amphibious landings at Katama during the summer of 1943 prior to shipping to England in December, 1943 as a part of the force being prepared for the D-day landings. 41°21′45″N 70°31′00″W / 41.36250°N 70.51667°W / 41.36250; -70.51667 Edgartown, Massachusetts Edgartown
3294-853: The town, including the Wasque Reservation along the south shore of Chappaquiddick and the Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge along the east shore of the island. There are two lighthouses in the town, the Cape Pogue Light on Chappaquiddick and the Edgartown Harbor Light in Edgartown Harbor. Edgartown has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen Cfa ) according to most recent temperature averages, with some resemblance to that of Tampa, Florida , New York City , or Atlanta, Georgia , although
3355-493: The user to wear respiratory protection to avoid breathing the resulting fine silica dust . Safety data sheets for silica sand state that "excessive inhalation of crystalline silica is a serious health concern." In areas of high pore water pressure , sand and salt water can form quicksand , which is a colloid hydrogel that behaves like a liquid. Quicksand produces a considerable barrier to escape for creatures caught within, who often die from exposure (not from submersion) as
3416-639: The west (near Edgartown Great Pond and Oyster Pond) are often less so. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 122.7 square miles (318 km ), of which 27.0 square miles (70 km ) is land and 95.8 square miles (248 km ) (78.01%) is water. Edgartown is ranked 103rd out of 351 communities in the Commonwealth by land area, and is the largest town by land area in Dukes County. Edgartown
3477-405: The whaling industry began to decline. By the beginning of the 20th century, its influence on the tiny town which had made its fortunes through the industry, was ended. Today the town is more known for tourism, as well as the site of Chappaquiddick, where Ted Kennedy's fatal automobile accident took place in 1969. Edgartown was an old whaling port and is now a summer and tourist destination with
3538-667: The wildlife preserve at Sengekontacket Pond. The town's Free Public Library is located in the center of town. Edgartown is also the site of the Dukes County Courthouse, the only courthouse on the island. Edgartown is part of the Martha's Vineyard Regional School District along with Aquinnah , Chilmark , Oak Bluffs , Tisbury , and West Tisbury . Students in Edgartown attend Edgartown Elementary School, from grades K–8. High School students then attend Martha's Vineyard Regional High School . The MVRHS's teams are nicknamed
3599-486: Was $ 50,407, and the median income for a family was $ 55,153. Males had a median income of $ 36,615 versus $ 30,205 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 25,740. About 2.7% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over. In 2003 the Vineyard Gazette estimated that there were 15,000 year-round inhabitants of
3660-635: Was 9.55 billion tons as part of a $ 99.5 billion industry. In April 2022, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published a report stating that 50 billion tons of sand and gravel were being used every year. The report made 10 recommendations, including a ban on beach extraction, to avert a crisis, and move toward a circular economy for the two resources. While sand is generally non-toxic, sand-using activities such as sandblasting require precautions. Bags of silica sand used for sandblasting now carry labels warning
3721-453: Was one of the two original towns on Martha's Vineyard, along with Tisbury , incorporated at the same time. The younger Mayhew began his work which led to his becoming the first church planting Protestant missionary after he settled in Edgartown. A Wampanoag Indian named Hiacoomes who lived nearby became his partner in founding the churches in the Indian communities. Edgartown was one of
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