Census Data for West Tisbury
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave West Tisbury a population of 2,928 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave West Tisbury a population of 2,740 people.
The community of West Tisbury is located in Dukes County. The 2010 Census gave Dukes County; a population of 16,572 people. This means that West Tisbury had 16.53% of the county's total population, making it Dukes' 4th most populous community.
At the same time, Massachusetts had a population of 6,547,629 people, meaning that West Tisbury had 0.04% of the total population of Massachusetts - making it the state's 283rd most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for West Tisbury has a total area of 41.77 square miles [108.2 km²]. Of this total, 25.03 square miles [64.8 km²] is land, with the balance (40.06%) being water (16.73 square miles [43.3 km²]).
Dukes County has a land area of 103.2 square miles [267.4 km²]. At 25.03 square miles [64.8 km²], West Tisbury has 24.25% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a community like West Tisbury, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the community.
- Things like population, area and housing for West Tisbury reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of West Tisbury might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 41° 23' 39" (or 41.39°)
- Lon: -70° 39' 23" (or -70.66°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, West Tisbury had 2,204 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 2,740 people, this averages 1.24 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows West Tisbury had a land area of 25.03 square miles [64.8 km²]. This translates to 52.8 Housing Units per square mile [20.37 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: West Tisbury had 1,849 Housing Units, a population of 2,467 people and a land area of 25.01 square miles [64.8 km²]. This gives a density of 1.33 people per Housing Unit and 44.3 Housing Units per square mile [17.1 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for West Tisbury and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the nature of these the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Dukes County ...
West Tisbury is located in Dukes County<4>.
The county had a population of 16,572 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 2,740 people, West Tisbury represented 16.53% of the county's total.
In addition, where the community of West Tisbury has a population density of 65.6 people per square mile [25.33 people/km²], Dukes County averages 160.5 people per square mile [62 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Dukes County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for West Tisbury, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of West Tisbury. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for West Tisbury or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of West Tisbury, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for West Tisbury.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 41.394406° (or 41°23'39" N)
- Lon: -70.656447° (or -70°39'23" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 41.394325° (or 41°23'39" N)
- Lon: -70.656336° (or -70°39'22" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 42.35 feet to the northwest<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#618291) to West Tisbury. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of West Tisbury. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 41.381225° (or 41°22'52" N)
- Lon: -70.674472° (or -70°40'28" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 6,884 feet to the northeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for West Tisbury. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for West Tisbury.
Miscellaneous Information for West Tisbury ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Dukes County or the community of West Tisbury:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 25 (Massachusetts)
- County Code: 007 (Dukes County)
- Place Code: 78200 (West Tisbury)
- State & County Code: 25/007 (Massachusetts / Dukes County)
- State & Place Code: 25/78200 (Massachusetts / West Tisbury)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- West Tisbury is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #1 (the New England Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a community like West Tisbury, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) West Tisbury. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- The ZIP code for West Tisbury:02575<7>
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for West Tisbury.
Off-the-Road Links ...
Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for West Tisbury. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.
The official website for Dukes County: www.dukescounty.org/
The official website for State of Massachusetts: https://www.mass.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Massachusetts' counties, including Dukes, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 45 degrees and a distance of 42.35 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 314 degrees and a distance of 6,884 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether West Tisbury or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |