Oak Bluffs

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The town of Oak Bluffs is a resort town on the northeast shore of the island. It is one of five towns and considered the islands liveliest center with a downtown district called Circuit Avenue. The Oak Bluffs harbor is know as the island's favorite center for power boaters with it's long concrete docks that includes shops and restaurants for summer tourists.

Oak Bluffs originally began as the center of tourism on the Vineyard. It was first settled in 1642 and was originally incorporated in 1880 as Cottage City. Members of the Methodist church would come each summer were they would pitch tents and have open air meetings. Eventually visitors began replacing the tents with small wooden buildings know as gingerbread cottages which was the reason for the name.

In 1907 the town's name was changed because of the growth in the year round population and the changing face of the of the resort community. It was re-incorporated as Oak Bluffs, named because the town was the site of an oak grove along the buffs. In 1884 the Flying Horses Carousel was brought to Oak Bluffs were is remains the oldest platform carousel still in operation. It was originally on Coney Island, but was moved to Oak Bluffs in 1884. It was built in 1876.

'OB' as it is referred to by the residents also is home to some beautiful beaches and fabulous public parks the jewel of which is Ocean Park, with it's fantastic water views and a bandstand at the center from which concerts are given throughout the summer. views.

The town has an area of 26 miles and a population of over 3,800 It is boarded by Nantucket sound to the north and east, Edgartown to the south, and Vineyard Harbor, Lagoon pond and Tisbury to the west. From the northernmost tip of the town known as East Chop at the lighthouse the town is just over five miles from the mainland.

Oak bluffs is also one of the sites of the steamship authority piers for the ferries from Woods Hole, Falmouth Harbor, New Bedford and Hyannis Port. The port is only seasonal. The other year round port is located in Vineyard Haven.

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