Whichever way they arrived, their history has been very different from that of mainland tribes. These cliffs marked the homeward leg of Gay Head's Indian and Yankee fishermen and whalers. Gosnold filled his boat with beaver and muskrat, sassafras and cedar before sailing back to England. When the town was incorporated in 1870, it had already been named an Indian reservation and had established its maritime economy. It includes both subsidized affordable units and market rate units in certain eligible subsidized developments.
Ferry service is the vital link to and from the Island.
The Wood's Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority provides year-round ferry service. The principal highways are State Road and the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road. There is no freight or passenger rail service on Martha's Vineyard. The MVTA provides paratransit services to the elderly and disabled, primarily through Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands. Island Transport provides fixed route bus service to other towns on the island during the tourist season.