The Massachusetts town that stretches the furthest between two points
In short: Gosnold holds a geographical paradox: it is the least populous town in Massachusetts, yet it boasts the longest distance between municipal limits in the entire Commonwealth. This remote archipelago of the Elizabeth Islands creates a landscape where water dominates the land by over 90 percent.
Geographically, Gosnold is defined by its isolation. While it ranks 272nd out of 351 Massachusetts communities in terms of total land area, its unique configuration gives it a distinct spatial profile. The town covers 140.2 square miles, but only 13.2 square miles of that is actual land. The remaining 127 square miles consist of water, meaning 90.59% of the municipality is sea.
This vast, water-heavy territory includes the Elizabeth Islands, a string of landmasses extending southwest from the tip of Falmouth. The islands include Nonamesset, Uncatena, Naushon, Pasque, Nashawena, Penikese, and Cuttyhunk. Because of this sprawling maritime layout, Gosnold holds the record for the longest distance between points within municipal limits in Massachusetts.
The human footprint on this geography is minimal. As of the 2020 census, the town population was just 70 people, giving it a population density of 5.3 inhabitants per square mile—the lowest in the state. Most residents are concentrated in the island-village of Cuttyhunk, while the rest of the town remains largely private, with much of the land owned by the Forbes family.
The history of the land is marked by shifting ownership and early maritime exploration. The Wampanoag Native Americans were the earliest inhabitants, using the islands for seasonal hunting, fishing, and gardening rather than permanent settlement. It wasn't until 1602 that Bartholomew Gosnold and his crew attempted the first European trading post on Cuttyhunk. That venture lasted only weeks before being abandoned, though it prompted the British Crown to claim jurisdiction over the chain.
Formal settlement began in 1641 when Thomas Mayhew, Sr. purchased the islands, though the Wampanoag did not officially transfer the deed of ownership until 1658. The territory moved through various administrative hands, including New York in 1683, before becoming part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1691. Gosnold was eventually incorporated as its own municipality in 1864, having previously been part of the town of Chilmark.
Today, the town functions as a specialized maritime community. Due to its extreme isolation and tiny population, it has occasionally requested waivers from the Commonwealth's anti-nepotism laws. Governance is handled via an open town meeting and a board of selectmen. While the town maintains a schoolhouse on Cuttyhunk, it currently has no students and aims to transition the building into a STEM resource center for mainland schools to visit. This reflects a shift from a residential hub to a destination for education and specialized transit.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Gosnold, Massachusetts
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