Woods Hole is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. The population was 925 at the 2000 census.

It is the site of several famous marine science institutions, including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution [1], the Marine Biological Laboratory [2], the Woods Hole Research Center [3], NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (which started the Woods Hole scientific community in 1871), a USGS coastal and marine geology center, and the home campus of the Sea Education Association. It is also the site of United States Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England (formerly USCG Group Woods Hole). ([4]), the Nobska Light lighthouse, and the terminus of the Steamship Authority ferry route between Cape Cod and the island of Martha's Vineyard.

The local lighthouse, at Nobska Point, is operated by the USCG and the accompanying house is the home of the Commander, USCG Base on Little Harbor.

Historically, Woods Hole[5] included one of the few good harbors (along with Hyannis) on the southern side of Cape Cod (i.e. Great Harbor, contained by Penzance Point) and became a center for whaling, shipping, and fishing, prior to its dominance today by tourism and marine research. At the end of the nineteenth century, Woods Hole was the home of the Pacific Guano Company, which produced fertilizer from bird dung imported from islands in the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean, and the coast of South Carolina. After the firm went bankrupt in 1889, Long Neck– the peninsula on which their factory was located– was renamed Penzance Point and was developed with Shingle-Style summer homes for bankers and lawyers from New York and Boston. Notable property owners on Penzance Point at the beginning of the twentieth century included Seward Prosser of New York's Bankers Trust Company; Francis Bartow, a partner in J. P. Morgan and Company; Charles Choate, of the Boston law firm Choate Hall and Stewart; and Franklin A. Park, an executive of Singer Sewing Machine.

Woods Hole is the home of the Children's School of Science, Inc.[6] Founded in 1913, this institution (locally known as "Science School") provides science classes for students between 8 and 14 years old that focus on scientific investigation by observation. Students regularly visit ecosystems around the village to study the organisms in their natural environments. The Children's School of Science draws upon the talent brought to the village by the research institutions but also educates the children of both scientists and locals.

The term "Woods Hole" refers to a passage for ships between Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay known for its extremely strong current, approaching four knots [7].

Nobska Light

Down-town Woods Hole from the water, including MBL and WHOI buildings.

The Knob is a local landmark: a rocky outcropping that overlooks Buzzards Bay and Quisset Harbor, a part of the privately owned Salt Pond bird sanctuaries. It was "armored" with rip-rap during the winter of 2004–2005 to slow erosion and is currently (11/2005) being repaired.

Ferries operated by the Steamship Authority run regularly between Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard. In the past ferries also ran between Woods Hole and Nantucket, but these have been discontinued in recent decades.

The annual Falmouth Road Race brings thousands of runners to Woods Hole in August each year. The route of the race starts outside the front door of the Captain Kidd, a tavern, and follows the shore of Vineyard Sound through Falmouth to another tavern in Falmouth Heights.

Some mention of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is made in the 1975 blockbuster film Jaws as having been the center of research for the fictional character Matt Hooper. Hooper is described as a marine biologist, focusing on the study of sharks. Coincidentally, a Great White Shark was spotted some years later at Woods Hole in September of 2004.

Geography

Woods Hole is located at 41°31′36″N, 70°39′47″W (41.526730, -70.663184).^[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 10.0 km² (3.9 mi²). 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²) of it is land and 4.5 km² (1.7 mi²) of it (44.33%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 925 people, 459 households, and 212 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 165.3/km² (427.9/mi²). There were 942 housing units at an average density of 168.4/km² (435.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.70% White, 1.62% African American, 0.54% Native American, 1.84% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.97% of the population.

There were 459 households out of which 14.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.6% were non-families. 40.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.94 and the average family size was 2.58.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 13.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there are 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $47,604, and the median income for a family was $57,969. Males had a median income of $31,964 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $30,752. None of the families and 5.3% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 6.4% of those over 64.

References

External links

• Woods Hole Historical Museum
• Woods Hole, the early years

• Woods Hole, Massachusetts is at coordinates 41°31′36″N 70°39′48″W / 41.52673, -70.663184 (Woods Hole, Massachusetts)Coordinates: 41°31′36″N 70°39′48″W / 41.52673, -70.663184 (Woods Hole, Massachusetts)
• Childrens School of Science
• 1887 Bird's Eye View of Woods Hole
• The Woods Hole Research Center
• Great White Shark at Woods Hole
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
• Woods Hole Historical Museum
• Images of Woods Hole, Dana Morris

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Barnstable County, Massachusetts
County seat: Barnstable
City	Barnstable
Towns	Bourne | Brewster | Chatham | Dennis | Eastham | Falmouth | Harwich | Mashpee | Orleans | Provincetown | Sandwich | Truro | Wellfleet | Yarmouth
CDPs	Bourne | Brewster | Buzzards Bay | Chatham | Dennis | Dennis Port | East Dennis | East Falmouth | East Harwich | East Sandwich | Falmouth | Forestdale | Harwich Center | Harwich Port | Mashpee Neck | Monomoscoy Island | Monument Beach | New Seabury | North Eastham | North Falmouth | Northwest Harwich | Orleans | Pocasset | Popponesset Island | Popponesset | Provincetown | Sagamore | Sandwich | Seabrook | Seconsett Island | South Dennis | South Yarmouth | Teaticket | West Chatham | West Dennis | West Falmouth | West Yarmouth | Woods Hole | Yarmouth Port
Villages	Barnstable Village | Centerville | Cotuit | Hyannis | Marstons Mills | North Truro | Osterville | West Barnstable