Tisbury is named for Martha's Vineyard Governor Mayhew's home town in Wiltshire, England. Around 1673, the settlers of the Vineyard grew disenchanted with the governance of Governor Mayhew and petitioned the new governor of New York, appointed by William and Mary, the rulers of England at the time, for a change in leadership. Tisbury was incorporated as a town in 1671.
Vineyard Haven is a community within the town of Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard. Vineyard Haven is the main port of entry to Martha's Vineyard, and one of the three main population centers (with Edgartown and Oak Bluffs). The Steamship Authority wharf is located in Vineyard Haven, at which ferries arrive and depart year-round. (A second, seasonal wharf is located in neighboring Oak Bluffs.) Although the year-round population is only about 2,000 people, its population increases tremendously in the summer, as many houses on the Vineyard are owned by summer residents. You will find lovely shops and quaint places to eat along the sides of Main Street. Home to the Vineyard Playhouse, Island Cove Miniature Golf, Mink Meadows Golf Course, West Chop Lighthouse, the famous Black Dog Tavern and the Chamber of Commerce to name a few.