NANTUCKET, an island and county of Massachu setts, lying in the Atlantic ocean, ten miles a little south of east from Martha's Vineyard, and fourteen south of Cape Malabar, in Barnstable county. Nantucket is nearly in form of a crescent, about 16 miles in length, with an arca of 50 square miles ; situated between North Lat. 41° 13', and 41° 22'; and between 69° 561, and 70° 13' 1Vest from Greenwich. Similar to all other islands, the climate of Nantucket is mild when compar ed to that of the adjacent continent. The soil, though light and sandy, is tolerably productive. Meadow grass es grow abundantly. The right of landed property is held in common by the inhabitants. The inhabitants are in general engaged in a seafaring life, and have always been remarkable for their activity and hal dy robust tem perament, and their admirable knowledge and enterprise as seamen. In both wars between the United States and Great Britain, the inhabitants of Nantucket evinced their patriotism, and were from their exposed situation severe sufferers from the cruisers of the common enemy. Their industry and experience have amply restored their prosperity ; they have now near fifty sail of ves sels, averaging three hundred tons burthen, engaged in Ihe whale fishery. The manufacture of Spermaceti em
-dloys on the island a capital of upwards of 600,000 dol lars. A long and dangerous shoal extends east and north-east from Nantucket, the exact extent and posi tion of which has never been very exactly delineated.
The chief town on the island is called by the same name, Nantucket, standing on the north side of the island, at North Lat. 41° 15' 30", and 70° 05' West Long. from Greenwich, and 6° 55' East from Washington city ; about 45 miles south-east from New Bedford, and 90 south-east by south frona Boston.
The form of Nantucket island renders the whole north ern part a bay, the concave part of the crescent extend ing to the south. The town of Nantucket stands at the bottom of this bay, upon an excellent and well sheltered harbour, into which large vessels cannot enter, upon ac count of a bar of sand at its entrance.
There is in the town of Nantucket t7,vo Banks and two Insurance Companies. The inhabitants of the whole island in 1810 amounted to 6807, and in 1820, to 7265.