Martha's Vineyard is divided into six towns.
Each town is governed by a board of selectmen elected by town voters, along with annual and periodic town meetings.
Each town is also a member of the Martha's Vineyard Commission, which regulates island-wide building, environmental, and aesthetic concerns.

Some government programs on the island—such as the public school system, emergency management, and waste management—have been regionalized.
There is a growing push for further regionalization areas of law enforcement, water treatment, and possible government regionalization.

Each town also follows certain regulations from Dukes County.
The towns are:
Tisbury, which includes the main village of Vineyard Haven and the West Chop peninsula.
It is the island's primary port of entry for people and cargo, supplemented by the seasonal port in Oak Bluffs.

Edgartown, which includes Chappaquiddick Island and Katama.
Edgartown is noted for its rich whaling tradition and is the island's largest town by population and area.

Oak Bluffs is most well known for its gingerbread cottages, its open harbor, and its vibrant town along busy Circuit Avenue.
Oak Bluffs enjoys a reputation as one of the more active night-life towns on the island for both residents and tourists.
It was known as "Cottage City" from its separation from Edgartown in 1880 until its reincorporation as Oak Bluffs in 1907.
Oak Bluffs includes several communities that have been popular destinations for affluent African Americans since the early 20th century.
It also includes the East Chop peninsula, Lagoon Heights and Harthaven.

West Tisbury is the island's agricultural center, and it hosts the well-known Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Fair in late August each year.

Chilmark, including the fishing village of Menemsha.
Chilmark is also rural, and it features the island's hilliest terrain.
It is the birthplace of George Claghorn, master shipbuilder of the USS Constitution, a.k.a. "
Old Ironsides".

Aquinnah is home to the Wampanoag Indian tribe and clay cliffs.

The three "Down-Island" towns of Edgartown, Tisbury, and Oak Bluffs are "wet" towns—serving alcohol.
West Tisbury and Aquinnah are "soggy" towns that serve only beer and wine, and Chilmark is a "dry" town.
Martha's Vineyard is divided into six towns. Each town is governed by a board of selectmen elected by town voters, along with annual and periodic town meetings. Each town is also a member of the Martha's Vineyard Commission, which regulates island-wide building, environmental, and aesthetic concerns.
Some government programs on the island—such as the public school system, emergency management, and waste management—have been regionalized. There is a growing push for further regionalization areas of law enforcement, water treatment, and possible government regionalization.
Each town also follows certain regulations from Dukes County. The towns are:
Tisbury, which includes the main village of Vineyard Haven and the West Chop peninsula. It is the island's primary port of entry for people and cargo, supplemented by the seasonal port in Oak Bluffs.
Edgartown, which includes Chappaquiddick Island and Katama. Edgartown is noted for its rich whaling tradition and is the island's largest town by population and area.
Oak Bluffs is most well known for its gingerbread cottages, its open harbor, and its vibrant town along busy Circuit Avenue. Oak Bluffs enjoys a reputation as one of the more active night-life towns on the island for both residents and tourists. It was known as "Cottage City" from its separation from Edgartown in 1880 until its reincorporation as Oak Bluffs in 1907. Oak Bluffs includes several communities that have been popular destinations for affluent African Americans since the early 20th century. It also includes the East Chop peninsula, Lagoon Heights and Harthaven.
West Tisbury is the island's agricultural center, and it hosts the well-known Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Fair in late August each year.
Chilmark, including the fishing village of Menemsha. Chilmark is also rural, and it features the island's hilliest terrain. It is the birthplace of George Claghorn, master shipbuilder of the USS Constitution, a.k.a. "Old Ironsides".
Aquinnah is home to the Wampanoag Indian tribe and clay cliffs.
The three "Down-Island" towns of Edgartown, Tisbury, and Oak Bluffs are "wet" towns—serving alcohol. West Tisbury and Aquinnah are "soggy" towns that serve only beer and wine, and Chilmark is a "dry" town.
Martha's Vineyard