Madaket, Massachusetts

Madaket (also Madaquet, Maddaket, Maddequet, Madeket, or Mattaket) is a census designated place (CDP) in Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 236 at the 2010 census.[2] Its elevation is 26 feet (8 m) on the western end of the island. The various spellings of its name led the Board on Geographic Names to designate its official spelling in 1966.[1] It is also home to the Madaket Ditch, one of the earliest public works projects in America. It was also home to a famous islander by the name of Mildred Carpenter Jewett or more commonly known as "Madaket Millie".[3][4]

Madaket
CDP
Location in Nantucket County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 41°16′22″N 70°11′53″W
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyNantucket
Area
 • Total2.4 sq mi (6.2 km2)
 • Land2.0 sq mi (5.1 km2)
 • Water0.39 sq mi (1.0 km2)
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total236
 • Density98/sq mi (38/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
02554
Area code(s)508
FIPS code25-37735
GNIS feature ID616708[1]

History
Mildred Carpenter Jewett, aka Madaket Millie

Madaket was home to Mildred Carpenter Jewett, a Nantucket native commonly referred to as "Madaket Millie" who spent much of her life in the area as a volunteer for the United States Coast Guard.[5] Born in 1907,[6] she served as a Coastal Defense Specialist during World War II, patrolling the shores for German submarines as well as training dogs to accompany military personnel during patrols.[5] At one point, she discovered a live mine and towed it away from the shore, where it was disposed of by a Navy minesweeper.[6]

On January 3, 1947, the same day that the Madaket Coast Guard Station was shut down, a Panamanian steamer called the Kotor ran aground near Madaket. Millie noticed the steamer, and her quick actions in alerting the Coast Guard and organizing a rescue mission were credited with the saving of the ship and crew.[4][5] Millie continued to serve the Coast Guard on the island in various roles until her death in 1990. She was promoted to the rank of honorary officer in 1965, and she received the agency's Meritorious Public Service Commendation in 1975.[5]

Geography

Madaket is located at the western end of Nantucket island. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 mi² (6.2 km2). 2.0 mi² (5.1 km2) of it is land and 0.39 mi² (1.0 km2) of it (17%) is water.[7]

References
  1. "Madaket, Massachusetts". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  2. "Decennial Census 2010: Madaket CDP, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. "Madaket Millie – A Coast Guard Legend". confessionsofacapecodprinter. 2011-12-18. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  4. "A salute to Nantucket's "Madaket Millie"". blogs.capecodonline.com. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  5. "Madaket Millie to the rescue!". Captain W Russell Webster, USCG Historian. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  6. "Madaket Millie & the West End Command". Yesterday's Island, Today's Nantucket. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  7. "2019 Gazetteer Files - Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 15, 2020.



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