Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Census-designated place
Location in Barnstable County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 41°31′36″N 70°39′47″W / 41.52667°N 70.66306°W / 41.52667; -70.66306
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Barnstable
Town	Falmouth
Area [1]
• Total	3.93 sq mi (10.19 km2)
• Land	2.13 sq mi (5.53 km2)
• Water	1.80 sq mi (4.66 km2)
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	834
• Density	390.63/sq mi (150.79/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	02543
Area code	508
FIPS code	25-81245
GNIS feature ID	0617060

Woods Hole is a census-designated place in the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. It lies at the extreme southwestern corner of Cape Cod, near Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. The population was 781 at the 2010 census.^[2]

It is the site of several marine science institutions, including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Marine Biological Laboratory, the Woodwell Climate Research Center, NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (which started the Woods Hole scientific community in 1871), the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, a USGS coastal and marine geology center, and the home campus of the Sea Education Association.

Woods Hole is also the site of United States Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England (formerly USCG Group Woods Hole),^[3] the Nobska Light lighthouse, and the terminus of the Steamship Authority ferry route between Cape Cod and the island of Martha's Vineyard.