Dukes County, New York was formed on November 1, 1683 by New York from the Elizabeth Islands, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Island, all beyond the eastern end of Long Island in the Province of New York. It was formed at the same time as Kings County, New York, Queens County, New York, and Dutchess County, New York.

The entire county was transferred to the newly formed Province of Massachusetts Bay, where it formed Dukes County, Massachusetts and Nantucket County, Massachusetts.