| Harwich, Massachusetts | |||
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| — Town — | |||
| Harwich Town Hall | |||
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| Location in Barnstable County in Massachusetts | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Barnstable | ||
| Settled | 1670 | ||
| Incorporated | 1694 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| • Leader | Town Administrator | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 33.2 sq mi (85.9 km2) | ||
| • Land | 21.0 sq mi (54.5 km2) | ||
| • Water | 12.1 sq mi (31.4 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 55 ft (17 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| • Total | 12,386 | ||
| • Density | 588.6/sq mi (227.3/km2) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC−5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 02645 | ||
| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-29020 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618254 | ||
| Website | www.town.harwich.ma.us | ||
Harwich /ˈhɑrwɪtʃ/ is a New England town on Cape Cod, in Barnstable County in the state of Massachusetts in the United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The town is a popular vacation spot, located near the Cape Cod National Seashore. Harwich's beaches are on "the Sound side" of Cape Cod; the shores that face Nantucket Sound. Harwich has three active harbors. Saquatucket, Wychmere and Allen Harbors are all in Harwich Port. The town of Harwich includes the villages of Pleasant Lake, West Harwich, East Harwich, Harwich Port, Harwich Center, North Harwich and South Harwich.
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Harwich was first settled in 1670 as part of Yarmouth. The town was officially incorporated in 1694, and originally included the lands of the current town of Brewster. Early industry involved fishing and farming. The town is considered by some to be the birthplace of the cranberry industry, with the first commercial operation opened in 1846. There are still many bogs in the town, although the economy is now more centered on tourism and as a residential community. The town is also the site of the start/finish line of the "Sail Around the Cape," which rounds the Cape counter-clockwise, returning via the Cape Cod Canal.[1]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.2 square miles (86 km2), of which, 21.0 square miles (54 km2) of it is land and 12.1 square miles (31 km2) of it (36.53%) is water. The seven villages of Harwich are: West Harwich, North Harwich, East Harwich, South Harwich, Harwich Center, Harwich Port and Pleasant Lake. These villages are also referred to as the Harwiches.
Harwich is on the southern side of Cape Cod, just west of the southeastern corner. It is bordered by Dennis to the North and to the West. Brewster to the north, Orleans and Chatham to the east, Nantucket Sound to the south. Harwich is approximately twelve miles east of Barnstable, twenty-eight miles east of the Cape Cod Canal, 35 miles [conversion?] south of Provincetown, and eighty miles southeast of Boston.
Cape Cod's largest inland body of water, Long Pond, lies on the Brewster border as well as several other smaller bodies of water. The shore is home to several harbors and rivers, including the Herring River, Allens Harbor, Wychmere Harbor, Saquatucket Harbor, and the Andrews River. The town is also the home to the Hawksnest State Park, as well as a marina and several beaches, including two on Long Pond.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 3,258 | — |
| 1860 | 3,423 | +5.1% |
| 1870 | 3,080 | −10.0% |
| 1880 | 3,265 | +6.0% |
| 1890 | 2,734 | −16.3% |
| 1900 | 2,334 | −14.6% |
| 1910 | 2,115 | −9.4% |
| 1920 | 1,846 | −12.7% |
| 1930 | 2,329 | +26.2% |
| 1940 | 2,535 | +8.8% |
| 1950 | 2,649 | +4.5% |
| 1960 | 3,747 | +41.4% |
| 1970 | 5,892 | +57.2% |
| 1980 | 8,971 | +52.3% |
| 1990 | 10,275 | +14.5% |
| 2000 | 12,386 | +20.5% |
| 2001* | 12,518 | +1.1% |
| 2002* | 12,622 | +0.8% |
| 2003* | 12,659 | +0.3% |
| 2004* | 12,587 | −0.6% |
| 2005* | 12,449 | −1.1% |
| 2006* | 12,353 | −0.8% |
| 2007* | 12,293 | −0.5% |
| 2008* | 12,252 | −0.3% |
| 2009* | 12,251 | −0.0% |
| 2010 | 12,243 | −0.1% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] |
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As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 12,386 people, 5,471 households, and 3,545 families residing in the town. The population density was 588.6 people per square mile (227.3/km²). There were 9,450 housing units at an average density of 449.1 per square mile (173.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.41% White, 0.71% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.03% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,471 households out of which 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the town the population was spread out with 18.3% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 29.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,552, and the median income for a family was $51,070. Males had a median income of $38,948 versus $27,439 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,063. About 2.9% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
The town of Harwich contains several smaller census-designated places (CDPs) for which the U.S. Census reports more focused geographic and demographic information. The CDPs in Harwich are Harwich Center, Harwich Port (including South Harwich), East Harwich and Northwest Harwich (including West Harwich, North Harwich, and Pleasant Lake).
Harwich is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Fourth Barnstable district, which includes (with the exception of Brewster) all the towns east and north of Harwich on the Cape. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Cape and Islands District, which includes all of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket except the towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich and a portion of Barnstable.[13] The town is patrolled by the Second (Yarmouth) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.[14]
On the national level, Harwich is a part of Massachusetts's 10th congressional district, and is currently represented by Bill Delahunt. The state's senior (Class II) member of the United States Senate, re-elected in 2008, is John Kerry. The junior (Class I) Senator, elected in a special election on January 19, 2010, is Scott Brown.
Harwich is governed by the open town meeting form of government, led by a town administrator and a board of selectmen.
Harwich operates its own school system for its approximately 1,400 students. Harwich Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, Harwich Middle School serves grades 5–8, and Harwich High School serves grades 9–12. Harwich's teams are known as the Rough Riders, and their colors are Blue and Gold. Harwich is known for its excellent boys basketball, girls basketball, girls field hockey and baseball teams. Recently Chatham and Harwich have been thinking about making a Regional School District. Also the Lighthouse Charter School have plans to move into where the Harwich Cinema building is.
In addition Harwich is also the site of Cape Cod Regional Technical High School a 9–12 high school which serves most of Cape Cod. The town is also home to Holy Trinity Regional School, a Catholic school which serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grades in West Harwich.
Two of Massachusetts major routes, U.S. Route 6 and Route 28, cross the town. The town is also the southern termini of Routes 39 and 124 as well as a portion of Route 137, pass through the town. Route 39 goes from Harwich Port to East Harwich, Route 28 only goes through West Harwich, South Harwich and Harwich Port, Route 124 goes through Harwich Port all the way to Pleasant Lake and Route 137 goes through East Harwich and South Harwich.
A portion of the Cape Cod Rail Trail, as well as several other bicycle routes, are in town. There is no rail service in town but the Cape Cod Rail Trail rotary is located in North Harwich near Main Street.
Other than the occasional sea plane landing on the pond, the nearest airport is in neighboring Chatham; the nearest regional service is at Barnstable Municipal Airport; and the nearest national and international air service is at Logan International Airport in Boston.
In recent years parts of Cape Cod have introduced bus service, especially during the summer to help cut down on traffic.
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