Barnstable | |
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Town | |
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 Flag  Seal | |
 Location inBarnstable County and the state ofMassachusetts | |
  Barnstable Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Barnstable Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°42′00″N70°18′00″W / 41.70000°N 70.30000°W /41.70000; -70.30000 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Barnstable County |
| Settled | June 4, 1638 |
| Incorporated (town) | September 3, 1639 |
| Incorporated (city) | April 11, 1989 |
| Named after | Barnstaple, England |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager city |
| • Town Manager | Mark S. Ells |
| • Town Council | Felicia R. Penn (President), Gordon Starr. Kristin E. Terkelsen, Betty Ludtke, Craig A. Tamash, John R. Crow, Paul C. Neary, Seth W. Burdick, Jeffrey Mendes, Charles R. Bloom, Matthew Levesque, Kris Clark, Paula K. Schnepp |
| • Council administrator | Cindy Lovell |
| Area | |
• Town | 76.47 sq mi (198.05 km2) |
| • Land | 59.93 sq mi (155.22 km2) |
| • Water | 16.54 sq mi (42.83 km2) |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Town | 48,916 |
| • Density | 816.2/sq mi (315.15/km2) |
| • Urban | 303,269 (US: 133rd)[2] |
| • Urban density | 889/sq mi (343.1/km2) |
| • Metro | 228,996 (US: 201st) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Codes | 02601 (Hyannis) 02630 (Barnstable) 02632 (Centerville) 02635 (Cotuit) 02637 (Cummaquid) 02647 (Hyannis Port) 02648 (Marstons Mills) 02655 (Osterville) 02668 (West Barnstable) 02672 (West Hyannisport) |
| Area code | 508 /774 |
| FIPS code | 25-03690 |
| Website | town |
Barnstable (/ˈbɑːrnstəbəl/BARN-stə-bəl) is atown[3][4] onCape Cod inMassachusetts and thecounty seat ofBarnstable County.[5] Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod, and is one of thirteen Massachusetts municipalities that have been granted city forms of government by theCommonwealth of Massachusetts but wish to retain "the town of" in their official names.[6] At the2020 census it had a population of 48,916.[7] The town contains several villages (one of which is also namedBarnstable) within its boundaries.[8] Its largest village,Hyannis, is thecentral business district of the county and home toBarnstable Municipal Airport, theairline hub of Cape Cod and the islands ofMartha's Vineyard andNantucket. Additionally, Barnstable is a 2007 winner of theAll-America City Award.
Barnstable takes its name from the English town ofBarnstaple, in the county ofDevon. The first European to explore the area wasBartholomew Gosnold in 1602. It was settled in 1638, as one of the first towns in thePlymouth Colony, one year behindSandwich further south in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It was incorporated on September 4, 1639, the same day as the towns of Sandwich, andYarmouth. On the first Tuesday of December, the same year, its deputies took their seats in the general court. The early settlers were farmers, led by the ReverendJoseph Hull, the founder of Barnstable.[9] A memorial tablet was dedicated there in 1939 (the 300th anniversary of the town's founding) marking the site of his home, and the rock from which he preached still stands along the highway there.[10][11][12]
Soon after the town's founding, agriculture, fishing and salt works became its major industries. By the end of the 19th century, there were some 804 ships harbored in the town. But the role of sailing ships declined with the rise of ocean-going steamships and the railroad, which had arrived in 1854.
By the late 19th century, Barnstable was becoming world-renowned as the tourist destination it still is to this day. Many prominent Bostonians spent their summers on the Cape shores, as did presidentsUlysses S. Grant andGrover Cleveland. The most well-known family of the 20th century to summer in the town was, and remains, theKennedy family. They still inhabit the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port. This was the summer home of PresidentJohn F. Kennedy during his administration, and it was likewise the home of SenatorTed Kennedy until his death.
Today, tourists come in droves to the town during the summer months. Hyannis has numerous shops. Other attractions include the John F. Kennedy Museum and several other museums. Significant sites and renowned historic houses listed on theNational Register of Historic Places include theAncient Burying Ground andGideon Hawley House, representing the town's colonial history. The town's many beaches are popular tourist destinations as well.[13]
Barnstable is located at41°39′33″N70°21′11″W / 41.65917°N 70.35306°W /41.65917; -70.35306 (41.659158, –70.353059),[14] about halfway along the "biceps" of theCape Cod "arm". According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 76.3 square miles (197.7 km2), of which 59.8 square miles (154.9 km2) is land and 16.5 square miles (42.8 km2), or 21.66%, is water.[15] It is bordered byCape Cod Bay on the north,Nantucket Sound on the south,Sandwich andMashpee on the west andYarmouth on the east. Barnstable is approximately 70 miles (110 km) southeast ofBoston.
TheTown of Barnstable contains several villages, which are not legally defined entities. Between seven[16] and eleven[8] are commonly enumerated, listed below with ZIP codes:
To the north of Barnstable lie the dunes of Sandy Neck alongBarnstable Harbor, tipped by theSandy Neck Light. The central part of the town is dominated by the pines and oaks aroundWequaquet Lake. The south is where the bulk of the population lives, many along the beaches of Centerville and Hyannis Harbors. Hyannis is the biggest village in Barnstable by size and population.
According to theKöppen climate classification system, Barnstable has ahumid continental climate (Dfb). Dfb climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F (≤ 0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature ≤ 71.6 °F (≤ 22.0 °C), and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is approximately 30 inches (76 cm). The average snowiest month is February, which corresponds with the annual peak innor'easter activity. According to theUnited States Department of Agriculture, theplant hardiness zone is 7a, with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 0.3 °F (−17.6 °C).[17]
| Climate data for Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts (1981 – 2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.8 (3.2) | 39.4 (4.1) | 44.7 (7.1) | 53.2 (11.8) | 62.8 (17.1) | 72.2 (22.3) | 78.2 (25.7) | 77.4 (25.2) | 71.1 (21.7) | 61.3 (16.3) | 52.9 (11.6) | 43.3 (6.3) | 57.9 (14.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 31.8 (−0.1) | 37.3 (2.9) | 45.6 (7.6) | 55.0 (12.8) | 64.7 (18.2) | 70.8 (21.6) | 70.2 (21.2) | 63.4 (17.4) | 53.5 (11.9) | 45.3 (7.4) | 35.8 (2.1) | 50.4 (10.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.6 (−5.2) | 24.2 (−4.3) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 38.1 (3.4) | 47.2 (8.4) | 57.2 (14.0) | 63.5 (17.5) | 63.0 (17.2) | 55.8 (13.2) | 45.7 (7.6) | 37.7 (3.2) | 28.4 (−2.0) | 42.9 (6.1) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.72 (94) | 3.26 (83) | 4.60 (117) | 4.24 (108) | 3.31 (84) | 3.53 (90) | 3.19 (81) | 3.49 (89) | 3.67 (93) | 4.01 (102) | 4.11 (104) | 4.21 (107) | 45.34 (1,152) |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 69.1 | 68.2 | 66.9 | 69.2 | 72.2 | 74.7 | 76.9 | 77.1 | 77.1 | 73.7 | 70.6 | 70.1 | 72.2 |
| Averagedew point °F (°C) | 21.3 (−5.9) | 22.5 (−5.3) | 27.3 (−2.6) | 36.1 (2.3) | 46.2 (7.9) | 56.5 (13.6) | 63.2 (17.3) | 62.7 (17.1) | 56.1 (13.4) | 45.3 (7.4) | 36.3 (2.4) | 27.0 (−2.8) | 41.8 (5.4) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group[18] | |||||||||||||
According to theA. W. Kuchler U.S.Potential natural vegetation Types, Barnstable, Massachusetts would primarily contain a NortheasternOak/Pine (110) vegetation type with a SouthernMixed Forest (26) vegetation form.[19]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 4,301 | — |
| 1850 | 4,901 | +14.0% |
| 1860 | 5,129 | +4.7% |
| 1870 | 4,793 | −6.6% |
| 1880 | 4,242 | −11.5% |
| 1890 | 4,023 | −5.2% |
| 1900 | 4,364 | +8.5% |
| 1910 | 4,676 | +7.1% |
| 1920 | 4,836 | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 7,271 | +50.4% |
| 1940 | 8,333 | +14.6% |
| 1950 | 10,480 | +25.8% |
| 1960 | 13,465 | +28.5% |
| 1970 | 19,842 | +47.4% |
| 1980 | 30,898 | +55.7% |
| 1990 | 40,949 | +32.5% |
| 2000 | 47,821 | +16.8% |
| 2010 | 45,193 | −5.5% |
| 2020 | 48,916 | +8.2% |
| 2023 | 49,709 | +1.6% |
| source:[20][21] Source: U.S. Decennial Census[22] | ||
As of thecensus[23] of 2000, there were 47,821 people, 19,626 households, and 13,012 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 796.5 inhabitants per square mile (307.5/km2). There were 25,018 housing units at an average density of 416.7 per square mile (160.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 91.85%White, 2.74%Black orAfrican American, 0.59%Native American, 0.81%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 1.67% fromother races, and 2.30% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.70% of the population. 24.2% were of Irish, 13.3% English, 9.3%Italian and 5.5% American ancestry according toCensus 2000. 92.1% spoke English, 3.4%Portuguese, 1.6% Spanish and 1.0%French as their first language.
There were 19,626 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,811, and the median income for a family was $54,026. Males had a median income of $41,494 versus $30,442 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $25,554. About 6.3% of families and 8.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Barnstable has acouncil–manager government. It was created in 1989, when the Town rewrote its charter and changed from aselectmen-town meeting form of government to adopt a council-manager system. The council hires the town manager. Barnstable is one of thirteen Massachusetts municipalities that have applied for, and been granted, city forms of government but wish to retain "the town of" in their official names.[6]
The firsttown manager, Warren Rutherford, held office from 1990 to 1997. His successor, James Tinsley, served from 1997 to 1999. He was succeeded by former state representativeJohn C. Klimm. Klimm had his contract bought out in 2011 due to internal disputes among a majority of the Barnstable City Council. He was succeeded by the executive director of the Barnstable Housing Authority,Thomas K. Lynch. Mark Ells has served as the Town Manager since 2016.
The town hall is located in the village of Hyannis, and the police station is located on Route 132, closer to the geographic center of the town. There are eight fire stations, seven libraries, and ten post offices located throughout the town. The largest, or central branches, are usually located in the downtown Hyannis area. Hyannis also is the site of the Cape Cod Hospital, which serves the central Cape region. As the county seat of Barnstable County, the town is the site of the county courthouse and juvenile lockup at the old House of Corrections, as well as the Offices of the Cape and IslandsDistrict Attorney.
| Year | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42.9%15,227 | 54.9%11,919 |
| 2020 | 40.2%11,436 | 58.0%16,491 |
| 2016 | 43.0%11,195 | 50.0%13,005 |
| 2012 | 48.2%12,354 | 50.6%12,946 |
| 2008 | 44.3%11,084 | 54.2%13,559 |
| 2004 | 46.9%11,938 | 52.0%13,236 |
| 2000 | 42.6%10,237 | 50.3%12,080 |
| 1996 | 37.4%8,317 | 51.9%11,543 |
| 1992 | 30.4%6,558 | 41.6%8,972 |
| 1988 | 49.5%10,026 | 49.2%9,971 |
| 1984 | 56.6%10,333 | 43.0%7,856 |
| 1980 | 50.8%8,335 | 28.1%4,613 |
| 1976 | 54.3%7,853 | 42.8%6,196 |
| 1972 | 61.1%7,237 | 38.2%4,521 |
| 1968[25] | 57.8%5,194 | 39.2%3,523 |
| 1964[26] | 44.4%3,450 | 55.3%4,296 |
| 1960[27] | 61.8%4,515 | 38.1%2,783 |
| 1956[28] | 84.9%5,337 | 14.8%933 |
| 1952[29] | 83.2%4,941 | 16.6%987 |
| 1948[30] | 75.4%3,232 | 23.4%1,003 |
| 1944[31] | 71.4%2,596 | 28.2%1,026 |
| 1940[32] | 71.3%2,870 | 27.8%1,141 |
| 1936[33] | 69.7%2,564 | 28.6%1,052 |
| 1932[34] | 70.1%2,031 | 27.9%808 |
| 1928[35] | 76.7%1,931 | 22.6%570 |
| 1924[36] | 83.5%1,318 | 11.2%177 |
| 1920[37] | 77.8%1,114 | 21.4%306 |
| 1916[38] | 53.6%515 | 44.1%424 |
| 1912[39] | 21.9%219 | 29.5%295 |
| 1908[40] | 70.4%657 | 23.5%219 |
| 1904[41] | 73.8%650 | 24.1%212 |
| 1900[42] | 74.8%606 | 23.9%194 |
| 1896[43] | 81.9%719 | 14.1%124 |
| 1892[44] | 66.6%530 | 31.7%252 |
| 1888[45] | 67.6%438 | 31.5%204 |
| 1884[46] | 59.2%399 | 34.0%229 |
| 1880[47] | 68.2%483 | 31.8%225 |
| 1876[48] | 64.7%359 | 35.3%196 |
| 1872[49] | 84.5%343 | 15.5%63 |
| 1868[50] | 71.1%432 | 28.9%176 |
Barnstable is represented in theMassachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Second, Third and Fifth Barnstable districts. The town is represented in theMassachusetts Senate as a part of the Cape and Islands district, which encompasses most of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.[51] The town is patrolled by the Second (Yarmouth) Barracks of Troop D of theMassachusetts State Police.[52]
On the national level, Barnstable is a part ofMassachusetts's 9th congressional district, and is currently represented byWilliam R. Keating. The state's senior (Class II) member of theUnited States Senate, isElizabeth Warren. The junior senator from Massachusetts isEd Markey, elected in 2013.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 15, 2008[53] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
| Democratic | 8,242 | 25.45% | |||
| Republican | 5,836 | 18.02% | |||
| Unaffiliated | 18,073 | 55.80% | |||
| Libertarian | 235 | 0.73% | |||
| Total | 32,386 | 100% | |||
Barnstable has the largest public school enrollment of any town on Cape Cod, with over 5,000 students. In 2010, the public school system underwent major changes due to budgetary constraints. The presently operational schools include: the Enoch Cobb Early Learning Center for preschool students and five elementary schools serving various grades, including: Centerville Elementary School (K–3), Barnstable Community Horace Mann Public Charter School (formerly Hyannis East Elementary School) (K–3), West Villages Elementary School (formerly Marstons Mills East Elementary School) (K–3), Hyannis West Elementary School (K–3), and Barnstable-West Barnstable Elementary School (K–3). TheBarnstable United Elementary School (formerly BarnstableHorace MannCharter School) serves the Town's fourth and fifth grade students. TheBarnstable Intermediate School (formerly Barnstable Middle School) serves grades six and seven.Barnstable High School serves grades eight through twelve. Barnstable's athletic teams are nicknamed the Red Hawks, and their colors are red and white. Their teams are highly successful because of the large student body from which to choose players. Notable town rivals of the Red Hawks are Dennis/Yarmouth and Falmouth. Barnstable has played Falmouth in football on Thanksgiving Day nearly every year since 1895, making the annual game one of the longest-standinghigh school football rivalries in history.
In addition to its public schools, there are also several private schools in Barnstable. There are five Christian schools, three of which are not Catholic: Bayberry Christian Academy (K–3), Faith Christian School (Pre-K–12), and Trinity Christian Academy (Pre-K–12). There are two Catholic schools, Saint Francis Xavier Prep (5–8) andPope John Paul II High School, which opened in 2007. Barnstable is also home to the Academy of Early Learning (Pre-K–6), Veritas Academy (K–8), and theCape Cod Academy, a private K–12 school. There are also two special education schools (Southeast Alternative & Beacon Point), as well as theSturgis Charter School, which serves high school-aged students. Additionally, high school students have the option of attending Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich free of charge.
Barnstable is the home ofCape Cod Community College, a two-year junior college affiliated withSuffolk University in Boston.
BothU.S. Route 6 andMassachusetts Route 28 pass through the town from west to east, with Route 6 being a four-lane freeway through the town. Routes6A,132,149 and a brief 0.1-mile (0.16 km) portion of130 are also located in town. Route 6A follows an east–west route to the north of Route 6, on its route between theSagamore Bridge and theOrleans Rotary. Routes 132 and 149 are both entirely located within the town, and both begin at 6A and end at Route 28.
Since 2013, theCapeFlyer passenger rail service has run on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The nearestMBTA Commuter Rail stations with year-round service areMiddleborough andKingston. The nearest inter-city (Amtrak) passenger rail stations are Boston'sSouth Station andProvidence. Freight rail service is provided by theMassachusetts Coastal Railroad.
TheCape Cod Central Railroad operates seasonal tourist excursions fromHyannis toSandwich andSagamore, with some scheduled weekend stops at theWest Barnstable depot on Route 149 near Route 6A.
The town is the site of two airports.Cape Cod Airfield is a smaller airfield, used primarily for private travel, andBarnstable Municipal Airport at Polando Field is used for regional flights, especially between the Cape and the islands. Regional airlineCape Air is headquartered in Barnstable. The nearest national and international air service can be reached atLogan International Airport in Boston. Hyannis is also the site of the main ferry lines toNantucket andMartha's Vineyard.
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