Harwich, Massachusetts
| Harwich | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Location in Massachusetts
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| Basic data | |||
| Foundation : | 1694 | ||
| State : | United States | ||
| State : | Massachusetts | ||
| County : | Barnstable County | ||
| Coordinates : | 41 ° 41 ′ N , 70 ° 5 ′ W | ||
| Time zone : | Eastern ( UTC − 5 / −4 ) | ||
| Residents : | 12,243 (as of 2010) | ||
| Population density : | 226.3 inhabitants per km 2 | ||
| Area : | 85.8 km 2 (approx. 33 mi 2 ) of which 54.1 km 2 (approx. 21 mi 2 ) is land |
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| Height : | 17 m | ||
| Postal code : | 02645 | ||
| Area code : | +1 508, 774 | ||
| FIPS : | 25-29020 | ||
| GNIS ID : | 0618254 | ||
| Website : | www.town.harwich.ma.us | ||
Harwich is a city in Barnstable County in the US state of Massachusetts . The population in 2010 was 12,243.
geography
Harwich is on the south shore of Cape Cod on Nantucket Sound . In the east, includes Chatham , in the West Dennis on immediately. The closest major city, Boston with Logan International Airport, is around 120 kilometers to the northwest. Harwich is affected in the north by US Highway 6 , Massachusetts Route 28 runs through the place. Ferry connections exist to the island of Nantucket in the south .
history
The area's indigenous people were Indians who sold the land to European settlers, who came primarily from Ireland and England, from 1670 onwards. The place was named after the city of Harwich in Essex . The city was founded in 1694. The first settlers initially earned their living from agriculture, timber and fishing. Whaling soon became a major industry. This was done initially from small, open whaling boats. Due to the favorable location on the water, shipbuilding companies were founded. Another important industry is the cultivation and harvesting of cranberries (English: Cranberries ), which in Barnstable County of Buzzards Bay were grown in the northwest to Chatham in the southeast, where Harwich occupied a central role. The Harwich Cranberry Festival with fireworks is still held every September.
With the construction of a port facility, trade and tourism were sustainably promoted and some architecturally attractive buildings were created, for example the Captain James Berry House , which, like the Chase Library and the South Harwich Methodist Church, is on the list of entries in the National Register of Historic Places in Barnstable County . In the summer months, the population increases to up to 37,000 people when visitors use various tourist offers. Harwich also has a golf course and baseball facility . The place has meanwhile developed into a popular retirement home for wealthy Americans, which is also reflected in the high average age of the residents.
Environmental protection has played a leading role in the town since the beginning of the 21st century . Many residential buildings and unused areas were equipped with solar cells to generate energy .
Whaling in the 1800s
(illustration)
Cranberry harvest
Historic architecture,
Captain James Berry House
Solar systems on residential buildings
.jpg)
Demographic data
In 2010 a population of 12,243 people was determined, which means a decrease of 1.2% compared to the year 2000. The average age at this point in time was 52.6 years, well above the value for Massachusetts, which was 39.2 years. 29.1% of today's residents are from Irish immigrants . Other significant immigrant groups during the early days of the town came from England ( 25.5%) , Germany (10.6%), Italy ( 9.0%) and France ( 6.6%) .
sons and daughters of the town
- Joshua Gage (1763-1831), politician
- Thomas Nickerson (1805-1883), whaler
Individual evidence
Web links
- harwichcc.com - Harwich Chamber of Commerce