Editing Eastham, Massachusetts

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Eastham, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Cape Cod Bay from Eastham.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = First Encounter Beach along Cape Cod Bay in Eastham
|image_seal               = Seal of Eastham, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               = Flag of Eastham, Massachusetts.png
|image_map                = Barnstable County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Eastham highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Barnstable County, Massachusetts|Barnstable County]] and the state of [[Massachusetts]].
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Barnstable County, Massachusetts|Barnstable]]
|parts_type               = Communities
|parts                    = {{ubl|Eastham|Campground Landing|[[Cooks Brook Beach]]|First Encounter Beach|Kingsbury Beach|[[North Eastham, Massachusetts|North Eastham]]|Sunken Meadow Beach|Thumpertown Beach}}
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1644
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1651
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = <!--[[Town Administrator|Town<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Administrator]]-->
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1             = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 66.6
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 36.2
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 30.4
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 5752
|population_density_km2   = 159
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|elevation_m              = 15
|elevation_ft             = 48
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = Eastern
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|49|48|N|69|58|28|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|website                  = {{URL|www.eastham-ma.gov}}
|postal_code_type         = ZIP Code
|postal_code              = 02642
|area_code                = [[Area code 508|508]]/[[Area code 774|774]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-19295
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0619414
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Eastham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|iː|s|t|h|æ|m}}) is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Barnstable County, Massachusetts|Barnstable County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with [[Cape Cod]]. The population was 5,752 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2500119295| title=Census - Geography Profile: Eastham town, Barnstable County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref>

For geographic and demographic information about the village of North Eastham, please see [[North Eastham, Massachusetts]].

==History==
Originally inhabited by the [[Nauset]] tribe, Eastham was the site of the 1620 landing of a hunting party from the sailing vessel ''[[Mayflower]]'', which had stopped in [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]] harbor on Cape Cod Bay after a rough crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. This led to the first encounter of the [[Pilgrims (Plymouth Colony)|Pilgrims]] with the local Nauset people at what became known as First Encounter Beach. The area would not be settled by Europeans, however, until 1644. The original lands included what are now the towns of [[Truro, Massachusetts|Truro]], [[Wellfleet, Massachusetts|Wellfleet]], Eastham, [[Orleans, Massachusetts|Orleans]] and a small portion of [[Chatham, Massachusetts|Chatham]]. Eastham town was officially incorporated in 1651.

Eastham is the birthplace of Freeman Hatch, who in 1853 set the world record for a single-hull wooden sailing vessel from [[San Francisco]] around [[Cape Horn]] to [[Boston]] at the helm of the clipper ship ''[[Northern Light (clipper)|Northern Light]]''. Fishing and especially farming were early industries in the town, and writers and artists also came to the town. [[Gustavus Franklin Swift]], born in [[Sagamore, MA]], began his first meatpacking business in Eastham. It later moved to [[Brighton, MA]], [[Albany, NY]], and eventually started the meatpacking industry in [[Union Stock Yards|Chicago]].  It was in Eastham that [[Henry Beston]] wrote ''[[The Outermost House]].'' The town is discussed at some length in [[Henry David Thoreau]]'s ''Cape Cod'' as the somewhat rugged site of one of New England's largest summer "[[camp-meeting]]" evangelistic gatherings in the mid-19th century. The gatherings were at times attended by at least "one hundred and fifty ministers (!) and five thousand hearers" at a site called Millennium Grove, in the northwest part of town. (The area is now a residential neighborhood, among the only reminders being Campground Road and Millennium Lane.)

Today, Eastham is known as the "Gateway” to the [[Cape Cod National Seashore]],<ref>''Discover Eastham, Gateway to the National Seashore.'' https://www.eastham-ma.gov/discover-eastham/pages/gateway-national-seashore {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520194918/https://www.eastham-ma.gov/discover-eastham/pages/gateway-national-seashore |date=May 20, 2020 }}</ref> which was founded in 1961 by President [[John F. Kennedy]] to protect Cape Cod's coast from erosion and overpopulation. The town is the site of many beaches, both on the Atlantic and on Cape Cod Bay, as well as the [[Nauset Light]], which was moved to the town in 1923 from its former location in [[Chatham, Massachusetts|Chatham]], and the Three Sisters Lighthouses, which have since been moved away from their now-eroded perches on the coast to a field just west of Nauset Light.<ref>''Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Street Atlas.'' South Easton, MA: Arrow Books Inc., 2004, p. 43.</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Nauset Light, Eastham, MA, Cape Cod.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Nauset Light]], oil house and lightkeeper's home on the Cape Cod National Seashore]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|66.6|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|36.2|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|30.4|km2|disp=flip}}, or 45.68%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500119295| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212154909/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500119295| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Eastham town, Barnstable County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 4, 2013}}</ref> It is bordered by [[Cape Cod Bay]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] on its western and eastern sides, respectively. Eastham is also bordered by the towns of [[Wellfleet, Massachusetts|Wellfleet]] and [[Orleans, Massachusetts|Orleans]] on its northern and southern sides, respectively. Eastham is located on the "forearm" of Cape Cod, and is {{convert|23|mi}} south of [[Provincetown, Massachusetts|Provincetown]], the same distance east-northeast of [[Barnstable, Massachusetts|Barnstable]], {{convert|38|mi}} east of the [[Sagamore Bridge]], and {{convert|92|mi}} (by land) southeast of [[Boston]].

Approximately one-third of the town is located within the [[Cape Cod National Seashore]]. There are several freshwater ponds near the center of town, the largest being called Great Pond, which has two public beaches. Powerboats with 50 and under horsepower motors are allowed on Great Pond after receiving an inspection and sticker from the Natural Resources Department. Water skiing is permitted only on Great Pond and only on even numbered days.  On all other Eastham freshwater ponds motorboats three horsepower and under are allowed.<ref>''Town of Eastham Boating Bylaws'', https://www.eastham-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4371/f/uploads/boating_bylaws.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619173725/https://www.eastham-ma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif4371/f/uploads/boating_bylaws.pdf |date=June 19, 2021 }}</ref> Along the Atlantic coast, portions of the CCNS include several islands, divided by channels which lead from Nauset Bay and Salt Pond Bay to the ocean. The town also shares Town Cove with neighboring Orleans. Several creeks and the Herring River run inland from the bay side.

==Climate==

The town of Eastham has a mild summer [[Humid continental climate]] (Dfb). The [[plant hardiness zone]] is 7a, with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 4.1&nbsp;°F (–15.5&nbsp;°C).<ref name="USDA">{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=[[United States Department of Agriculture]]|access-date=June 28, 2019|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map}}</ref> The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is approximately 30 inches (76&nbsp;cm). The average snowiest month is February, which corresponds to the annual peak in [[nor'easter]] activity.

{{Weather box
|collapsed=y
|width=auto	
|location = Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts (1981–2010 averages).	
|single line = Y	
|Jan high F =	38.0
|Feb high F =	39.4
|Mar high F =	44.5
|Apr high F =	53.2
|May high F =	62.5
|Jun high F =	71.1
|Jul high F =	77.4
|Aug high F =	76.9
|Sep high F =	70.4
|Oct high F =	60.5
|Nov high F =	52.5
|Dec high F =	44.0
|year high F=	57.6
| Jan mean F =	31.5
| Feb mean F =	32.7
| Mar mean F =	37.7
| Apr mean F =	46.2
| May mean F =	55.1
| Jun mean F =	64.0
| Jul mean F =	70.5
| Aug mean F =	70.1
| Sep mean F =	63.9
| Oct mean F =	54.2
| Nov mean F =	46.1
| Dec mean F =	37.3
| year mean F =	50.9
|Jan low F =	25.1
|Feb low F =	25.9
|Mar low F =	30.8
|Apr low F =	39.1
|May low F =	47.7
|Jun low F =	57.0
|Jul low F =	63.6
|Aug low F =	63.4
|Sep low F =	57.3
|Oct low F =	47.8
|Nov low F =	39.8
|Dec low F =	30.6
|year low F=	44.1
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation inch =	3.73
|Feb precipitation inch =	3.24
|Mar precipitation inch =	4.14
|Apr precipitation inch =	4.29
|May precipitation inch =	3.32
|Jun precipitation inch =	3.56
|Jul precipitation inch =	2.74
|Aug precipitation inch =	3.87
|Sep precipitation inch =	3.60
|Oct precipitation inch =	4.19
|Nov precipitation inch =	4.30
|Dec precipitation inch =	3.84
|year precipitation inch=	44.82
| humidity colour = green	
| Jan humidity =	71.4
| Feb humidity =	69.4
| Mar humidity =	67.8
| Apr humidity =	69.0
| May humidity =	71.6
| Jun humidity =	75.5
| Jul humidity =	78.0
| Aug humidity =	77.9
| Sep humidity =	77.4
| Oct humidity =	74.3
| Nov humidity =	71.2
| Dec humidity =	69.7
| year humidity =	72.8
|source 1 = PRISM Climate Group<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State U|website=www.prism.oregonstate.edu|access-date=June 26, 2019}}</ref>}}

==Transportation==
[[U.S. Route 6 in Massachusetts|U.S. Route 6]] passes from south to north through the town. The [[Cape Cod Rail Trail]], as well as several other bicycle routes, also pass through the town. There is no rail or air service in town; the nearest regional air service is at the [[Chatham Municipal Airport]], though better and more regularly scheduled air service between the Cape and Boston can be found in Provincetown and Hyannis through [[Cape Air]], and the nearest national and international air service can be found at [[Logan International Airport]] in Boston. Eastham is also served by an inexpensive regional bus service, [[The Flex]].

==Demographics==
{{See also|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}
[[File:Three Sisters Lights.jpg|thumb|left|The Three Sisters Lights, North Eastham, 2005]]
{{Historical populations | type=USA
 | 1850|845
 | 1860|779
 | 1870|668
 | 1880|692
 | 1890|602
 | 1900|502
 | 1910|518
 | 1920|430
 | 1930|543
 | 1940|582
 | 1950|860
 | 1960|1200
 | 1970|2043
 | 1980|3472
 | 1990|4462
 | 2000|5453
 | 2010|4956
 | 2020|5752
 | 2023*|5803
 | footnote=* = population estimate.  {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=June 4, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2010, there were 4,956 people, 2,396 households, and 1,634 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|390|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 5,535 housing units at an average density of {{convert|396|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 96.31% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.49% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.41% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.83% of the population.

There were 2,396 households, out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.66.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,618, and the median income for a family was $51,269. Males had a median income of $36,642 versus $32,109 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $24,642.  About 4.5% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
Eastham 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm |title=Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov |access-date=February 28, 2007 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929115141/http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The town is patrolled by the Second (Yarmouth) Barracks of Troop D of the [[Massachusetts State Police]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+D&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_d_msp_field_troop_d_station_d2&csid=Eeops Station D-2, SP Yarmouth]</ref>

On the national level, Eastham is a part of [[Massachusetts's 9th congressional district]], and is currently represented by [[Bill Keating (politician)|William Keating]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://keating.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=234&Itemid=87|title = Congressman Bill Keating}}</ref> The state's senior member of the [[United States Senate]], elected in 2012, is [[Elizabeth Warren]]. The junior senator, elected in 2013, is [[Ed Markey]].

Eastham is governed by the [[open town meeting]] form of government, and is led by a town administrator and a [[board of selectmen]].  The town hall, police and fire department headquarters are all located along Route 6 across from Windmill Park.  The [[Eastham Public Library]] is located just west of the park, along Samoset Road (which leads from Route 6 to First Encounter Beach).  There are separate post offices for Eastham and the village of North Eastham, both of which are located along Route 6 (the former being just across from the town hall, south of the park).

==Education==
[[File:Nauset Regional High School, March 2014.JPG|thumb|[[Nauset Regional High School]]]]
Eastham, along with Brewster, Orleans, Provincetown, Truro and Wellfleet, make up the [[Nauset Public Schools|Nauset Regional School District]].  Each town is responsible for operating its own elementary schools, with the middle and high school students attending regional schools.  Eastham Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade, and is located near the CCNS Visitor Center and the Schoolhouse Museum.  Middle school students attend the [[Nauset Regional Middle School]] in Orleans, and the [[Nauset Regional High School]] is located in North Eastham, on the edge of the Cape Cod National Seashore.  The school's teams are known as the Warriors, and their colors are black and gold.  High school students also have the option of attending [[Cape Cod Regional Technical High School]] in Harwich free of charge.  There are no private schools in Eastham; the nearest are in Brewster.

==Landmarks==
[[Image:Eastham Windmill.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The [[Eastham Windmill]]]]
Eastham is home to a number of sites that are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The Eastham Center Historic District, located near Town Hall, is the site of the [[Eastham Windmill]], the oldest [[windmill]] on Cape Cod. Another registered historic place, [[Nauset Light]], is located on the grounds of the [[Cape Cod National Seashore]]. The Edward Penniman House and barn, a retired whaling captain's home, is located near Fort Hill.

Eastham is the home to four museums maintained by the Eastham Historical Society: the 1869 Schoolhouse Museum, located on Route 6 opposite the National Seashore Center, the 1741 Swift-Daley House, the Antique Tool Museum and the Dill Beach Shack, all on Route 6 adjacent to the Eastham Post Office. The museums are open in July and August.

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Barnstable County, Massachusetts]]
{{-}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Eastham}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041230135053/http://www.eastham-ma.gov/Home/ Town of Eastham official website]
*[http://www.easthamchamber.com/ Eastham Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://www.easthamhistorical.org/ Eastham Historical Society]
*[http://www.provincetownbanner.com/articles/ ''Provincetown Banner'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081010054951/http://www.nausetschools.org/nrhs/ Nauset Regional High School]

{{Barnstable County, Massachusetts}}
{{Massachusetts}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Eastham, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:1644 establishments in Plymouth Colony]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1644]]
[[Category:Towns in Barnstable County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]