Hyannis, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts
. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area
as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape". It contains the Barnstable city offices and two important shopping districts, the historic downtown Main Street and the Route 132 commercial district, including Cape Cod Mall
and Cape Cod Potato Chips
.
Hyannis is an important tourist destination and the primary ferry boat and general aviation
link for passengers and freight to Nantucket Island. Hyannis provides secondary passenger access to the island of Martha's Vineyard
. Due to its large natural harbor
, Hyannis is the largest recreational boating and second largest commercial fishing
port on Cape Cod.
The JFK Hyannis Museum in the old Town Hall on Main St. focuses on John F. Kennedy
's time spent in the town. There is a memorial to President Kennedy on the Lewis Bay waterfront that was erected by Barnstable citizens in 1966. The memorial includes a fountain and a field-stone monument with the presidential seal and JFK inscription: "I believe it is important that this country sail and not sit still in the harbor". President-elect John F. Kennedy gave his victory speech on November 9, 1960 at the former Hyannis Armory
, which is in the National Register of Historic Places
.
The village is also the namesake of the former United States Naval
ship .
, which is the largest high school on Cape Cod. Other high schools include Sturgis Charter Public School
, a charter school
featuring the International Baccalaureate program, and Pope John Paul II High School
, the first and only college preparatory Catholic high school on Cape Cod. Trinity Christian Academy, which recently opened a high school, is located in Hyannis. Saint Francis Xavier Preparatory School, SFXP for short, is a prep
middle school. Cape Cod Community College
, in nearby West Barnstable, is a two-year community college, known locally as "4-Cs".
Hyannis is the main point of origin for ferry service to Nantucket. The Steamship Authority runs a year-round two and a half hour auto ferry service to Nantucket. The island can also be reached by a passenger-only, one hour catamaran
trip run by both the Steamship Authority (seasonal) and Hy-Line Cruises
(year-round). Additionally, Hy-Line also runs a catamaran to Martha's Vineyard
in season.
Barnstable Municipal Airport
(HYA) is the main air transportation hub for Cape Cod, with daily flights to both islands, Boston
, Provincetown, and New York
, served by Cape Air
as well as several regional carriers.
Hyannis is also the hub of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority
, which operates the only public-transit bus system on Cape Cod.
Freight rail service is provided by the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad
. The Cape Cod Central Railroad
operates seasonal tourist excursions from Hyannis (252 Main Street) to Sandwich
and Sagamore
, with some scheduled weekend stops at the West Barnstable
depot on Route 149 near Route 6A. The nearest inter-city (Amtrak
) passenger rail stations are Boston's South Station
and Providence
. The Kingston/Route 3
and Middleborough/Lakeville
stations of the MBTA's
commuter rail
system provide the closest direct service to Boston.
, an area regional airline, is headquartered at the airport serving Hyannis. Island Air and Nantucket Shuttle also service the Cape and Islands.
A 2002 inventory of eating/drinking and lodging properties, indicated 64 restaurant/bars and 312 lodging accommodations including: 19 motel
s, 8 bed & breakfasts, 5 hotels, 125 motel/condo
units and 1 Inn/tourist home.
A 2002 inventory of retail properties, excluding eating/drinking and lodging properties, indicated 249 retail properties in the town. This included 110 individual retail store properties but was dominated by over 3000000 square feet (278,709.1 m²) of space in 10 shopping centers. There were also: 45 retail condo units, 38 discount stores, 36 mixed-retail/residential units, 9 hardware stores and one supermarket.
Median head of household income was $38,467. 15.9 % of households earned more than $75,000. 14.6% of Hyannis population lived below the poverty line. 18.74% were over 65 years old. Unemployment in Hyannis was 3.8% of the labor force. Hyannis is growing at the upper end and the lower end of the age cohorts, and although there has been an increase in persons 25 to 44 years of age this has not necessarily been reflected in income change as Hyannis witnessed an increase in the number of households earning $10,000 to $15,000 and a gain in the number of persons and families below the poverty level.
play at McKeon Park from mid-June to early August.
features in the song "Walcott" by Vampire Weekend
, as part of the band's pleading with the eponymous Walcott to get out of Cape Cod: "Hyannis Port is a ghetto, out of Cape Cod tonight".
Hyannis is mentioned in the song "Rock and Roll Band
" by Boston
: "Dancin' in the streets of Hyannis, we were getting pretty good at the game..."
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape". It contains the Barnstable city offices and two important shopping districts, the historic downtown Main Street and the Route 132 commercial district, including Cape Cod Mall
Cape Cod Mall
Cape Cod Mall is a regional shopping mall located in Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States. Its anchor stores are Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Sears, Marshalls, Macy's and Macy's women's/accessories store. In addition, the mall features a food court and a twelve screen, stadium style movie theater....
and Cape Cod Potato Chips
Cape Cod Potato Chips
Cape Cod Potato Chips is a snack foods company most famously known for their brand of potato chips. The company is headquartered in Hyannis, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod...
.
Hyannis is an important tourist destination and the primary ferry boat and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
link for passengers and freight to Nantucket Island. Hyannis provides secondary passenger access to the island of Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
. Due to its large natural harbor
Harbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
, Hyannis is the largest recreational boating and second largest commercial fishing
Commercial fishing
Commercial fishing is the activity of catching fish and other seafood for commercial profit, mostly from wild fisheries. It provides a large quantity of food to many countries around the world, but those who practice it as an industry must often pursue fish far into the ocean under adverse conditions...
port on Cape Cod.
The JFK Hyannis Museum in the old Town Hall on Main St. focuses on John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's time spent in the town. There is a memorial to President Kennedy on the Lewis Bay waterfront that was erected by Barnstable citizens in 1966. The memorial includes a fountain and a field-stone monument with the presidential seal and JFK inscription: "I believe it is important that this country sail and not sit still in the harbor". President-elect John F. Kennedy gave his victory speech on November 9, 1960 at the former Hyannis Armory
Hyannis Armory
The Hyannis Armory is located at 225 South Street, Hyannis, Massachusetts. The armory was built in 1958. The armory hosted Battery D of the 685th AAA Machine Gun Battalion of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. President-elect John F. Kennedy gave his victory speech at the Hyannis Armory on Nov....
, which is in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The village is also the namesake of the former United States Naval
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
ship .
Education
Hyannis is home to Barnstable High SchoolBarnstable High School
Barnstable High School is a public high school in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA, Town of Barnstable. It is the largest high school in Barnstable County on Cape Cod. It is divided into 5 "houses", described as "schools within a school". In the 2010–2011 school year, it had...
, which is the largest high school on Cape Cod. Other high schools include Sturgis Charter Public School
Sturgis Charter Public School
The Sturgis Charter Public School is a charter school located in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts . The school received its charter in February 1998 and opened in September for the 1998-1999 academic year with 162 freshman, 15 faculty and staff, a newly renovated facility, and a $1.2 million...
, a charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
featuring the International Baccalaureate program, and Pope John Paul II High School
Pope John Paul II High School (Hyannis, Massachusetts)
Pope John Paul II High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Hyannis, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River.-Background:...
, the first and only college preparatory Catholic high school on Cape Cod. Trinity Christian Academy, which recently opened a high school, is located in Hyannis. Saint Francis Xavier Preparatory School, SFXP for short, is a prep
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
middle school. Cape Cod Community College
Cape Cod Community College
Cape Cod Community College, known locally as "4-C's", is a two-year community college located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Cape Cod Community College was established in 1961, the second institution to open as part of what is now a 15 community college system in Massachusetts...
, in nearby West Barnstable, is a two-year community college, known locally as "4-Cs".
Transportation
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
trip run by both the Steamship Authority (seasonal) and Hy-Line Cruises
Hy-Line Cruises
Hy-Line Cruises is a Massachusetts ferry and cruise company that is family owned and operated. It currently runs the second largest passenger ferry service between mainland Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket . The company also operates sightseeing cruises and fishing...
(year-round). Additionally, Hy-Line also runs a catamaran to Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
in season.
Barnstable Municipal Airport
Barnstable Municipal Airport
Barnstable Municipal Airport , also known as Boardman/Polando Field, is a public airport located on Cape Cod, one mile north of the central business district of Hyannis, in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Town of Barnstable...
(HYA) is the main air transportation hub for Cape Cod, with daily flights to both islands, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Provincetown, and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, served by Cape Air
Cape Air
Hyannis Air Service, Inc., operating as Cape Air, is an airline headquartered at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It operates scheduled passenger services in the Northeast, Florida, the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic States, Midwest, and Micronesia...
as well as several regional carriers.
Hyannis is also the hub of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority
Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority operates a bus transit system of fixed and flexible routes as well as a paratransit service in the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts. The CCRTA was created under the provisions of Chapter 161B of the Massachusetts General Laws in 1976...
, which operates the only public-transit bus system on Cape Cod.
Freight rail service is provided by the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad
Massachusetts Coastal Railroad
The Massachusetts Coastal Railroad is the successor operator of portions of Bay Colony Railroad.-History:On December 31, 2007 the contract to operate the freight railroad lines owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts administered by the Executive Office of Transportation expired. These...
. The Cape Cod Central Railroad
Cape Cod Central Railroad
The Cape Cod Central Railroad is a heritage railroad located in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.Originally founded in 1999, it operates a variety of excursion trains from downtown Hyannis to the Cape Cod Canal during spring, summer, and fall. Recently, it has expanded service in a limited capacity to offer...
operates seasonal tourist excursions from Hyannis (252 Main Street) to Sandwich
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
and Sagamore
Sagamore, Massachusetts
Sagamore is a census-designated place in the town of Bourne in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,544 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sagamore is located at ....
, with some scheduled weekend stops at the West Barnstable
West Barnstable, Massachusetts
West Barnstable is a village or section in the northwest part of the City of Barnstable, Massachusetts. Once devoted to agricultural pursuits, West Barnstable now is largely residential.-Natural features:...
depot on Route 149 near Route 6A. The nearest inter-city (Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
) passenger rail stations are Boston's South Station
South Station
South Station, New England's second-largest transportation center , located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Summer Street in Dewey Square, Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest train station and intercity bus terminal in Greater Boston, a prominent train station in the northeastern...
and Providence
Providence (Amtrak station)
Providence Station is a railroad station in Providence, Rhode Island and is served by Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority . The station has four tracks for passenger service, with a fifth track passing through for Providence and Worcester Railroad freight trains...
. The Kingston/Route 3
Kingston (MBTA station)
Kingston / Route 3 is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Plymouth/Kingston Line. it is located at 194 Marion Drive in Kingston, Massachusetts, which is west of Independence Mall Shopping Center off of Exit 8 on Massachusetts Route 3, hence the dual name.Kingston station was built in...
and Middleborough/Lakeville
Middleborough/Lakeville (MBTA station)
Middleborough/Lakeville is an MBTA Commuter Rail station in Lakeville, Massachusetts. It is the terminus of the Middleborough/Lakeville Line. Middleborough/Lakeville Station was built on a line that was once part of the original Fall River Railroad, which actually had two different stations for...
stations of the MBTA's
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
commuter rail
MBTA Commuter Rail
The MBTA Commuter Rail serves as the regional rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in the United States. It is operated under contract by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company a joint partnership of Veolia Transportation, Bombardier Transportation and Alternate...
system provide the closest direct service to Boston.
Economy
Cape AirCape Air
Hyannis Air Service, Inc., operating as Cape Air, is an airline headquartered at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It operates scheduled passenger services in the Northeast, Florida, the Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic States, Midwest, and Micronesia...
, an area regional airline, is headquartered at the airport serving Hyannis. Island Air and Nantucket Shuttle also service the Cape and Islands.
A 2002 inventory of eating/drinking and lodging properties, indicated 64 restaurant/bars and 312 lodging accommodations including: 19 motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
s, 8 bed & breakfasts, 5 hotels, 125 motel/condo
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
units and 1 Inn/tourist home.
A 2002 inventory of retail properties, excluding eating/drinking and lodging properties, indicated 249 retail properties in the town. This included 110 individual retail store properties but was dominated by over 3000000 square feet (278,709.1 m²) of space in 10 shopping centers. There were also: 45 retail condo units, 38 discount stores, 36 mixed-retail/residential units, 9 hardware stores and one supermarket.
Demographics
In 2000 Hyannis had a total population of 20,097, living in 8,406 households. 19.80% of Hyannis total 10,922 housing units were seasonally vacant. Hyannis had a disproportionate share of multi-family properties in comparison to the town and the county. Hyannis had an owner-occupancy rate of 58.3%, which was nearly 20 percentage points lower than that indicated for the Town or the County. This difference is associated primarily with the amount of apartment properties in the Village. A decline in younger, family formation households was attributed to the lack of suitable employment opportunities and "affordable" housing. The median value of owner-occupied housing units in Hyannis in 2000 was $149,720. The gross median rent in Hyannis was $718/month. In 2002, the median price for a single family home in Hyannis was $196,000.Median head of household income was $38,467. 15.9 % of households earned more than $75,000. 14.6% of Hyannis population lived below the poverty line. 18.74% were over 65 years old. Unemployment in Hyannis was 3.8% of the labor force. Hyannis is growing at the upper end and the lower end of the age cohorts, and although there has been an increase in persons 25 to 44 years of age this has not necessarily been reflected in income change as Hyannis witnessed an increase in the number of households earning $10,000 to $15,000 and a gain in the number of persons and families below the poverty level.
Sports
The Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball LeagueCape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
play at McKeon Park from mid-June to early August.
Musical references
Hyannis PortHyannis Port, Massachusetts
Hyannis Port is a small residential village located in Barnstable, Massachusetts, and Hyannis, Massachusetts. It is an affluent summer community on Hyannis Harbor 1.4 miles to the south-southwest of Hyannis.-Community:...
features in the song "Walcott" by Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...
, as part of the band's pleading with the eponymous Walcott to get out of Cape Cod: "Hyannis Port is a ghetto, out of Cape Cod tonight".
Hyannis is mentioned in the song "Rock and Roll Band
Rock and Roll Band
"Rock and Roll Band" is a song by the rock band Boston, released on the band's eponymous debut album. It contains a fictional account of a band paying its dues and then making it big....
" by Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
: "Dancin' in the streets of Hyannis, we were getting pretty good at the game..."