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Plymouth (town), Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Plymouth is a town in Plymouth County
, Massachusetts
, United States. Plymouth holds a place of great prominence in American history, folklore and culture, and is known as "America's Hometown." Plymouth was the site of the colony founded in 1620 by the Pilgrims, passengers of the famous ship the Mayflower
. Plymouth is where New England
was first established. It is the oldest municipality in New England
and one of the oldest in the United States. The town has served as the location of several prominent events, the most notable being the First Thanksgiving feast. Plymouth served as the capital of Plymouth Colony
from its founding in 1620 until the colony's merger with the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1691.
Plymouth is the largest municipality in Massachusetts by area. The population is 56,468 according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Plymouth is one of two county seat
s of Plymouth County
, the other being Brockton
.
Plymouth is located approximately 40 miles (64.4 km) south of Boston in a region of Massachusetts known as the South Shore. Throughout the 19th century, the town thrived as a center of ropemaking, fishing, and shipping, and once held the world's largest ropemaking company, the Plymouth Cordage Company
. While it continues to be an active port, today the major industry of Plymouth is tourism. Plymouth is served by Plymouth Municipal Airport
, and contains Pilgrim Hall Museum
, the oldest continually operating museum in the United States.
As one of the country's first settlements, Plymouth is well-known in the United States for its historical value. The events surrounding the history of Plymouth have become part of the mythology
of the United States, particularly those relating to Plymouth Rock
, the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving. The town itself is a popular tourist spot during the Thanksgiving
holiday.
. This region that would become Plymouth was visited twice by European explorers prior to the establishment of Plymouth Colony. In 1605, Samuel de Champlain
sailed to Plymouth Harbor
, calling it Port St. Louis. Captain John Smith, a leader of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia
, explored parts of Cape Cod Bay; he is credited with naming the region which would become the future Plymouth Colony as "New Plimouth."
After these explorations, two plagues afflicted coastal New England in 1614 and 1617. Likely transmitted from British and French fishermen to natives on the shore, it killed between 90 and 95% of the local Wampanoag inhabitants. The near disappearance of the tribe from the site not only left their cornfields and other cleared areas for the soon-to-arrive Pilgrims to occupy, but also meant that the Indians were in no condition to resist the arrival of the colonists.
Plymouth has played an important role in American colonial history. It was the final landing site of the first voyage of the Mayflower
, and the location of the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony
. Plymouth was established in 1620 by Anglicans and English separatists who had broken away from the Church of England
, believing that the Church had not completed the work of the Protestant Reformation
. Today, these settlers are much better known as "Pilgrims", a term coined by William Bradford.
The Mayflower first anchored in what would become the harbor of Provincetown, Massachusetts
on November 11, 1620. The ship was headed for Virginia
, but eventually reached New England
. There are varying theories as to how this happened. They include: violent storms threw the ship off course; a navigation error; the Dutch bribed the captain to sail north so the Pilgrims would not settle near New Amsterdam
; and the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, who comprised only 35 of the 102 settlers aboard the Mayflower, hijacked the ship to land far from Anglican control. The Pilgrim settlers, realizing that the party did not have a patent to settle in the region, subsequently signed the Mayflower Compact
. The Pilgrims went on to explore various parts of Cape Cod
, but soon a storm and violent skirmishes with local Native Americans forced the migrants to sail westward into Cape Cod Bay
. The Pilgrims eventually came across the sheltered waters of Plymouth Harbor
on December 17. The appealing protected bay led to a site in the present-day Harbor District being chosen for the new settlement after three days of surveying. The settlers officially disembarked on December 21, 1620. It is traditionally said that the Pilgrims first set foot in America at the site of Plymouth Rock
, though no historical evidence can prove this claim. The settlers named their settlement "Plimouth" (also historically known as "Plimoth", an old English spelling of the name) after the major port city
in Devon, England
from which the Mayflower sailed. Plymouth
, Devon
, United Kingdom
, was named after its location at mouth of the River Plym
.
Plymouth faced many difficulties during its first winter, the most notable being the risk of starvation and the lack of suitable shelter. From the beginning, the assistance of Indians was vital. One colonist's journal reports:
Along with ransacking the food stores of Indians, the colonists also raided the houses of the few Indians who had survived the plague, as well as robbing Indian graves. Even greater assistance came from Samoset
and Tisquantum
(better known as Squanto), an Indian sent by Wampanoag Tribe Chief Massasoit
, as an ambassador and technical adviser. Squanto had been kidnapped in 1614 by an English slave raider and sold in Málaga
, Spain. Having learned English, he escaped slavery and returned home in 1619. Teaching the colonists how to farm corn, where and how to catch fish, and how to make other necessary items, he was instrumental in the survival of the settlement for the first two years. Squanto and another guide sent by Massasoit in 1621, Hobomok
, helped the colonists set up trading posts for furs and pay off the cost of establishing the colony. Chief Massasoit later formed a Peace Treaty with the Pilgrims. Upon growing a plentiful harvest in the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims gathered with Squanto, Samoset, Massasoit, and ninety other Wampanoag men in a celebration of food and feasting. This celebration is known today as the First Thanksgiving, and is still commemorated annually in downtown Plymouth with a parade and a reenactment. Since 1941, Thanksgiving
has been observed as a federal holiday
in the United States.
Plymouth served as the capital of Plymouth Colony
(which consisted of modern-day Barnstable
, Bristol
, and Plymouth
Counties) from its founding in 1620 until 1691, when the colony was annexed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony
. Plymouth holds the unique distinction of being the first permanent settlement in New England, and one of the oldest settlements in the United States.
In the 1800s, Plymouth remained a relatively isolated seacoast town whose livelihood depended on fishing and shipping. The town eventually became a regional center of shipbuilding and fishing. Its principal industry was the Plymouth Cordage Company
, which became the world's largest manufacturer of rope and cordage products. The company was founded in 1824. At one point, the longest ropewalk in the world, a quarter-mile (0.4 km) in length, was found on the Cordage Company's site on the North Plymouth
waterfront. It thrived into the 1960s, but was forced out of business in 1964 due to competition from synthetic-fiber ropes. The refurbished factory, known as Cordage Commerce Center, is home to numerous offices, restaurants and stores.
. Plymouth has emerged as a major economic and tourist center of the South Shore.
One of the largest towns in Massachusetts, Plymouth spans several exits on its main highway, Route 3. Plymouth boasts several larger shopping plazas and the nearby Independence Mall
in Kingston, MA, much of which has been built in just the past 5 years. As it has grown, additional access is possible via a recent extension to Plymouth's second largest highway, U.S. Route 44
. Additional development was expected due to a large construction of a Movie Studio complex called Plymouth Rock Studios
, which has since been discontinued.
The latitude of Plymouth is 41.95833 and its longitude is -70.66778. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 134 sq mi (347.1 km²): 96.5 sq mi (249.9 km²) of it is land, and 37.5 sq mi (97.1 km²) of it (28%) is water.
With the largest land area of any municipality in Massachusetts
, Plymouth consists of several neighborhoods and geographical sections
. Larger localities in the town include Plymouth Center, North
, West
and South Plymouth
, Manomet
, Cedarville
, and Saquish Neck.
Plymouth makes up the entire western shore of Cape Cod Bay
. It is bordered on land by Bourne
to the southeast, Wareham
to the southwest, Carver
to the west, and Kingston
to the north. It also shares a small border with Duxbury at the land entrance of Saquish Neck. Plymouth's border with Bourne makes up most of the line between Plymouth
and Barnstable
counties. The town is located roughly 44 miles (70.8 km) southeast of Boston (it is almost exactly 40 miles (64.4 km) from Plymouth Rock
to the Massachusetts State House
) and equidistantly east of Providence
, Rhode Island
.
Located in the Plymouth Pinelands
, the town of Plymouth has many distinct geographical features. The town's Atlantic coast is characterized by low plains, while its western sections are extremely hilly and forested. Plymouth contains several small ponds scattered throughout its western quadrant, the largest being the Great Herring Pond
(which is partly in the town of Bourne). A major feature of the town is the Myles Standish State Forest
, which is in the southwestern region. Cachalot Scout Reservation, operated by the Cachalot District of the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America
, lies adjacent to the state forest lands. There is also a smaller town forest, as well as several parks, recreation areas and beaches.
Plymouth has nine public beaches, the largest being Plymouth Beach
. Plymouth Beach guards Plymouth Harbor
and mostly consists of a three-mile (5 km) long, ecologically significant barrier beach. Clark's Island
, a small island in Plymouth Bay
, is the only island in Plymouth. It is off the coast of Saquish Neck and has nine summer houses but no year-round inhabitants.
Plymouth's climate is humid continental
, which is the predominant climate for Massachusetts and New England. Due to its location on the Atlantic Ocean
, humidity levels can be very high year-round. Plymouth's coastal location causes it to experience warmer temperatures than many inland locations in New England. Summers are typically hot and humid, while winters are cold, windy and often snowy.
Plymouth's warmest month is July, with an average high temperature of 82 °F (27.8 °C) and an average low of 60.3 °F (15.7 °C). The coldest month is January, with an average high temperature of 36.8 °F (2.7 °C) and an average low of 16.2 °F (-8.8 °C).
Much like the rest of the Northeastern seaboard, Plymouth receives ample amounts of precipitation year-round. On average, summer months receive slightly less precipitation than winter months. Plymouth averages about 49 inches (124.5 cm) of rainfall a year. Plymouth, like other coastal Massachusetts towns, is very vulnerable to Nor'easter
weather systems. The town is sometimes vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms, which infrequently threaten the Cape Cod region during the early autumn months.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 51,701 people, 18,423 households, and 13,264 families residing in the town; by population it is the second–largest town in Massachusetts, after Framingham
. It is also the 21st–largest municipality in the state. The population density
was 536 PD/sqmi. There are 21,250 housing units, at an average density of 85.1 /sqkm. The racial makeup of the town was 94.82% White, 1.91% Black or African American
, 0.25% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races
, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% of the population.
There are 18,423 households out of which 36.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 21.7% of all households are made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.16.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,677 as of the 2000 census, and the median income for a family was $63,266. Males had a median income of $44,983 versus $31,565 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,732. About 4.4% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Plymouth is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
as a part of the First and Twelfth Plymouth Districts. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate
as a part of the Plymouth and Barnstable district, which also includes Bourne
, Falmouth
, Kingston
, Pembroke
, Plympton
, Sandwich
, and part of Barnstable
. On the state level, primary but shared patrolling responsibility of the town's limited access highways falls upon the Seventh (Bourne) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police
.
On the national level, Plymouth is a part of Massachusetts's 10th congressional district
, and is currently represented by William R. Keating
. The state's senior (Class II) member of the United States Senate
, re-elected in 2008, is John Kerry
. The state's current junior (Class I) Senator is Scott Brown
. On the local level, the town uses the representative town meeting
form of government, led by a town manager and a board of selectmen
. The current town manager of Plymouth is Mark Stankiewicz.
Plymouth has a centralized municipal police force, the Plymouth Police Department. The town also has a professional fire department, with seven firehouses spread around the town. There are also seven post offices for the town's five ZIP code
s, with one in the downtown area, one in North Plymouth
, one in Manomet
, one in White Horse Beach
, one near the Plymouth Municipal Airport
, one in the South Pond
neighborhood, and one near the town forest in "The Village Green" shopping area of The Pinehills
.
The town has a public library, with a branch location in Manomet. Both libraries are a part of the Old Colony Library Network
, which services 28 libraries throughout the South Shore. Additionally, as a seat of Plymouth County, there are several county facilities located in Plymouth. These include a County farm, the Registry of Deeds, two jails (the Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Plymouth
and the Plymouth County Correctional Facility
) and the County Courthouse..
Plymouth is an economic and tourism center of the South Shore. The major industry is tourism, with healthcare, technical and scientific research, real estate
, and telecommunications also being primary industries. The largest employer in the town is Jordan Hospital
.
Plymouth has experienced commercial and industrial success, with the downtown area and North Plymouth
each becoming commercial centers and an industrial park opening outside of the town center. A large commercial project titled Colony Place
located near the Industrial Park was completed in late 2007. It consists of several large retail stores, various chain restaurants, and contains one of the largest outdoor designer outlet malls in the South Shore. Another large retail development that has recently finished construction off Route 3's exit 5 is The Shops at 5
. The only nuclear power plant
in Massachusetts, Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station
, is located in Plymouth.
Plymouth has also recently seen the development of several residential projects, among them The Pinehills
, which consists of over 1,000 residential units, two golf courses, a country club, and a shopping village. When completed in 2010, it is expected to contain 2,877 homes.
Plymouth operates a large school system, with an enrollment over 8,000 students. The Plymouth School District
is one of the largest in the state, operating fourteen schools. This is larger than the Massachusetts average of eight schools. The school district operates 86 school buses under contract with First Student bus company.
The schools of Plymouth include the Mount Pleasant Preschool, eight elementary school
s (Cold Spring, Federal Furnace, Hedge, Indian Brook, Manomet, Nathanial Morton, South and West Elementaries) which generally serve students from kindergarten to fifth grade, two middle school
s that serve grades 5–8, Plymouth Community Intermediate School (PCIS) and Plymouth South Middle School, and two high school
s, Plymouth North
and Plymouth South
. Both high schools play in the Atlantic Coast League, and the two schools share a rivalry with each other. Students who decide to receive a technical education have the option of attending Plymouth South Technical School.
There is also a charter school
in the town, Rising Tide Charter School, which serves middle school-aged children. Two special education schools, the Baird School and the Radius Pediatric School, are located in the town.
The town has two institutions of higher learning. Quincy College
has a campus located in Cordage Park. The Plymouth campus opened in 1991, and the college's main campus is in Quincy
. Curry College
has a campus at the northern edge of Plymouth Center in the Citizens Bank
building. The campus opened in 1994, and the main campus is located in Milton
. While the University of Massachusetts Boston
does not have a campus in Plymouth, it offers some courses at another location in Cordage Park.
Plymouth is home to Jordan Hospital
, the largest hospital in the southern region of the South Shore. It is the only major healthcare provider in the town. The hospital is a community medical center serving twelve towns in Plymouth and Barnstable counties. It consists of more than 30 departments, with 150 patient beds. The hospital also offers a rehabilitation center in The Pinehills
region.
While Jordan Hospital is the only hospital in Plymouth, South Shore Hospital operates several offices and physician labs in South Pond
. South Shore Hospital, in South Weymouth
, is the largest hospital in southeastern Massachusetts.
, which is the major route between Cape Cod and Boston. The town can be accessed from six exits on the highway, which is more than any other municipality along the Pilgrims Highway. Plymouth is also the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 44
. The route has changed recently, as a new divided highway section has linked it to Route 3, before heading south and exiting at its old location before terminating at Route 3A, which more closely follows the shoreline and passes through Plymouth Center. Route 80
's western terminus is at its intersection with old Route 44. Route 25 goes through a remote section of the town north of Buzzards Bay
, but does not have an exit. Finally, the short Plimoth Plantation Highway
allows easy access between Routes 3 and 3A, with an exit that allows direct entry to Plimoth Plantation
's parking area. The highway is north of Manomet and south of Plymouth Center.
Plymouth is one of two termini of the Kingston/Plymouth Old Colony Line of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
's commuter rail, providing non-peak service to Braintree
and as far north as Boston's South Station
. The Plymouth MBTA station
is near Cordage Park in North Plymouth
, along Route 3A. (The other terminus is in Kingston
and has more frequent train arrivals and departures. Its station
is behind the Independence Mall
.) No other railroad lines pass through the town.
and several other excursion lines that offer cruises of Plymouth Bay
and Cape Cod Bay
. The ferry is operated by Capt. John Boats and offers one round trip daily from June to September. The ferry leaves from the State Wharf in Plymouth Center. In addition to the ferry, Plymouth Harbor
offers service for harbor excursions, whale watching
tours, and deep sea fishing.
, behind the McDonald's
rest stop. The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority
(GATRA) operates public transportation buses known as the Plymouth Area Link (PAL) throughout much of Plymouth and Kingston.
The town is home to the Plymouth Municipal Airport
, which lies on the border between Plymouth and Carver
. Founded in 1931, it offers scheduled service to the Nantucket
, as well as private service. The airport features a local restaurant and gift shop, but does not have an on-site traffic control tower
.
Barnstable Municipal Airport
, in Hyannis
, offers additional scheduled carrier service. The airport offers scheduled flight services to Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Boston and New York City
. It is approximately 30 miles (48 km) from Plymouth.
The nearest national and international airport is Logan International Airport
in Boston, roughly 43 miles (69.2 km) away. T.F. Green Airport, a state airport located in Warwick, Rhode Island
, is about 63 miles (101 km) away.
Plymouth Rock is one of Plymouth's most famous attractions. Traditionally, the rock is said to be the disembarkation site of the Pilgrims. However, there is no historical evidence to support this theory. The first identification of Plymouth Rock as the actual landing site was made in 1741 by 94-year-old Thomas Faunce, whose father had arrived in Plymouth in 1623, three years after the arrival of the Mayflower. The rock is located roughly 650 feet (198.1 m) from where the initial settlement was thought to be built.
Plymouth Rock became very famous after its identification as the supposed landing site of the Pilgrims, and was subsequently moved to a location in Plymouth Center. During the process, the rock split in two. It was later moved to Pilgrim Hall
and then to a location under a granite Victorian Canopy, where it was easily accessible and subject to souvenir hunters. The rock was finally moved back to its original location along the town's waterfront in 1921. "Plymouth Rock", a large boulder, now sits under a granite canopy designed by famed astronomical illustrator Chesley Bonestell
, who also designed the Chrysler Building
gargoyles and contributed to the design of the Golden Gate Bridge
. The rock is the centerpiece of Pilgrim Memorial State Park
. The park is the smallest park in the Massachusetts state forest and park system, but is also the most heavily visited.
Plimoth Plantation
is a living history museum
located south of Plymouth Center. It consists of a re-creation of the Plymouth settlement in 1627, as well as a replica of a 17th century Wampanoag homesite. The museum features role playing tour guides, as well as a large crafts center. The Nye Barn, a replica of a 1627 faming homestead in Plymouth, is also part of the museum. The farm features several animals that would have been found in Plymouth Colony, but are very rare in modern times.
The museum opened in 1947 under the guidance of Henry Hornblower II, a wealthy Boston stockbroker who grew up in Plymouth. The museum originally consisted of the Mayflower II and a "First House" exhibit in Plymouth Center, but was expanded into a large fortified town and a Native American village by 1960.
The Mayflower II
is a full-size replica of the Mayflower
, the ship which brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620. It is located at the State Pier in Plymouth Center. The ship is open as a museum about the Pilgrims' historic voyage from Plymouth
, England, and is considered a faithful replica of the original Mayflower. It is officially a part of Plimoth Plantation.
The ship was built in Brixham
, England in 1956, and sailed to Plymouth across the Atlantic Ocean
in 1957 by famous mariner Alan Villiers
. The ship is still seaworthy
, and routinely takes voyages around Plymouth Harbor. In the year 2007, the Mayflower II celebrated the 50th anniversary of its arrival in Plymouth.
and William Bradford, and a sarcophagus containing the bones of the 51 Pilgrims who died in the winter of 1620, which rests atop Cole's Hill
.
Pilgrim Hall Museum
, founded in 1824, is the oldest public museum in the `. It is located in Plymouth Center. Plymouth also features the National Monument to the Forefathers
, which was dedicated in 1889. Standing at 81 feet (24.7 m) tall, it is the tallest free-standing solid granite monument in the United States. Other notable historical sites include the Jenney Grist Mill
, a working replica of an original mill built in 1636, as well as the 1640 Richard Sparrow House
, the oldest house still standing in Plymouth. At the edge of the town on Route 80
is Parting Ways
, a 94 acres (380,404.8 m²) site that is notable for containing the remains of four former slaves who fought in the Revolutionary War and their families.
There are 21 locations in Plymouth that appear on the National Register of Historic Places
, including Plymouth Rock, Cole's Hill, and Pilgrim Hall.
, the Commonwealth's second largest state forest, is located in Plymouth. It is a camping and hiking destination, and contains 16 freshwater lakes and ponds. Ellisville Harbor State Park
, located in the extreme southern portion of the town, contains a natural beach inside Cape Cod Bay
. Plymouth is also home to 11 public and private golf courses, which include Squirrel Run, Pinehills, Plymouth Country Club
, and Southers Marsh, a course that runs through a series of actively maintained cranberry bogs.
.
status with: Plymouth
, Devon
, United Kingdom. In addition, since 1990, Plymouth has shared a sister-city status with Shichigahama
, Miyagi Prefecture
, Japan.
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2010, the population was 494,919. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States. Plymouth holds a place of great prominence in American history, folklore and culture, and is known as "America's Hometown." Plymouth was the site of the colony founded in 1620 by the Pilgrims, passengers of the famous ship the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
. Plymouth is where New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
was first established. It is the oldest municipality in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and one of the oldest in the United States. The town has served as the location of several prominent events, the most notable being the First Thanksgiving feast. Plymouth served as the capital of Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
from its founding in 1620 until the colony's merger with the Massachusetts Bay colony in 1691.
Plymouth is the largest municipality in Massachusetts by area. The population is 56,468 according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Plymouth is one of two county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
s of Plymouth County
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2010, the population was 494,919. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton...
, the other being Brockton
Brockton, Massachusetts
Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 93,810 in the 2010 Census. Brockton, along with Plymouth, are the county seats of Plymouth County...
.
Plymouth is located approximately 40 miles (64.4 km) south of Boston in a region of Massachusetts known as the South Shore. Throughout the 19th century, the town thrived as a center of ropemaking, fishing, and shipping, and once held the world's largest ropemaking company, the Plymouth Cordage Company
Plymouth Cordage Company
The Plymouth Cordage Company was a rope making company located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The company, founded in 1824, had a large factory located on the Plymouth waterfront. By the late 19th century, the Plymouth Cordage Company had become the largest manufacturer of rope and twine in the world...
. While it continues to be an active port, today the major industry of Plymouth is tourism. Plymouth is served by Plymouth Municipal Airport
Plymouth Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)
Plymouth Municipal Airport is a town-owned, public-use airport located four nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Plymouth, a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States...
, and contains Pilgrim Hall Museum
Pilgrim Hall Museum
The Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts is the oldest public museum in the United States in continuous operation, having opened in 1824.-History:...
, the oldest continually operating museum in the United States.
As one of the country's first settlements, Plymouth is well-known in the United States for its historical value. The events surrounding the history of Plymouth have become part of the mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
of the United States, particularly those relating to Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It is an important symbol in American history...
, the Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving. The town itself is a popular tourist spot during the Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
holiday.
Pre-colonial era
Prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims, the location of Plymouth was a village of 2,000 Wampanoag Native Americans called PatuxetPatuxet
The Patuxet are an extinct Native American tribe of the Wampanoag tribal confederation. They lived primarily in and around the area of what has since been settled as Plymouth, Massachusetts.-Devastation:...
. This region that would become Plymouth was visited twice by European explorers prior to the establishment of Plymouth Colony. In 1605, Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
sailed to Plymouth Harbor
Plymouth Harbor
Plymouth Harbor is the name of a harbor located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a town in the South Shore region of the state. It is part of the larger Plymouth Bay. Historically, Plymouth Harbor was the site of anchorage of the Mayflower where the Pilgrims offloaded to establish a permanent...
, calling it Port St. Louis. Captain John Smith, a leader of the colony at Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
, explored parts of Cape Cod Bay; he is credited with naming the region which would become the future Plymouth Colony as "New Plimouth."
After these explorations, two plagues afflicted coastal New England in 1614 and 1617. Likely transmitted from British and French fishermen to natives on the shore, it killed between 90 and 95% of the local Wampanoag inhabitants. The near disappearance of the tribe from the site not only left their cornfields and other cleared areas for the soon-to-arrive Pilgrims to occupy, but also meant that the Indians were in no condition to resist the arrival of the colonists.
Colonial era
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
, and the location of the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
. Plymouth was established in 1620 by Anglicans and English separatists who had broken away from the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, believing that the Church had not completed the work of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. Today, these settlers are much better known as "Pilgrims", a term coined by William Bradford.
The Mayflower first anchored in what would become the harbor of Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
on November 11, 1620. The ship was headed for Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, but eventually reached New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. There are varying theories as to how this happened. They include: violent storms threw the ship off course; a navigation error; the Dutch bribed the captain to sail north so the Pilgrims would not settle near New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
; and the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, who comprised only 35 of the 102 settlers aboard the Mayflower, hijacked the ship to land far from Anglican control. The Pilgrim settlers, realizing that the party did not have a patent to settle in the region, subsequently signed the Mayflower Compact
Mayflower Compact
The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the colonists, later together known to history as the Pilgrims, who crossed the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower...
. The Pilgrims went on to explore various parts of Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, but soon a storm and violent skirmishes with local Native Americans forced the migrants to sail westward into Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Bay is a large bay of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Measuring below a line drawn from Brant Rock in Marshfield to Race Point in Provincetown, Massachusetts, it is enclosed by Cape Cod to the south and east, and Plymouth County, Massachusetts, to the west....
. The Pilgrims eventually came across the sheltered waters of Plymouth Harbor
Plymouth Harbor
Plymouth Harbor is the name of a harbor located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a town in the South Shore region of the state. It is part of the larger Plymouth Bay. Historically, Plymouth Harbor was the site of anchorage of the Mayflower where the Pilgrims offloaded to establish a permanent...
on December 17. The appealing protected bay led to a site in the present-day Harbor District being chosen for the new settlement after three days of surveying. The settlers officially disembarked on December 21, 1620. It is traditionally said that the Pilgrims first set foot in America at the site of Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It is an important symbol in American history...
, though no historical evidence can prove this claim. The settlers named their settlement "Plimouth" (also historically known as "Plimoth", an old English spelling of the name) after the major port city
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
in Devon, England
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
from which the Mayflower sailed. Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, was named after its location at mouth of the River Plym
River Plym
The River Plym is a river in Devon, England. Its source is some 450m above sea level on Dartmoor, in an upland marshy area called Plym Head. From the upper reaches which contain antiquities and mining remains the river flows roughly southwest and enters the sea near to the city of Plymouth, where...
.
Plymouth faced many difficulties during its first winter, the most notable being the risk of starvation and the lack of suitable shelter. From the beginning, the assistance of Indians was vital. One colonist's journal reports:
We marched to the place we called Cornhill, where we had found the corn before. At another place we had seen before, we dug and found some more corn, two or three baskets full, and a bag of beans....In all we had about ten bushels, which will be enough for seed. It is with God's help that we found this corn, for how else could we have done it, without meeting some Indians who might trouble us.
Along with ransacking the food stores of Indians, the colonists also raided the houses of the few Indians who had survived the plague, as well as robbing Indian graves. Even greater assistance came from Samoset
Samoset
Samoset was the first Native American to make contact with the Pilgrims. On March 16, 1621, the settlers were more than surprised when Samoset strolled straight through the middle of the encampment at Plymouth Colony and greeted them in English, which he had begun to learn from an earlier group of...
and Tisquantum
Squanto
Tisquantum was a Patuxet. He was the Native American who assisted the Pilgrims after their first winter in the New World and was integral to their survival. The Patuxet tribe was a tributary of the Wampanoag Confederacy.-Biography:Squanto's exact date of birth is unknown but many historians...
(better known as Squanto), an Indian sent by Wampanoag Tribe Chief Massasoit
Massasoit
Massasoit Sachem or Ousamequin ,was the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket, and "Massasoit" of the Wampanoag Confederacy. The term Massasoit means Great Sachem.-Early years:...
, as an ambassador and technical adviser. Squanto had been kidnapped in 1614 by an English slave raider and sold in Málaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
, Spain. Having learned English, he escaped slavery and returned home in 1619. Teaching the colonists how to farm corn, where and how to catch fish, and how to make other necessary items, he was instrumental in the survival of the settlement for the first two years. Squanto and another guide sent by Massasoit in 1621, Hobomok
Hobomok
Hobomok was a Native American who served as a guide, interpreter, and aide to the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Like Tisquantom, better known as Squanto, Hobomok was essential to the survival and diplomatic success of the English in New England...
, helped the colonists set up trading posts for furs and pay off the cost of establishing the colony. Chief Massasoit later formed a Peace Treaty with the Pilgrims. Upon growing a plentiful harvest in the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims gathered with Squanto, Samoset, Massasoit, and ninety other Wampanoag men in a celebration of food and feasting. This celebration is known today as the First Thanksgiving, and is still commemorated annually in downtown Plymouth with a parade and a reenactment. Since 1941, Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
has been observed as a federal holiday
Federal holiday
In the United States, a federal holiday is a public holiday recognized by the United States federal government. Non-essential federal government offices are closed...
in the United States.
Plymouth served as the capital of Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
(which consisted of modern-day Barnstable
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, consisting of Cape Cod and associated islands. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,902...
, Bristol
Bristol County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families residing in the county. The population density was 962 people per square mile . There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile...
, and Plymouth
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2010, the population was 494,919. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton...
Counties) from its founding in 1620 until 1691, when the colony was annexed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
. Plymouth holds the unique distinction of being the first permanent settlement in New England, and one of the oldest settlements in the United States.
19th century
Plymouth Cordage Company
The Plymouth Cordage Company was a rope making company located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The company, founded in 1824, had a large factory located on the Plymouth waterfront. By the late 19th century, the Plymouth Cordage Company had become the largest manufacturer of rope and twine in the world...
, which became the world's largest manufacturer of rope and cordage products. The company was founded in 1824. At one point, the longest ropewalk in the world, a quarter-mile (0.4 km) in length, was found on the Cordage Company's site on the North Plymouth
North Plymouth, Massachusetts
North Plymouth is a census-designated place in the town of Plymouth in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,593 at the 2000 census. it is best known as the location of Cordage Park, a small village where the Plymouth Cordage Company was once headquartered...
waterfront. It thrived into the 1960s, but was forced out of business in 1964 due to competition from synthetic-fiber ropes. The refurbished factory, known as Cordage Commerce Center, is home to numerous offices, restaurants and stores.
Modern history
In the last 30 years, Plymouth has experienced rapid growth and development. As in many South Shore towns, Plymouth became more accessible to Boston in the early 1970s with improved railroads, highways, and bus routes. Furthermore, the town's inexpensive land costs and low tax rates were factors in the town's significant population rise. Plymouth's population grew from 18,606 residents in 1970 to 45,608 residents in 1990, a 145% increase in 20 years. The population has continued to expand in recent years. While Plymouth has already surpassed several Massachusetts cities in population, the town is still officially regarded as a town, as it has not been re-chartered as a city and continues to be governed by a board of selectmen rather than a mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
. Plymouth has emerged as a major economic and tourist center of the South Shore.
One of the largest towns in Massachusetts, Plymouth spans several exits on its main highway, Route 3. Plymouth boasts several larger shopping plazas and the nearby Independence Mall
Independence Mall (Massachusetts)
Independence Mall, also known as the Kingston Mall, is a one story enclosed shopping center with 100 stores and restaurants. Built in 1989, the mall serves the South Shore-History:Bradlees and JC Penney closed in early 2001...
in Kingston, MA, much of which has been built in just the past 5 years. As it has grown, additional access is possible via a recent extension to Plymouth's second largest highway, U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 237 miles through four states in the Northeastern region of the United States. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 209 and New York State Route 55 in Kerhonkson, a hamlet in the Hudson Valley region of New York...
. Additional development was expected due to a large construction of a Movie Studio complex called Plymouth Rock Studios
Plymouth Rock Studios
Plymouth Rock Studios was a proposed film and television production studio in Massachusetts. The studio had held a now-expired option to buy Waverly Oaks Golf Club in Plymouth as the site for the $650 million, development originally slated to be complete in 2010. The proposal included fourteen...
, which has since been discontinued.
Geography
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 134 sq mi (347.1 km²): 96.5 sq mi (249.9 km²) of it is land, and 37.5 sq mi (97.1 km²) of it (28%) is water.
With the largest land area of any municipality in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Plymouth consists of several neighborhoods and geographical sections
Neighborhoods in Plymouth, Massachusetts
There are several neighborhoods in Plymouth, Massachusetts. With a total area of 134.0 mi² , Plymouth is the largest municipality in Massachusetts by area. In addition, with a population of 51,701 at the 2000 census and an estimated population of 57,901 in 2007, Plymouth is the second-largest town...
. Larger localities in the town include Plymouth Center, North
North Plymouth, Massachusetts
North Plymouth is a census-designated place in the town of Plymouth in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,593 at the 2000 census. it is best known as the location of Cordage Park, a small village where the Plymouth Cordage Company was once headquartered...
, West
West Plymouth, Massachusetts
West Plymouth is a village in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located beyond the new Colony Place retail development and the Plymouth Industrial Park off U.S. Route 44 and north of Myles Standish State Forest. It stretches west to the Carver town line and north to the...
and South Plymouth
South Plymouth, Massachusetts
South Plymouth is the portion of Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States that covers much of the southern section of the town beginning at the Pine Hills, a large, mostly undeveloped forested area south of Plymouth Beach, Chiltonville and South Pond...
, Manomet
Manomet, Massachusetts
Manomet is a seaside village of Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. It is named for the Manomet Native American sub-group of the Wampanoag whose settlement was located atop the dominant hill in the region when European settlers arrived in Plymouth in 1620. Manomet has a Post Office in the...
, Cedarville
Cedarville, Massachusetts
Cedarville is the southeasternmost village in Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.Cedarville is bounded to the north by Ellisville Road and Hedges Pond, to the south by the Town of Bourne, to the west by Little Herring Pond and Great Herring Pond, and to the east by Cape Cod Bay.Residents enjoy...
, and Saquish Neck.
Plymouth makes up the entire western shore of Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Bay is a large bay of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Measuring below a line drawn from Brant Rock in Marshfield to Race Point in Provincetown, Massachusetts, it is enclosed by Cape Cod to the south and east, and Plymouth County, Massachusetts, to the west....
. It is bordered on land by Bourne
Bourne, Massachusetts
Bourne is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,721 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Bourne, please see the articles on Bourne , Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore, and Sagamore...
to the southeast, Wareham
Wareham, Massachusetts
Wareham is a town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 20,335, with an estimated 2008 population of 21,221....
to the southwest, Carver
Carver, Massachusetts
Carver is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,163 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2008 population of 11,574. It is named for John Carver, the first governor of the Plymouth Colony.- Demographics :...
to the west, and Kingston
Kingston, Massachusetts
Kingston is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of 12,629.-History:Before European settlers arrived in Kingston it was within the tribal home to the Wampanoag people...
to the north. It also shares a small border with Duxbury at the land entrance of Saquish Neck. Plymouth's border with Bourne makes up most of the line between Plymouth
Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Plymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2010, the population was 494,919. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton...
and Barnstable
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, consisting of Cape Cod and associated islands. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,902...
counties. The town is located roughly 44 miles (70.8 km) southeast of Boston (it is almost exactly 40 miles (64.4 km) from Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in 1620. It is an important symbol in American history...
to the Massachusetts State House
Massachusetts State House
The Massachusetts State House, also known as the Massachusetts Statehouse or the "New" State House, is the state capitol and house of government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is located in Boston in the neighborhood Beacon Hill...
) and equidistantly east of Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
Plymouth Pinelands
The greater Plymouth, Massachusetts area hosts some of the most significant natural ecosystems in the Northeastern United States. Outwash from the last of numerous glacial periods left thick glacial deposits of sand and gravel, providing the geologic foundation for globally rare pine barrens. This...
, the town of Plymouth has many distinct geographical features. The town's Atlantic coast is characterized by low plains, while its western sections are extremely hilly and forested. Plymouth contains several small ponds scattered throughout its western quadrant, the largest being the Great Herring Pond
Great Herring Pond
Great Herring Pond is a warm water pond mostly located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, with the southern portion extending into Bourne. The village of Pondville in the Cedarville section of Plymouth lies on the eastern shore of the pond. The pond has an average depth of 20 ft and a maximum depth...
(which is partly in the town of Bourne). A major feature of the town is the Myles Standish State Forest
Myles Standish State Forest
Myles Standish State Forest is state forest located in the towns of Plymouth and Carver in southeastern Massachusetts, approximately 45 miles south of Boston...
, which is in the southwestern region. Cachalot Scout Reservation, operated by the Cachalot District of the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, lies adjacent to the state forest lands. There is also a smaller town forest, as well as several parks, recreation areas and beaches.
Plymouth has nine public beaches, the largest being Plymouth Beach
Plymouth Beach, Massachusetts
Plymouth Beach is a small village located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. It is located directly south of Plymouth Center, and is adjacent to Plimoth Plantation...
. Plymouth Beach guards Plymouth Harbor
Plymouth Harbor
Plymouth Harbor is the name of a harbor located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a town in the South Shore region of the state. It is part of the larger Plymouth Bay. Historically, Plymouth Harbor was the site of anchorage of the Mayflower where the Pilgrims offloaded to establish a permanent...
and mostly consists of a three-mile (5 km) long, ecologically significant barrier beach. Clark's Island
Clark's Island
Clark's Island is the name of a small island located in Plymouth Bay in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It was named for the first mate of the Mayflower, the ship that brought the Pilgrims to New England. The first mate was Richard Clarke, though the island should actually be spelled Clarke's...
, a small island in Plymouth Bay
Plymouth Bay
Plymouth Bay is the name of a small, well-protected bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the western shore of larger Cape Cod Bay along the coastline of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
, is the only island in Plymouth. It is off the coast of Saquish Neck and has nine summer houses but no year-round inhabitants.
Climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
, which is the predominant climate for Massachusetts and New England. Due to its location on the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, humidity levels can be very high year-round. Plymouth's coastal location causes it to experience warmer temperatures than many inland locations in New England. Summers are typically hot and humid, while winters are cold, windy and often snowy.
Plymouth's warmest month is July, with an average high temperature of 82 °F (27.8 °C) and an average low of 60.3 °F (15.7 °C). The coldest month is January, with an average high temperature of 36.8 °F (2.7 °C) and an average low of 16.2 °F (-8.8 °C).
Much like the rest of the Northeastern seaboard, Plymouth receives ample amounts of precipitation year-round. On average, summer months receive slightly less precipitation than winter months. Plymouth averages about 49 inches (124.5 cm) of rainfall a year. Plymouth, like other coastal Massachusetts towns, is very vulnerable to Nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
weather systems. The town is sometimes vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms, which infrequently threaten the Cape Cod region during the early autumn months.
Demographics
{| class="toccolours" align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin:0 0 1em 1em; font-size:95%"As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 51,701 people, 18,423 households, and 13,264 families residing in the town; by population it is the second–largest town in Massachusetts, after Framingham
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
. It is also the 21st–largest municipality in the state. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 536 PD/sqmi. There are 21,250 housing units, at an average density of 85.1 /sqkm. The racial makeup of the town was 94.82% White, 1.91% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.25% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.68% of the population.
There are 18,423 households out of which 36.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 21.7% of all households are made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.16.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,677 as of the 2000 census, and the median income for a family was $63,266. Males had a median income of $44,983 versus $31,565 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $23,732. About 4.4% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
as a part of the First and Twelfth Plymouth Districts. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
as a part of the Plymouth and Barnstable district, which also includes Bourne
Bourne, Massachusetts
Bourne is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,721 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Bourne, please see the articles on Bourne , Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore, and Sagamore...
, Falmouth
Falmouth, Massachusetts
Falmouth is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States; Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 31,531 at the 2010 census....
, Kingston
Kingston, Massachusetts
Kingston is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of 12,629.-History:Before European settlers arrived in Kingston it was within the tribal home to the Wampanoag people...
, Pembroke
Pembroke, Massachusetts
Pembroke is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,927 at the 2000 census.The southwestern section of Pembroke is also known as Bryantville...
, Plympton
Plympton, Massachusetts
Plympton is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,820 at the 2010 census. The United States senator William Bradford was born here.- History :Plympton was first settled in 1662 as the western parish of Plymouth...
, 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 part of Barnstable
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...
. On the state level, primary but shared patrolling responsibility of the town's limited access highways falls upon the Seventh (Bourne) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts State Police
The Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulation across the state...
.
On the national level, Plymouth is a part of Massachusetts's 10th congressional district
Massachusetts's 10th congressional district
Massachusetts's 10th congressional district is a political constituency that includes parts of the South Shore of Massachusetts, and all of Cape Cod and the islands. With a population of 635,901 and a land area of , it is the most populous of Massachusetts's ten congressional districts and the...
, and is currently represented by William R. Keating
William R. Keating
William Richard "Bill" Keating is the U.S. Representative for . From 1999 to 2011 he was District Attorney of Norfolk County. He is a member of the Democratic Party and a former Massachusetts state representative and state senator....
. The state's senior (Class II) member of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, re-elected in 2008, is John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
. The state's current junior (Class I) Senator is Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
. On the local level, the town uses the representative town meeting
Representative town meeting
A representative town meeting is a form of municipal legislature particularly common in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Vermont....
form of government, led by a town manager and a board of selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
. The current town manager of Plymouth is Mark Stankiewicz.
Plymouth has a centralized municipal police force, the Plymouth Police Department. The town also has a professional fire department, with seven firehouses spread around the town. There are also seven post offices for the town's five ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s, with one in the downtown area, one in North Plymouth
North Plymouth, Massachusetts
North Plymouth is a census-designated place in the town of Plymouth in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,593 at the 2000 census. it is best known as the location of Cordage Park, a small village where the Plymouth Cordage Company was once headquartered...
, one in Manomet
Manomet, Massachusetts
Manomet is a seaside village of Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. It is named for the Manomet Native American sub-group of the Wampanoag whose settlement was located atop the dominant hill in the region when European settlers arrived in Plymouth in 1620. Manomet has a Post Office in the...
, one in White Horse Beach
White Horse Beach, Massachusetts
White Horse Beach is a village of Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. It consists of 560 feet of public beach in the White Horse Beach, Massachusetts section of Plymouth and is located on Cape Cod Bay, south of Priscilla Beach...
, one near the Plymouth Municipal Airport
Plymouth Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)
Plymouth Municipal Airport is a town-owned, public-use airport located four nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Plymouth, a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States...
, one in the South Pond
South Pond, Massachusetts
South Pond is a village in Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. It is located east of Great South Pond, a reservoir that serves as one of Plymouth's municipal water sources. The village is located north of Myles Standish State Forest, northwest of Long Pond, southwest of Chiltonville and west of...
neighborhood, and one near the town forest in "The Village Green" shopping area of The Pinehills
The Pinehills
The Pinehills is a census designated place located in the Pine Hills region of Plymouth, Massachusetts. As of 2008, the project is the largest new residential and commercial development in New England...
.
The town has a public library, with a branch location in Manomet. Both libraries are a part of the Old Colony Library Network
Old Colony Library Network
The Old Colony Library Network is a cooperative of located on the South Shore of Massachusetts. OCLN membership includes 26 town and city libraries and 2 academic libraries. OCLN’s cooperative nature enables member libraries to provide services that they would not be able to afford on their own....
, which services 28 libraries throughout the South Shore. Additionally, as a seat of Plymouth County, there are several county facilities located in Plymouth. These include a County farm, the Registry of Deeds, two jails (the Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Plymouth
Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Plymouth
Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Plymouth or MCI - Plymouth is a minimum-security prison facility located in the Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth, Massachusetts...
and the Plymouth County Correctional Facility
Plymouth County Correctional Facility
Plymouth County Correctional Facility is a maximum-security prison located in Plymouth, Massachusetts Operated by the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department. The prison is the largest prison in Plymouth, and is much larger than the Massachusetts Correctional Institution - Plymouth, located in the...
) and the County Courthouse..
Economy
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, and telecommunications also being primary industries. The largest employer in the town is Jordan Hospital
Jordan Hospital
Jordan Hospital is a hospital located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Founded in 1901, it is today the largest hospital in the Southern region of the South Shore. Jordan is an acute care, 150-bed, not-for-profit community hospital serving 12 towns in Plymouth and Barnstable counties...
.
Plymouth has experienced commercial and industrial success, with the downtown area and North Plymouth
North Plymouth, Massachusetts
North Plymouth is a census-designated place in the town of Plymouth in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,593 at the 2000 census. it is best known as the location of Cordage Park, a small village where the Plymouth Cordage Company was once headquartered...
each becoming commercial centers and an industrial park opening outside of the town center. A large commercial project titled Colony Place
Colony Place
Colony Place is a large retail development located off U.S. Route 44 near Massachusetts Route 3 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Consisting of over , is currently the largest open-air lifestyle center in New England...
located near the Industrial Park was completed in late 2007. It consists of several large retail stores, various chain restaurants, and contains one of the largest outdoor designer outlet malls in the South Shore. Another large retail development that has recently finished construction off Route 3's exit 5 is The Shops at 5
The Shops at 5
The Shops at 5 is large, recently completed retail development in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is located at Exit 5 off Route 3, south of Plymouth Center. Consisting of over , it is one of the largest open-air shopping centers in Massachusetts. The project began construction in 2004, and was...
. The only nuclear power plant
Nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactors. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.Nuclear power plants are usually...
in Massachusetts, Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station
Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station
Pilgrim Nuclear Generating Station is currently the only nuclear power plant operating in the United States Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is located in the Manomet section of Plymouth on Cape Cod Bay, south of the tip of Rocky Point and north of Priscilla Beach...
, is located in Plymouth.
Plymouth has also recently seen the development of several residential projects, among them The Pinehills
The Pinehills
The Pinehills is a census designated place located in the Pine Hills region of Plymouth, Massachusetts. As of 2008, the project is the largest new residential and commercial development in New England...
, which consists of over 1,000 residential units, two golf courses, a country club, and a shopping village. When completed in 2010, it is expected to contain 2,877 homes.
Education
Plymouth Public Schools
Plymouth Public Schools is a school district that serves Plymouth, Massachusetts. It operates 12 schools, making it one of the largest town school districts in the state.-Elementary schools:*South Elementary School - 695 Students...
is one of the largest in the state, operating fourteen schools. This is larger than the Massachusetts average of eight schools. The school district operates 86 school buses under contract with First Student bus company.
The schools of Plymouth include the Mount Pleasant Preschool, eight elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
s (Cold Spring, Federal Furnace, Hedge, Indian Brook, Manomet, Nathanial Morton, South and West Elementaries) which generally serve students from kindergarten to fifth grade, two middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
s that serve grades 5–8, Plymouth Community Intermediate School (PCIS) and Plymouth South Middle School, and two high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s, Plymouth North
Plymouth North High School
Plymouth North High School, known informally as Plymouth North or PNHS, is a public high school located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Its students are residents of the town of Plymouth. The school is one of two high schools in Plymouth, the other being Plymouth South High School...
and Plymouth South
Plymouth South High School
Plymouth South High School, also known as Plymouth South, PSHS, or, informally, P.South, is a public high school located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Its students are residents of the town of Plymouth. The school is one of two high schools in Plymouth, the other being Plymouth North High School...
. Both high schools play in the Atlantic Coast League, and the two schools share a rivalry with each other. Students who decide to receive a technical education have the option of attending Plymouth South Technical School.
There is also 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...
in the town, Rising Tide Charter School, which serves middle school-aged children. Two special education schools, the Baird School and the Radius Pediatric School, are located in the town.
The town has two institutions of higher learning. Quincy College
Quincy College
Quincy College is a public junior college located in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is an open admission commuter school that offers associate's degrees in professional fields of study.-History:...
has a campus located in Cordage Park. The Plymouth campus opened in 1991, and the college's main campus is in Quincy
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
. Curry College
Curry College
Curry College is a private liberal arts-based institution in Milton, Massachusetts that started as the School of Elocution in 1879.-History:...
has a campus at the northern edge of Plymouth Center in the Citizens Bank
Citizens Financial Group
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. is an American bank headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, which operates in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Citizens is a wholly owned...
building. The campus opened in 1994, and the main campus is located in Milton
Milton, Massachusetts
Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...
. While the University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Boston
The University of Massachusetts Boston, also known as UMass Boston, is an urban public research university and the second largest campus in the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. The university is located on on Harbor Point in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
does not have a campus in Plymouth, it offers some courses at another location in Cordage Park.
Healthcare
Jordan Hospital
Jordan Hospital is a hospital located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Founded in 1901, it is today the largest hospital in the Southern region of the South Shore. Jordan is an acute care, 150-bed, not-for-profit community hospital serving 12 towns in Plymouth and Barnstable counties...
, the largest hospital in the southern region of the South Shore. It is the only major healthcare provider in the town. The hospital is a community medical center serving twelve towns in Plymouth and Barnstable counties. It consists of more than 30 departments, with 150 patient beds. The hospital also offers a rehabilitation center in The Pinehills
The Pinehills
The Pinehills is a census designated place located in the Pine Hills region of Plymouth, Massachusetts. As of 2008, the project is the largest new residential and commercial development in New England...
region.
While Jordan Hospital is the only hospital in Plymouth, South Shore Hospital operates several offices and physician labs in South Pond
South Pond, Massachusetts
South Pond is a village in Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. It is located east of Great South Pond, a reservoir that serves as one of Plymouth's municipal water sources. The village is located north of Myles Standish State Forest, northwest of Long Pond, southwest of Chiltonville and west of...
. South Shore Hospital, in South Weymouth
Weymouth, Massachusetts
The Town of Weymouth is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, Weymouth had a total population of 53,743. Despite its city status, it is formally known as the Town of Weymouth...
, is the largest hospital in southeastern Massachusetts.
Highways
Plymouth lies along the "Pilgrims Highway" portion of Route 3Route 3 (Massachusetts)
Route 3 is a southward continuation of U.S. Route 3, connecting Cambridge, Massachusetts with Cape Cod. All of it, except for the northernmost end in downtown Boston and Cambridge, is a freeway....
, which is the major route between Cape Cod and Boston. The town can be accessed from six exits on the highway, which is more than any other municipality along the Pilgrims Highway. Plymouth is also the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 237 miles through four states in the Northeastern region of the United States. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 209 and New York State Route 55 in Kerhonkson, a hamlet in the Hudson Valley region of New York...
. The route has changed recently, as a new divided highway section has linked it to Route 3, before heading south and exiting at its old location before terminating at Route 3A, which more closely follows the shoreline and passes through Plymouth Center. Route 80
Massachusetts Route 80
Route 80 is a C-shaped state highway in southeastern Massachusetts. The highway is signed as west–east.-Route description:Route 80 starts at Carver Road in the West Plymouth section of Plymouth. Due to the removal of Route 44, this is an unusual instance that a numbered route does not have...
's western terminus is at its intersection with old Route 44. Route 25 goes through a remote section of the town north of Buzzards Bay
Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Buzzards Bay is a census-designated place in the town of Bourne in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The population was 3,549 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Buzzards Bay is located at...
, but does not have an exit. Finally, the short Plimoth Plantation Highway
Plimoth Plantation Highway
Plimoth Plantation Highway is a short unnumbered two-lane freeway with plastic stanchions posted on a rumbled asphalt median in Plymouth, Massachusetts.-Route description:...
allows easy access between Routes 3 and 3A, with an exit that allows direct entry to Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation is a living museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts that shows the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th century by English colonists, some of whom later became known as Pilgrims. They were among the first people who emigrated to America to avoid religious...
's parking area. The highway is north of Manomet and south of Plymouth Center.
Rail
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...
's commuter rail, providing non-peak service to Braintree
Braintree (MBTA station)
Braintree, located at Ivory and Union Streets in Braintree, Massachusetts, is the southernmost station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Red Line. It also is a stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail Old Colony Lines...
and as far north as 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...
. The Plymouth MBTA station
Plymouth (MBTA station)
Plymouth is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Plymouth/Kingston Line. The station is located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the Cordage Park complex of North Plymouth. Plymouth is one terminus of the MBTA's Kingston/Plymouth Old Colony Line, the other being the Kingston station in...
is near Cordage Park in North Plymouth
North Plymouth, Massachusetts
North Plymouth is a census-designated place in the town of Plymouth in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,593 at the 2000 census. it is best known as the location of Cordage Park, a small village where the Plymouth Cordage Company was once headquartered...
, along Route 3A. (The other terminus is in Kingston
Kingston, Massachusetts
Kingston is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. According to the 2010 Census, it had a population of 12,629.-History:Before European settlers arrived in Kingston it was within the tribal home to the Wampanoag people...
and has more frequent train arrivals and departures. Its station
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...
is behind the Independence Mall
Independence Mall (Massachusetts)
Independence Mall, also known as the Kingston Mall, is a one story enclosed shopping center with 100 stores and restaurants. Built in 1989, the mall serves the South Shore-History:Bradlees and JC Penney closed in early 2001...
.) No other railroad lines pass through the town.
Ferry
There is a seasonal ferry to ProvincetownProvincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown is a New England town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2007 population of 3,174...
and several other excursion lines that offer cruises of Plymouth Bay
Plymouth Bay
Plymouth Bay is the name of a small, well-protected bay of the Atlantic Ocean on the western shore of larger Cape Cod Bay along the coastline of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
and Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Bay is a large bay of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Measuring below a line drawn from Brant Rock in Marshfield to Race Point in Provincetown, Massachusetts, it is enclosed by Cape Cod to the south and east, and Plymouth County, Massachusetts, to the west....
. The ferry is operated by Capt. John Boats and offers one round trip daily from June to September. The ferry leaves from the State Wharf in Plymouth Center. In addition to the ferry, Plymouth Harbor
Plymouth Harbor
Plymouth Harbor is the name of a harbor located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a town in the South Shore region of the state. It is part of the larger Plymouth Bay. Historically, Plymouth Harbor was the site of anchorage of the Mayflower where the Pilgrims offloaded to establish a permanent...
offers service for harbor excursions, whale watching
Whale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
tours, and deep sea fishing.
Bus
The Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Company offers scheduled service to Logan Airport, downtown Boston, Hyannis, and Provincetown. Buses can be boarded at the commuter parking lot at exit 5 off Route 3Route 3 (Massachusetts)
Route 3 is a southward continuation of U.S. Route 3, connecting Cambridge, Massachusetts with Cape Cod. All of it, except for the northernmost end in downtown Boston and Cambridge, is a freeway....
, behind the McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
rest stop. The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority
Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority
The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority oversees and coordinates public transportation in the areas of Attleboro and Taunton, Massachusetts and nearby areas. It operates daily on fixed routes and schedules within 26 communities in Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties...
(GATRA) operates public transportation buses known as the Plymouth Area Link (PAL) throughout much of Plymouth and Kingston.
Air
Plymouth Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)
Plymouth Municipal Airport is a town-owned, public-use airport located four nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Plymouth, a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States...
, which lies on the border between Plymouth and Carver
Carver, Massachusetts
Carver is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,163 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2008 population of 11,574. It is named for John Carver, the first governor of the Plymouth Colony.- Demographics :...
. Founded in 1931, it offers scheduled service to the Nantucket
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
, as well as private service. The airport features a local restaurant and gift shop, but does not have an on-site traffic control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
.
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...
, in Hyannis
Hyannis, Massachusetts
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"...
, offers additional scheduled carrier service. The airport offers scheduled flight services to Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Boston and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It is approximately 30 miles (48 km) from Plymouth.
The nearest national and international airport is Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
in Boston, roughly 43 miles (69.2 km) away. T.F. Green Airport, a state airport located in Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
, is about 63 miles (101 km) away.
Points of interest
Promoted as America's Hometown, Plymouth is a tourist destination noted for its heritage. The town is home to several notable sites.Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock became very famous after its identification as the supposed landing site of the Pilgrims, and was subsequently moved to a location in Plymouth Center. During the process, the rock split in two. It was later moved to Pilgrim Hall
Pilgrim Hall Museum
The Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts is the oldest public museum in the United States in continuous operation, having opened in 1824.-History:...
and then to a location under a granite Victorian Canopy, where it was easily accessible and subject to souvenir hunters. The rock was finally moved back to its original location along the town's waterfront in 1921. "Plymouth Rock", a large boulder, now sits under a granite canopy designed by famed astronomical illustrator Chesley Bonestell
Chesley Bonestell
Chesley Bonestell was an American painter, designer and illustrator. His paintings were a major influence on science fiction art and illustration, and he helped inspire the American space program...
, who also designed the Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building
The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco style skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Standing at , it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State...
gargoyles and contributed to the design of the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
. The rock is the centerpiece of Pilgrim Memorial State Park
Pilgrim Memorial State Park
Pilgrim Memorial State Park comprises two monuments in Plymouth, Massachusetts: Plymouth Rock and the National Monument to the Forefathers. Closely related to these memorials is the Myles Standish Monument State Reservation which can be seen across the Plymouth Bay in Duxbury, Massachusetts...
. The park is the smallest park in the Massachusetts state forest and park system, but is also the most heavily visited.
Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation is a living museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts that shows the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th century by English colonists, some of whom later became known as Pilgrims. They were among the first people who emigrated to America to avoid religious...
is a living history museum
Open air museum
An open-air museum is a distinct type of museum exhibiting its collections out-of-doors. The first open-air museums were established in Scandinavia towards the end of the nineteenth century, and the concept soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Open-air museums are variously known as...
located south of Plymouth Center. It consists of a re-creation of the Plymouth settlement in 1627, as well as a replica of a 17th century Wampanoag homesite. The museum features role playing tour guides, as well as a large crafts center. The Nye Barn, a replica of a 1627 faming homestead in Plymouth, is also part of the museum. The farm features several animals that would have been found in Plymouth Colony, but are very rare in modern times.
The museum opened in 1947 under the guidance of Henry Hornblower II, a wealthy Boston stockbroker who grew up in Plymouth. The museum originally consisted of the Mayflower II and a "First House" exhibit in Plymouth Center, but was expanded into a large fortified town and a Native American village by 1960.
Mayflower II
Mayflower II
The Mayflower II is a replica of the 17th century ship Mayflower, celebrated for transporting the Pilgrims to the New World.The replica was built in Devon, England, during 1955–1956, in a collaboration between Englishman Warwick Charlton and Plimoth Plantation, an American museum...
is a full-size replica of the Mayflower
Mayflower
The Mayflower was the ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from a site near the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, , in 1620...
, the ship which brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620. It is located at the State Pier in Plymouth Center. The ship is open as a museum about the Pilgrims' historic voyage from Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, England, and is considered a faithful replica of the original Mayflower. It is officially a part of Plimoth Plantation.
The ship was built in Brixham
Brixham
Brixham is a small fishing town and civil parish in the county of Devon, in the south-west of England. Brixham is at the southern end of Torbay, across the bay from Torquay, and is a fishing port. Fishing and tourism are its major industries. At the time of the 2001 census it had a population of...
, England in 1956, and sailed to Plymouth across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in 1957 by famous mariner Alan Villiers
Alan Villiers
Captain Alan John Villiers was an author, adventurer, photographer and Master Mariner.Born in Melbourne, Australia, he first went to sea at age 15 and sailed all the world's oceans on board traditionally rigged vessels, including the full rigged ship Joseph Conrad...
. The ship is still seaworthy
Seakeeping
Seakeeping ability is a measure of how well-suited a watercraft is to conditions when underway. A ship or boat which has good seakeeping ability is said to be very seaworthy and is able to operate effectively even in high sea states....
, and routinely takes voyages around Plymouth Harbor. In the year 2007, the Mayflower II celebrated the 50th anniversary of its arrival in Plymouth.
Historic interest
In addition to the Plymouth Rock Memorial, several other monuments were constructed in celebration of Plymouth's tricentennial. These include statues of MassasoitMassasoit
Massasoit Sachem or Ousamequin ,was the sachem, or leader, of the Pokanoket, and "Massasoit" of the Wampanoag Confederacy. The term Massasoit means Great Sachem.-Early years:...
and William Bradford, and a sarcophagus containing the bones of the 51 Pilgrims who died in the winter of 1620, which rests atop Cole's Hill
Cole's Hill
Cole's Hill is a National Historic Landmark containing the first cemetery used by the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The hill is located on Carver Street near the foot of Leyden Street and across the street from Plymouth Rock.-History:...
.
Pilgrim Hall Museum
Pilgrim Hall Museum
The Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts is the oldest public museum in the United States in continuous operation, having opened in 1824.-History:...
, founded in 1824, is the oldest public museum in the `. It is located in Plymouth Center. Plymouth also features the National Monument to the Forefathers
National Monument to the Forefathers
The National Monument to the Forefathers, formerly known as the Pilgrim Monument, commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrims and honors their ideals as later generally embraced by the United States...
, which was dedicated in 1889. Standing at 81 feet (24.7 m) tall, it is the tallest free-standing solid granite monument in the United States. Other notable historical sites include the Jenney Grist Mill
Jenney Grist Mill
The Jenney Grist Mill is a working grist mill located in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is a reconstruction of the original Jenney Grist Mill, and it stands on the site of the original mill.- History :...
, a working replica of an original mill built in 1636, as well as the 1640 Richard Sparrow House
Richard Sparrow House
The Richard Sparrow House is an historic house at 42 Summer Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts and the oldest surviving house in Plymouth.The house was built around 1640 by Richard Sparrow, an English surveyor who arrived in Plymouth in 1636. He was granted a tract of land in 1636 on which the...
, the oldest house still standing in Plymouth. At the edge of the town on Route 80
Massachusetts Route 80
Route 80 is a C-shaped state highway in southeastern Massachusetts. The highway is signed as west–east.-Route description:Route 80 starts at Carver Road in the West Plymouth section of Plymouth. Due to the removal of Route 44, this is an unusual instance that a numbered route does not have...
is Parting Ways
Parting Ways (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
Parting Ways was an African-American settlement of freedmen on Route 80 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, near the Plymouth/Kingston town line. Other names for Parting Ways include the Parting Ways Archeological District and the Parting Ways New Guinea Settlement...
, a 94 acres (380,404.8 m²) site that is notable for containing the remains of four former slaves who fought in the Revolutionary War and their families.
There are 21 locations in Plymouth that appear on 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...
, including Plymouth Rock, Cole's Hill, and Pilgrim Hall.
Parks and recreation
Myles Standish State ForestMyles Standish State Forest
Myles Standish State Forest is state forest located in the towns of Plymouth and Carver in southeastern Massachusetts, approximately 45 miles south of Boston...
, the Commonwealth's second largest state forest, is located in Plymouth. It is a camping and hiking destination, and contains 16 freshwater lakes and ponds. Ellisville Harbor State Park
Ellisville Harbor State Park
Ellisville Harbor State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in the village of Ellisville in Plymouth. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation .-Description:...
, located in the extreme southern portion of the town, contains a natural beach inside Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod Bay is a large bay of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Measuring below a line drawn from Brant Rock in Marshfield to Race Point in Provincetown, Massachusetts, it is enclosed by Cape Cod to the south and east, and Plymouth County, Massachusetts, to the west....
. Plymouth is also home to 11 public and private golf courses, which include Squirrel Run, Pinehills, Plymouth Country Club
Plymouth Country Club
Plymouth Country Club is an 18-hole private golf course located in historic Plymouth, Massachusetts. PCC originally featured 27 holes when it was chartered in 1908 by the affluent Hornblower family. Nine of the 27 holes were later abandoned to make room for a new state highway which runs along...
, and Southers Marsh, a course that runs through a series of actively maintained cranberry bogs.
Entertainment
Plymouth is also home to a vibrant music and arts community, including the Plymouth Center for the Arts, the Driftwood Folk Cafe, and three free summer concert series: The Project Arts Wednesday night series, the L. Knife and Son Thursday night series, and the School's Out Summer Concert SeriesBrewster Productions
Brewster Productions is a concert production and promotion company based in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Brewster Productions is most widely known as the producer and title sponsor of the Acoustic Nights Free Concert Series, a free outdoor summer concert series in Plymouth...
.
Notable residents
- Chris AlberghiniChris AlberghiniChris Alberghini is an American television director and producer. Alberghini has worked on several shows as a producer and director, the most popular being Tori Spelling's VH1 sitcom, So NoTORIous, and Reba.-External links:*...
, television producer-writer, born in Plymouth - Oliver Ames, Jr.Oliver Ames, Jr.Oliver Ames, Jr. was president of Union Pacific Railroad when the railroad met the Central Pacific Railroad in Utah for the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America.-Biography:...
(1807–1877), railroad official, former resident of Plymouth - John BartlettJohn Bartlett (publisher)John Bartlett was an American writer and publisher whose best known work, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, has been continually revised and reissued for a century after his death.-Biography:...
, publisher of Bartlett's Familiar QuotationsBartlett's Familiar QuotationsBartlett's Familiar Quotations, often simply called Bartlett's, is an American reference work that is the longest-lived and most widely distributed collection of quotations...
, born in Plymouth - Amy Lynn BaxterAmy Lynn BaxterAmy Lynn Baxter is an American actress. Baxter also appeared as Penthouse magazine's Pet of the Month for June 1990.-Biography:...
, adult film star, born in Plymouth - David ChokachiDavid ChokachiDavid Chokachi is an American television actor. He's best known for his role in the TV series Witchblade, Baywatch, and Beyond The Break. His father is Turkish and his mother is Finnish.-Early life:He attended Tabor Academy, an elite boarding prep school in Marion, Massachusetts...
, actor, born in Plymouth - Ken ColemanKen ColemanKenneth R. Coleman was an American radio and television sportscaster for 38 years . He was born in Quincy, Massachusetts....
, sportscaster, died in Plymouth - Thomas DaveeThomas DaveeThomas Davee was a United States Representative from Maine. He was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts were he attended the common schools. Later, he moved to Maine, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits....
, United States Representative from Maine, born in Plymouth - Dave Farrell, bassist with Linkin ParkLinkin ParkLinkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
, born in Plymouth - Peter J. GomesPeter J. GomesPeter John Gomes was an American preacher and theologian,the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard Divinity School and Pusey Minister at Harvard's Memorial Church—in the words of Harvard's president "one of the great preachers of our generation, and a living symbol of courage and...
, preacher and theologian at Harvard Divinity SchoolHarvard Divinity SchoolHarvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
, resident of Plymouth - Glen GrayGlen GrayGlen Gray Knoblauch, better known as Glen Gray, was a jazz saxophonist and leader of the Casa Loma Orchestra....
, saxophonist, leader of the Casa Loma OrchestraCasa Loma OrchestraThe Casa Loma Orchestra was a popular American dance band active from 1927 to 1963. From 1929 until the rapid multiplication in the number of swing bands from 1935 on, the Casa Loma Orchestra was one of the top North American dance bands...
, born in Plymouth - Dick GregoryDick GregoryRichard Claxton "Dick" Gregory is an American comedian, social activist, social critic, writer, and entrepreneur....
, comedian, activist and nutritionist, current resident of Plymouth - Pee Wee HuntPee Wee HuntPee Wee Hunt , born Walter Gerhardt Hunt, was a jazz trombonist, vocalist and band leader....
, trombonist and co-founder of the Casa Loma Orchestra, died in Plymouth - Frederic Augustus LucasFrederic Augustus LucasFrederic Augustus Lucas, Sc.D. was an American museum director.-Early years:Frederic A. Lucas was born March 25, 1852 at Plymouth, Massachusetts.-Career:...
(1852–1929), Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences museum director, author of many scientific papers, born in Plymouth - David MaraghyDavid MaraghyDavid Maraghy, is an American CEO, Sports Agent and Attorney. He is a member of the Virginia and North Carolina Bar associations. He is the CEO of the Richmond based Sports Management International, LC and Adjunct Professor of Sports Leadership at Virginia Commonwealth University...
Ceo of Sports Management International, LC. was born in Plymouth. - Aaron MatsonAaron MatsonAaron Matson was a United States Representative from New Hampshire. He was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts. He moved to Cheshire County, New Hampshire, where he was the county judge of probate....
(1770–1855), a United States Representative from New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, born in Plymouth - Violet MersereauViolet MersereauViolet Mersereau was an American silent movie star.Her career spanned the years from 1908-1926. She was born in New York, New York and was educated there. As a young girl she played child parts in stock. She toured with Margaret Anglin and had a role in the original company of The Clansman. The...
(1892–1975), silent film actress, died in Plymouth - Gary DiSarcinaGary DiSarcinaGary Thomas DiSarcina is a front office executive and a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was raised in Billerica, Massachusetts and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst. DiSarcina was drafted by the California Angels in the 6th round of the 1988 amateur draft...
, former shortstop for the California Angels and manager of the single-A team Lowell SpinnersLowell SpinnersThe Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.-History:Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a...
, currently resides in Plymouth. - Henry PicardHenry PicardHenry Gilford Picard was an American professional golfer.Picard was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and learned to play golf while caddying at the Plymouth Country Club. Picard, already a talented player by his early 20s, came to prominence after coaching from the leading instructor Alex Morrison...
, Professional golfer, won The Masters Tournament - James Warren, president of the Massachusetts provincial legislature and prominent colonial-era politician.
- Chris RaabChris RaabChristian Joseph Raab, , better known by his stage name Raab Himself, is an American television personality, known as a former member of the CKY Crew featured in the MTV series Viva La Bam and Jackass ....
Member of the CKY crew. - Warren G. PhillipsWarren G. PhillipsWarren G. Phillips was born in Weymouth, MA. He was inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas in 2010. Phillips recorded and produced three CD’s of Science Songs entitled Sing-A-Long Science teaching the science standards...
Inducted into the National Teachers Hall of FameNational Teachers Hall of FameThe National Teachers Hall of Fame is an American non-profit organization honoring exceptional school teachers. It was founded in 1989 by Emporia State University, the ESU Alumni Association, the City of Emporia, USD 253, and the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce...
in 2010, taught in Plymouth
Twin and sister cities
Since 2001, Plymouth has shared a twin-cityTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
status with: Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, United Kingdom. In addition, since 1990, Plymouth has shared a sister-city status with Shichigahama
Shichigahama, Miyagi
is a town located in Miyagi District, Miyagi, Japan.As of January 1, 2011, the town has an estimated population of 20,396. The total area is 13.27 km².-Geography:...
, Miyagi Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
, Japan.