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Falmouth is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 32,660 at the 2000 census.
For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Falmouth, please see the articles on East Falmouth, Falmouth Village, North Falmouth, Teaticket, West Falmouth, and Woods Hole. There are also the villages of Hatchville and Waquoit, which are not census-designated places.
History
Falmouth was first settled in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1686. Early principal activities were farming, whaling in the early 1800s, and sheep. Sheep husbandry was very popular due to the introduction of Merino sheep and the beginnings of water-powered mills that could process the wool. In 1837, Falmouth averaged about 50 sheep per sq. mile. Falmouth saw brief action in the War of 1812 when it was bombarded by several British frigates and ships of the line, and Massachusetts militia hastily entrenched themselves on the beaches to repulse a possible British landing which never came. By the 1872 the train had come to Falmouth and Woods Hole and some of the first summer homes were established. By the late 1800s cranberries were being cultivated and strawberries were being raised for the Boston market. Large scale dairying was tried in the early 1900s in interior regions. After the improvement in highways, thanks in part to the heavy use of Camp Edwards during WWII, population growth increased siginficantly. There were large home building booms in the 1970s followed by others in the 1980s and 1990s.
It is the birthplace in 1859 of Katharine Lee Bates, lyricist of America the Beautiful.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 141.0 km² (54.4 mi²). 114.6 km² (44.2 mi²) of it is land and 26.4 km² (10.2 mi²) of it (18.70%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 32,660 people, 13,859 households, and 8,980 families residing in the town. The population density was 285.0/km² (738.2/mi²). There were 20,055 housing units at an average density of 175.0/km² (453.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.39% White, 1.82% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population.
There were 13,859 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,191, and the median income for a family was $57,422. Males had a median income of $41,797 versus $28,867 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,548. About 4.5% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
Barnstable County, Massachusetts | Coastal towns of Massachusetts | Towns in Massachusetts
"Falmouth, Massachusetts"