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Mashpee is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,946 at the 2000 census. To some locals, this quaint Cape Cod town is known as "Tha 'Shpee."
For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Mashpee, please see the articles on Mashpee Neck, Monomoscoy Island, New Seabury, Popponesset, Popponesset Island, Seabrook and Seconsett Island.
History
Mashpee was first settled by English colonists in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1870. However, the colony was placed in Wampanoag territory and took the Wampanoag name of the place. Mashpee is an anglicization of a native name that can be segmented as
- mass-nippe
- "the greater cove" or "great pond" or "land near great cove",
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 70.6 km² (27.2 mi²). 60.8 km² (23.5 mi²) of it is land and 9.7 km² (3.8 mi²) of it (13.80%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 12,946 people, 5,256 households, and 3,652 families residing in the town. The population density was 212.9/km² (551.4/mi²). There were 8,325 housing units at an average density of 136.9/km² (354.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.24% White, 2.82% African American, 2.91% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.64% of the population. The Native American community is a remnant of confinement of the local Wampanoag and Nauset tribes into a praying village. Most today identify as Wampanoag, despite more likely being descended from the closely Nauset tribe, and the town houses both the people and the churches that served the community.
There were 5,256 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,871, and the median income for a family was $56,702. Males had a median income of $43,922 versus $31,416 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,215. About 4.5% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
External links
"Mashpee, Massachusetts"