Truro, Massachusetts

Truro is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Located two hours outside Boston, it is a summer vacation community just shy of the tip of Cape Cod. The population was 2,087 at the 2000 census.

History

Although Truro wouldn't be officially settled by Europeans until 1700, the Pilgrims stopped by Truro and Provincetown in 1620 as their original choice for a landing before later declaring the area unsuitable. While there, they discovered fresh water and corn stored by the Native Americans. The accuracy of the latter discovery, on what is now known as Corn Hill, remains disputed.

Truro was first settled by Europeans in 1700 and was officially incorporated in 1709. The town is split into 4 villages: Truro, North Truro, Beach Point, and Pilgrim Heights. Truro and North Truro have separate ZIP codes. North Truro is the most densely populated village in the town.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.2 km² (26.3 mi²). 54.5 km² (21.0 mi²) of it is land and 13.6 km² (5.3 mi²) of it (20.02%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 2,087 people, 907 households, and 515 families residing in the town. The population density was 38.3/km² (99.1/mi²). There were 2,551 housing units at an average density of 46.8/km² (121.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.11% White, 1.87% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.

With 2,551 housing units but only 907 resident households, a majority of Truro's residences are summer vacation properties. Most of these sit vacant for most of the year, and the town's population swells enormously between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

There were 907 households out of which 21.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.76.

In the town the population was spread out with 17.4% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 34.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,981, and the median income for a family was $51,389. Males had a median income of $37,208 versus $30,435 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,608. About 4.8% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

Commitment to rural charm

Truro's residents are self-governed, with town decisions being made by public meetings which any legal resident of the town can attend. Because of this, the town has made considerable efforts to keep its rural charm, including voicing opposition (to varying degrees of success) to projects including large grocery stores (Stop & Shop failed to open a store in North Truro) and communication towers (radio station WCDJ, licenced to Truro, has been trying unsuccessfully to get their tower built for almost 20 years).

Truro in Film

Truro, Massachusetts was recently depicted in Men in Black II (2002), having been the town in which Tommy Lee Jones' character "Agent K" retired from the "Men in Black" organization to become a postal worker. The post office was portrayed as being a solitary building in the middle of nowhere, but in reality, Truro's post office is right in the heart of downtown Truro, which is also home to a small convenience store and a few shops.

External links

Towns in Massachusetts | Barnstable County, Massachusetts