Chatham, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chatham, Massachusetts
Town
Flag Seal
Location in Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Barnstable
Settled	1664
Incorporated	1712
Named After	Chatham, Kent
Communities	Chatham Chatham Port North Chatham Quitnesset South Chatham West Chatham
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	24.4 sq mi (63.2 km2)
• Land	16.1 sq mi (41.8 km2)
• Water	8.3 sq mi (21.4 km2)
Elevation	46 ft (14 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,594
• Density	409/sq mi (157.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	02633
Area code(s)	508/774
FIPS code	25-12995
GNIS feature ID	0618250

Chatham is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA. It's located at the very tip of Cape Cod. For a long time, it was a busy fishing town.

English settlers first arrived in 1664. They called the area Monomoit, using a name from the local Native American people. Chatham officially became a town on June 11, 1712. Today, it's a very popular place for summer vacations.

In 2020, about 6,594 people lived there. But in the summer, the population can grow to 25,000! Chatham has four main villages: Chatham (CDP), South Chatham, North Chatham, and West Chatham.

You can find the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and the old Monomoy Point Light on Monomoy Island in Chatham. A famous landmark is the Chatham Light, a working lighthouse run by the United States Coast Guard.

Chatham's History

Native American tribes, like the Nauset people, lived here before Europeans arrived. They called their land Manamoyik or Monomoit. In 1606, explorer Samuel de Champlain landed here. He named the spot "Port Fortuné."

English settlers permanently moved to Monomoit in 1664. The town was officially formed on June 11, 1712. It was renamed after Chatham, Kent, in England. Later, in 1797, Strong Island and nearby areas joined Chatham.

How Chatham Grew

Chatham is at the "elbow" of Cape Cod. It became a busy center for shipping, fishing, and whaling. Because of its early success, Chatham has many charming buildings from the 1700s. These old buildings helped the town become a popular summer resort.

The Chatham Lighthouse

The Chatham Lighthouse was built in 1808 by President Thomas Jefferson. It helped guide ships around the Cape. The original towers were replaced in 1841 with brick ones, but these were lost to erosion.

In 1877, new cast-iron towers were built across the street from the first location. In 1923, one of these towers was moved to Eastham and became the Nauset Light. Today, the lighthouse keeper's house is a Coast Guard station. They patrol the waters from Wellfleet to West Yarmouth.

In 1821, the first tree-planting project in America happened in Chatham. Pine trees and beach grass were planted on Great Hill to stop erosion and keep sand from blowing into the village.

Life in Chatham Today

Even though many areas on Cape Cod have grown a lot, Chatham still has a charming and walkable Main Street. You'll find many family-owned shops, restaurants, and businesses there. The main shopping area has easy-to-use crosswalks and parking.

In the summer, concerts are held in a gazebo on Main Street. Not far from the shops, the Chatham Anglers baseball team plays. They are part of the Cape Cod Baseball League for college-age players.

Many young people and families are leaving Chatham. This is because housing is very expensive, and there aren't many job opportunities. Most homes in Chatham are empty in the winter. They are used as summer homes or rented to tourists. In 2012, the average price for a home in Chatham was $1.3 million.

In summer, Chatham's population can reach 30,000 people. This means facilities can get crowded, and parking is limited. Even popular beaches like Lighthouse Beach can be a long walk from parking.

Historical Sites and Museums

Chatham has several interesting historical places to visit:

• Atwood House (built in 1752)
• Caleb Nickerson House (built in 1772)
• Chatham Railroad Museum (built in 1887)
• Josiah Mayo House (around 1820)
• Old Grist Mill (built in 1797)

Chatham's Geography

Chatham Lighthouse during Hurricane Earl in 2010

Sunset in Chatham

Chatham is located at the southeast corner, or "elbow," of Cape Cod. Its villages include Chatham proper, Chatham Port, North Chatham, West Chatham, and South Chatham.

Chatham shares borders with Harwich to the west and Orleans to the north. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east, and Nantucket Sound is to the south. The town is about 35 miles (56 km) south of Provincetown. It is also 20 miles (32 km) east of Barnstable and 85 miles (137 km) southeast of Boston.

The town covers a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.2 sq km). About 16.1 square miles (41.8 sq km) is land, and 8.3 square miles (21.4 sq km) is water.

Chatham's mainland has many ponds, brooks, rivers, harbors, and inlets. The town also includes two narrow strips of land that protect the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. The northern strip is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

There are several islands, such as Strong Island, Tern Island (a bird sanctuary), Morris Island, Stage Island, and Monomoy Island. Monomoy Island is about 7.25 miles (11.67 km) long. It is home to the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. The shape of the land here has changed over many years due to erosion.

Chatham's Climate

Chatham has an Oceanic climate, which means it has mild winters and warm summers. It is in Hardiness zone 7b.

Chatham's Wildlife and Nature

The area around Chatham has many different plants and animals. Many species rely on the wetlands, like salt marshes and lakes, to survive. These wetlands were formed by glaciers from the last ice age.

They are important homes for animals like ospreys and striped bass. These wetlands also help clean the water that flows into nearby bays.

Chatham's beaches have lost a lot of plants recently due to natural causes and human activity. However, the beaches are still important nesting spots for sea turtles and shorebirds, like the Piping Plover.

The waters off the coast are full of marine life. You can find seals, whales, and even great white sharks here. Chatham is known for having many great white sharks, which has led to shark attacks. To protect nature, Chatham has several conservation areas, including Monomoy Island. This island is a key breeding ground for the Piping Plover.

The natural plants in Chatham would mostly be Northeastern Oak and Pine trees.

Getting Around Chatham

All five roads that leave Chatham go into Harwich. The two main state roads are Route 28 and the southern end of Route 137. Route 28 goes through the center of town.

There is no longer train service to Chatham. The old train tracks are now a bike path called the Old Colony Rail Trail. This trail goes through South Chatham and West Chatham. Another bike path starts where the Rail Trail ends. It offers great views of Chatham Fish Pier, Chatham Bars, and Chatham Light.

Chatham also has the Chatham Municipal Airport. This airport offers flights to other small airports on Cape Cod and the islands. For bigger flights, the closest major airport is Logan International Airport in Boston.

Chatham's Population and People

Chatham Lighthouse and Coast Guard Station, 2020

In 2000, there were 6,625 people living in Chatham. Most people (96%) were White. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

During the summer, Chatham's population can triple to about 20,000 people. This doesn't even count all the tourists staying in hotels and inns. Tourism and hospitality, along with commercial fishing, are the main jobs in Chatham. The town has a busy fish pier where boats unload fresh fish and lobster every day.

In 2000, about 15.3% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in Chatham was 54 years old. Many residents were 65 or older (34.3%).

The local school system for students from kindergarten to 12th grade has about 700 students. High school classes usually have between 30 and 40 students.

Education in Chatham

Until 2013, Chatham had its own schools. Students went to Chatham Elementary School (Pre-K to 4th grade), Chatham Middle School (5th to 8th grade), and Chatham High School (9th to 12th grade). Their sports teams were called the Blue Devils.

In 2010, Chatham and the nearby town of Harwich decided to combine their school systems. This created the Monomoy Regional school system. Their new sports teams are called the Sharks. In 2013, construction began on a new high school in Harwich for the region.

Students can also attend Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich for free. There are also private schools in nearby Brewster and Harwich.

Sports and Fun in Chatham

Kris Bryant played for the Chatham Anglers in 2011.

Chatham is home to the Chatham Anglers. This is an amateur collegiate summer baseball team in the Cape Cod Baseball League. The team plays at Veteran's Field. Many players from the Anglers have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, like Thurman Munson, Jeff Bagwell, and Kris Bryant.

Eastward Ho! Golf Course is a well-known golf course in town. It even hosted a PGA Tour event called The Cape Cod Open in the 1930s.

Famous People from Chatham

Images for kids

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  The Atwood House

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  Chatham Lights

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  Stage Harbor Light

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  Old Linden Tree (April 2012)

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  Seals in Chatham Harbor

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  Cross Trees

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  Chatham Cookware (Summer 2024)

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See also

In Spanish: Chatham (Massachusetts) para niños