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Plymouth
Town
Plymouth Rock Monument 2.jpg
Houses of the Plimoth Plantation at Plymouth, Massachusetts.jpg
First Parish Church of Plymouth.jpg
Monument to the Forefathers 1.jpg
Downtown Plymouth MA4.JPG
Burial Hill Cemetery - Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA - August 13, 2015 03.jpg
Flag of Plymouth Official seal of Plymouth
Seal
Nickname(s): 
America's Hometown
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts is located in Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Location in Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts is located in the United States
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Plymouth
Region New England
Settled 1620
Incorporated 1620
Named for Plymouth, England
Government
 • Type Representative town meeting
Area
 • Total 134.0 sq mi (347.0 km2)
 • Land 96.5 sq mi (249.8 km2)
 • Water 37.5 sq mi (97.2 km2)
Elevation
187 ft (57 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 61,217
 • Density 634.4/sq mi (245.1/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
02345
02360
02361
02362
02381
Area code(s) 508 / 774
FIPS code 25-54310
GNIS feature ID 0618349
Website www.plymouth-ma.gov

Plymouth ( historically known as Plimouth and Plimoth) is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The town 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 Mayflower Pilgrims, 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, one of the more 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. The English explorer John Smith named the area Plymouth (after the city in South West England) and the region 'New England' during his voyage of 1614 (the accompanying map was published in 1616). It was a later coincidence that, after an aborted attempt to make the 1620 trans-Atlantic crossing from Southampton, the Mayflower finally set sail for America from Plymouth, England.

Plymouth is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of Boston, Massachusetts in a region known as the South Shore. Throughout the 19th century, the town thrived as a center of rope making, fishing, and shipping, and was home to the Plymouth Cordage Company, formerly the world's largest rope making company. It continues to be an active port, but today its major industry is tourism.The town is served by Plymouth Municipal Airport and contains Pilgrim Hall Museum, the oldest continually operating museum in the United States. It is the largest municipality in Massachusetts by area, and the largest in southern New England. The population was 61,217 as of the 2020 U.S. Census. It is one of two county seats of Plymouth County, the other being Brockton.

History

Pre-colonial era

Prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims, the location of Plymouth was a village of 2,000 Wampanoag Native Americans called Patuxet. This region that became 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 "New Plimouth."

Two plagues afflicted coastal New England in 1614 and 1617, possibly transmitted from British and French fishermen to natives on the shore (although no concrete evidence exists to prove such a connection). The plague killed between 90% and 95% of the local Wampanoag inhabitants. The near disappearance of the tribe from the site left their cornfields and cleared areas vacant for the Pilgrims to occupy; it also meant that the Native Americans were in no condition to resist the arrival of the colonists.

Colonial era

Landing-Bacon
"The Landing of the Pilgrims."(1877) by Henry A. Bacon. The Pilgrims are traditionally said to have landed at Plymouth Rock.

Plymouth has played a very 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 December 1620 by English separatist Puritans 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 became the harbor of Provincetown, Massachusetts on November 11, 1620. The ship was headed for the mouth of the Hudson River near Manhattan, which was part of the Colony of Virginia at the time, but it eventually reached New England.

The Pilgrim settlers realized that they did not have a patent to settle in the region, so they signed the Mayflower Compact prior to disembarking. The Pilgrims explored various parts of Cape Cod, and eventually sought a suitable location for a permanent settlement to the westward in 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 archaic English spelling of the name) after the major port city in Devon, England from which the Mayflower ultimately sailed. (Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom was named after its location at mouth of the River Plym.)

The First Thanksgiving cph.3g04961
The First Thanksgiving, painted by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863–1930). The First Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth in 1621.

First Winter

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 Native Americans 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.

During their earlier exploration of the Cape, the Pilgrims had come upon a Native American burial site which contained corn, and they had taken the corn for future planting. On another occasion, they found an unoccupied house and had taken corn and beans, for which they made restitution with the occupants about six months later. Even greater assistance came from Samoset and Tisquantum (better known as Squanto), a Native American 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. He learned English, escaped slavery, and returned home in 1619. He taught the colonists how to farm corn, where and how to catch fish, and other helpful skills for the New World. He also was instrumental in the survival of the settlement for the first two years.

Squanto and another guide sent by Massasoit in 1621 named Hobomok helped the colonists set up trading posts for furs. 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 thanksgiving to God for their plentiful harvest. 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.

Signature of Josiah Cotton
A Plymouth deed signed by Josiah Cotton as Register of Deeds, Courtesy of Shiwei Jiang

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 merged with the Massachusetts Bay Colony and other territories to form the Province of Massachusetts Bay. 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

Cordage Park Tower
Cordage Commerce Center, North Plymouth

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, founded in 1824,

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 mayor. 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.

Geography

Plymouth Landsat
A simulated-color satellite image of the Plymouth Bay region taken on NASA's Landsat 3

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 134.0 sq mi (347 km2), of which 96.5 sq mi (250 km2) is land, and 37.5 sq mi (97 km2) (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 (71 km) southeast of Boston (it is almost exactly 40 miles (64 km) from Plymouth Rock to the Massachusetts State House) and equidistantly east of Providence, Rhode Island.

Plymouth Beach, Massachusetts
Plymouth Beach, one of Plymouth's many beaches

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.

Climate

Town Square Plymouth
The First Parish Church in Plymouth is located in Plymouth Center

Plymouth's climate is a transitional humid continental/cold humid subtropical/marine type, which is the predominant climate for Massachusetts. 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 80.6 °F (27.0 °C) and an average low of 61.6 °F (16.4 °C). The coldest month is January, with an average high temperature of 38.1 °F (3.4 °C) and an average low of 20.1 °F (−6.6 °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 47.4 inches (120 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.

Climate data for Plymouth, Massachusetts
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 70
(21)
71
(22)
87
(31)
94
(34)
95
(35)
102
(39)
102
(39)
102
(39)
100
(38)
88
(31)
82
(28)
77
(25)
102
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 38.1
(3.4)
38.9
(3.8)
46.1
(7.8)
55.9
(13.3)
66.4
(19.1)
75.6
(24.2)
80.6
(27.0)
78.7
(25.9)
71.9
(22.2)
62.7
(17.1)
52.3
(11.3)
41.7
(5.4)
59.1
(15.1)
Average low °F (°C) 20.1
(−6.6)
20.3
(−6.5)
27.8
(−2.3)
36.5
(2.5)
45.8
(7.7)
55.4
(13.0)
61.6
(16.4)
60.5
(15.8)
53.5
(11.9)
43.5
(6.4)
34.6
(1.4)
24.4
(−4.2)
40.3
(4.6)
Record low °F (°C) −19
(−28)
−15
(−26)
−5
(−21)
13
(−11)
25
(−4)
33
(1)
42
(6)
40
(4)
32
(0)
17
(−8)
3
(−16)
−14
(−26)
−19
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.1
(100)
3.9
(99)
4.6
(120)
4.3
(110)
3.6
(91)
3.4
(86)
3.2
(81)
3.8
(97)
3.9
(99)
3.9
(99)
4.4
(110)
4.3
(110)
47.4
(1,200)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 32.2
(82)
20.4
(52)
12.3
(31)
3.6
(9.1)
1.3
(3.3)
0.1
(0.25)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.1
(0.25)
2.4
(6.1)
5.9
(15)
23.1
(59)
35.7
(91)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10 9 10 10 10 9 9 9 8 8 9 10 111
Source: Weatherbase,

Demographics

Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1790 2,995 —    
1800 3,524 +17.7%
1810 4,228 +20.0%
1820 4,348 +2.8%
1830 4,758 +9.4%
1840 5,281 +11.0%
1850 6,024 +14.1%
1860 6,272 +4.1%
1870 6,238 −0.5%
1880 7,093 +13.7%
1890 7,314 +3.1%
1900 9,592 +31.1%
1910 12,141 +26.6%
1920 13,045 +7.4%
1930 13,042 −0.0%
1940 13,100 +0.4%
1950 13,608 +3.9%
1960 14,445 +6.2%
1970 18,606 +28.8%
1980 35,913 +93.0%
1990 45,608 +27.0%
2000 51,701 +13.4%
2010 56,468 +9.2%
2020 61,217 +8.4%

Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

As of the census of 2010, there were 56,468 people, 21,269 households, and 14,742 families residing in the town; by population it was the largest town in Massachusetts. It was also the 21st–largest municipality in the state. The population density was 536.0 inhabitants per square mile (207.0/km2). There were 21,250 housing units, at an average density of 85.1/km2 (220/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 94% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2% of the population.

There were 21,269 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 20, 10.7% from 20 to 29, 28.8% from 30 to 49, 22.2% from 50 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years.

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.

Transportation

Highways

Plymouth lies along the "Pilgrims Highway" portion of Route 3, 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.

Rail

Plymouth station facing inbound 1
The Plymouth MBTA station, located in Cordage Park

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 Kingston Collection.) No other railroad lines pass through the town.

Ferry

There is a seasonal ferry to Provincetown 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.

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 3, 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.

Air

Plymouth Airport2
The Plymouth Municipal Airport

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 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 mi (48 km) from Plymouth.

The nearest national and international airport is Logan International Airport in Boston, roughly 43 mi (69 km) away. T.F. Green Airport, a state airport located in Warwick, Rhode Island, is about 63 mi (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, Plymouth, MA, jjron 03.05.2012
Plymouth Rock, inscribed with 1620, the year of the Pilgrims' landing in the Mayflower
Plymouth Rock Monument
The Plymouth Rock Monument

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 belief. 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 (200 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 the historic Plymouth Rock Portico. The Neo-Classical Revival structure was designed by the highly influential architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, designers of the Boston Public Library, Rhode Island State House and the former Pennsylvania Station in New York City. Built in 1921 the existing granite portico replaced an earlier Gothic Revival style monument designed by Hammatt Billings (who also designed the National Monument to the Forefathers). In 1970 the Plymouth Rock Portico was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The rock and portico are 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.

The Secrets of Plymouth Rock is a children's book about Plymouth Rock as told by the Rock itself!

Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth Plantation 2002
Plimoth Plantation

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 farming 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

Plymouth Mayflower II
The Mayflower II, located in Plymouth Harbor, is considered to be a faithful replica of the original Mayflower.

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.

Historic interest

In addition to the Plymouth Rock Memorial, several other monuments were constructed in celebration of Plymouth's tricentennial. These include statues of Massasoit 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 continually operating museum in the United States. It is located in Plymouth Center. Plymouth also features the National Monument to the Forefathers, which was dedicated in 1889. Standing at 81 feet (25 m) tall, it is the tallest free-standing solid granite monument in the United States. Other notable historical sites include the Plimoth Grist Mill, a working replica of an original mill built in 1636 (also officially a part of Plimoth Plantation), 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-acre (380,000 m2) site that is notable for containing the remains of four former slaves who fought in the American Revolutionary War and their families. Other historic houses include the Mayflower House Museum.

There are 21 locations in Plymouth that appear on the National Register of Historic Places, including Plymouth Rock, Cole's Hill, and Pilgrim Hall.

Parks and recreation

Myles Standish State Forest, 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.

Entertainment

Plymouth is also home to a vibrant music and arts community, including the Plymouth Center for the Arts, the Driftwood Folk Cafe, and the Plymouth Independent Music Festival.

Twin and sister cities

Plymouth House at Shichigahama Kokusai-mura
Plymouth House in Shichigahama, modeling after the recreated First Parish Church in Plimoth Plantation

Since 2001, Plymouth has shared a twin-city status with: Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom. In addition, since 1990, Plymouth has shared a sister-city status with Shichigahama, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

Economy

The Pinehills Village Green
The Pinehills residential development

Plymouth's 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 Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

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. Colony Place was completed in late 2007, located near the industrial park. It consists of several large retail stores and various chain restaurants, and it contains one of the largest designer outlet malls on the South Shore. Plymouth has also recently seen the development of several residential projects, among them The Pinehills which consists of 1,000 residential units, two golf courses, a country club, an inn and spa hotel, and a shopping village, completed in 2010. It is expected to contain 2,877 homes.

Sports

Plymouth was the home of the New England Collegiate Baseball League's Plymouth Pilgrims, who played their home games at Forges Field 1.

Education

Nathaniel Morton Elementary School
The Nathaniel Morton Elementary School in Plymouth Center

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 in Plymouth include the Mount Pleasant Preschool, eight elementary schools (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 schools that serve grades 5–8, Plymouth Community Intermediate School (PCIS) and Plymouth South Middle School, and two high schools, 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 either Plymouth South Technical School or Plymouth North which now offers Technical studies in either Engineering or Facilities management . There were also 120 home educated children in Plymouth as of 2011.

There is also a charter school in the town, Rising Tide Charter Public School, which serves middle and high school-aged students. 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.

Notable people

Name Born Died Notability and relation to Plymouth
James Warren 1726 1808 president of the Massachusetts provincial legislature and prominent colonial-era politician.
Elkanah Watson 1758 1842 American Revolution patriot, associate of John Brown (Rhode Island politician), Travel literature writer
Aaron Matson 1770 1855 a United States Representative from New Hampshire, born in Plymouth
Thomas Davee 1797 1841 United States Representative from Maine, born in Plymouth
Oliver Ames, Jr. 1807 1877 railroad official, former resident of Plymouth
John Bartlett 1820 1905 publisher of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, born in Plymouth
Frederic Augustus Lucas 1852 1929 Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences museum director, author of many scientific papers, born in Plymouth
Grace Langford 1871 1957 Physics professor at Wellesley College and Barnard College
Violet Mersereau 1892 1975 silent film actress, died in Plymouth
Beatrice Roberts 1905 1970 film actress
Glen Gray 1906 1963 saxophonist, leader of the Casa Loma Orchestra, born in Plymouth
Henry Picard 1906 1997 Professional golfer, won The Masters Tournament
Pee Wee Hunt 1907 1979 trombonist and co-founder of the Casa Loma Orchestra, died in Plymouth
Ken Coleman 1925 2003 sportscaster, died in Plymouth
Dick Gregory 1932 2017 comedian, activist and nutritionist, resident of Plymouth
Dick Waterman 1935 blues promoter and photographer, born in Plymouth
Peter J. Gomes 1942 2011 preacher and theologian at Harvard Divinity School, resident of Plymouth
Nancy Darsch 1951 2020 WNBA Coach, native of Plymouth
Warren G. Phillips 1954 Inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2010, taught in Plymouth
Michael Sweet 1963 Lead vocalist and lead and rhythm guitars in Stryper. Resident of Plymouth.
Chris Alberghini 1965 television producer-writer, born in Plymouth
Gary DiSarcina 1967 former shortstop for the California Angels and manager of the single-A team Lowell Spinners, currently resides in Plymouth.
David Chokachi 1968 actor, born in Plymouth. Most known for roles in Baywatch, Witchblade, and Beyond the Break.
Keith Sanderson 1975 sport shooter.
Jamie P. Chandler 1977 political commentator and author, born in Plymouth
Dave Farrell 1977 bassist with Linkin Park, born in Plymouth
Chris Raab 1980 Television personality, member of the CKY crew (Viva La Bam and Jackass).

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Plymouth (Massachusetts) para niños

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Plymouth, Massachusetts Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.