Sandwich, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sandwich, Massachusetts
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Town
|
|||
_Town_Hall_and_church.jpg)
Sandwich Town Hall (1834) and Congregational Church (1848)
|
|||
|
|||
| Motto(s):
Post Tot Naufracia Portus (Latin)
"After So Many Shipwrecks, a Haven" |
|||
Location in Barnstable County, Massachusetts
|
|||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Barnstable | ||
| Settled | 1637 | ||
| Incorporated | September 3, 1639 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 44.2 sq mi (114.5 km2) | ||
| • Land | 42.7 sq mi (110.7 km2) | ||
| • Water | 1.5 sq mi (3.8 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 20,259 | ||
| • Density | 474/sq mi (183.0/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
02537, 02563, 02644
|
||
| Area codes | 508, 774 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-59735 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618259 | ||
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA. It is the oldest town on Cape Cod. Its motto, Post tot Naufracia Portus, means "after so many shipwrecks, a haven". In 2020, about 20,259 people lived there.
Contents
A Look Back at Sandwich's History
Before Europeans arrived, American Indians lived on Cape Cod. The Wampanoag tribe, who spoke Eastern Algonquian languages, lived in the Sandwich area. They helped the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony in the 1620s. Today, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe still lives on Cape Cod. They are working to bring back the Wampanoag language.
Settlers from Saugus, Massachusetts came to Sandwich in 1637. They had permission from the Plymouth Colony. The town is named after Sandwich, Kent, a seaport in England. Sandwich became an official town in 1639. This makes it, along with Yarmouth, the oldest town on Cape Cod. In 1884, the western part of Sandwich became the town of Bourne.
Sandwich was an early home for Quakers. Today, it has the oldest continuous Quaker Meeting in the USA.
In early times, people in Sandwich mostly farmed. Fishing and trading were also important. Later, small factories grew along the Scusset River. Now, most of the town's money comes from tourism.
Deming Jarves started the Boston & Sandwich Glass Factory in 1825. Sandwich was a good spot because it had a shallow harbor and timber for fuel. The factory made lead glass and was known for its colorful glass. Jarves invented better ways to make glass molds. After the Civil War, the factory faced competition. Other companies made cheaper glass, and the factory eventually closed.
The Cape Cod Canal was built through the town. Construction began in 1909, and it opened in 1914. The Canal Generating Plant started producing power in 1968.
Where is Sandwich Located?
Sandwich is on Cape Cod Bay to the north. It borders Barnstable to the east and Mashpee and Falmouth to the south. To the west is Bourne. The town is about 57 miles (92 km) southeast of Boston.
The Cape Cod Canal enters Cape Cod Bay in Sandwich. The northern part of Sandwich, including Sagamore Hill, is separated by the canal. The town also has the Shawme-Crowell State Forest. There are six beaches along Cape Cod Bay. Like the rest of Cape Cod, Sandwich has many small ponds and hills. Most of its trees are pine or oak. Old Harbor Creek, a large inlet, also provided a safe place for ships long ago.
Sandwich's Climate
Sandwich has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and gets rain all year. Winters are cold, with average snowfall around 30 inches (76 cm). February is usually the snowiest month. The area is good for plants that can handle cold winters, with temperatures sometimes dropping to about -0.7°F (-18.2°C).
| Climate data for Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts (1981–2010 averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.4 (3.0) |
39.2 (4.0) |
44.9 (7.2) |
53.8 (12.1) |
63.8 (17.7) |
72.9 (22.7) |
78.7 (25.9) |
77.9 (25.5) |
71.3 (21.8) |
61.4 (16.3) |
52.7 (11.5) |
42.9 (6.1) |
58.2 (14.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.3 (−1.5) |
31.2 (−0.4) |
37.0 (2.8) |
45.8 (7.7) |
55.4 (13.0) |
65.0 (18.3) |
71.0 (21.7) |
70.3 (21.3) |
63.4 (17.4) |
53.2 (11.8) |
44.6 (7.0) |
35.0 (1.7) |
50.2 (10.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.3 (−5.9) |
23.1 (−4.9) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
37.7 (3.2) |
46.9 (8.3) |
57.0 (13.9) |
63.4 (17.4) |
62.7 (17.1) |
55.5 (13.1) |
45.0 (7.2) |
36.6 (2.6) |
27.1 (−2.7) |
42.2 (5.7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.12 (105) |
3.51 (89) |
5.14 (131) |
4.45 (113) |
3.42 (87) |
3.84 (98) |
3.34 (85) |
3.92 (100) |
3.85 (98) |
4.23 (107) |
4.50 (114) |
4.53 (115) |
48.85 (1,241) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 68.2 | 67.2 | 65.7 | 66.3 | 69.3 | 73.4 | 75.1 | 75.3 | 75.7 | 72.8 | 69.7 | 69.4 | 70.7 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 20.1 (−6.6) |
21.6 (−5.8) |
26.6 (−3.0) |
35.2 (1.8) |
45.5 (7.5) |
56.3 (13.5) |
62.7 (17.1) |
62.1 (16.7) |
55.6 (13.1) |
44.7 (7.1) |
35.3 (1.8) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
41.1 (5.1) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group | |||||||||||||
Transportation in Sandwich
U.S. Route 6, also called the Mid-Cape Highway, runs through the northern part of town. It's a four-lane highway. Massachusetts Route 6A is the main local road. Massachusetts Route 130 also starts near Routes 6 and 6A.
Freight trains use the Massachusetts Coastal Railroad. For tourists, the Cape Cod Central Railroad offers seasonal trips. It stops at a station in the western part of town.
For longer trips, you can take the MBTA commuter rail from nearby towns like Kingston or Middleborough to Boston. There's also the seasonal CapeFlyer train from Hyannis and Bourne to Boston. The closest major airports are in Barnstable and Logan International Airport in Boston.
Who Lives in Sandwich?
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 4,368 | — |
| 1860 | 4,479 | +2.5% |
| 1870 | 3,694 | −17.5% |
| 1880 | 3,543 | −4.1% |
| 1890 | 1,819 | −48.7% |
| 1900 | 1,448 | −20.4% |
| 1910 | 1,688 | +16.6% |
| 1920 | 1,458 | −13.6% |
| 1930 | 1,437 | −1.4% |
| 1940 | 1,360 | −5.4% |
| 1950 | 2,418 | +77.8% |
| 1960 | 2,082 | −13.9% |
| 1970 | 5,239 | +151.6% |
| 1980 | 8,727 | +66.6% |
| 1990 | 15,489 | +77.5% |
| 2000 | 20,136 | +30.0% |
| 2010 | 20,675 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 20,259 | −2.0% |
| 2023* | 20,469 | +1.0% |
| Source: * = population estimate. | ||
In 2000, there were 20,136 people living in Sandwich. About 7,335 households and 5,515 families lived there. The town had about 468 people per square mile. Most residents (97.75%) were White.
About 38.1% of households had children under 18. Most households (65.0%) were married couples. The average household had 2.72 people. The average family had 3.18 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 28.4% were under 18. About 13.7% were 65 or older. The average age was 40 years old.
Learning in Sandwich
Sandwich has its own public school system.
- Forestdale School is for Pre-K through 2nd grade.
- Oak Ridge School is for 3rd through 6th grade.
- The STEM Academy is for 7th and 8th grades. It is located in the high school building.
- Sandwich High School serves grades 7 through 12. The school's teams are called the Blue Knights. Their colors are navy blue, Columbia blue, and white.
Students can also choose to attend other schools. These include the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Bourne. They can also go to Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis. Some students attend private schools in nearby towns.
Fun Places to Visit in Sandwich
Sandwich has many interesting places to visit!
- Heritage Museums and Gardens
- The Wing Fort House
- The Sandwich Glass Museum
- The Thornton Burgess Museum
- Hoxie House (the oldest house on Cape Cod)
- The Daniel Webster Inn
- The Dexter Grist Mill (the oldest mill on Cape Cod)
- The Sandwich Friends (Quaker) Meetinghouse (the oldest in North America)
- Shawme Lake
You can also find many art galleries, old book stores, and antique shops. Many of these are in the Town Hall Square Historic District. Sandwich is also home to a large part of Otis Air National Guard Base.
The Sandwich boardwalk is a very popular spot. It leads to the Town Beach on Cape Cod Bay. In 2010, National Geographic called it one of the top ten boardwalks in the USA. It is 1,350 feet long. It crosses the Creek Mill and the marsh. The boardwalk was first built in 1875.
In 1991, Hurricane Bob almost destroyed it. It was rebuilt in 1992. People bought personalized planks with engravings to help pay for it. In 2018, blizzards damaged it again, but it was rebuilt and reopened. A winter storm in 2021-2022 caused more damage. The town is rebuilding it again, and it is expected to reopen in summer 2024.
Famous People from Sandwich
- Thornton Burgess (1874–1965), a writer known for his "Old Mother West Wind" and "Bedtime Stories" books. He was also a conservationist.
- Duff Goldman (born 1974), a pastry chef and TV personality. He graduated from Sandwich High School in 1993.
- Edmund Freeman, one of the town's founders. He was a Deputy Governor of Plymouth Colony.
- Nathaniel Freeman Jr. (1766–1800), a US Representative for Massachusetts.
See also
In Spanish: Sandwich (Massachusetts) para niños
