Wareham, Massachusetts facts for kids

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Wareham, Massachusetts

Town

"The Gateway to the Cape"

Seal

Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts

Country

United States

Settled

1678

Incorporated

1739

Government

• Type

Open town meeting

Area

• Total

46.3 sq mi (119.9 km²)

• Land

35.8 sq mi (92.7 km²)

• Water

10.5 sq mi (27.1 km²)

Elevation

20 ft (6 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

23,303

• Density

503.3/sq mi (194.35/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (Eastern)

ZIP Code

02571

Area code(s)

508/774

FIPS code

25-72985

GNIS feature ID

0618353

Wareham (pronounced WAIR-ham) is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. It's located in the South Coast region of Massachusetts. This area includes towns and cities around Buzzards Bay. As of 2022, about 23,303 people live in Wareham.

History of Wareham

Wareham was first settled by Europeans in 1678. It was part of the towns of Plymouth and Rochester back then. The town officially became its own town in 1739. It was named after a town called Wareham in England.

Early Industries and Growth

Because of its location near the water, Wareham's early economy focused on building ships. Other businesses that supported shipbuilding also grew. Wareham also became a popular place for vacations, with many small resorts, especially in a part of town called Onset.

The town was once known as the "Gateway to Cape Cod." However, in 2020, it changed its slogan to "It's Better Before the Bridges." This new slogan helps people see Wareham as a great place to visit on its own, not just a way to get to Cape Cod.

Tremont Nail Factory

Wareham is home to the Tremont Nail Factory. This factory was started in 1819 and is the oldest nail maker in the United States. It's a very important part of the town's history.

Geography of Wareham

Wareham covers about 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²). About 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²) is land, and 10.5 square miles (27.1 km²) is water. This means about 22.64% of the town is water.

Neighboring Towns and Location

Wareham is located just west of Cape Cod. It borders Marion to the southwest and Rochester to the west. To the northwest is Middleborough. Carver and Plymouth are to the north. Bourne is to the east.

Wareham is about 18 miles (29 km) east of New Bedford. It's also about 45 miles (72 km) east of Providence, Rhode Island and 55 miles (89 km) south-southeast of Boston.

Waterways and Natural Features

Wareham is the town furthest inside on the north shore of Buzzards Bay. Several rivers flow into the bay here. The Weweantic River is in the southwest. The Wareham River is formed by the Wankinco and Agawam rivers. To the east, you'll find Onset Bay and Buttermilk Bay.

The town has many points and necks of land that stretch into the water. These include Cromesett Point, Swift's Neck, and Indian Neck. The southern edge of Myles Standish State Forest is also along the town line between Wareham and Plymouth.

Neighborhoods and Ponds

Wareham includes several different neighborhoods and named places. Some of the main ones are Onset, Wareham Center, West Wareham, and East Wareham. There are also many ponds and lakes, like Blackmore Pond and Mill Pond.

Population of Wareham

Wareham has grown quite a bit over the years. In 1870, there were 3,186 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 23,303.

Population Makeup

Based on the 2000 census, there were 20,335 people living in Wareham. About 29.5% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.44 people.

The population included people of different ages. About 24.5% were under 18 years old. About 16.2% were 65 years or older. The average age in town was 39 years.

Economy of Wareham

Today, Wareham is mostly a place where people live. However, it still has a strong tourism industry, especially in the summer. There are also many shops along Routes 6 and 28, including a large shopping center called Wareham Crossing, which opened in 2007.

Cranberry Industry

Historically, the cranberry industry has been very important to Wareham's economy. The main local road is even called Cranberry Highway (Route 28). One of the world's biggest cranberry growers, the A.D. Makepeace Company, is based in Wareham. This company helped start the Ocean Spray cooperative.

The University of Massachusetts Cranberry Research Station is also in Wareham. This shows how important cranberries are to the town.

Education in Wareham

Wareham has its own public school system.

Public Schools

Wareham Elementary School: For younger students.
Wareham Middle School: For middle school students.
Wareham High School: For high school students.

Wareham High School's sports teams are called the Vikings. Their colors are Blue, White, and Gold. They play against Bourne High School in an annual Thanksgiving Day football game.

Students can also choose to attend Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School in Bourne. This school teaches students special skills for different jobs.

Private Schools

There are no private schools directly in Wareham. The closest private high school is Tabor Academy in Marion. The nearest Catholic high school is Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth.

Transportation in Wareham

Wareham has always been an important place for transportation.

Major Roads

Interstates 495 and 195: These major highways end in the western part of Wareham.
Massachusetts Route 25: This road continues from I-495 and goes through town, ending at the Bourne Bridge.
U.S. Route 6 and Massachusetts Route 28: These routes meet in East Wareham and continue towards Cape Cod.

Train Service

While there isn't regular commuter train service to Wareham, the seasonal CapeFLYER train started stopping at Wareham Village station in June 2014. This train helps people travel to Cape Cod during the summer. There are talks about bringing regular commuter train service to Wareham in the future.

The closest major train stations for longer trips are in Boston (South Station) and Providence.

Bus Service

A local bus service called the OWL (Onset Wareham Link) helps people get around Wareham. It's run by the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA).

Air Travel

For national and international flights, the closest major airports are Logan International Airport in Boston and T. F. Green Airport in Rhode Island. Barnstable Municipal Airport is closer but only has national flights.

Sports in Wareham

Wareham is home to the Wareham Gatemen. This is an amateur collegiate summer baseball team that plays in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Many players from the Gatemen have gone on to play in Major League Baseball. Some famous players include Mo Vaughn, Lance Berkman, and Kyle Schwarber. The team plays its home games at Clem Spillane Field.

Boston Red Sox All-Star Mo Vaughn played for the Wareham Gatemen in 1987 and 1988.

Wareham also has many youth sports programs for kids. These include:

Wareham Little League
Wareham JBA
Gateway Babe Ruth
Pop Warner Wareham Tigers
Wareham Girls Softball (WGSA)

Fun Places to Visit in Wareham

Tremont Nail Factory District: This is a historic nail factory that operated from 1819 to 2006. You can find it at 21 Elm Street.
Water Wizz: A popular water park in the area. It was even used as a filming location for movies like Grown Ups (2010) and The Way, Way Back (2013).
The Glen Cove Hotel: Located in Onset, MA, this is a historic Victorian building built in the 1800s. It's also the highest point in Onset.
Onset Beach: A well-protected beach next to a concrete pier in a wide cove. It's a great spot for swimming and relaxing.

Famous People from Wareham

Many interesting people have connections to Wareham, including:

Outram Bangs (1863–1932), a zoologist who studied animals.
Benjamin Briggs (1835–c. 1872), the captain of the famous ship Mary Celeste.
Stephen Cooper (born 1979), an NFL football player for the San Diego Chargers.
Geena Davis (born 1956), an actress who has won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
Eugene T. Maleska (1916–1993), a crossword puzzle editor for the New York Times.
Brandon Westgate (born 1989), a professional skateboarder.