Wellfleet, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Town
Wellfleet Town Hall
Seal
Location in Barnstable County and the state of Massachusetts.
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Barnstable
Incorporated	1763
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	35.4 sq mi (91.7 km2)
• Land	19.8 sq mi (51.3 km2)
• Water	15.6 sq mi (40.5 km2)
Elevation	50 ft (15 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,566
• Density	180/sq mi (69.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	02663, 02667
Area code(s)	508/774
FIPS code	25-74385
GNIS feature ID	0618261

Wellfleet is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It is located on Cape Cod, about halfway between the "tip" and the "elbow" of the Cape. In 2020, about 3,566 people lived there. However, this number grows much larger in the summer! A big part of Wellfleet's land, about 70%, is protected. Nearly half of it is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Wellfleet is very well known for its delicious oysters. People celebrate them every October at the annual Wellfleet OysterFest.

Wellfleet's Interesting History

The area where Wellfleet is now was first settled by Europeans in the 1650s. It was called Billingsgate back then. This name came from a famous fish market in London.

Pirates and Shipwrecks

In 1717, a famous pirate named "Black Sam" Bellamy was sailing near Wellfleet. His ship, the Whydah, sank offshore. It carried a huge treasure of gold and silver. Sadly, almost all of its 145 crew members were lost. In 1984, the shipwreck was found. It was one of the first pirate shipwrecks ever discovered.

From Village to Town

Wellfleet used to be part of a nearby town called Eastham. After asking for nearly 30 years, Wellfleet officially became its own town in 1763. The town's early economy was based on its oyster beds. Whaling (hunting whales) and fishing were also very important. During the American Revolution, Wellfleet had 30 whaling ships!

Changes in Fishing and Technology

By the late 1800s, whaling and mackerel fishing became less popular. So, Wellfleet's large fishing fleet got smaller. By 1900, there were no more large sailing ships called schooners. However, oyster fishing continued to thrive. Many types of shellfish are still harvested today. Even with these changes, a church in the town center still has a clock that chimes "ship's time." This is a special way sailors used to tell time.

The remains of Marconi's station

In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi built the first transatlantic radio transmitter station in the USA. It was located on a cliff in South Wellfleet. On January 18, 1903, the first radio message from the United States to England was sent from this station. It was a special message from President Theodore Roosevelt to King Edward VII. Most of this station is now gone because the land has been washed away by the sea.

Protecting Nature: Cape Cod National Seashore

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the Cape Cod National Seashore. This special area protects most of the Atlantic coastline of Cape Cod. In Wellfleet, the Seashore goes around the town. It includes marshes, islands along the Herring River, and Cahoon Hollow Beach.

Wellfleet Today: Tourism and Art

In the late 1800s, the Chequessett Inn was built. This helped Wellfleet become a popular place for tourists. Today, Wellfleet has many art galleries. It has the second-highest number of galleries on Cape Cod, after Provincetown. It's also a popular place for people to retire.

Wellfleet's Geography and Nature

Wellfleet is a town with a total area of about 91.7 square kilometers (35.4 square miles). About 51.3 square kilometers (19.8 square miles) is land, and 40.5 square kilometers (15.6 square miles) is water. Wellfleet is surrounded by other towns and water bodies. To the north is Truro, to the east is the Atlantic Ocean, to the south is Eastham, and to the west is Cape Cod Bay.

Wellfleet Harbor and Islands

The town of Wellfleet wraps around Wellfleet Harbor. This harbor once had an island called Billingsgate Island. It was at the mouth of the harbor and even had a lighthouse. But over time, the ocean eroded the island. Now, it's just a sandbar that you can see at low tide.

Several small waterways flow inland from the harbor. These include the Herring River, Duck Creek, and Fresh Brook.

Protected Natural Areas

Besides the Cape Cod National Seashore, there's also the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is run by Massachusetts Audubon. It protects a lot of land, including parts of Small Island. Between the sanctuary, the seashore, and other parks, about 70% of Wellfleet's land is protected. This means it's kept safe for nature and wildlife.

A small whaling village once existed in what is now the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. It was called Silver Spring. Today, all that remains is a marsh that used to be its harbor. This land is now protected by the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

Wellfleet's Climate

Wellfleet has a mild summer climate. This means summers are warm but not too hot, and winters are cold. The average snowfall from November to April is about 30 inches (76 cm). February is usually the snowiest month.

Getting Around Wellfleet

U.S. Route 6 is the main road that goes through Wellfleet from north to south. The town's main shopping area is west of this road, near the harbor.

Old Rail Lines and Bus Service

Wellfleet does not have train or air service. The last train left the area in the 1930s. The old train tracks were removed and turned into a bike path. This path is called the Cod Rail Trail, and it ends in South Wellfleet. The closest airports are in Chatham and Provincetown. For bigger flights, you would go to Logan International Airport in Boston.

There is some bus service in Wellfleet. You can take a bus to Hyannis, and from there, you can go to Boston. The CCRTA also has buses that stop in Wellfleet.

People of Wellfleet

The First Congregational Church of Wellfleet. Its clock tower has a ship's signal bell system.

In 2000, there were 2,749 people living in Wellfleet. There were 1,301 households (groups of people living together). About 20% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in Wellfleet was 47 years old.

Learning in Wellfleet

Wellfleet is part of the Nauset Regional School District. This district includes several towns: Wellfleet, Brewster, Truro, Provincetown, Eastham, and Orleans.

Each town has its own elementary school. Wellfleet Elementary School is near Route 6. It teaches students from kindergarten to fifth grade. After elementary school, students go to a regional middle school in Orleans. Then, they attend Nauset Regional High School in Eastham. There are no private schools in Wellfleet. However, high school students can choose to go to Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich for free.

Famous People from Wellfleet

Images for kids

• 

  Wellfleet Town Hall

• 

  Seal of Wellfleet, Massachusetts

• 

  Location in Barnstable County and Massachusetts

See also

In Spanish: Wellfleet (Massachusetts) para niños