Chatham, one of the older townships of Cape Cod, was settled in 1656 by a handful of Pilgrims, whose surnames still dominate the town's census list. The town was incorporated in 1712. Originally a farming community, its inhabitants found deep sea fishing more lucrative, and today small boat deep sea fishing is an important source of the town's revenue. Covering an area of approximately seventeen square miles, Chatham is a happy combination of past and present: old fashioned and picturesque, yet affording the best in modern facilities. The town operates under the town meeting form of government. The executive officers are a board of five part-time selectmen and an executive secretary. Once a year, the citizens meet to discuss articles in a town warrant and pass or reject them. Most funds spent by the town are voted at this meeting. The citizens of Chatham enjoy the special benefits of forward-looking zoning and current planning, and of both public and private conservation efforts. Warm summer days with cool summer nights, beautiful warm indian summers, and relatively mild winters make Chatham a comfortable place in which to live year-round or vacation.

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Chatham Light

Chatham Fish Pier

Chatham Wayside Inn

Chatham at a glance ...

Population (year round)	Tax rates (2000)	Map (of Chatham)	Town Hall (phone #)
6,700	$10.08	Click Here	(508) 945-5100

Location

Southeastern Massachusetts, at the "elbow" of Cape Cod. Bordered by Pleasant Bay and Orleans on the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Nantucket Sound on the south, and Harwich on the west. Chatham is 17 miles east of Hyannis, 89 miles southeast of Boston, and 223 miles from New York City.

Transportation

Cape Cod Area Transit Information Line :
An automated line for information on bus and steamship schedules, and fares. (508) 771-6191

Cape Cod Airports:

Bus and Trolley service:

• Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (Seasonal trolley service in Cape towns) 1-800-352-7155
• B-Bus Service (ride by appointment serving the entire Cape) 1-800-352-7155
• Plymouth and Brockton Street Railway (with routes , Plymouth, Brockton, Plymouth, Hyannis, Provincetown,Boston & Logan Airport) 508-746-0378

Ferry Service:

• Hy-Line (Hyannis, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard) 508-778-2600
• Island Queen (Falmouth and Martha's Vineyard) 508-548-4800
• Steamship Authority (Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard; Hyannis and Nantucket, passenger and automobiles). 508-477-8600

Railroad

• Cape Cod Central Railroad (scenic and excursion) 508-771- 3800

Public Schools

• Supt. Of Schools: 508- 945-5130 147 Depot Rd.
• Elementry: 508- 945-5135 147 Depot Rd.
• High School: 508-945-5140 425 Crowell Rd.
• Middle School: 508- 945-5148 425Crowell Rd.
• Cape Cod Cape Cod Region Voc Tech - 09-12
• LIBRARY: 508- 945-5170 564 Main St.

Recreational Facilities

• Cape Cod National Seashore (15,550 acres) atv motoring, bicycling, camping, hiking, nature observing, picnicking, pool swimming, bicycling, boating-non motor, hiking, motor boating, nature observing, org-natural history, picnicking, salt water swimming, sight seeing, walking/jogging
• Monomoy National Wildlife (2,698 acres) hiking, motor boating, nature observing
• Hardings Beach (260 acres) golf, boating-non motor, hunting, nature observing, salt water swimming, sight seeing, walking/jogging
• Eastward Ho Golf Course (120 acres) golf
• Chatham Bars Inn (80 acres) golf, salt water swimming, sight seeing
• Morris Island (70 acres) hiking, nature observing
• Chatham Beach & Inns Club (51 acres) salt water swimming, tennis
• Veterans Field (11 acres) baseball/softball, general play
• Beaches for information on some great Cape Cod beaches click HERE
• Golf for information on Cape Cod golf courses click HERE

Health Facilities

• Hospitals None (see Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis (508) 771-1800 )
• Long Term Care Liberty Commons Nursing Home

Places of Worship

• Chatham Baptist, 195 Meetinghouse Road: 432-8022
• First Congregational, 650 Main Street at Rotary: 945-0800
• First United Methodist, 16 Cross Street: 945-0474
• Holy Redeemer (Catholic), Highland Avenue: 945-0677
• Our Lady of Grace (Catholic) Routes 28 & 137: 432-2279
• St. Christopher's (Episcopal), 625 Main Street: 945-2832
• South Chatham Community, 2555 Main Street: 432-4248

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Want info on other Cape Cod towns?
[Barnstable]  [Bourne]  [Brewster]   [Chatham]  [Dennis]   [Eastham]  [Falmouth]  [Harwich]  [Mashpee]   [Martha's Vineyard]   [Nantucket]  [Orleans]   [Provincetown]   [Sandwich]  [Truro]  [Wellfleet]  [Yarmouth]  

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*Sources include; Comm of Massachusetts, including the Dept. of Education, Department of Environment Management, and Dept.of Public Health. Information is deemed accurate but is not guaranteed.