Harwich, Massachusetts:
(Derived from various state and town sources*)
The Town of Harwich is a resort and residential community located on the south side of the Cape peninsula, with an extensive shoreline on Nantucket Sound. It was settled around 1665, and incorporated in 1694. Its early economy included agriculture and maritime industries and its history has included boom and bust cycles from the earliest days of the community. When the whaling industry collapsed with the discovery of oil, the community's emphasis shifted to cod fishing. By 1802, 15 to 20 ships were shore fishing and another four ships were cod fishing in Newfoundland and Labrador, and by 1851, there were 48 ships employing 577 men and bringing in thousands of tons of cod and mackerel. The eventual decline of the fishing industry in Harwich by the latter part of the 19th century was caused by increases in the size of ships which eventually outstripped the shallow port's ability to house them. Residents turned to the development of cranberry bogs and resorts for summer visitors, working side-by-side with Portuguese immigrants. The first resort hotel opened in 1880 and both the cranberry and the tourist industries remain substantial parts of Harwich's economy in the present. In 1775, when Separatists and Baptists outnumbered Orthodox Congregationalists, Harwich burghers felt independent enough to refuse to support a minister with public tax monies and they continued refusing to do so for 18 years. The town showed religious diversity from the first, including residents who are Baptists, Methodists, Reformed Methodists (anti-episcopal), Wesleyans and Catholics, among others. Commercial, motel and condominium development has been intense along the Route 28 corridor and suburban development has significantly decreased the remaining agricultural landscape, but the town retains much of its 19th century character, including period Portuguese farmhouses.

For more info check The Harwich Historical Society.

Click on photo to expand

Wychmere Harbor

Main Street Church

Saquatucket  Harbor

Harwich at a glance ...

Population (year round)	Tax rates (2000)	Map (of Harwich)	Town Hall (phone #)
12,043	$11.70	Click Here	(508) 430-7516

Location

Southeastern Massachusetts, on the southeast portion of Cape Cod. Bordered by Dennis on the west, Brewster and Orleans on the north, Chatham on the east, and Nantucket Sound on the south. Harwich is about 12 miles from Hyannis, 70 miles east of Fall River, 82 miles southeast of Boston, and 260 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- 430-7200 75 Oak Street Harwich
• Elementary School: 508-430-7216 South St.
• High School: 508- 430-7202 81 Oak Street
• Middle School: 508- 430-7212 214 Sisson Rd.
• Cape Cod Cape Cod Region Voc Tech --- grades 09-12

Recreational Facilities

• Herring River Conservation Area (350 acres) bicycling, boating (non motor), fresh water fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, ice skating, motor boating, nature observing
• Hawksnest State Park (218 acres) fresh water fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, nature observing
• Cranberry Valley Golf (185 acres) golf
• Town Forest (123 acres) hiking, horseback riding, hunting, nature observing
• Wellfield (109 acres) hiking, Harwichport Golf Club (77 acres) golf, High School (49 acres) baseball/softball, basketball, football/soccer
• Wellfield (49 acres) hiking
• 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 Cranberry Pointe @ Harwich NC
• Hospices None
• Rest Homes Rosewood Manor Rest Home

  ---

Places of Worship

• Christ Church Episcopal 671 Main St., Harwich Port (508) 432-1787
• Cape Cod Bible Church- 621 Depot St. No. Harwich  508-430-2737
• First Baptist Church of West Harwich & Dennisport 60 Main St., West Harwich (508) 432-2792
• First Church of Christ Scientist 648 Main St. Route 28 at Wychmere Harbor, Harwich Port (508) 432-1997
• First Congregational Church Main St., Harwich (508) 432-1053
• Harwich United Methodist Church 1 Church St., East Harwich (508) 432-3734
• Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church Main St., West Harwich (508) 432-4000
• Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses Route 39 & Church St., East Harwich (508) 432-5957
• Pilgrim Congregational Church Route 28, Harwich Port (508) 432-1668
• St. Peter's Lutheran Church Route 137, East Harwich (508) 432-5172

top

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]  

Published and maintained by Cape Cod Web

*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.