Dennis

Dennis is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, located near the center of Cape Cod. The population was 14,674 at the 2020 census. The town comprises the villages of Dennis Port, Dennis Village (including North Dennis), East Dennis, South Dennis and West Dennis. It was first settled by Europeans in 1639, by John Crowe (later Crowell), Antony Thacher, and Thomas Howes, as part of the town of Yarmouth. The original inhabitants who preceded English settlers called the northern sections of town Nobscuesset, Sesuit, and Quivet. The Cape Playhouse, in northern Dennis, is one of the oldest summer theatres in the United States. The actress Bette Davis was "discovered" while working there as an usher. Other notable past and present Dennis residents include the author Mary Higgins Clark (1927-2020) and actress Amy Jo Johnson, who grew up in Dennis. The area leading to Chapin Beach has alternatively been known as Little Italy and Little Taunton for the Italian immigrants who came to build the railroad in the late 1800s. Many streets in the area, such as Squadrilli Way, Dr. Boter Road, and Lombardi Road, were named for Italians. There was once an Indian village called Algonquian, which is also called the Nobscussett Point and Bite, which means the end of the bight at Nobscussed Point. There are several small ponds and lakes in town, as well as Sesuits Harbor to the north and Westennis Harbor toThe south. Dennis is about 10 miles east of Barnstable, 24 miles (39 km) east of the Sagamore Bridge, and 78 miles (126 km) southeast of Boston.

History

Dennis was first settled by Europeans in 1639, by John Crowe (later Crowell), Antony Thacher, and Thomas Howes, as part of the town of Yarmouth. The Cape Playhouse, in northern Dennis, is one of the oldest summer theatres in the United States. The actress Bette Davis was "discovered" while working there as an usher. Other notable past and present Dennis residents include the author Mary Higgins Clark (1927-2020) and actress Amy Jo Johnson, who grew up in Dennis. Currently, Dennis is a popular seaside resort town, notable for its stately colonial mansions along the northern Cape Cod Bay coastline, and its picturesque, warm-water beaches along the southern Nantucket Sound. The town officially separated and incorporated in 1793. It was named after resident minister, Rev. Josiah Dennis. There was not enough land for farming, so seafaring became the town's major industry in its early history, centered around the Shiverick Shipyard. The original inhabitants who preceded English settlers called the northern sections of town Nobscuesset, Sesuit, and Quivet. It is not clear which theatre is the oldest, as many make this claim, and among the best known. It has been home to many world-renowned artists and musicians, including Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, and Bob Dylan's son John Mellencamp, among others. It also has been the home of the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, and the Boston Celtics.

Geography

The town of Dennis spans the width of Cape Cod, with Cape Cod Bay to the north, Brewster to the northeast, Harwich to the southeast, Nantucket Sound to the south, and Yarmouth to the west. The town lies on the eastern banks of the Bass River, which nearly divides the cape in half. The north and south shores of the town have many beaches, as well as the Dennis Yacht Club in the north and West Dennis yacht club in the south. Dennis Port was named by Thomas Howes, the village's first postmaster, in 1850. There was once an Indian village at Nobscussett Point and Harbor, which is also called the Bite, a misspelling of bight. The area leading to Chapin Beach has alternatively been known as Little Italy and Little Taunton for the Italian immigrants who came by way of Taunon, Massachusetts in the late 1800s to build the railroad on Cape Cod. Hippogriffe Road was named for a 678-ton clipper ship built in 1852 at the Shiverick Yards. Mayflower Beach was acquired by the Town in 1977 by eminent domain. It is named for the failed Mayflower beach Condominiums Complex. On the way to White Pond is a conservation area with several small ponds and creeks connecting them. It was formerly known as Lizzie Robbins Pond, so named because the way hits the water was named the way the light hits the line.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Dennis, Massachusetts has a warm-summer, wet all year, humid continental climate (Dfb) The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is around 30 in (76 cm). The average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity. The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 2.0 °F (16.7 °C). Dennis has an average mean temperature of 71.6°F (22.0°C), and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. The average monthly average is 32.0 degrees F (0.0 degree C), and the average annual average is 50.0 °F  (10.0  °C). The city has a high school with a student population of 2,000. The town has a low-lying area with a population of 1,000, and an average daily rainfall of 0.7 inches (1.2 mm) The town's average annual high temperature is 71.5°F. The city's average monthly low temperature is 50 °f (10 0 °C), with no significant precipitation difference between seasons. It has a dry summer, wet winter, and a wet spring and summer, with an average monthly high temperature of 50.6 °F F (10 0 °C).

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. Potential natural vegetation Types, Dennis, Massachusetts would primarily contain a Northeastern Oak/Pine (110) vegetation type with a Southern Mixed Forest (26) vegetation form. Dennis is located on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which runs through the town of Dennis. The town has a population of about 2,000 people. It is located at an elevation of 1,200 feet (400 meters) above sea level. The city's name is derived from the word Dennis, which means "dweller" or "dewey" in the English language. It was named after the town's founder, William Dennis, who was born in the town in 1858. It has a history of being one of the first towns in the United States to be named after a town, and the first town in the state to be called Dennis. It also has a long history of deforestation, dating back to the 18th century, when the area was first settled. The area was once known as "Dennis Island" because it was the site of the Dells, which are now considered to be the state's oldest town. The current name of the town comes from the town, which was founded in the 19th century and is now known as Dennis, Massachusset. The name Dennis is also used to refer to a town in Massachusetts that was once part of the state, which is now part of Massachusetts, and was known as the Dennis Town.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,973 people, 7,504 households, and 4,577 families residing in the town. The census measures the year-round population; in the summer the population is estimated to be 63,000. The racial makeup of the town was 94.99% White, 1.93% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American,0.88% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population. The town's population was spread out, with 16.9% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there are 85.6 males. For each 100 females age 18 and over, there is 82.7 males. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was2.65. The. median income for a household in the city was $41,598, and the median income. for a family was $50,478. The per capita income for the town is $25,428. About 5.4%. of families and 7.0% of. the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4. of those under 18 and 4.8%.

Beaches

All of the public beaches in Dennis are free to walk on. Every beach charges a non-resident parking fee of $20 per day during the week, $25 per day on the weekend, or $75 per week. Residents (Dennis taxpayers) can buy beach parking stickers with proof of residency for $40 for the season. At resident-only beaches (marked with a *), non-residents may not park at all. Mayflower Beach faces Cape Cod Bay and is named after the Pilgrims' ship, the Mayflower. The town also owns two beaches on Scargo Lake: Scargo Beach and Princess Beach. The Southside beaches are Glendon Beach, Haigis Beach, Inman Road Beach, Raycroft Beach, Metcalfe Memorial Beach, West Dennis Beach, South Village Beach, and Sea Street Beach. On the Northside, Corporation Beach and Howes Street Beach are on the same strip of public beach. Chapin Beach and Harborview* Beach are not paired with any other. The same goes for Mayflower Beaches and Bayview Beaches, and Cold Storage* Beach and Sea St Beach, as well as Harborview and Corporation Beaches. The Northside beaches and Southside Beaches are located on Cape CodBay and Nantucket Sound, respectively. Some of them have different names for different entrances, including Corporation Beach, Harborview Beach, Cold Storage Beach and Corporation Beach. They are all owned by the town of Dennis.

Parks and recreation

In addition to the beaches, there are several key recreation areas in the town. Johnny Kelley Recreation area in South Dennis provides a hiking/jogging trail, an exercise trail, a Braille trail, playing courts and fields, playground and picnic area. The Nobscussett Conservation Area (usually called "Indian Lands") provides easy hiking trails and views along the protected shores of Bass River. Crowe's Pasture on the north side of the town provides many acres of open land and hiking with water views. Popular children's playgrounds are found at the Baker School in West Dennis, at the West Dennis Community Building, and at the village green in Dennis Port. Bass River Park in Westennis offers fine views of Bass river and the boating activity there. The town is located on the banks of the Bass River, which runs through the center of Dennis Port and into the town's downtown area. There are no beaches, but the town does have a number of hiking trails, including a trail that runs along the shoreline of the river. There is also a hiking trail along the north shore of the lake, which is popular with kayakers and canoeists. Dennis Port is a small town with a population of less than 1,000 people. It is located in the eastern part of the county, near the town of Dennis, and the town is on the eastern edge of the state of Washington. It also has a few small towns, such as Dennis Port, which are on the state's eastern edge.

Transportation

Dennis is crossed from east to west by Cape Cod's three main routes, U.S. Route 6, Massachusetts Route 6A and Massachusetts Route 28. Massachusetts Route 134 crosses the town south to north from Route 28 to Route6A. The nearest regional air service is at the Barnstable Municipal Airport, and the nearest national and international air service are at Logan International Airport in Boston. The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a paved bicycle trail that runs "down" the Cape to Wellfleet along the former right-of-way of the railway. In approximately 2018, this railway was removed, which allowed for the expansion of the Cape Cod rail trail to Yarmouth. Prior to 2018, the Cape's Bay Colony Rail service officially ended in the town just west of Route 134. Although the right of way for this line probably existed, there has long been no railroad bridge over Bass River and therefore no trains have entered the town of Dennis for decades. East of the Route 134 exit, Route 6 (also known as the Mid-Cape Highway) downgrades from a four-lane divided highway to a two-lane limited access highway, divided only by markers. In addition it is called the East West Dennis Road because it "connects" East Dennis to West Dennis, not because it runs fromEast to west according to the compass. There are also several other bicycle trails in town. It is not known whether Route 134 is a Massachusetts state highway; it was technically the "East-West Dennis Road (Route 134)... an urban principal arterial owned by the Town".

Government

The town of Dennis is governed by an open town meeting form of government. It is led by a board of selectmen, which delegates day-to-day operations to a town administrator. The town has a police department, and the fire department headquartered near the intersection of Routes 28 and 134 with a branch station off of Route 6A. There are post offices in each of the five villages, as well as libraries. The central library is located in Dennis Port, and all are a part of the Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing library network. Dennis in the Massachusetts 9th congressional district, and represented by William Keating. The state's senior (Class II) member of the U.S. Senate, elected in 2012, is Elizabeth Warren. The junior (Class I) senator,elected in 2013, is Ed Markey. The town is patrolled by the Second (Yarmouth) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police. Dennis is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in the First Barnstable District, which includes all of Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. It has a landfill, located southeast of the junction of routes 6 and 134, and is in the Cape and Islands District of Massachusetts, which also includes Bourne, Falmouth, and Sandwich. It also has a post office, which is located near Routes 6A and 28, and a fire department, located near Route 28.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Dennis, Barnstable County, Massachusetts = 13. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 40. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 60. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Dennis = 3.4 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 5,031 individuals with a median age of 54.1 age the population dropped by -5.04% in Dennis, Barnstable County, Massachusetts population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 716 residents per square mile of area (276.3/km²). There are average 2.09 people per household in the 1,266 households with an average household income of $69,757 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 8.90% of the available work force and has dropped -1.18% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 28.74%. The number of physicians in Dennis per 100,000 population = 262.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Dennis = 42.9 inches and the annual snowfall = 16.8 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 102. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 201. 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 21.9 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 59, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Dennis, Barnstable County, Massachusetts which are owned by the occupant = 46.74%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 33 years with median home cost = $399,460 and home appreciation of 2.35%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $9.92 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $9,210 per student. There are 10.8 students for each teacher in the school, 694 students for each Librarian and 462 students for each Counselor. 6.35% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 20.81% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 19.18% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).