Falmouth

Falmouth is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 32,517 at the 2020 census, making Falmouth the second-largest municipality on Cape Cod after Barnstable. The terminal for the Steamship Authority ferries to Martha's Vineyard is located in the village of Woods Hole in Falmouth. Woods Hole also contains several scientific organizations such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), the Woodwell Climate Research Center, NOAA's Woods Hole Science Aquarium, and the scientific institutions' various museums. Falmouth was first settled by English colonists in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1686. In 1837, Falmouth averaged about 50 sheep per square mile. After the improvement in highways, and thanks in part to the heavy use of neighboring Camp Edwards during World War II, population growth increased significantly. Large homebuilding booms occurred in the 1970s, followed by others in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1965, Robert Manry sailed from Falmouth aboard his 13.5-foot (4.1 m) sailboat and reached Falmouth, Great Britain, 78 days later. In the late 1800s, after railroad service was established between Boston and Cape Cod, James Madison Beebe bought over 700 acres (280 ha) and built Highfield Hall, which is now a museum, and much of the land is preserved as Beebe Woods. The town of Falmouth has seven historic districts, including four on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

Falmouth was first settled by English colonists in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1686. Early principal activities were farming, salt works, shipping, whaling, and sheep husbandry. In 1837, Falmouth averaged about 50 sheep per square mile. In 1965, Robert Manry sailed from Falmouth aboard his 13.5-foot (4.1 m) sailboat and reached Falmouth, Great Britain, 78 days later. In the late 1800s, after railroad service was established between Boston and Cape Cod, James Madison Beebe bought over 700 acres (280 ha) and built Highfield Hall, which is now a museum. The town of Falmouth has seven historic districts, including four on the National Register of Historic Places. The other three historic districts are in Woods Hole, Davisville, and Quissett. Offshore Falmouth in Buzzards Bay, Cleveland East Ledge Light is listed with the National register. In addition to the historic districts and ten individual sites on the national register, the town has 10 individual sites that are listed on the U.S. Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov/falmouth/faplmouth-county-statistics.html. Falmouth is home to the Cape Cod Museum of Art, which was established in 1872. The museum is located in the town's historic district, which dates back to the 17th century. It is open to the public and features a museum, a library, and an art gallery.

Geography

Falmouth lies on the southwestern tip of Cape Cod. It is bordered by Bourne and Sandwich to the north, Mashpee to the east, Vineyard Sound to the south, and Buzzards Bay to the west. Most of Falmouth sits on glacial sands composed of glacial outwash deposits. The soil in the southwestern part of the town, consisting of moraine deposits, is more rocky and dense, like the rest of New England. The climate is temperate marine. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year and averages 2 to 3 in (5075 mm) per month. Falmouth's southern shore is notable for a series of ponds and rivers spaced very closely together, all of which travel some distance into the town. The largest inlet is Megansett Cove along the Bourne town line. The Buzzard's Bay shore is punctuated by a number of hamlets, including New Silver Beach, New Silver, Old Silver, Chappaquoit, Sippewisset, Quissett, and Woods Hole.Falmouth is approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of Bourne Bridge, 22 miles (35 km) west of Barnstable, and 77 miles (124km) south-southeast of Boston. The town has a total area of 54.4 square miles (141.0 km²), of which 44.1 squaremile (114.1 km²) is land and 10.3 square mile (26.8km²), or 19.04% is water.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Falmouth, Massachusetts has a warm-summer, wet all year, humid continental climate (Dfb) The average seasonal (NovApr) snowfall total is around 30 in (76 cm). The average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 1.3 °F (17.1 °C) Falmouth is located on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which runs from New Hampshire to Rhode Island. It is located at the junction of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Turnpikes, which run from November to March. The town is located in the Massachusetts Bay and Massachusetts Bay National Wildlife Refuge, which covers an area of 2,000 square miles (3,000 km) and has an average elevation of 1,800 meters (4,200 ft) The town has a population of 3,000 people (2,000 inhabitants) according to the U.S. National Weather Service. Falmouth has a dry summer, wet winter, and a wet spring and summer, with no significant precipitation difference between seasons. It also has a wet summer, dry winter, wet spring, and dry summer and fall, with a wet winter and fall. The city is located near the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border, which is one of the most humid areas in the United Kingdom.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. Potential natural vegetation Types, Falmouoth, Massachusetts would primarily contain a Northeastern Oak/Pine (110) vegetation type with a Southern Mixed Forest (26) vegetation form. The area would have a population of about 2,000 people. The town is located on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which runs through the town of FalmOUoth. The Turnpikes were built in the 19th century by the Massachusetts State Railroad Company. The turnpike was built on the site of a former railway line. The site is now a popular tourist destination, particularly for its scenic views of the Berkshires, Berkshire, and the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts. It is also known for its natural beauty, especially in the spring and summer when the area gets very hot and dry. The city's name is derived from the town's name, which means "flamboyant" or "frivolous" in English and "mouth" in French. It was also known as "Flemouoth" in the 17th century when the town was first settled. The name is still used to refer to the town today, as well as to the area it was once known as. It has been the site for a number of scientific expeditions, such as the American Museum of Nature and Science, which was founded in the 18th century. The current name of the town is "FalmouOTH" in honor of the founder of the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Transportation

Falmouth is home to The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority. Massachusetts Route 28 is one of two major eastwest routes on the Cape. The nearest inter-city (Amtrak) passenger rail stations are Providence and Boston's South Station. The Middleborough/Lakeville and Kingston/Route 3 stations of the MBTA's commuter rail system provide the closest service to Boston. There is a private air park in East Falmouth, and the nearest national and international air service is at Logan International Airport in Boston and T. F. Green Airport near Providence, both being about equidistant from Falmouth. Falmouth is also served by the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority bus routes. The Massachusetts Coastal Railroad provides rail freight service to North Falmouth where a spur runs into Otis Air Base to serve a trash transfer station. As of a June 25, 2009 capecodonline.com article, the company plans to re-extend passenger railroad service to the town, complete with dinner and tourist trains, though this will also be only to NorthFalmouth, due to the fact that the other 8 miles (13 km) of railroad track had been replaced with the current Shining Sea Bikeway. The town is served by Massachusetts Route 151, which runs eastwest through the northern section of the town. It is the main ferry line between the Vineyards and the mainland (as Nant bucket is further east, its main line leaves Hyannis). A seasonal ferry, the Island Queen, runs from Fal mouth Harbor to Martha's vineyard.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 32,660 people, 13,859 households, and 8,980 families residing in the town. The population density was 738.2 inhabitants per square mile (285.0/km²) The racial makeup of the town was 93.39% White, 1.82% Black or African American, 0.51% Native American,0.92% Asian, 0,02% Pacific Islander, 1,44% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population. The town's population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 27.5%. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there are 87.6 males. The median income for a household in the city was $68,191, and $97,422 for a family. The per capita income for the town is $42,548. About 6.9% of residents are below the poverty line, including 8.8 percent of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over. It is the only town in the state with a population of more than 30,000 people. The city's population is about 32,000, and it has a median age of 45.

Government and Politics

Falmouth is governed by the representative town meeting form of government with 9 precincts of 27 members each serving three-year terms. The town operates its own police and fire departments, with a central police station and five fire stations. There are seven post offices in town for the six ZIP codes, although several overlap and the main office handles the majority of the work. Falmouth is also the site of Falmouth Hospital, which serves the Upper Cape region. On the national level, the town is a part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district, and is currently represented by Bill Keating. It is patrolled by the Seventh (Bourne) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police. It also operates the town's ambulance service with four-ambulances staffed 24/7. It has a public library with branches in North and East Falmouth, and private libraries in West Falmouth and Woods Hole which are open to the public. There is also a private library in Woods Hole, which is open to members of the public and is free to the general public. It was founded in 1838 by the first settler of the Cape, and was named after the Cape's oldest settlement, the 17th-century town of Foulmouth. The current mayor is the son of a former mayor of the same name, who died in a car accident in the early 1990s. The mayor is a former member of the House of Representatives, who was elected to a second term in 1998.

Education

Falmouth's public school system serves about 4,500 students yearly. The public schools are supported in part by the Volunteers in Public Schools. Falmouth is also the home of a private school, Falmouth Academy, serving grades 7 through 12. Resident students can also attend Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis also free of charge, pending acceptance through a lottery. The town is located on Cape Cod in the southern part of the Cape Cod Peninsula, near the tip of the southern tip of Cape Cod. The city is home to four schools, East Falmouth, Mullen-Hall, North Falmouth and Teaticket, which serve the elementary school population, from pre-kindergarten to fourth grade. The Morse Pond Middle School serves grades five and six, while the Lawrence Junior High School covers grades seven and eight. The FHS athletics teams are nicknamed the Clippers, and their colors are maroon and white. They compete in the Atlantic Coast League, having moved recently from the Old Colony League. Their chief rival is nearby Barnstable High School. They may also choose to attend the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Bourne, which is free to residents. The Falmouth Education Foundation (FEF), the Falmouth STEM Boosters and the Woods Hole Science Technology Partnership (WSTP) are also involved in the schools' support of the public schools.

Sports and recreation

Falmouth is home to the Cape Cod Baseball League's Falmouth Commodores. The town is the home of the annual Falmouth Road Race, which draws over 10,000 runners from all over the world. Falmouth is the birthplace of Tino Martinez, Darin Erstad, and Jacoby Ellsbury, all of whom went on to play in the Major League Baseball. It is also home to Cape Cod State University's baseball team, the Falmouth Stingrays, who play at the Guv Fuller Field in the town's baseball stadium. The city is the site of the world-renowned Falmouth Race, a 7-mile (11-km) race that started in 1973 and runs from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights Beach in downtown Falmouth. The race is one of the most popular road races in the United States, with over 8,000 participants each year. It was started by the late Bob Greene, who ran the race for the first time in 1973. It has been won by more than 100 people, including the likes of Tom Hanks, George W. Bush, and John McEnroe, as well as a number of high-profile athletes such as Billie Jean King and Billie Joe Armstrong. The Cape Cod Sea Lions are a popular tourist attraction, especially in the summer, when the water is warm and the beach is dry. The Falmouth Sea Lions also host the world's largest sailing competition, which attracts over 1,500 participants each summer.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Falmouth, 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 59. 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 Falmouth = 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 8,350 individuals with a median age of 56.9 age the population dropped by -5.08% in Falmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 738 residents per square mile of area (285.0/km²). There are average 1.77 people per household in the 2,051 households with an average household income of $43,050 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 7.00% of the available work force and has dropped -1.17% 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 30.66%. The number of physicians in Falmouth per 100,000 population = 262.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Falmouth = 46.1 inches and the annual snowfall = 19.8 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 107. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 202. 79 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 22 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 60, 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 Falmouth, Barnstable County, Massachusetts which are owned by the occupant = 36.76%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 53 years with median home cost = $391,740 and home appreciation of -6.67%. 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. 6.79% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 18.93% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 19.60% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).