Sandwich

Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, and is the oldest town on Cape Cod. The town motto is Post tot Naufracia Portus, "after so many shipwrecks, a haven". The population was 20,259 at the 2020 census. Sandwich is bordered by Cape Cod Bay to the north, Barnstable to the east, Mashpee and Falmouth to the south, and Bourne to the west. It is named for the seaport of Sandwich, Kent, England, and was incorporated in 1639. The western portion of the town was separated from the original Town of Sandwich and became the town of Bourne in 1884. Sandwich was the site of an early Quaker settlement and today hosts the oldest continuous Quaker Meeting in the U.S. The Cape Cod Canal was constructed through the town starting in 1909, opening for travel in 1914. The Canal Generating Plant went online in 1968. Sandwich has a warm-summer, humid continental climate (Dfb), characterized by at least one month having an average temperature at least 71 °F (22.6 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. The average snowfall in February is around 30 cm (9.5 inches) The average monthly temperature is around 50 °C (0.0 °C), all months with an average mean temperature of 50.0°F (0 °F) The town is also the location of the Sagamore Hill and Scusset Beach State Reservation.

History

Cape Cod was inhabited for thousands of years by Native Americans prior to European colonization. In the contact period, Sandwich was occupied by the Eastern Algonquian speaking Wampanoag who aided the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony in the 1620s. A group of English settlers from Saugus, Massachusetts, colonized Sandwich in 1637 with the permission of the Plymouth Colony. It is named for the seaport of Sandwich, Kent, England. It was incorporated in 1639 and is the oldest town on Cape Cod together with Yarmouth, Massachusetts. The western portion of the town was separated from the original Town of Sandwich and became the town of Bourne in 1884. The Cape Cod Canal was constructed through the town starting in 1909, opening for travel in 1914. The Canal Generating Plant went online in 1968. Deming Jarves founded the Boston & Sandwich Glass Factory in 1825. The factory declined after the American Civil War due to competition from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia companies that produced less expensive pressed soda-lime glass tableware. Many of Sandwich's prominent families have Quaker ties. The town hosts the oldest continuous Quaker Meeting in the U.S. Today, most of its industry revolves around tourism and the town is home to the Cape Cod National Seashore and the New England Aquarium. It also has a small industrial component along the Scusset River and Old Harbor Creek and its tributaries. There are many historic homes, including the Benjamin Nye Homestead on Old County Road.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.2 square miles (114.5 km²) Sandwich is bordered by Cape Cod Bay to the north, Barnstable to the east, Mashpee and Falmouth to the south, and Bourne to the west. The northern point of Sandwich, where Sagamore Hill and Scusset Beach State Reservation lie, is divided from the rest of the town by the canal. The town is also the location of the Shawme-Crowell State Forest and the Massachusetts State Game Farm. It is approximately 57 miles (92 km) south-southeast of Boston and is home to six beaches along the shores of cape Cod Bay. The rest of town's geography is typical of the rest. of the Cape, with many small ponds and hills, with most of the trees being pine or oak. Sandwich is the site of Old Harbor Creek, a large inlet with several other small creeks feeding it, which once served to provide safe harbor for ships. and once served as a harbor for the Boston and Providence shipping lanes. It has a population of 2,816. It was founded in 1788. The city of Sandwich is located on the Cape Cod Peninsula, which is located in the eastern part of the Massachusetts Bay Area. The population of Sandwich was 2,716 in the 2010 Census. It had a population growth rate of 0.7% from 2000 to 2010.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Sandwich, 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 6b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 0.7 °F (18.2 °C) The town has a population of 2,000. The town is located on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which runs through the town of Sandwich. It is located at the junction of the Massachusetts Bay and the New Hampshire Turnpikes. The city's population is 2,100, with a population growth rate of 1.7% per 100 years. It has an average mean temperature of 71.6°F (22.0 °C), and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. The average monthly mean temperature is 32.0 °F  (0.0°C), with at least four months having an average mean temperatures of 50.0 °F F (10.0 Celsius) The city has a high school football team, the Sandwich Patriots. The team has a football team that competes in the New England Football League. It also has a baseball team that plays for the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Celtics.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. Potential natural vegetation Types, Sandwich, Massachusetts would primarily contain a Northeastern Oak/Pine (110) vegetation type with a Southern Mixed Forest (26) vegetation form. Sandwich is located on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which runs through the town of Sandwich. The turnpike is one of the busiest roads in the United States, reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) in some areas. The town is home to a number of tourist attractions, including the New England Aquarium and the Boston Children's Museum. It is also known as the birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born in Sandwich in 1858. The city's name is derived from the town's name, which means "sandwich" in English, and "sandy" in French. It has a population of about 2,000 people, mostly residents of Sandwich and nearby towns. The area is known for its oak and pine trees, which are common in the area. It also has a mix of other types of vegetation, such as the Southern mixed forest, which is found in other parts of the state. In Sandwich, the town has a mixture of oak/pines, pine, and elm trees. The state's name comes from the word Sandwich, which refers to a type of elm that is native to the region. It means "Sandwich" or "sadness" in the English language. The name Sandwich is also used as a reference to the state of Massachusetts.

Transportation

U.S. Route 6, also known as the Mid-Cape Highway, passes through the town to the north of Otis Air National Guard Base as a four-lane divided freeway. Massachusetts Route 6A is the town's main local road. The nearest MBTA's commuter rail stations are the Kingston/Route 3 and Middleborough/Lakeville stations, both of which provide direct service to Boston. There is also seasonal passenger rail available in nearby Hyannis and Bourne via the CapeFlyer, which runs to Boston's South Station. The town was one that had been served by Amtrak's Cape Codder train service (1986-1996); however, it has been eliminated from the schedule of the seasonal Cape Flyer train service. From the 19th century, under the Old Colony Railroad, and until 1964 under the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, passenger trains served Sandwich. Private and regional air service can be found in Barnstable, and the nearest national and international airport is Logan International Airport in Boston. Trains of the 1940s1960s included the Day Cape Coddder and the Neptune. In the 1980s and 1990s, the town was served by the Cape Cod Central Railroad, which operates seasonal tourist excursions from Hyannis to Buzzards Bay, serving Sandwich via a station in the western section of the town. It was also a stop on the New England Railroad's New England Line, which ran from New Hampshire to Massachusetts. It closed in the mid-1990s.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,136 people, 7,335 households, and 5,515 families residing in the town. The population density was 467.9 people per square mile (180.6/km²). There were 8,748 housing units at an average density of 78.5 persons/ km² (203.3 persons/sq mi) The racial makeup of the town was 97.75% White, 0.38% African American, 0,31% Native American,0.54% Asian, 0.,01% Pacific Islander, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18. The median income for a household in the city was $61,250 and the median family income was $66,553. The per capita income for the town is $26,895. About 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.1% ages 65 or older are living below the poverty line. The town is located on the U.S. Census Bureau's Western Slope, which includes parts of South Dakota, Montana, and New Mexico. It is one of the smallest towns in the state, with a population of just over 20,000. It has a population density of 467 people per sq mi (180/km 2).

Government

Sandwich is governed by the open town meeting form of government. Day-to-day operation is led by a board of selectmen, which appoints a town manager. The town operates a police department, and a fire department consisting of three fire stations. There are three post offices in town (East Sandwich, Sandwich, and Forestdale). The Sandwich Public Library is located in the town's center, and belongs to the Old Colony Library Network. Sandwich has a public access television station (PEG) Sandwich Community TV which archives all government meetings on its website. On the national level, Sandwich is a part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district, and is currently represented by William Keating. The state's junior (Class II) member of the U.S. Senate is Ed Markey. The senior (Class I) senator is Elizabeth Warren. Sandwich is part of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, which includes Bourne, Falmouth, Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, and Plympton. It is also part of Massachusetts's Senate, which is represented by State Senator Susan Moran. It has a post office in the center of the town, and has a fire station in its center. The Sandwich Police Department has 28 full-time staff members, including Chief, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Detectives, Patrol Officers and support staff. It also operates a public library, which belongs to the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Library System, and the Massachusetts Library Information Network.

Education

Sandwich operates its own public school system. The school teams are called the Blue Knights, and their colors are navy blue, Columbia blue, and white. High school students may also choose to attend the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Bourne free of charge. Students may also choice to attend private schools in Barnstable, Bourne, Falmouth or other neighboring communities. A few Sandwich students choose to attending private high schools off-Cape, such as Tabor Academy, Sacred Heart High School, and Bishop Stang High School. The STEM Academy is located in the town's High School and operates Grades 712. The town also has a pre-K2, Oak Ridge 36, STEM Academy 78, and Forestdale Pre-K 2, which operate Grades 2-6. The Sandwich Public Library operates grades 1-6 and offers a free library service for children in Sandwich and the surrounding communities. It also offers a number of free and reduced-price library services for children and adults in the towns of Falmouth, Barnstable and Bourne as well as in Hyannis. It is the only town in Cape Cod that has a public library, and the only one in the Cape Cod area that offers the option of sending children to private schools. The public library also offers free and discounted library services to children in the neighboring towns of Cape Cod and the Islands. It offers a variety of programs for children, including pre-k2, pre-school, and high school. It has a library program that runs through the summer.

Attractions

There are several attractions in Sandwich, including Heritage Museums and Gardens, the Wing Fort House, the Sandwich Glass Museum, the Thornton Burgess Museum, Hoxie House (the oldest house on Cape Cod), the Daniel Webster Inn, and Shawme Lake. Sandwich is also home to a major portion of Otis Air National Guard Base, including half the land that the runways are on. The town is home to numerous art galleries, as well as rare book and antique stores. The Sandwich boardwalk is a popular tourist attraction and was elected by National Geographic in July 2010 as one of the top ten boardwalks in the United States. It is 1,350 feet long, from Scorton Creek to the Cape Cod Canal, and crossing the Creek Mill and the marsh. It was created in 1875 by Gustavus Howland, the son of Ellis Howland who built the town hall. In 1991, it was almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Bob, but it was rebuilt in 1992, financed through the sale of 1,700 personalized planks with engravings. The boardwalk was damaged by blizzards in March 2018, but was rebuilt and reopened in June 2018. The Town Hall Square Historic District and Jarvesville Historic District within the town are home to the Sandwich Friends (Quaker) Meetinghouse, which is the oldest in North America. It opened in 1874. It has been the home of the Sandwich Town Hall since 1875, and is located in the town's historic district.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Sandwich, 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 Sandwich = 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 5,045 individuals with a median age of 48.6 age the population dropped by -3.79% in Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 474 residents per square mile of area (183.0/km²). There are average 2.16 people per household in the 1,361 households with an average household income of $72,168 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 7.10% 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 30.54%. The number of physicians in Sandwich per 100,000 population = 262.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Sandwich = 46.9 inches and the annual snowfall = 32.6 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 125. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 198. 80 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 19.3 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 Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts which are owned by the occupant = 61.68%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 38 years with median home cost = $332,940 and home appreciation of -4.20%. 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 $6,417 per student. There are 15.4 students for each teacher in the school, 955 students for each Librarian and 955 students for each Counselor. 8.85% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 24.04% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 16.93% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).