Yarmouth is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 24,807 at the 2000 census.

For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Yarmouth, please see the articles on South Yarmouth, West Yarmouth, and Yarmouth Port.

History

Yarmouth was first settled in 1639 and was officially incorporated that same year. It originally was founded by the Pilgrims, and covered lands currently part of the towns of Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham and Harwich. Farming and the sea provided the industry for the early settlers to the town, with both the northern and southern ports being active in industry. This brought wealth to Yarmouth, which can still be seen today in its historic districts. The railroad came in the mid-1800s, and helped Yarmouth become a tourist destination. Today the town is mostly known for its tourist industry and shopping, as it is the home of the original Christmas Tree Shops on Route 28

Geography and Transporation

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 73.1 km² (28.2 mi²). 62.8 km² (24.2 mi²) of it is land and 10.3 km² (4.0 mi²) of it (14.07%) is water. Yarmouth is bordered by Cape Cod Bay to the north, Dennis to the east, Nantucket Sound to the south, and Barnstable to the west. Yarmouth is approximately seventy-five miles southwest of Boston.

The Bass River and its tributaries make up the majority of the town's border with Dennis. There are also several smaller ponds throughout the town. The Cape Cod Bay shore is marshy, with several creeks flowing into it. The town's southern shore is known for its beaches, from the west jetty of the Bass River to Great Island, on the east and south sides of Hyannis Harbor. The town has no state forests or wildlife management areas, although there are many such natural, unprotected areas in town. The town is also the site of four golf courses, a rod and gun club, and a Boy Scout camp.

Cape Cod's three major east-west routes, U.S. Route 6, Route 6A and Route 28, all run through the town. Unlike many towns on the Cape, there are no other state routes crossing between the three roads, with all crossing routes being local roads. There are two exits off of Route 6 (also known as the Mid-Cape Highway) in town.

The Bay Colony Railroad line passes from east to west through the town, as does a portion of its spur to Hyannis. There are also several bike paths throughout town. The nearest airport is the Barnstable Municipal Airport, just over the town line. The nearest national and international air service can be reached at Logan International Airport in Boston.