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Dennis, Massachusetts

Dennis, Massachusetts
Town
Official seal of Dennis, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Barnstable County and the state of Massachusetts.
Location in Barnstable County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 41°44′07″N 70°11′40″W / 41.73528°N 70.19444°W / 41.73528; -70.19444Coordinates: 41°44′07″N 70°11′40″W / 41.73528°N 70.19444°W / 41.73528; -70.19444
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Barnstable
Settled 1639
Incorporated 1793
Government
 • Type Open town meeting
 • Town
   Administrator
Richard White
Area
 • Total 22.3 sq mi (57.7 km2)
 • Land 20.5 sq mi (53.1 km2)
 • Water 1.7 sq mi (4.5 km2)
Elevation 24 ft (7 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 14,207
 • Density 693/sq mi (267.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02660
Area code(s) 508 / 774
FIPS code 25-16775
GNIS feature ID 0618252
Website www.town.dennis.ma.us

Dennis /ˈdɛnɪs/ is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, located near the center of Cape Cod. The population was 14,207 at the 2010 census.

The town encompasses five distinct villages, each of which has its own post office. These constituent villages are Dennis (including North Dennis), Dennis Port, East Dennis, South Dennis, and West Dennis.

Dennis was first settled in 1639, by John Crowe (later Crowell), Antony Thacher and Thomas Howes, as part of the town of Yarmouth. It was known then as the East Precinct. The Indians who preceded English settlers called the northern sections of town Nobscuesset, Sesuit, and Quivet.

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.

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 Cape Playhouse, in northern Dennis, is one of the oldest summer theatres in the United States (it is not clear which theatre is the oldest, as many make this claim), and among the best known. The actress Bette Davis was "discovered" while working there as an usher. Other famous Dennis residents include the author Mary Higgins Clark and actress Amy Jo Johnson, who grew up in Dennis.


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