Harwich, Massachusetts

Harwich, Massachusetts
Town
Harwich Town Hall
Seal
Location in Barnstable County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 41°41′10″N 70°04′35″W / 41.68611°N 70.07639°W / 41.68611; -70.07639Coordinates: 41°41′10″N 70°04′35″W / 41.68611°N 70.07639°W / 41.68611; -70.07639
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Barnstable
Settled	1670
Incorporated	1694
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
• Leader	Town Administrator
Area
• Total	33.1 sq mi (85.8 km2)
• Land	20.9 sq mi (54.1 km2)
• Water	12.2 sq mi (31.7 km2)
Elevation	55 ft (17 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	12,243
• Density	586/sq mi (226.3/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC−5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	02645
Area code(s)	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-29020
GNIS feature ID	0618254
Website	www.town.harwich.ma.us

Harwich (pronounced /ˈhɑrwɪtʃ/ HAR-wich) is a New England town on Cape Cod, in Barnstable County in the state of Massachusetts in the United States. At the 2010 census it had a population of 12,243. The town is a popular vacation spot, located near the Cape Cod National Seashore. Harwich's beaches are on the Nantucket Sound side of Cape Cod. Harwich has three active harbors. Saquatucket, Wychmere and Allen Harbors are all in Harwich Port. The town of Harwich includes the villages of Pleasant Lake, West Harwich, East Harwich, Harwich Port, Harwich Center, North Harwich and South Harwich.

Harwich was first settled by Europeans in 1670 as part of Yarmouth. The town was officially incorporated in 1694, and originally included the lands of the current town of Brewster. Early industry involved fishing and farming. The town is considered by some to be the birthplace of the cranberry industry, with the first commercial operation opened in 1846. There are still many bogs in the town, although the economy is now more centered on tourism and as a residential community. The town is also the site of the start/finish line of the "Sail Around the Cape", which rounds the Cape counter-clockwise, returning via the Cape Cod Canal.