Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

For other uses, see Buzzards Bay (disambiguation).

Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Census-designated place
Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge
Location in Barnstable County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 41°45′5″N70°36′49″W / 41.75139°N 70.61361°W / 41.75139; -70.61361 Coordinates: 41°45′5″N70°36′49″W / 41.75139°N 70.61361°W / 41.75139; -70.61361
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Barnstable
Town	Bourne
Settled	1621
Area [1]
• Total	2.96 sq mi (7.66 km2)
• Land	1.92 sq mi (4.96 km2)
• Water	1.04 sq mi (2.70 km2)
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,279
• Density	2,233.30/sq mi (862.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	02532, 02542
Area code	508
FIPS code	25-10015
GNIS feature ID	0616369

Buzzards Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Bourne in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The population was 3,859 at the 2010 census. ^[2] It is the most populous of the five CDPs in Bourne.

Geography

Buzzards Bay is located at 41°45′5″N70°36′49″W / 41.75139°N 70.61361°W / 41.75139; -70.61361 (41.751364, -70.613563). ^[3] Along with Bournedale and Sagamore Beach, it is one of three communities in Barnstable County located on the mainland side of the Cape Cod Canal. Excessively drained sand underlies most of the community and the majority is mapped as Carver soil series. ^[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²). 1.9 square miles (5.0 km²) of it is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) of it (34.75%) is water, ^[2] consisting primarily of Buttermilk Bay, an arm of Buzzards Bay that forms the western edge of the CDP.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
2020	4,279		—
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

As of the census ^[6] of 2000, there were 3,549 people, 1,216 households, and 795 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 692.1 per km² (1,793.4 per mi²). There were 1,572 housing units at an average density of 306.5 per km² (794.4 per mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.49% White, 0.01% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.99% from other races, and 0.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.04% of the population.

There were 1,216 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 15.9% under the age of 18, 23.0% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 123.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $99,750, and the median income for a family was $142,165. Males had a median income of $98,702 versus $68,801 for females. The per capita income for the CDPwas $88,304. About 0.4% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.

History

Buzzards Bay was originally Wampanoag territory. The "buzzards" for which the town was named were most likely turkey vultures or ospreys. Buzzards Bay was settled by Europeans in 1621.

Among the community's most prominent residents was President of the United States Grover Cleveland, who maintained a "Summer White House" at his home at Agawam Point in Buzzards Bay. ^[7] Cleveland's home, a local landmark, was destroyed by fire on December 10, 1973. ^[7]

Culture

Buzzards Bay is home to the National Marine Life Center, a marine animal hospital, science, and education center dedicated to rehabilitating for release stranded sea turtles, and seals to advance scientific knowledge and education in marine wildlife health and conservation. Buzzards Bay is also home to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Climate

In a typical year, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts temperatures fall below 50F° for 167 days per year. Annual precipitation is typically 46.8 inches per year (the highest in the US) and snow covers the ground 43 days per year or 11.8% of the year (moderate in the US). It may be helpful to understand the yearly precipitation by imagining 9 straight days of moderate rain per year. The humidity is below 60% for approximately 27.6 days or 7.6% of the year. ^[8]

Education

Bourne Public Schools is the local public school district; it operates Bourne High School.

Area Catholic schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River include: St. Francis Xavier School in Acushnet, St. Joseph School in Fairhaven, and St. Pius X School in South Yarmouth. Previously Buzzards Bay had its own Catholic grade school, St. Margaret Primary School, which closed in 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. St. Francis Xavier, St. Joseph, and St. Pius X took former St. Margaret students. ^[9]

See also

• Buzzards Bay Entrance Light, located at the mouth of the eponymous bay
• Buzzards Bay Train Station

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
2. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Buzzards Bay CDP, Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
4. "SoilWeb: An Online Soil Survey Browser | California Soil Resource Lab".
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
7. "Rebuilding on a Historic Site," Cape Cod Times, Dec. 7, 2003.
8. "Massachusetts Mortgage Calculator" . Retrieved November 8, 2022.
9. "Coronavirus Impact: Coyle And Cassidy, St. Margaret Catholic Schools Closing For Good". WBZ CBS Boston. 2020-04-16. Retrieved 2020-06-26.

External links

Media related to Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts at Wikimedia Commons

• National Marine Life Center