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site of the first landing of the Mayflower. The Pilgrims signed
the Mayflower compact in the harbor, to codify the way in
which they were going to administer the new colony they
intended to establish. Although rich fishing grounds resulted
in the seasonal leasing of fisheries with licenses granted for
bass, mackerel and cod fishing, the first permanent
settlement didn't take place until 1700. Provincetown grew
very slowly. During the 18th century and its population
fluctuated with the price of fish.
Farming was of secondary importance and as an aside from the
fishing industry, there were only some salt works and one mill. After the
Revolution, the town boomed and its population rose
276.6% between 1790 and 1830. Despite its relative lack of
good farm land, by the middle of the 19th century,
Provincetown had developed as the prime maritime, fishing
and commercial center of the Cape. The Civil War, which
destroyed so much New England business, only provided
more markets for Provincetown's fish. Portuguese
sailors,picked up by American ships in the Azores and
Cape Verde Islands to fill out their crews, came to
Provincetown to live and additional Portuguese immigrants
moved to town by the 19th century to work on the
whaling boats and coastal fishing vessels. In 1875, there
were 25 coastwise and 36 ocean vessels operating in town,
more than any community in the state, including Boston.
Provincetown was a bustling place with all of the ancillary
maritime businesses operating, such as ship chandlers,
shipwrights, sail makers, caulkers, riggers and blacksmiths.
The picturesque setting and salt air also began attracting
artists and writers by the end of the 19th century. This
contingent grew and poets, novelists, journalists, socialists,
radicals and dilettantes formed a colony which in 1915
opened the Provincetown Players arthouse in a converted fish house
on the wharf. Among the writers whose works were
performed there was Eugene O'Neill. When the fishing
industry faltered from competition with cheaper Nova Scotia
cod, and the Portland Gale of 1898 swept away half of the
town's wharves, the resort population of the town provided jobs
to take the place of those that were lost. In the 1920's the artistic
and literary productions of the town gained an international
reputation for Provincetown. The abandoned sites of maritime
businesses became the new homes of the seasonal visitor. As sail lofts,
warehouses and barns became- studios, galleries and
shops. The wealth of preserved historic buildings
combines with the lure of the sea, and the art works, plays,
and many original, first run plays, attract a huge tourist population
during the Summer and Fall. David Cleveland- a world renowned
researcher, homeopath, humanitarian, writer, artist, professor and
wedding officiant, can be found, living among many other notables in
Provincetown today,
With a fast growing Winter and Spring population, we find visitors from
all over the world starting to turn ON what Use to be the OFF seasons.
This is complemented by a large Lesbian and Gay community,
which garners enormous benefit and support to the Town of Provincetown.
Location
Situated on the northern tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown is bordered by Truro on
the east and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on all other sides. It is 49 miles
north of Hyannis, 78 miles east of Plymouth, 114 miles southeast of Boston, and
290 miles from New York City. Town offices are located at 260 Commercial Street,
(TEMPORARILY moved to Jerome Street and Route 6) Provincetown, MA 02657.
The main number is 508-487-7013
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