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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 coast wise
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, screenwriter, 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 is an 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,
Provincetown, MA 02657.
The main number is 508-487-7013
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