|
Chatham |
|
  
Chatham is a mosaic of
grand houses between ponds,
creeks and the ocean on three sides.
Explorer Samuel de Champlain was the first European to
touch Chatham soil in 1606, but the first European settler didn’t arrive until
the 1650s, when William Nickerson left Yarmouth and purchased 4 square miles
here from the Monomoyick Indians in exchange for a boat, tools, kettles and
wampum. Plymouth Colony refused to approve the settlement for
several years, saying the area’s remote location made it a risk to ship
attacks.
But Chatham’s location is now central to its beauty,
bringing in large numbers of rare birds and gray seals to the Monomoy Island
National Wildlife Refuge. Chatham Light continues to help boaters navigate the
shoreline and the Chatham fishing fleet enjoys close proximity to a plentiful
catch.
|
Quick
glimpse
Municipal website:
www.town.chatham.ma.us
Incorporated in 1712...located on
southeast tip of Cape Cod...has 15.88 square miles...and 6,860
residents.
|
|
|
|
|
