Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Falmouth
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Falmouth: Nobska Point Lighthouse Nobska Lighthouse in Woods Hole, Falmouth, Mass.
Quizzes
Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.
Guess the City by Its River Quiz
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Falmouth: Nobska Point Lighthouse
Falmouth: Nobska Point Lighthouse Nobska Point Lighthouse, Falmouth, Mass.

Falmouth

Massachusetts, United States
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

Falmouth, town (township), Barnstable county, southeastern Massachusetts, U.S., on the southwestern end of Cape Cod. It includes the villages of Falmouth, East Falmouth, Hatchville, North Falmouth, Teaticket, Waquoit, West Falmouth, and Woods Hole. The site, called Succanessett by Algonquian-speaking Native Americans, was settled in 1661 by Quakers led by Isaac Robinson. It was incorporated in 1686 and named for Falmouth, England. The town was bombarded from the sea by the British during the American Revolution and again during the War of 1812. Shipbuilding, whaling, fishing, agriculture, and the manufacture of salt and glass were important during its early development. The birthplace of Katharine Lee Bates (author of the national hymn “America the Beautiful”) is preserved in the town. Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is located near Washburn Island, a popular recreational area. Other natural areas include Long Pond Watershed, Beebes Woods, and the Crane Wildlife Area.

In Woods Hole are the renowned Marine Biological Laboratory (1888) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (1930). Falmouth is a busy tourist center in summer months; ferries connect it with Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island. Area 44 square miles (114 square km). Pop. (2000) 32,660; (2010) 31,531.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by René Ostberg.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.