History of Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA

Falmouth, Massachusetts
Barnstable county. A pleasant town on Vineyard Sound. There are belonging to this town 9 whale-ships, and about 40 sail in the coasting trade and fishery. Two streams afford a water power, on which are two woolen mills and other manufactories. There are about 40 ponds in this town, some salt and some fresh:—these, with the views of the islands in the Sound, form a variety of agreeable scenery. "Wood's Hole" harbor, at the S.W. extremity of the town, is a good harbor and much frequented by vessels, and by invalids in search of health. The value of oil imported into Falmouth, the year ending April 1, 1837, amounted to $146,600. The value of vessels, salt, woolen goods, boots, shoes and leather, manufactured the same year, was $58,657. Falmouth lies 71 miles S.E. by E. from Boston and 22 S.W. from Barnstable. "Woods' Hole" is 4 miles W. from the centre of the town; and "Holmes' Hole" harbor, on Martha's Vineyard, is 6 miles S. Population, 1837, 2,580....

Falmouth is the southwest point of the peninsula, of which the Elizabeth Islands, now part of Dukes County, seem to have been a continuation.
The town contains a great number of ponds, and at the southwest point, on a small peninsula, is a good harbor, called Wood's Hole.

The inhabitants are somewhat extensively engaged in the whale and other fisheries, and in the manufacture of salt.

Distance from Barnstable, 22 miles; from Boston, by land, 71.

Falmouth, a post-township of Barnstable oounty, Massachusetts, on the N. side of Vineyard sound, 70 miles S. S. E. from Bos ton. It contains 1 bank. Pop., 2621.

FALMOUTH, a seaport of Massachusetts, U.S., situated in Barnstable co., between Buzzard's bay and Vineyard sound, 75 m. S by E of Boston. Pop. 2,070.

Falmouth is a delightful seaboard town occupying the southwest corner of Cape Cod and of Barnstable County. Along its entire western side extends the Woods Holl Branch of the Old Colony Railroad, terminating 72 miles south of Boston. Its boundaries are Bourne and Sandwich on the north, Mashpee on the east, Vineyard Sound (here six miles wide) on the south, and Buzzard's Bay on the west. Its assessed area is 21,903 acres, including 6,202 acres of woodland. The territory extends as a peninsula at the southwest; and on a harbor at the extremity of this is Woods Holl, noted as the eastern of the two railroad connections for the Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket steamers, and as the location of the government works for fish-breeding, and as a principal government station for marine surveys and investigations. At the south-most point of this peninsula is Nobska Point and Hill, bearing its well-known light. Eastward is a fine beach, extending in a concave line to the first of three nearly...

Falmouth, a post-township of Barnstable co., Mass., is bounded on the S. by Vineyard Sound, and on the W. by Buzzard's Bay. It contains villages named Falmouth, East Falmouth, North Falmouth, West Falmouth, and Wood's Holl, and a summer resort called Falmouth Heights. It has 9 churches. The village of Falmouth is on a branch of the Old Colony Railroad, and on the sea-coast, about 22 miles E.S.E. of New Bedford. It has a national bank, a newspaper office, an academy, and several churches. Pop. in 1880,512; in 1890, about 600; of the township in 1880, 2422; in 1890, 2567.