County Past
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Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Historic newspapers, landmarks, and county history layers for genealogists and local historians.

—newspaper titles
—digitized titles
208historic places
—earliest paper
1685formed
228,996pop. 2020
88cemeteries
—CW battlefields

At a glance

Summary

The National Register of Historic Places includes 208 listed properties in the county, first listed in 1971; 3 are also National Historic Landmarks. Most listings are in or near Barnstable, Wellfleet, Chatham.

Summary generated automatically from the source data on this page.

Newspapers

Library of Congress

Newspaper directory data for Massachusetts is not yet loaded on this site. Browse Barnstable titles at the Library of Congress.

National Register of Historic Places

NPS NRHP

138 of 208 listings mapped; some locations are restricted by NPS to protect sensitive sites.

208 listed properties
PropertyCityTypeListed
Adams-Crocker-Fish HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Ahearn House and Summer HouseWellfleetBuilding1984
Ames, Josiah A., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Ancient Burying GroundBarnstableSite1987
Aptucxet Trading Post Museum Historic DistrictBourneDistrict2021
Atwood, Thomas, HouseWellfleetBuilding1976
Atwood-Higgins Historic DistrictWellfleetDistrict2010
Avant HouseMashpeeBuilding1998
Baker, Benjamin, Jr., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Baker, Capt. Seth, Jr., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Baker, Nathaniel, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Barnstable County CourthouseBarnstableBuilding1981
Baxter MillWest YarmouthBuilding1981
Baxter, Capt. Rodney J., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Baxter, Capt. Sylvester, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Baxter, Charles L., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Baxter, Shubael, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Beacon, TheEasthamStructure1987
Bearse, Capt. Allen H., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Bearse, Capt. Oliver, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Berry, Captain James, HouseHarwichBuilding1986
Blish-Garret HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Bourne High SchoolBourneBuilding2013
Bourne Town HallBourneBuilding2013
Bourne, Jonathan, Public LibraryBourneBuilding2013
Bournedale Village SchoolBourneBuilding2013
Brandeis, Louis, House NHLChathamBuilding1972
Bray, Thomas, FarmYarmouthBuilding1988
Brewster Old King's Highway Historic DistrictBrewsterDistrict1996
Brick BlockChathamBuilding1979
Bridge Road CemeteryEasthamSite1999
Briggs, George I., HouseBourneBuilding1981
Building at 237-239 Main StreetBarnstableBuilding1987
Building at 600 Main StreetBarnstableBuilding1987
Building at 606 Main StreetBarnstableBuilding1987
Building at 614 Main StreetBarnstableBuilding1987
Campbell, Collen C., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Canary-Hartnett HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Cataumet SchoolhouseBourneBuilding2019
Center Methodist ChurchProvincetownBuilding1975
Centerville Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Central Fire StationFalmouthBuilding1998
Chase LibraryHarwichBuilding2014
Chase, Lemuel B., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Chatham Light StationChathamStructure1987
Chatham Railroad DepotChathamBuilding1978
Chatham WindmillChathamStructure1978
Cleveland Ledge Light StationBourneStructure1987
Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG 36500OrleansStructure2005
Cobb Memorial LibraryTruroBuilding2013
Collins Cottages Historic DistrictEasthamDistrict1999
Cotuit Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Cove Burying GroundEasthamSite1999
Craigville Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Crocker, Benomi and Barnabas, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Crocker, Capt. Alexander, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Crocker, Ebenezer, Jr., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Crocker, Lot, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Crosby, Daniel, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Crowell-Bourne FarmWest FalmouthBuilding1980
Crowell-Smith HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Dennis Village CemeteryDennisSite2005
Dennis, Josiah, HouseDennisBuilding1974
Dillingham HouseBrewsterBuilding1976
Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic DistrictProvincetownDistrict2012
Eastham Center Historic DistrictEasthamDistrict1999
Eldredge Public LibraryChathamBuilding1992
Falmouth Pumping StationFalmouthBuilding1998
Falmouth Village Green Historic DistrictFalmouthDistrict1996
First Congregational Parish Historic DistrictTruroDistrict2014
First Universalist ChruchProvincetownBuilding1972
Forestdale SchoolSandwichBuilding1997
Fort Hill Rural Historic DistrictEasthamDistrict2001
French Cable HutNorth EasthamBuilding1976
French Cable StationOrleansBuilding1972
Fuller HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Gifford FarmBarnstableBuilding1987
Gleason, Dr. Edward Francis, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Goodspeed HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Gray, Capt. Thomas, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Half Way HouseChathamBuilding1978
Hallett, Capt. William, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Hallett, Seth, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Harlow HomesteadBarnstableBuilding1987
Harwich Historic DistrictHarwichDistrict1975
Harwich Port LibraryHarwichBuilding2026
Hatch, Ruth and Robert Jr., HouseWellfleetBuilding2014
Hawley, Gideon, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Hawthorne Class StudioProvincetownBuilding1978
Higgins, Jedediah, HouseNorth TruroStructure1984
Highland HouseTruroBuilding1975
Highland Light StationTruroStructure1987
Hinckley HomesteadBarnstableBuilding1987
Hinckley's Corner Historic DistrictWellFleetDistrict1998
Hinckley, Capt. Joseph, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Hinckley, Nymphus, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Hinckley, S. Alexander, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Hyannis Port Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Hyannis Road Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Isham, Herman, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Jarves, John and Mary Waterman, HouseSandwichBuilding2002
Jarvesville Historic DistrictSanwichDistrict2010
Jenkins, John, HomesteadBarnstableBuilding1987
Jenkins, Joseph, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Jenkins-Whelden FarmsteadBarnstableBuilding1987
Kelley, Mercelia Evelyn Eldridge, HouseChathamBuilding2005
Kennedy Compound NHLHyannis PortDistrict1972
Kugel, Peter, HouseWellfleetBuilding2014
Kuhn, Samuel and Minette, HouseWellfleetBuilding
Lawrence AcademyFalmouthBuilding1998
Liberty HallBarnstableBuilding1987
Lincoln House ClubBarnstableBuilding1987
Long Point Light StationProvincetownStructure1987
Lovell, Capt. George, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Lovell, Nehemiah, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Marcel Breuer House and StudioWellfleetBuilding2024
Marconi Wireless Station SiteSouth WellfleetSite1975
Marconi-RCA Wireless Receiving StationChathamDistrict1994
Marston, William, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Marstons Mills Hearse House and CemeteryBarnstableSite1987
Merrill EstateBarnstableBuilding1987
Methodist ChurchBarnstableBuilding1987
Mill Way Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Monomoy Point LighthouseChathamBuilding1979
Municipal Group Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Nauset Archeological District NHLEasthamDistrict1993
Nauset Beach LightEasthamStructure1987
Newcomb, John, HouseWellfleetBuilding1988
Nickerson MansionBrewsterBuilding1986
Nobska Point Light StationFalmouthStructure1987
North Falmouth Village Historic DistrictFalmouthDistrict1998
Northside Historic DistrictYarmouthDistrict1987
Nye, Benjamin, HomesteadSandwichBuilding1992
Nye, Elnathan, HouseFalmouthBuilding2002
Oak Grove CemeteryFalmouthSite2014
Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving StationChathamBuilding1975
Old Higgins Farm WindmillBrewsterStructure1975
Old Indian Meeting HouseMashpeeBuilding1998
Old JailBarnstableBuilding1971
Old King's Highway Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Old North CemeteryTruroSite2013
Old Town Center Historic DistrictEasthamDistrict2001
Old Village Historic DistrictChathamDistrict2001
Osterville Baptist ChurchBarnstableBuilding1987
PAUL PALMER (Shipwreck and Remains)ProvincetownSite2007
Paine Hollow Road South Historic DistrictWellfleetDistrict1998
Penniman, Edward, House and BarnEasthamBuilding1976
Phinney, William and Jane, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Pine Grove CemeteryTruroSite2013
Pleasant-School Street Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Pond Hill SchoolWellfleetBuilding1989
Poor House and Methodist CemeteryFalmouthBuilding1998
Port Royal HouseChathamBuilding1982
Provincetown Historic DistrictProvincetownDistrict1989
Provincetown Public LibraryProvincetownBuilding1975
Race Point Light StationProvincetownStructure1987
Rhodehouse, Nelson, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Richardson, John, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Robbins, Joseph, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Round HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Rowell HouseWellfleetBuilding1988
Sampson's Folly-Josiah Sampson HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Sandy Neck Cultural Resources DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Santuit Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Santuit Post OfficeBarnstableBuilding1987
Saunders-Paine HouseWellfleetBuilding1998
Sea Call FarmOrleansBuilding2008
Sears, Jacob, Memorial LibraryDennisBuilding2009
Sirna, Anthony and Allison, StudioWellfleetBuilding2014
Smith, Matthias, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Smith, Samuel, Tavern SiteWellfleetSite1977
South Chatham Village Historic DistrictChathamDistrict2022
South Harwich Methodist ChurchHarwichBuilding1986
South Yarmouth/Bass River Historic DistrictYarmouthDistrict1990
Spring Hill Historic DistrictSandwichDistrict2010
Stony Brook-Factory Village Historic DistrictBrewsterDistrict2000
Taylor-Bray FarmYarmouthBuilding1993
Teaticket SchoolFalmouthBuilding2002
Three Sisters of Nauset (Twin Lights)EasthamStructure1987
Tisza, Vera and Laszlo, HouseWellfleetBuilding2014
Tobey, Josiah, HouseFalmouthBuilding1994
Town Boundary MarkerBarnstableObject1987
Town Hall Square Historic DistrictSandwichDistrict1975
Town Hall Square Historic District Boundary IncreaseSandwichDistrict2010
Town Line Boundary MarkerBarnstableObject1987
Town Line Boundary MarkerBarnstableObject1987
Townsend HouseWellfleetBuilding1998
Travelers ClubBourneBuilding2025
Truro Highlands Historic DistrictTruroDistrict2011
U.S. CustomshouseBarnstableBuilding1975
US Post Office-Provincetown MainProvincetownBuilding1987
Union HallTruroBuilding1997
Universalist Society MeetinghouseOrleansBuilding1999
Waquoit Historic DistrictFalmouthDistrict2004
Weeks, Barzillai, HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Weidlinger, Paul and MadeleineWellfleetBuilding2014
Wellfleet Center Historic DistrictWellfleetDistrict1989
West Barnstable Village-Meetinghouse Way Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
West Dennis Graded SchoolDennisBuilding2000
West Falmouth Village Historic DistrictFalmouthDistrict1998
West SchoolhouseDennisBuilding1975
Whitman, Josiah B., HouseBarnstableBuilding1987
Wianno ClubOstervilleBuilding1979
Wianno Historic DistrictBarnstableDistrict1987
Wing Fort HouseEast SandwichBuilding1976
Wing's Neck LightBourneStructure1987
Wood End Light Lookout StationProvincetownStructure1987
Yarmouth Camp Ground Historic DistrictYarmouth/BarnstableDistrict1990

Source: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Property links open NRHP nomination files at the National Archives.

County formation

Newberry AHCB

Barnstable was formed in 1685 (1685-06-02) from unknown / original county.

BARNSTABLE created as one of three original counties in New Plymouth Colony.

Source: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Population by decade

Census

Barnstable County population from 1790 to 2020 (Census historical series).

229k123k17k179018001840188019101920196020002020
17901800182018401860188019001920194019501960198020002020
17,35419,29324,02632,54835,99031,89727,82626,67037,29546,80570,286147,925222,230228,996

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau historical county population (Forstall 1790–1990) and public-domain / CC0 county population series through 2020.

National Park Service sites nearby

NPS

Park units within about 40 km of the county centroid (from NPS Public POIs; no API key).

SiteTypeDist.
Cape Cod National SeashoreNational Seashore30.4 km

Source: NPS National Datasets / Public POIs. The NPS Developer API requires a free key and was not used.

Cemeteries & historical places

USGS GNIS

88 cemeteries and 3 historical populated places (ghost towns / former settlements) recorded in USGS GNIS for this county.

Cemeteries — 80 of 88 listed
NameLatLon
Ancient Cemetery41.71122-70.2328
Ancient Sears Cemetery41.74428-70.1453
Bay View Cemetery41.7582-70.50935
Beechwood Cemetery41.65622-70.34863
Brewster Cemetery41.76038-70.09687
Brewster Memorial Cemetery41.74071-70.07827
Bridge Road Cemetery41.82598-69.98079
Cataumet Cemetery41.67705-70.60586
Cedarville Cemetery41.73971-70.4436
Centerville Ancient Cemetery41.65486-70.34306
Chandler Gray Cemetery41.66951-70.25177
Cobb Hill Cemetery41.70113-70.29973
Cove Burying Ground Cemetery41.81144-69.97072
Crocker Park Cemetery41.69532-70.37845
Crowell Cemetery41.61271-70.62717
Cummaquid Cemetery41.69755-70.28041
Dennis Village Cemetery41.73652-70.1916
Dillingham Cemetery41.74502-70.11754
Eastham Congregational and Soldiers Cemetery41.84116-69.98149
Eldredge Family Cemetery41.67795-70.02374
Evergreen Cemetery41.84278-69.98341
Evergreen Cemetery41.70223-70.01965
Freeman Cemetery41.75733-70.50847
Georgetown Cemetery41.67301-70.18144
Gray Gables Cemetery41.73464-70.61308
Hall Cemetery41.74195-70.19174
Hamilton Cemetery42.0552-70.18707
Hill of Churches Hills of Storms Cemetery42.00149-70.0514
Hillside Cemetery41.63174-70.37879
Howes Family Cemetery41.73439-70.20391
Island Pond Cemetery41.68813-70.07826
Lothrop Hill Cemetery41.70435-70.31663
Massachusetts National Cemetery41.67317-70.58332
Methodist Cemetery41.65536-70.20598
Methodist Society Burying Ground41.55361-70.60352
Monument Beach Cemetery41.71515-70.60976
Mosswood Cemetery41.62853-70.43131
Mount Hope Cemetery41.75193-70.48454
Mount Pleasant Cemetery41.67344-70.08134
Nobscusset Indian Burial Ground41.74508-70.18287
Oak Grove Cemetery41.64287-70.28904
Oak Grove Cemetery41.56539-70.61614
Oak Neck Cemetery41.64262-70.28653
Oak Ridge Cemetery41.71122-70.15502
Oakdale Cemetery41.94519-70.02454
Oakland Grove Cemetery41.7404-70.60358
Old Baptist Cemetery41.69041-69.97403
Old Bourne Cemetery41.73827-70.59799
Old Burying Ground41.69455-69.98696
Old North Cemetery42.02399-70.07336
Old North Cemetery41.69456-69.98557
Old South Cemetery41.69402-69.98605
Old Town Cemetery41.54978-70.62439
Orleans Cemetery41.78426-69.97673
Ouivett Cemetery41.74965-70.14046
Paddock Cemetery41.74376-70.17328
Peoples Cemetery41.69228-69.96826
Percival Cemetery41.687-70.45586
Pine Grove Cemetery41.76903-70.06371
Pine Grove Cemetery41.97604-70.05954
Pine Grove Cemetery41.66817-70.18835
Pine Grove Cemetery41.67234-70.12142
Pleasant Hill Cemetery41.94514-70.02616
Provincetown Cemetery42.0556-70.18853
Red Top Cemetery41.74379-70.13398
Saddle and Pilgrim Graves41.76729-70.51907
Saint Francis Xaviers Cemetery41.65156-70.33318
Saint Joseph's Cemetery41.569-70.60586
Saint Peters Cemetery42.05497-70.19221
Sandy Street Cemetery41.69712-70.34023
Seaside Cemetery41.68621-69.96613
Smallpox Cemetery41.69824-69.99554
Snow Cemetery41.99772-70.05477
South Chatham Cemetery41.67823-70.03029
South Dennis Congregational Church Cemetery41.67562-70.15623
South Harwich Cemetery41.678-70.04635
South Wellfleet Cemetery41.90869-69.98525
Swan Lake Annex Cemetery41.67706-70.12863
Tobey Cemetery41.69833-70.48721
Union Cemetery41.68955-69.97113
Historical populated places — 3 of 3
NameLatLon
Camp Mar Vel41.93205-70.02224
Le Count Hollow41.92372-69.97724
Truro Station41.99177-70.0703

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (public domain). Cemeteries from the 2021 NationalFile archive; historical places from GNIS HistoricalFeatures topical extract.

Historical markers

HMdb link

Marker text and photos from the Historical Marker Database (HMdb) are not embedded here. HMdb allows non-commercial reuse with attribution, but commercial/compensated use needs written permission; this is a commercial site, so we only link out.

Search HMdb for Barnstable County, Massachusetts

Terms: hmdb.org/copyright.asp. Linking is encouraged by HMdb.