Eastham, Massachusetts
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Image:Eastham, MA Seal.jpg Eastham is a town located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 5,453.
For geographic and demographic information about the village of North Eastham, please see North Eastham, Massachusetts.
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History
Eastham was first settled in 1644 and was officially incorporated in 1646.
It is discussed at some length in H.D. Thoreau's .Cape Cod as the somewhat rugged site of one of New England's largest summer "camp-meeting" evangelistic gatherings in the mid-1800s. The gatherings were at times attended by at least "one hundred and fifty ministers, (!) and five thousand hearers", at a site called Millennium Grove.
Geography
Image:Eastham ma highlight.png According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 70.6 km² (27.2 mi²). 36.2 km² (14.0 mi²) of it is land and 34.3 km² (13.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 48.66% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 5,453 people, 2,396 households, and 1,634 families residing in the town. The population density was 150.5/km² (389.8/mi²). There were 5,535 housing units at an average density of 152.8/km² (395.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.31% White, 1.49% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,396 households out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.66.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,618, and the median income for a family was $51,269. Males had a median income of $36,642 versus $32,109 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,642. 7.0% of the population and 4.5% of families were below the poverty line. 6.5% of those under the age of 18 and 7.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
