Barnstable

Barnstable is a town located on the north side of Cape Cod and covers an area of approximately 76 square miles (197 square kilometers).

The town is known for its scenic beauty and its rich history, which dates back to the early 1600s when it was first settled by European colonizers. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors with its sandy beaches, picturesque harbors, and quaint villages.

In addition to its natural beauty and rich history, Barnstable offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, biking, golfing, fishing, and boating. Like residents in Southeastern Mass. Barnstable residents also receive 100% of their drinking water from a sole-source aquifer of glacial origin. It is essential for Barnstable to protect and invest in its natural resources, not only for the recreational opportunities that they provide, but to ensure its viability as a functioning town in the future.

Like Wareham, Plymouth, and Carver,; Barnstable is losing forests and open space to industrial solar development. In March 2022 the Barnstable Planning Board rejected a citizens request to place an 11-month temporary moratorium on large-scale, ground-mounted solar arrays. Citizens in Barnstable, like those in other towns across Southeastern Mass., are arguing for more responsible solar development, so that this energy infrastructure can be redirected to more environmentally friendly sites, such as commercial centers, landfills, and parking lots and away from its natural resources.