About Mashpee
Mashpee’s history is unique compared with that of other Cape Cod towns. Its historic roots are those of the Mashpee Wampanoag people, also known as the People of First Light, whose respect for the earth has been adopted by many who have come to share, with them, this special place. Mashpee’s roots are drawn from a culture that has treasured these lands for millennia.
Mashpee is situated on the southwest end of Cape Cod, bordered by Sandwich on the north, Barnstable on the east, Nantucket Sound on the south, and Falmouth on the west. It consists of 27.24 square miles with a land area of 23.48 square miles and 1,614 acres of ponds. Our town is blessed with over five miles of beaches on Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds, water frontage on Waquoit and Popponesset Bays, four of the largest freshwater ponds on Cape Cod, rivers, streams, estuaries, marshes, bogs, and protected open space acreage with walking trails. Mashpee offers opportunities for hiking, swimming, kayaking, boating, fishing, and shellfishing.
In addition to having such a wide variety of ecological assets, Mashpee is also home to the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1995, and co-located in Mashpee and Falmouth. This unique refuge consists of over 5,000 acres of land, set aside for the protection of wildlife, and is owned by nine Federal, State, and private conservation groups. The periodic acquisition of additional parcels within the defined refuge boundary demonstrates a commitment to the preservation and enhancement of this incredible environmental expanse.
Mashpee property owners have long supported environment-protecting measures to enhance everyone’s quality of life. Their actions have achieved the acquisition of many acres of open space that has resulted in protecting the Town’s semi-rural character, as well as providing excellent potable water supplies, walking trails, vistas, fresh and saltwater beaches and boat launching facilities.
Individuals driving through our town on a numbered route have no idea about the many features Mashpee contains. While the skeptic may think of all Cape Cod as “Sand and Scrub Oak”, we who know Mashpee have a much different view. We are abundantly aware of the fresh, salt and brackish waters with their recreational and harvesting attributes. We know the capture and taste delights from many fin-fishing and shell-fishing accessible locations. Our residents and visitors have walked the trails, enjoyed our surface waters, explored the pine barrens, and learned by viewing cedar swamps, frost valleys, wetlands, scenic vistas and many other environmental features that contribute to the richness of the town. Our freshwater beaches are noted on the Ponds and Streams page, salt beaches are on the Estuaries page.
We invite you to explore the Mashpee we know and respect so you can see for yourself just how special a place it is.
(Adapted in part from the Mashpee Blue Pages and the Town of Mashpee Website)