Massachusetts

Barnstable

228,996
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Barnstable

Barnstable, Massachusetts, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 17,354. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 228,996.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them British Raid on Falmouth MA, and 207 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020228,996
2010215,888
2000222,230
1990186,605
1980147,925
197096,656
196070,286
195046,805
194037,295
193032,305
192026,670
191027,542
190027,826
189029,172
188031,897
187032,774
186035,990
185035,276
184032,548
183028,514
182024,026
181022,211
180019,293
179017,354
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Barnstable

Military engagements that took place in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

British Raid on Falmouth MA
1814

Historic places in Barnstable

National Register of Historic Places listings in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

Ahearn House and Summer House
Wellfleet
Townsend House
Wellfleet
Robbins, Joseph, House
Barnstable
Truro Highlands Historic District
Truro
Universalist Society Meetinghouse
Orleans
Smith, Samuel, Tavern Site
Wellfleet
US Post Office-Provincetown Main
Provincetown
Union Hall
Truro
Poor House and Methodist Cemetery
Falmouth
Old Jail
Barnstable
Marconi Wireless Station Site
South Wellfleet
Eastham Center Historic District
Eastham
Hinckley, Capt. Joseph, House
Barnstable
Long Point Light Station
Provincetown
Campbell, Collen C., House
Barnstable
Building at 237-239 Main Street
Barnstable
Kennedy Compound
Hyannis Port
Wing's Neck Light
Bourne
French Cable Station
Orleans
First Universalist Chruch
Provincetown
South Yarmouth/Bass River Historic District
Yarmouth
Marcel Breuer House and Studio
Wellfleet
Chatham Light Station
Chatham
Brandeis, Louis, House
Chatham
Browse all Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Other counties in Massachusetts

Explore census history and historic records for more Massachusetts counties.

PlymouthSuffolkWorcesterBerkshireBristolDukesEssexFranklinHampdenHampshireMiddlesexNantucketNorfolk
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Everything a full report reveals about Barnstable County, Massachusetts

This page charts the census history of Barnstable County, Massachusetts. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Barnstable

When does Barnstable first appear in the US census?
Barnstable, Massachusetts first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 17,354.
What is the population of Barnstable?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Barnstable had a recorded population of 228,996.
Were any battles fought in Barnstable?
1 documented military engagement took place in Barnstable, including British Raid on Falmouth MA.
How many historic places are in Barnstable?
207 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Barnstable, Massachusetts.
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