Massachusetts

Plymouth

530,819
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Plymouth

Plymouth, Massachusetts, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 29,535. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 530,819.

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

On the ground today, 13 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Wessagusset (Weston) Colony Massacre 1623, Wessagusset Affair, Sassamon Murder (KPW trigger, 1675), and 144 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020530,819
2010494,919
2000472,822
1990435,276
1980405,437
1970333,314
1960248,449
1950189,468
1940168,824
1930162,311
1920156,968
1910144,337
1900113,985
189092,700
188074,018
187065,365
186064,768
185055,697
184047,373
183043,044
182038,136
181035,169
180030,073
179029,535
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Plymouth

Military engagements that took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Wessagusset (Weston) Colony Massacre 1623
1623
Wessagusset Affair
1623
Sassamon Murder (KPW trigger, 1675)
1675
King Philip's War – Raid on Middleborough MA 1675
1675
Attack on Bridgewater 1675
1675
Clark's Garrison Attack 1676
1676
Captain Church's Swamp Fight (Bridgewater area 1676)
1676
Battle of Bridgewater Swamp 1676
1676
Raid on Scituate MA 1676
1676
King Philip's War – Raid on Plymouth Town 1676
1676
Plymouth Colony Garrison System Battles
1676
Skirmish at Scituate MA (Lighthouse Ruse)
1814
British Raid on Wareham MA
1814

Historic places in Plymouth

National Register of Historic Places listings in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Paragon Park Carousel
Hull
Pinewoods Camp
Plymouth
Adams, Frederic C., Public Library
Kingston
Rockland Trust Company
Rockland
Middleborough Waterworks
Middleborough
Old Ship Meetinghouse
Hingham
Washburn, C.P., Grain Mill
Middleboro
East Bridgewater Common Historic District
East Bridgewater
Stetson-Ford House
Norwell
Cole's Hill
Plymouth
Cushing Homestead
Hingham
Old County Courthouse
Plymouth
Bradford, Captain Daniel, House
Duxbury
Brockton Edison Electric Illuminating Company Power Station
Brockton
Old Post Office Building
Brockton
Wampanucket Site
Middleboro
Bird Island Light
Marion
Scituate Light
Scituate
South Hingham Historic District
Hingham
Sparrow, Richard, House
Plymouth
US Post Office-Middleborough Main
Middleborough
Cardinal Cushing Center Historic District
Hanover
Webster, Daniel, Law Office and Library
Marshfield
Duxbury Pier Light
Plymouth
Browse all Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Other counties in Massachusetts

Explore census history and historic records for more Massachusetts counties.

BristolDukesEssexFranklinHampdenHampshireMiddlesexNantucketNorfolkSuffolkWorcesterBarnstableBerkshire
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Everything a full report reveals about Plymouth County, Massachusetts

This page charts the census history of Plymouth 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 Plymouth

When does Plymouth first appear in the US census?
Plymouth, Massachusetts first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 29,535.
What is the population of Plymouth?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Plymouth had a recorded population of 530,819.
Were any battles fought in Plymouth?
13 documented military engagements took place in Plymouth, including Wessagusset (Weston) Colony Massacre 1623, Wessagusset Affair, Sassamon Murder (KPW trigger, 1675).
How many historic places are in Plymouth?
144 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
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