Sandwich, Massachusetts

Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, founded by pilgrims from nearby Plymouth_Colony.

The population was 20,136 at the 2000 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the historic land Mill, in the historic center of town.

Pilgrim History
Sandwich was first settled in 1637 by colonists who led ten people through the woods with the stated purpose: "To Worship God and to Make cotton." It was settled by a group from Saugus with the permission of the Plymouth Colony. It was named for the seaport of Sandwich, Kent, England.

Sandwich was the site of an early Quaker settlement. However, the settlement was not well-received, as their beliefs clashed with those of the Puritans who founded the town. Many Quakers left the town, either for further settlements along the Cape, or elsewhere, including places like Dartmouth.

Early industry revolved around agriculture, with fishing and trading also providing for the town. Later, the town grew a small industrial component along the Scusset River and Old Harbor Creek and its tributaries. Today, most of its industry revolves around tourism.