Barnstable Town Profile

Seven villages form Barnstable, the heart of Cape Cod

The town of Barnstable is the summer home of one of America’s first families of politics, the Kennedys, but it’s also the commercial, entertainment and government center of Cape Cod. On Cape Cod, Barnstable is where the action is.

While Hyannis is the commercial center of Cape Cod, it’s only one of seven villages in the town of Barnstable. Each village – Hyannis, Centerville, Osterville, Cotuit, Marstons Mills, Barnstable and West Barnstable – has a distinct character.

The Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis – which includes Macy’s, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, the Gap and a 12-screen movie theater – is a destination for those who seek shopping under one roof. On nearby Main Street in Hyannis, you can stroll to Puritan Cape Cod, a clothing store founded in 1919; Cape Cod Jewelers; Main Street Seafood & Grill; and dozens of other shops and restaurants. Main Street is also the place for year-round nightlife, with live music at Harry’s Blues Bar, the Island Merchant and Roo Bar.

In addition to stores and restaurants, Hyannis is home to the Cape Cod Melody Tent, the place for an annual chowder festival and concerts by such performers as Tony Bennett, Diana Krall, Willie Nelson and the Beach Boys. Just down the street is the town’s high school, which includes a new astronomy park and a state-of-the-art auditorium that is home to the school’s award-winning drama department and the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra. The Barnstable High School girls volleyball team won a sixth straight state title in 2008. The school’s running track is a gathering spot for local athletes of all ages. With many homes on smaller lots and a variety of condominiums, Hyannis is the village of choice for many entry-level homebuyers.

Centerville has something of a split personality. North of Route 28 are a number of housing developments built in the 1960s or later. South of Route 28 has a mix of historic and contemporary homes. Features that draw residents to Centerville include a quiet Main Street that is home to a much-used community playground, the Centerville Historical Museum and the 1856 Country Store. Nationally renowned Four Seas Ice Cream is just around the corner. Two of the town’s most popular beaches – Craigville and Covell – are in Centerville.

Osterville is one of the more desirable Cape Cod addresses. Many of the houses in this village are larger and feature compelling architecture, especially on Wianno Avenue. Dowses Beach, Joshua’s Pond and Crystal Lake are among Osterville’s alluring draws, along with a Main Street shopping district that includes such boutiques as Wendy Wheeler, Bedroom I’s and Pocket Full of Posies.

Cotuit is rich in history, with many stately old homes and a vibrant historical society. Cotuit has an off-the-beaten-path feel. Local folks gather at the Kettle-Ho Restaurant and Tavern and pick up some grocery staples at the Cotuit Grocery Co., known as the Coop. The Regatta of Cotuit is one of the Cape’s best-reviewed restaurants. The Cotuit Center for the Arts hosts art exhibitions, concerts and plays.

If Hyannis is the commercial center of Barnstable, Marstons Mills is the suburbs. The village has a sleepy feel in many of its neighborhoods. But Marstons Mills is also home to the Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course, one of two municipal courses in the town. The Super Stop & Shop in Marstons Mills is the only supermarket in the town outside of Hyannis.

Barnstable and West Barnstable are the twin villages of Barnstable. Stretching along the north side of town, they share Route 6A, a historic road lined with homes dating back to the 1700s. Each village has a general store that is a place to pick up a newspaper, a sandwich and the latest rumor. The north-side beaches include 6-mile-long Sandy Neck Beach in West Barnstable, a perfect spot for sun worshippers, hikers and off-road vehicle owners. The Cape’s county government is headquartered in Barnstable village, as is the Barnstable Comedy Club, a community theater group.

The Hyannis Mets and the Cotuit Kettleers represent the town in the Cape Cod Baseball League, a summer league for college players. Annual events in Barnstable include the Figawi sailboat race to Nantucket, the Cotuit Arts and Crafts Festival, the Cape Cod Writers Conference, the Pops by the Sea concert by the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the Hyannis Marathon and Christmas strolls in Hyannis, Centerville and Osterville.