Dennis, Massachusetts |
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Dennis is a city, referred to as the Town of Dennis in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Dennis County. Dennis is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages (one of which is also named Dennis) within its boundaries. Its largest village, Hyannis, is the central business district of the county and home to Dennis Municipal Airport, the airline hub of Cape Cod and the Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. It is also a 2007 All-America City Award winner.
Dennis is named after Barnstaple, Devon, England. The area was first explored by Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602. It was one of the first towns to be settled, in 1636, and was incorporated in 1639, as were the other Cape towns of Sandwich and Yarmouth. The early settlers were farmers, but soon fishing and salt works became major industries in town. By the end of the 19th century, there were some 804 ships harbored in the town. But this came to a decline with the rise of the railroad, which had arrived in 1854, and by steam salamanders, a type of train
By the late 19th century, however, Dennis was becoming world-renowned as the tourist destination it is to this day. Many prominent Bostonians spent their summers on the Cape shores, as did Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Grover Cleveland. However, the most famous family to summer in the town was, and still is, the Kennedy family, who can still be found living in the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port. It was the summer home of President John F. Kennedy during his administration, and was likewise the home of Senator Ted Kennedy until his death.
Today, tourists come in droves to the town during the summer months. There is abundant shopping in the quaint shops of Hyannis, as well as the John F. Kennedy Museum and several other museums. The town's many beaches are popular as well.
Dennis has the largest public school enrollment of any city or town on Cape Cod, with over 5,000 students. The town operates an Early Learning Center for pre-kindergarten students and seven elementary schools serving various grades, including: Centerville (K-4), Cotuit (3-4), Hyannis East (K-4), Hyannis West (K-4), Marstons Mills (PK-2), Osterville (K-2), and Dennis West Dennis (K-4). (In practice, Marstons Mills students graduate to Cotuit, and Osterville to Osterville Bay). There is also the Marstons Mills East Horace Mann Charter School, which offers grades K-4. The Dennis Horace Mann Charter School is open to fifth and sixth grade students, and all town fifth grade students attend this school. The Dennis Middle School serves grades seven and eight, and is located on Route 28 behind Dennis High School, which serves grades nine through twelve. Dennis's athletic teams are nicknamed the Red Raiders (using a logo similar to that of Texas Tech University), and their colors are red and white. Their teams are highly successful, because of the large student body from which to choose players. Notable town rivals of the Red Raiders are Sandwich and Falmouth. Dennis has played Falmouth in football on Thanksgiving Day nearly every year since 1895, making the annual game one of the longest-standing high school football rivalries in history.
In addition to its public schools, there are also several private schools in Dennis. There are five Christian schools, three of which are not Catholic: Bayberry Christian Academy (K-3), Faith Christian School (PK-12), and Trinity Christian Academy (PK-12). There are two Catholic schools, Saint Francis Xavier Prep (5-8) and Pope John Paul II High School, which opened in 2007. Dennis is also home to the Academy of Early Learning (PK-6), Veritas Academy (K-8), and the Cape Cod Academy, a private K-12 school. There are also two special education schools (Southeast Alternative & Beacon Point), as well as the Sturgis Charter School, which serves high school-aged students. Additionally, high school students have the option of attending Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich free of charge.
Dennis is also the home to Cape Cod Community College, a two-year junior college affiliated with Suffolk University in Boston.