Provincetown, Massachusetts |
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Provincetown is a town located at the extreme tip of Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The population was 3,431 at the 2000 census. It is sometimes referred to as "P-town." Provincetown is an historic fishing village known for its art community, wonderful restaurants, galleries and whale watching opportunities, making it a favorite destination for Cape Cod vacationers.
Nearly two-thirds of the town's land area is covered by the Cape Cod National Seashore. To the north lie the "Province Lands," the area of dunes and small ponds extending from Mount Ararat in the east to Race Point in the west, along the Massachusetts Bay shore. The Cape Cod Bay shoreline extends from Race Point to the far west to the Wood End in the south, eastward to Long Point, which points inward towards the Cape, and providing a natural barrier for Provincetown Harbor. All three points are marked by lighthouses. The town's population center extends along the harbor, south of the Seashore's lands.
Provincetown is also home to three contemporary resident theater companies: the New Provincetown Players, Shakespeare on the Cape (SOTC), and the Gold Dust Orphans.
Provincetown operates its own schools for the approximately 200 school-aged children in town. The Veterans Memorial Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, and the Provincetown High School serves students from seventh through twelfth grades (and also accepts students from Truro). PHS's sports teams are known as the Fishermen, and the school colors are black and orange. There are no private schools in Provincetown; students may attend Cape Cod Regional Technical High School in Harwich or Nauset Regional High School in North Eastham free of charge.