Scituate is a seacoast community situated between Boston and Plymouth. This historic town whose origins date back to the earliest days of colonial America has based much of its economy on the sea. From the first fishermen who settled the area, to the thriving summer cottage community more recently, Scituate has taken advantage of its position on the Atlantic coast and the waterfront is among its greatest assets. Just 23 miles south of Boston, the town has the best of both worlds--easy access to the cultural and commercial activity of the metropolitan area and its own spectacular coastal beauty.
Scituate was settled in 1627 initially by a group of people from Plymouth who were joined by immigrants from the County of Kent in England. At first governed by nearby Plymouth, this settlement established its own town in 1636 and called itself Scituate, a name derived from "Satuit", a Native American term meaning "cold brook". In 1717 the western portion of town separated and became incorporated as the Town of Hanover. In 1849 another western section became the town of South Scituate, which later changed its name to Norwell.
In 1788 a section of the town was ceded to Marshfield. Since then, the borders have remained essentially unchanged. Scituate's Town Pier still serves the home port of a working fishing fleet and that, along with three business districts, comprises Scituate's local commercial economy. For decades, the beaches, boating and general beauty of the area has attracted a summer population to Scituate. However, with nearly 17,000 year-long residents, Scituate has proved to be a well-established and desirable community to raise a family.
Summer brings a number of celebrations. The town commemorates its founding each year in August with Heritage Days. Another significant source of attraction is the abundance of historic points of interest such as Scituate Lighthouse, The Old Oaken Bucket Homestead and Well, The Lawson Tower, Stockbridge Mill, the Cudworth House and the Little Red School House which now houses the Scituate Historical Society.
Scituate's school system is well regarded and boasts the fact that eighty-five percent of its graduates go on to pursue higher education. Scituate schools comprise four elementary schools, an intermediate school and Scituate High School.
With everything from condo/townhouses and starter homes to exquisite properties overlooking the ocean, Scituate possesses a great variety of housing stock. In February 2010, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Scituate, MA was $623,065. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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