The Town of Orleans, incorporated in 1797, is a resort community on the
outer Cape whose European history begins in 1642 with the first permanent
settlement established by Nicholas Snow and his family. Settlers had
purchased rights to the town from Mattaguason, sachem of the Manamoyick
Indians.
The Colonial economy was built on agriculture, especially corn, rye and
wheat, plus the growing of hay and vegetables. In the 18th century
commercial fishing and shellfishing supplemented local incomes and
residents worked on herring boats and went after whales. By the 19th
century, coastal packets from Boston were being serviced and several
windmills created power resources in the town, but the heaviest reliance by
residents was on cod and mackerel fishing. Life long residents recall that
in those days the very old and the very young farmed, while all the
able-bodied men fished. Fishing in Orleans declined as competition from
larger boats and larger ports grew, but the town had established a
commercial importance on the Cape as a market center for other communities,
that continues into the 20th century.
Small businesses like the Mayo Duck Farm that produced 50,000 ducklings in
1918 were welcomed by the town, but the major modern change in Orleans was
spurred by the impact of summer development. This resort home development,
which accelerated between 1915 and 1940 and still continues, has had the
greatest effect on the town and in turn has supported increasing commercial
development along Route 6.
(Narrative supplied by community)
