The population is approximately 47,821. It is named after Barnstaple, Devon, England. The city contains a number of villages one of which is also named Barnstable. The village of Hyannis is home to Cape Cods commercial air hub, Barnstable Municipal Airport.

Points of interest include the home of the Revolutionary War patriot James Otis, in West Barnstable, the John F Kennedy Memorial, in Hyannis and several 18th century buildings. From colonial times until the middle of the 19th century Barnstable had a prosperous coastal and overseas shipping trade.

The Cahoon Museum of American Art resides in a beautifully restored 1775 Georgian Colonial that was once an overnight stop on the stagecoach line between Hyannis and Sandwich. Wide floorboards, stencilled walls and floors, fireplaces and antique furnishings give the cheerful galleries a homey intimacy.

A chance to watch weavers at their looms as Bob Jr and Gabrielle Black create beautiful throws, shawls, scarves, and place mats in their shop, which is attached to their home. The Blacks are custom crafters, so you can choose your own colours and designs. They weave about 90 percent of the shops goods the rest is the work of other hand weavers. The Blacks have been weaving since the 1940s. A shop opened in 1954 and over the years has woven pieces for customers worldwide.

The Whippletree is filled with gifts and home accessories with a country flavours, including cotton coverlets, dried flowers and wreaths, greeting cards, candles, and hand carved birds. Some popular collectible lines include Cats Meow, Snow Babies, and Squashville. You can also select gifts for the holidays and items for children and babies.

Its home to the areas largest concentration of businesses, shops, motels, hotels, restaurants and entertainment spots.

Industries are tourism, fishing, and cranberry farming.

There are wonderful beaches in Barnstable, including Sandy Neck Beach on Cape Cod Bay and Craigville, Dawes and Kalmus Beaches on Nantucket Sound.

Concern over the tourist economy depends heavily on immigrants on temporary visas, particularly during the summer months when the workforce swells from 100,000 to 125,000. The whole reason the country is involved in this debate is because immigrants are doing the jobs that Americans dont want to do.