BlockBefore
Decorative drawing: a small American settlement seen from a low hill. Not a photograph of this place.

Hingham, Massachusetts

38 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1885 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Hingham town. It lies in ZIP code area 02043. It stands on Button Island. The Survey maps it on the Weymouth quadrangle. 5,979 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 16 feet above sea level.

Hingham within Plymouth County

Population over time

2 figures

Hingham grew from 5,650 to 5,979 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20105,650
20205,979+329 (+6%)

Then and now

1885 to 1984

The same ground, surveyed 99 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.

Topographic sheet of Hingham, surveyed 1984
Topographic sheet of Hingham, surveyed 1885

Compare 1885 against another survey:

Topographic sheets covering this place

38 sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

4 photographs,

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Samuel Lincoln Cottage, 182 North Street, Hingham, Plymouth County, MA
Samuel Lincoln Cottage, 182 North Street, Hingham, Plymouth County, MA
Unattributed, . Library of Congress
Old Ship Church, 88 Main Street, Hingham, Plymouth County, MA
Old Ship Church, 88 Main Street, Hingham, Plymouth County, MA
Unattributed, . Library of Congress
Pilgrim Cottage, Hingham, Plymouth County, MA
Pilgrim Cottage, Hingham, Plymouth County, MA
Unattributed, . Library of Congress
Daniel Shute House, Main & South Pleasant Streets, Hingham, Plymouth County, MA
Daniel Shute House, Main & South Pleasant Streets, Hingham, Plymouth County, MA
Unattributed, . Library of Congress

Fires nearby

251 since 2015

The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 251 fires within 5 miles of Hingham between 2015 and 2020, burning about 102 acres in total. None started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning105
Recreation and ceremony64
Missing data/not specified/undetermined44
Smoking20
Misuse of fire by a minor14
Fireworks2
Equipment and vehicle use1
Arson/incendiarism1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
7 September 2015Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire ControlWEYMOUTH
5 September 2015Recreation and ceremony2.0 acresMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire ControlWEYMOUTH
4 September 2016Smokingunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire ControlHINGHAM
3 September 2016Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire ControlHINGHAM
29 September 2015Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire ControlWEYMOUTH
27 September 2015Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire ControlHINGHAM
26 September 2016Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire ControlSCITUATE
22 September 2015Debris and open burningunder an acreMassachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire ControlNORWELL

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Plymouth County

Specimens collected nearby

12 of 5,278 shown

Museums hold 5,278 specimens collected within 10 miles of Hingham between 1832 and 1975: 3,455 Plantae, 892 Animalia, 512 Fungi, 358 Chromista, 42 Unrecorded, 13 Protozoa, 6 Bacteria. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by (MARSDEN, H W), A Loveridge, A Phelps Wyman and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Image SpeciesYear Collected by Where, as recorded
Specimen of Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) GrayPallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) Gray1900Frad G. Floydedge of Tumble Pond, Stang Brook, Brook Reservation
A photograph of the species Cornus sericea, not of this specimenCornus sericea subsp. sericea1832Nathaniel T. KidderMilton, Brook Road
A photograph of the species Carex echinata, not of this specimenCarex echinata subsp. echinata1834not recorded
A photograph of the species Carex trisperma, not of this specimenCarex trisperma Dewey1836J. W. Robbins
A photograph of the species Salicornia bigelovii, not of this specimenSalicornia bigelovii Torr.1840Welle, J.Hull
A photograph of the species Salsola kali, not of this specimenSalsola kali L.1840Welle, J.Hull
A photograph of the species Cladonia rangiferina, not of this specimenCladonia rangiferina (L.) Weber1844J. L. RussellHingham
A photograph of the species Silene vulgaris, not of this specimenSilene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke1844not recorded
A photograph of the species Lopadium disciforme, not of this specimenLopadium disciforme (Flot.) Kullh.1848J. L. Russell
A photograph of the species Cladonia gracilis, not of this specimenCladonia gracilis (L.) Willd.1849J. L. RussellHingham
Acer nigrum F.Michx.1899Nathaniel T. KidderMilton, off Randolph Avenue
Andrena braccata Viereck, 19071899P.G. BolsterMilton

All 5,278 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries nearby

10 of 16 shown

The federal mineral resources record lists 16 workings within 5 miles of Hingham: 8 past producers, 8 producers. 8 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Granite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Bates Brothers Seam Face Granite CoGranitePast ProducerGranite
Marshfield Sand and GravelGranitePast ProducerGranite
Plymouth QuarriesGranitePast ProducerGranite
Weymouth QuarryGraniteProducer
Bates Brothers Realty Trust QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Bristol Pit & Plant LorussoStone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ernest Minelli Inc QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Hingham PlantStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Margetts QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
J F Price CoSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast ProducerSedimentary

Every working recorded in Plymouth County

Storms nearby

42 since 1996

The National Weather Service names Hingham in 42 storm reports between 1996 and 2025: 24 thunderstorm wind, 6 flood, 4 lightning, 3 heavy rain. The reports record 3 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2010Thunderstorm WindHingham2 hurt, $50,000Numerous trees, limbs, wires, and utility poles were downed across Hingham, including one that hit a person, injuring the person. Also, a tent blowing around hit a person, resulting in minor injury. An amateur radio operator recorded a wind gust of 68 mph on their home weather station near Hingham Harbor.
July 2008LightningHingham1 hurtA woman was injured while turning off the water to an outdoor shower when lightning struck somewhere inside the house and travelled through the plumbing.
May 2006FloodHingham$500,000no account filed
July 2016Thunderstorm WindHingham$50,000Numerous trees and wires throughout the northern part of Hingham were downed by thunderstorm winds.
August 2005Thunderstorm WindHingham$50,000no account filed
April 2007FloodHingham$25,000Accord Brook rose out of its banks and flooded surrounding areas of Hingham.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindHingham$25,000no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindHingham$25,000no account filed
July 2004LightningHingham$25,000no account filed
June 2012Thunderstorm WindHingham$20,000Four trees were downed on four different streets by thunderstorm winds. One of these trees blocked the street.
June 2010LightningHingham$10,000Lightning struck Stars on Hingham Harbor Restaurant, damaging the restaurants computer system and shattering the windshield of a car and deploying its airbags and damaging its electrical system.
March 2007FloodHingham$10,000Several roads in Plymouth were closed due to flooding, including Taylor Avenue in the Manomet section, Montgomery Drive, and Route 80 at Kristen Road which was covered by 2 to 3 feet of water. Accord Brook in Hingham rose out of its banks and caused minor flooding in nearby areas. In Pembroke, Oldham Street, Antilla Court, and Raymond Avenue were flooded.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindHingham$10,000no account filed
November 2002Storm Surge/TideHingham$10,000no account filed
March 2007FloodHingham$8,000Rainfall totals of 3 to 4 inches caused Accord Brook in Hingham to rise out of its banks and cause minor flooding in nearby areas. In East Bridgewater, the Satucket River came out of its banks between Robins Pond and Washington Street, which resulted in minor flooding.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindWest Hingham$5,000In Hingham, a large tree fell on a house on Sanford Drive. Also, a tree was down on Lincoln Street. Time estimated by radar.
August 2010Thunderstorm WindHingham$5,000Wires on Hersey Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.
August 2006FloodHingham$5,000Urban flooding
June 2006Flash FloodHingham$5,000no account filed
June 2006Thunderstorm WindHingham$5,000no account filed
June 2006Thunderstorm WindHingham$5,000no account filed
August 2004Thunderstorm WindHingham$5,000no account filed
May 1996LightningHingham$5,000no account filed
July 2016Thunderstorm WindHingham$3,000Large limbs on Wompatuck Road were downed by thunderstorm winds.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindHingham$1,000no account filed
June 2021Thunderstorm WindWest Hingham$300In Hingham, power lines were down on Beal Street.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindHingham$300In Hingham, a large tree branch was down on Rockland Street and Martins Lane.
July 2025Flash FloodHingham-In Hingham, portions of East St (Rt 228) and Hersey St were flooded.
October 2020Thunderstorm WindHingham-In Hingham at 612 PM EDT, an amateur radio operator reported a wind gust to 65 mph.
April 2019FloodWest Hingham-At 7:30 AM EDT in Hingham, significant street flooding was reported on Lincoln Street (Route 3A) at Bulow Road.
June 2017HailHingham-At 5 PM EST, dime size hail fell at Hingham.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindWest Hingham-Tree down on a house on Pioneer Road.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindHingham-Downed trees in Hingham, Duxbury, and Marshfield due to thunderstorm winds. All occurred at approximately the same time.
August 2001Thunderstorm WindHingham-no account filed
April 2000Thunderstorm WindHingham-no account filed
June 2000Heavy RainHingham-no account filed
June 2000Thunderstorm WindHingham-no account filed
July 2000Thunderstorm WindHingham-no account filed
July 1999Thunderstorm WindHingham-no account filed
October 1998Heavy RainHingham-no account filed
August 1997Heavy RainHingham-no account filed
August 1997Funnel CloudHingham-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Plymouth County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
West Hingham0.7 miles38
Hingham Center0.8 miles38
Fort Hill0.8 miles38
Nantasket Junction1.1 miles38
Cole Corner1.3 miles38
Crow Point1.4 miles41
Tuttleville2.4 miles38
Nantasket Beach2.8 miles39

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on HinghamAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q5767130The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 613354. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.