The Town of Plymouth is a coastal community in southeastern Massachusetts, approximately 5 miles north of the Cape Cod Canal. It is the seat of Plymouth County, and has the largest area of any town in the Commonwealth. For most of its existence, Plymouth was an isolated seacoast area where economic fortunes were linked to the sea and shipping. The site of the original 1620 settlement is now a portion of today's Downtown/Harbor District.

The South Shore's accessibility to the Boston metropolitan area has greatly influenced the growth rates of its communities. Desirability in terms of land prices, tax rates and residential amenities further influenced community growth and Plymouth's population mushroomed from 18,606 in 1970 to 45,608 in 1990, an increase of 145% in just 20 years. Also of significance during the period was the development of a healthy industrial and commercial base. The Town of Plymouth is committed to controlling its residential growth while welcoming industrial and commercial expansion.