Wellfleet was encountered by Europeans as
early as 1606, when the French explorer Samuel de Champlain explored and named
it "Port Aux Huitres" (Oyster Port) for the bountiful oyster
population resident to the area. Originally settled in the 1650s by the
Europeans as Billingsgate (after the famous fish market in East London),
Wellfleet was part of neighboring Eastham until 1763, achieving town status
after nearly 30 years of petitioning. The name "Wellfleet" is
disputed; some argue that it comes from "Whale Fleet", after the
burgeoning whaling industry in the town, while some say it comes from a
