Kingston was initially incorporated as part of Plymouth until it obtained its independence in 1635. However, it was not originally a site for settlers and families, as many bloody battles during King Philip’s War occurred within Kingston’s borders. (King Philip’s War was the infamous, three-year-long battle between the indigenous Wampanaogian tribe and the new English settlers.)

But around the American Revolutionary War, Kingston became home to the nation’s largest and oldest operating shipyard, which is now called the Jones River Landing. The shipyard was a shipbuilding and repair site, where builders manufactured the Revolutionary War’s USS Independence as part of the Massachusetts Navy in 1775.

Nearly two centuries later in 1950, Kingston evolved from a small rural town to a bustling suburban city when incorporated as part of Boston’s metropolitan area. Today, Kingston is home to around 13,000 residents with easy route access to Plymouth, Boston, and Cape Cod. The town is comfortably located in Kingston Bay, which is an inlet of the greater Plymouth Bay.

Also present is the Silver Lake, Jones River, Muddy Pond, and several square miles of state forest throughout the town commonly used by locals for biking, hunting, and camping. Unfortunately, being in close quarters to these beautiful natural areas can invite unwanted pests like mosquitos, ticks, termites, and rodents into its residents’ homes.