Capecodcracy

Capecodcracy or Capeocracy is the bastardization of the phrase Cape Cod aristocracy. It is a pejorative to describe a specific enclave of the East Coast establishment present in New England, especially Boston. The term generally refers to members of upper and upper-middle class who summer at family homes on Cape Cod or the the neighboring islands of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket, often doing so for generations.
Originally it consisted only of the protestant mercantile elite who dominated economic and social life. However, since the practice of owning second homes on Cape Cod became popular at the turn of the century, after the immigrant Irish population had largely assimilated, wealthy urban Catholics were, uniquely, not excluded.
It has a deep connection to the sport of sailing, especially Beetle Cat boats and, later, Hinckley Yachts. Regattas are a unusually common across Cape Cod during the summertime although today the Club 420s are the more popular racing class boats. The Kennedy Family typifies the stereotypes of the capecodcracy.
Areas traditionally associated with the capecodcracy include Falmouth, especially Buzzards Bay, Osterville, Hyannis Port, Harwich Port, Chatham, and Eastham.
The term for members of the capecodcracy is capecoddercrat.

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