They were initially governed by the General Court of Plymouth, but on October 5, 1636, the town incorporated as a separate entity.

Fishing was a significant part of the local economy in the past, as was the sea mossing industry.

The sea was historically an integral part of the town with occasional incidents such as that described February 13, 1894, in which eight men clinging to the vessel's rigging on a schooner grounded off Third Cliff apparently died before a large crowd watching from shore "literally frozen to the ropes" while unsuccessful rescue efforts continued through the day and their apparently lifeless bodies were covered by nightfall.

[4] A small fishing fleet is still based in Scituate Harbor, although today the town is mostly residential.

The young girls, Abigail and Rebecca Bates, marched to and fro behind sand dunes playing a fife and drum loudly.

Another notable lighthouse, Minot's Ledge Light, stands approximately one mile (1.6 km) off Scituate Neck.

During World War II, the Fourth Cliff Military Reservation defended the Scituate area with a battery of two 6-inch guns.

The town's shore varies, with the south (along the mouth of the North River) being surrounded by salt marshes, the middle (around Scituate Harbor) being sandy, and the coast of Scituate Neck (Minot) in the north exhibiting exposed granite bedrock.

Scituate has five public beaches: Minot, Sand Hills, Egypt, Peggotty, and Humarock.

[9] At one time, dozens of commercial fishermen lived in Scituate, but the number has dwindled to just a handful.

[23] The town is highly prone to the effects of nor'easters, major storms that slam the region every winter.

On the national level, Scituate is a part of Massachusetts's 8th congressional district, and is currently represented by Stephen Lynch.

[27] The third precinct is a part of the Third Plymouth district, which includes Hingham, Hull and Cohasset, and is represented by Joan Meschino.

Emergency services are also provided by the town, with the nearest hospitals being located in Quincy, Weymouth, Plymouth, and Brockton.

There are four post offices throughout the town, located in Humarock, near the harbor, in North Scituate and in Greenbush.

Since then, voters have approved funding for many noteworthy projects: restoration of historic treasures like Lawson Tower, Cudworth House, and Stockbridge Mill, and Old Scituate Light; purchase of increasingly threatened open space—more than 400 acres to date containing much wildlife and scenic trails; acquisition of the Mordecai Lincoln Homestead on the Gulf River (owned by Abraham Lincoln's great, great, great grandfather); and construction of recreational facilities at Hatherly and Cushing Schools, the athletic complex at Scituate High School, and several playgrounds and sports fields around town.

Their chief rivals are Norwell and Cohasset, whom they border, and Hingham, whom they play in their annual Thanksgiving Day football game.

Boston College High enrolled 61 young men from Scituate in the 2005–06 school year.

The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade takes place on the third Sunday in March and runs from Greenbush-Driftway to Scituate Harbor.

In addition to the parade, the celebration includes the Mad Hatter's Ball, the Annual Mayor's Race, and the St. Pat's Plunge into the chilly Atlantic Ocean at Peggotty Beach.

With nearly 50% of Scituate residents being of Irish descent, St. Patrick's Day festivities are a local favorite.

An annual outdoor event in the Scituate Harbor area featuring live music, entertainment, artisan crafts, kids activities and historical site visits.

Scituate is mentioned as a good fishing spot in Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, The Village Uncle.