Chatham

Chatham is a place name of English origin used for towns, districts, and geographic features in several countries. The name appears most prominently in the United Kingdom, but it is also common in North America and Oceania.

In England, Chatham refers to a town in Kent on the River Medway. It grew as a strategic naval and military centre, and the Chatham Dockyard operated there for centuries until its closure in 1984; the area now hosts museums, heritage sites, and redevelopment projects.

In the United States, Chatham is the name of towns in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Chatham, Massachusetts, is a coastal town on Cape Cod known for its beaches, historic district, and maritime heritage. In New Jersey, Chatham refers to two neighboring municipalities in Morris County: Chatham Borough and Chatham Township; they form a pair of distinct communities with a shared regional identity within the New York metropolitan area.

In Canada, Chatham is a community in southwestern Ontario within the single-tier municipality of Chatham-Kent. The town of Chatham once served as the municipal seat and remains a regional services centre within the larger amalgamated area.

Chatham Islands, a remote archipelago off the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, is named after William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham. The islands have a small population and a distinct regional economy centered on fishing, farming, and tourism.