where did the pilgrims settle

The Pilgrims settled in Plymouth Colony, located at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States. They arrived there in December 1620 after a 66-day voyage on the ship Mayflower. Although their original intention was to settle near the Hudson River in present-day New York, the ship was forced by rough seas and poor winds to anchor at Cape Cod. After exploring the area, they chose the site because it had been cleared by a previously abandoned Wampanoag village called Patuxet, which made it suitable for building and farming. The location also offered a defensible position on hills and had fresh water sources. The settlement was named Plymouth in honor of the Pilgrims' departure port of Plymouth, Devon, England.