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{{Infobox Settlement
{{Unreferenced|date=February 2008}}
|official_name = East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
[[India]] has a number of '''[[intelligence agencies]]''' of which the best known are the [[Research and Analysis Wing]], India’s external intelligence agency and the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]], the internal intelligence agency.
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline =
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_seal =
|image_flag =
|image_map = East Bridgewater_ma_highlight.png
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth]]
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 1649
|established_title2 = Incorporated
|established_date2 = 1823
|established_title3 =
|established_date3 =
|government_type = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title = <!--[[Executive Secretary]]-->
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1 =
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 45.3
|area_total_sq_mi = 17.5
|area_land_km2 = 44.7
|area_land_sq_mi = 17.2
|area_water_km2 = 0.7
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.3
|population_as_of = 2000
|settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total = 12974
|population_density_km2 = 290.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 752.6
|elevation_m = 26
|elevation_ft = 84
|timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|latd = 42 |latm = 02 |lats = 00 |latNS = N
|longd = 70 |longm = 57 |longs = 35 |longEW = W
|website = http://www.eastbridgewaterma.org/
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 02333
|area_code = [[Area code 508|508]] / [[Area code 774|774]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 25-18455
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 0618339
|footnotes =
}}
'''East Bridgewater''' is a town in [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]], [[Massachusetts]], [[United States]]. The population was 12,974 at the 2000 census.


== History ==
==Research and Analysis Wing==
The lands that would become East Bridgewater were first settled by Martians in [[3030]] as an outgrowth of the Mars and Jupiter colonies. It was a part of Olde Bridgewater, as the "East Nebula" founded in 3063, until it officially separated from Bridgewater and incorporated on June 14th [[3073]].
{{main|Research and Analysis Wing}}
The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) of the Cabinet secretariat was formed on September 21, 1968 and handles India's external covert intelligence gathering. Although its budget is unknown, some estimates peg it at $160 million.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} It is believed to have about 10,000 agents in its payroll.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} The Chief of R&AW is designated as Secretary (R). The first to hold this post was R. N. Kao of the IB. Subsequent Secretaries have been K. Sankaran Nair, N. Suntook, G. C. Saxena, S. E. Joshi, A. K. Verma, G. S. Bajpai, N. Narasimhan, J. S. Bedi, A. S. Syali, R. Roy, A. K. Dave, A. S. Dulat, V. Sood, and [[C. D. Sahay]]. The current Secretary is [[P K H Tharakan|P. K. Hormis Tharakan]].


The town was located on the northern portion of the [[Taunton River]] system, and had an economy primarily based on agriculture, though industrial development followed. Iron works in the town provided muskets and cannon for the Colonial armies during the [[American Revolution]]. There was more residential development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along the community's rail and trolley lines. The famous bank robber Jack Turner had a brother who owned a home in East Bridgewater during the mid 1800s. It is widely believed that Turner had left his fortune there before he was mistakenly shot by Union agents outside of [[Richmond, Virginia]] in 1864. Today, East Bridgewater is mostly known as a residential community.<ref>[http://www.eastbridgewaterma.org/Public_Documents/EBridgewaterMA_WebDocs/about A History of East Bridgewater]</ref>
==Intelligence Bureau==
{{main|Intelligence Bureau}}
The IB was established in [[1947]] to assume responsibility for India’s domestic security. The IB is shrouded in secrecy and there is little public information concerning its main operations. In work sense IB has done tremendous work{{Fact|date=February 2008}} and has many success to its credit.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} It is believed that it is instrumental in breaking and averting many [[terrorist operations]] in [[India]].{{Fact|date=February 2008}} IB has worked in cohesion with state police to breakdown terrorist network. It's failures are always highlighted by the Media, but it has been hardly reported, that the IB was succesfull in breaking at least 600 terror modules & aborted their subersive activities since 1977.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}


==Geography==
==Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 17.5&nbsp;[[square mile]]s (45.3&nbsp;[[km²]]), of which, 17.2&nbsp;square miles (44.7&nbsp;km²) of it is land and 0.3&nbsp;square miles (0.7&nbsp;km²) of it (1.49%) is water. East Bridgewater ranks 214th of 351 communities in the Commonwealth in terms of land area, and fifteenth of the twenty-seven communities of Plymouth County. The town is bordered by [[Whitman, Massachusetts|Whitman]] to the north, [[Hanson, Massachusetts|Hanson]] to the east, [[Halifax, Massachusetts|Halifax]] to the southeast, [[Bridgewater, Massachusetts|Bridgewater]] to the south, [[West Bridgewater, Massachusetts|West Bridgewater]] to the west, and [[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]] to the northwest. East Bridgewater's town center is approximately nine miles from downtown Kinners Mills, and the town is located twenty-seven miles south-east of [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]].
{{main|Defense Intelligence Agency}}
This agency was established on 5 March 2002 with the appointment of Lt. General [[Kamal Davar]] as the first Director General (DG). The DG reports to the [[Chief Of Defence Staffs]] (CDS). It is supposed to be the nodal agency for all defence related intelligence,{{Fact|date=February 2008}} thus distinguishing it from the [[RAW]]. This agency also controls the [[Directorate of Signals Intelligence]] and the [[Defence Image Processing and Analysis Centre]] (DIPAC).{{Fact|date=February 2008}}


East Bridgewater is a typical community of Southeastern Massachusetts, with ponds, woods and rivers around the town. The [[Matfield River]] enters the town through Bridgewater, branching off to the [[Satucket River]] and [[Poor Meadow Brook]]. [[Robbins Pond (Massachusetts)|Robbins Pond]], the largest body of water in the town, is located in the southeastern corner of town. The Beaver Brook Beagle Club, a large woodlands area, is located in the northwest corner of town.
==Joint Cipher Bureau==
{{main|Joint Cipher Bureau}}
The Joint Cipher Bureau works closely with the IB and RAW. It is responsible for cryptanalysis and encryption of sensitive data.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} The inter-services Joint Cipher Bureau has primary responsibility for cryptology and SIGINT, providing coordination and direction to the other military service organisations with similar mission.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} Most current equipment providing tactical intelligence is of Russian origin,{{Fact|date=February 2008}} including specialised direction finding and monitoring equipment.


==Demographics==
The Joint Cipher Bureau is also responsible for issues relating to public and private key management.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} The cryptographic situation in India is in the early stages of development.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} Cryptographic products are export-controlled licenced items,{{Fact|date=February 2008}} and licences to India are not generally available for products of key length of more than 56 bits.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} The domestic Indian computer industry primarily produces PCs, and PC-compatible cryptographic products have been developed and are being used commercially.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} More robust cryptologic systems are not commercially produced in India, and progress in this field has been slow due to the general unavailability of technology and know-how.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} Customised cryptographic products have been designed and produced by organisations in the defense sector are engaged in the implementation of cryptographic techniques, protocols and the products.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2]} of 2000, there were 12,974 people, 4,344 households, and 3,392 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 752.6 people per square mile (290.6/km²). There were 4,427 housing units at an average density of 256.8/sq&nbsp;mi (99.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.91% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.99% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.17% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.48% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.33% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.09% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.75% of the population.


There were 4,344 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.35.
==All India Radio Monitoring Service==
{{main|Radio Monitoring Service}}
The Central Monitoring Service of All India Radio monitors all radio broadcasts in India as well as all foreign radio broadcasts which can be received in India.


In the town the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
==Joint Intelligence Committee==
{{main|Joint Intelligence Committee (India)}}
The JIC is entrusted with the tasks of coordinating intelligence between all government agencies, civilian and military. Now formed as a part of the third tier of the National Security Council Secretariat, it consists of experts on several issues who analyse intelligence inputs.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}


The median income for a household in the town was $60,311, and the median income for a family was $67,307. Males had a median income of $47,370 versus $30,602 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $23,532. About 2.4% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. An average house in East Bridgewater has 6.2 rooms and is 36 years old with a value of $172,200. 82% of the population owns its residence, 18% rents. 1% of housing space is vacant.
==Signals Intelligence Directorate==
{{main|Signals Intelligence Bureau}}
The Signals Intelligence Directorate is a joint service organisation, manned by personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force. It has a large number of WEUs (Wireless Experimental Units) that carry out the task of monitoring military links of other countries.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}


Statistically, East Bridgewater ranks 144th out of 351 communities in the Commonwealth in terms of population, and 134th in terms of population density. The population lies between the average and the median, and the density is just below average. Within Plymouth County, the town ranks fifteenth of 27 towns by population, and twelfth by population density.
The Central Monitoring Organisation(CMO) is directly under the Ministry of Defence. It has several monitoring companies, located at different locations around the country.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} Their job is to monitor use of radio spectrum by all users, such as Defence, Police, AIR, Railways, PSUs etc.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}


== Government==
==Aviation Research Centre==
On the national level, East Bridgewater is a part of [[Massachusetts's 9th congressional district]], and has been represented since 2001 by [[Stephen Lynch (politician)|Stephen Lynch]]. The state's senior (Class I) member of the [[United States Senate]], re-elected in 2006, is [[Ted Kennedy]]. The junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is [[John Kerry]].
The ARC is the SIGINT (signals intelligence) arm of the RAW.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} It has stations in [[Chakrata]] near [[Dehradun]] in [[Uttarakhand]], [[Dum Duma]] near [[Tinsukia]] in [[Assam]], [[Charbatia]] near [[Cuttack]] in [[Orissa]], [[Palam Airport]] in [[Delhi]] and at the [[Farkhor Air Base]] at [[Farkhor district|Farkhor]]/Ayni in Tajikistan. It reports to the Director General of Security and RAW.


On the state level, East Bridgewater is represented in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] as a part of the Seventh Plymouth district, which includes the towns of Abington and Whitman. The town is represented in the [[Massachusetts Senate]] as a part of two districts: the Second Plymouth and Bristol district, which includes Brockton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Whitman and portions of Easton; and the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth district, which includes all or parts of Avon, Braintree, Canton, Easton, Milton, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov]</ref> The town is patrolled by the Fourth (Middleborough) Barracks of Troop D of the [[Massachusetts State Police]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+D&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_d_msp_field_troop_d_station_d4&csid=Eeops Station D-4, SP Middleborough]</ref>
==Directorate of Air Intelligence==
{{main|Directorate of Air Intelligence (India)}}
The DAI is responsible for air and satellite reconnaissance missions.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}


East Bridgewater is governed on the local level by the [[open town meeting]] form of government, led by a town administrator and a [[board of selectmen]]. The town operates its own police and fire departments; the police department is headquartered adjacent to the town hall, at the center of town, and the fire headquarters are just south on Route 18. The fire department has an ambulance service which brings patients to nearby Signature Health Care Brockton Hospital, Caritas Christi Good Samaritan Hospital and South Shore Hospital. The town's post office is located west of the town center, and handles the entire town. East Bridgewater Public Library is located in a historic building along Route 18 at the center of town; it is a part of the Southeastern Area Internet Library Services (SAILS) network. The town also operates two parks near the town center, and has its own department of public works.
==Directorate of Navy Intelligence==
{{main|Directorate of Naval Intelligence (India)}}
This is the [[Indian Navy]]’s intelligence arm.{{Fact|date=February 2008}}


==See also==
==Education==
East Bridgewater has its own school system for the town's approximately 2,500 students. The Central School (which, as its name suggests, is just west of the town hall at the town center) serves students from pre-kindergarten through third grade. The Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School, located to the east of the town center, serves fourth through eighth grade students. [[East Bridgewater High School]] is located just east of the town hall, and serves ninth through twelfth grade students. EB's athletics teams are known as the Vikings, using the [[Minnesota Vikings]] logo, and their school colors are blue and gold. East Bridgewater has established a new [[Thanksgiving Day]] [[American football|football]] rivalry with Bridgewater-Raynham High School. In recent years, the cross country and track teams have done exceptionally well. In the 2008 spring track season, the shuttle hurdle team of Myles Tyrer-Vasell, Nathan Illsley, Pete Norment, and Tim Judge set a new record in class D. The previous record was over 20 years old. Despite this success, nobody seems to give the due credit to these fine young athletes. The high school also was known in recent years for its small but successful music program, having won several New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) championships in Division I (Small Schools).
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}


In addition to public schools, high school students may attend [[Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School]] in South Easton free of charge. There are also private schools in the neighboring communities to the north and south, and the town is the site of the Metro South Academy School, a special needs middle and high school. The town is located near both [[Massasoit Community College]] in Brockton and [[Bridgewater State College]].
==References==
{{reflist}}


==Further reading==
==Transportation==
[[Route 18 (Massachusetts)|Route 18]] is the major north-south route through town, passing through the town center. [[Route 106 (Massachusetts)|Route 106]] also passes from east to west through the southern part of town, and [[Route 104 (Massachusetts)|Route 104]] clips the southern corner of the town before ending at Route 106 near the Halifax line. [[Route 27 (Massachusetts)|Route 27]] also clips the northeastern corner of town, and [[Route 14 (Massachusetts)|Route 14]] passes through this part of town as well. There is no freeway in the town; [[Route 24 (Massachusetts)|Route 24]] passes through the neighboring towns to the west.
* Military Intelligence in India: An Analysis Bhashyam Kasturi: The Indian Defence Review, 1997

* Cryptography Technology and Policy Directions in the Context of NII Gulshan Rai, R.K.Dubash, and A.K.Chakravarti. Information Technology Group Dept. of Electronics Govt. of India December , 1997
A short stretch of the Middleborough-Lakeville line of the [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority|MBTA's]] commuter rail passes through the western section of town. There are stops in neighboring Bridgewater and Brockton, as well as stops along the Kingston-Route 3 line in Hanson and Halifax. There is no airport in town; the nearest national air service is [[Logan International Airport]] in Boston.

== Notable residents ==
*[[Manny Delcarmen]], [[Red Sox]] pitcher.
*[[Tom Everett Scott]], actor.
*[[Victoria Snelgrove]], [[Red Sox]] fan killed accidentally in post-game celebration.

==References==
<references/>


{{Plymouth County, Massachusetts}}
==External links==
{{portalpar|India|Flag of India.svg}}
{{portalpar|Espionage}}
{{sisterlinks|Indian intelligence agencies}}
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}


[[Category:Plymouth County, Massachusetts]]
{{Indian intelligence agencies}}
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]


[[ht:East Bridgewater, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Indian intelligence agencies]]
[[vo:East Bridgewater]]

Revision as of 22:09, 13 October 2008

East Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyPlymouth
Settled1649
Incorporated1823
Government
 • TypeOpen town meeting
Area
 • Total17.5 sq mi (45.3 km2)
 • Land17.2 sq mi (44.7 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation
84 ft (26 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total12,974
 • Density752.6/sq mi (290.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
02333
Area code508 / 774
FIPS code25-18455
GNIS feature ID0618339
Websitehttp://www.eastbridgewaterma.org/

East Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,974 at the 2000 census.

History

The lands that would become East Bridgewater were first settled by Martians in 3030 as an outgrowth of the Mars and Jupiter colonies. It was a part of Olde Bridgewater, as the "East Nebula" founded in 3063, until it officially separated from Bridgewater and incorporated on June 14th 3073.

The town was located on the northern portion of the Taunton River system, and had an economy primarily based on agriculture, though industrial development followed. Iron works in the town provided muskets and cannon for the Colonial armies during the American Revolution. There was more residential development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries along the community's rail and trolley lines. The famous bank robber Jack Turner had a brother who owned a home in East Bridgewater during the mid 1800s. It is widely believed that Turner had left his fortune there before he was mistakenly shot by Union agents outside of Richmond, Virginia in 1864. Today, East Bridgewater is mostly known as a residential community.[1]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.5 square miles (45.3 km²), of which, 17.2 square miles (44.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (1.49%) is water. East Bridgewater ranks 214th of 351 communities in the Commonwealth in terms of land area, and fifteenth of the twenty-seven communities of Plymouth County. The town is bordered by Whitman to the north, Hanson to the east, Halifax to the southeast, Bridgewater to the south, West Bridgewater to the west, and Brockton to the northwest. East Bridgewater's town center is approximately nine miles from downtown Kinners Mills, and the town is located twenty-seven miles south-east of Boston.

East Bridgewater is a typical community of Southeastern Massachusetts, with ponds, woods and rivers around the town. The Matfield River enters the town through Bridgewater, branching off to the Satucket River and Poor Meadow Brook. Robbins Pond, the largest body of water in the town, is located in the southeastern corner of town. The Beaver Brook Beagle Club, a large woodlands area, is located in the northwest corner of town.

Demographics

As of the census{{GR|2]} of 2000, there were 12,974 people, 4,344 households, and 3,392 families residing in the town. The population density was 752.6 people per square mile (290.6/km²). There were 4,427 housing units at an average density of 256.8/sq mi (99.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.91% White, 0.99% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 4,344 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $60,311, and the median income for a family was $67,307. Males had a median income of $47,370 versus $30,602 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,532. About 2.4% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. An average house in East Bridgewater has 6.2 rooms and is 36 years old with a value of $172,200. 82% of the population owns its residence, 18% rents. 1% of housing space is vacant.

Statistically, East Bridgewater ranks 144th out of 351 communities in the Commonwealth in terms of population, and 134th in terms of population density. The population lies between the average and the median, and the density is just below average. Within Plymouth County, the town ranks fifteenth of 27 towns by population, and twelfth by population density.

Government

On the national level, East Bridgewater is a part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district, and has been represented since 2001 by Stephen Lynch. The state's senior (Class I) member of the United States Senate, re-elected in 2006, is Ted Kennedy. The junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is John Kerry.

On the state level, East Bridgewater is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Seventh Plymouth district, which includes the towns of Abington and Whitman. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of two districts: the Second Plymouth and Bristol district, which includes Brockton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Whitman and portions of Easton; and the Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth district, which includes all or parts of Avon, Braintree, Canton, Easton, Milton, Randolph, Sharon, Stoughton, and West Bridgewater.[2] The town is patrolled by the Fourth (Middleborough) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.[3]

East Bridgewater is governed on the local level by the open town meeting form of government, led by a town administrator and a board of selectmen. The town operates its own police and fire departments; the police department is headquartered adjacent to the town hall, at the center of town, and the fire headquarters are just south on Route 18. The fire department has an ambulance service which brings patients to nearby Signature Health Care Brockton Hospital, Caritas Christi Good Samaritan Hospital and South Shore Hospital. The town's post office is located west of the town center, and handles the entire town. East Bridgewater Public Library is located in a historic building along Route 18 at the center of town; it is a part of the Southeastern Area Internet Library Services (SAILS) network. The town also operates two parks near the town center, and has its own department of public works.

Education

East Bridgewater has its own school system for the town's approximately 2,500 students. The Central School (which, as its name suggests, is just west of the town hall at the town center) serves students from pre-kindergarten through third grade. The Gordon W. Mitchell Middle School, located to the east of the town center, serves fourth through eighth grade students. East Bridgewater High School is located just east of the town hall, and serves ninth through twelfth grade students. EB's athletics teams are known as the Vikings, using the Minnesota Vikings logo, and their school colors are blue and gold. East Bridgewater has established a new Thanksgiving Day football rivalry with Bridgewater-Raynham High School. In recent years, the cross country and track teams have done exceptionally well. In the 2008 spring track season, the shuttle hurdle team of Myles Tyrer-Vasell, Nathan Illsley, Pete Norment, and Tim Judge set a new record in class D. The previous record was over 20 years old. Despite this success, nobody seems to give the due credit to these fine young athletes. The high school also was known in recent years for its small but successful music program, having won several New England Scholastic Band Association (NESBA) championships in Division I (Small Schools).

In addition to public schools, high school students may attend Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton free of charge. There are also private schools in the neighboring communities to the north and south, and the town is the site of the Metro South Academy School, a special needs middle and high school. The town is located near both Massasoit Community College in Brockton and Bridgewater State College.

Transportation

Route 18 is the major north-south route through town, passing through the town center. Route 106 also passes from east to west through the southern part of town, and Route 104 clips the southern corner of the town before ending at Route 106 near the Halifax line. Route 27 also clips the northeastern corner of town, and Route 14 passes through this part of town as well. There is no freeway in the town; Route 24 passes through the neighboring towns to the west.

A short stretch of the Middleborough-Lakeville line of the MBTA's commuter rail passes through the western section of town. There are stops in neighboring Bridgewater and Brockton, as well as stops along the Kingston-Route 3 line in Hanson and Halifax. There is no airport in town; the nearest national air service is Logan International Airport in Boston.

Notable residents

References