North Attleborough, Massachusetts
North Attleborough, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Bristol County |
| Settled | 1669 |
| Incorporated | 1887 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Representative town meeting |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.1 sq mi (49.3 km2) |
| • Land | 18.6 sq mi (48.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 200 ft (61 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 27,143 |
| • Density | 1,456.0/sq mi (562.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 02760 |
| Area code | 508 / 774 |
| Website | http://www.north-attleboro.ma.us/ |
North Attleborough, commonly written North Attleboro, is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 27,143 at the 2000 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the village of North Attleborough Center, please see the article North Attleborough Center, Massachusetts.
History
North Attleborough is an industrial town in Bristol County on the Rhode Island border. In pre-Colonial times, it was the site of the Bay Path, a major Indian trail to Narragansett Bay, the Seekonk River and Boston. John Woodcock and family established a small settlement in North Attleborough in 1669, which subsisted on agriculture, fishing and hunting. By 1670, Woodcock had received a license to open a tavern. The settlement was attacked during King Philip's War, with two killed and one home burned, but the garrison house which Woodcock had built survived the attack. The Woodcock-Garrison house would go on to serve as sleeping quarters for George Washington on his army's march to Boston to rid the city of General Thomas Gage's troops. The Garrison house is still open for tours and is an especially popular destination for field trips by local school children.
By 1776, there were 2200 people living in North Attleborough. In about 1780, a French settler set up a forge for working brass and the industrial era arrived in North Attleborough. Englishmen brought with them British machinery from Birmingham in 1794 and designed American improvements in button making which they patented. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, small grist and sawmills were built along the Ten Mile River, and subsequently established nail factories were eventually eclipsed by cotton spinning mills. The development of cotton spinning was spurred by the embargo on imports resulting from the War of 1812. Textiles and jewelry manufacturing were the staple industries of the town by 1832 but buttons were king. By 1834, it was said that North Attleborough produced more buttons than anywhere in the United States.
In the twentieth century, North Attleboro was home at various times to the jewelry firms Jostens, worlds largest class ring manufacturer and the Balfour Company, prominent maker of championship rings including for the National Football League's Super Bowl champions and Major League Baseball's World Series' winners.
Through the 19th century there was tremendous growth and innovation in the jewelry industry and the number of firms in the town increased sharply. By 1855 there were 24 shops making almost $1 million in jewelry in both Attleboro and North Attleborough. The American Civil War spurred their growth with profitable U.S. Army orders for badges and medals. In 1887, North Attleborough was officially incorporated as a town. Today it is a thriving center of business and commerce with a small industrial park and many shops and stores along US Route 1 which travels through the center of town.
North Attleboro (2006) was rated in the top ten for professional sports communities in the entire country and was also listed as one of the most affordable and safest places to raise a family.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 49.3 km² (19.0 mi²). 48.3 km² (18.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (2.15%) is water. The town is roughly quadrilateral-shaped, and makes the northwest corner of Bristol County. It is bordered by Plainville to the north, Mansfield to the east, Attleboro to the south, and Cumberland, Rhode Island to the west. Localities include Adamsdale, Attleboro Falls and Sheldonville Farms. The town is located fifteen miles north of Providence, Rhode Island and almost 40 miles southwest of Boston.
The town has several rivers, streams and brooks running through it, including the Ten Mile River and the Seven Mile River. There are several ponds and lakes, including Greenwood Lake (site of a fish hatchery) and Falls Pond, among others. The city's largest park, World War I Memorial Park, is located in the northern part of town and contains the highest point in Bristol County - Sunrise Hill (Watery Hill) at 390 feet above sea level. World War I Memorial Park features a petting zoo, Petty Field for baseball and football and a ski/sledding hill with J-bar ski lift which is currently inoperable. There is also the North Attleboro Arboretum adjacent to the park.
On High Street one block from Route 1A is an ice-skating pond called Titus Pond which is maintained by the North Attleboro Rotary Club and filled each winter by the Fire Department.
There are four cemeteries in North Attleboro: the diminutive and inactive Woodcock Cemetery across from the Woodcock Garrison house just north of downtown; Paine Road Cemetery near the Cumberland, RI border; Mt. Hope Cemetery & Arboreum; and the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Cemetery. The latter two are located in the village of Attleboro Falls.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 27,143 people, 10,391 households, and 7,232 families residing in the town. The population density was 562.2/km² (1,456.0/mi²). There were 10,635 housing units at an average density of 220.3/km² (570.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.97% White, 0.92% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.
There were 10,391 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $59,371, and the median income for a family was $69,461. Males had a median income of $47,645 versus $31,522 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,974. About 2.7% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
State and National Government
North Attleborough is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as part of the Fourteenth Bristol district, which also includes sections of Attleboro, Mansfield and Norton. In the state senate, it is represented as part of the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district, which includes Millis, Natick, Needham, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainvile, Sherborn, Wayland and Wrentham, as well as parts of the city of Attleboro and towns of Franklin and Wellesley. The town is also patrolled by the Third (Foxborough) Barracks of Troop H (Metro Boston) of the Massachusetts State Police.
On the national level, North Attleborough is a part of Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, which is represented by Jim McGovern. Ted Kennedy is the state's senior (Class I) Senator, re-elected in 2006; John Kerry is the state's junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008.
Local Government and Services
North Attleborough has a representative town meeting form of government, led by a board of selectmen and an administrative assistant elected by the town's voters. The town has its own police office, headquartered downtown. There are three fire stations, located downtown on Elm Street just off of Route 1, behind Emerald Square Mall and on Route 152 in the eastern portion of town. There are also two post offices, downtown (using the 02760 ZIP code) and in Attleboro Falls (02763). The Richards Memorial Library is located downtown, and is a member of SAILS library network, a network of libraries in Southeastern Massachusetts.
Education
Public schools
The town has its own school department, currently led by a Superintendent of Schools. The school system consists of an Early Learning Center, six elementary schools (Allen Avenue, Amvet Boulevard, Community School, Falls School, Joseph W. Martin, Jr., and Roosevelt Avenue), the North Attleborough Middle School, and North Attleborough High School. NAHS's teams are nicknamed the "Red Rocketeers," and their colors are red and white. Their chief rival is Attleboro High School.The football teams play a football game each Thanksgiving. The site alternates each year.
Private schools
The town is also home to one private school, Saint Mary-Sacred Heart School, a Catholic, K-8 school. High school students may also choose to attend Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, located in Franklin and including communities in Bristol, Norfolk and Middlesex Counties. Students are also able to attend Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton free of charge. The nearest private high school is Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, a Catholic high school.
Transportation
Interstates 95 and 295 meet just over the Attleboro line, and both run through the town. Each interstate has one exit within town. The town is also bisected by U.S. Route 1, which runs through the retail and downtown districts. Massachusetts state routes 120 and 152 also run through town, as does the "middle" portion of Route 1A, which begins in the town.
The town is set equidistantantly between the three nearest Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority stops, in Mansfield, Attleboro Center and South Attleboro. The nearest national-level airport is T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island, approximately 23 miles away, and the nearest international airport is Logan International Airport in Boston, approximately 42 miles away.
Points of interest
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
Angle Tree Stone
Emerald square mall
Woodcock Garrison House
WWI Memorial park and zoo
WWII Memorial Pool
Notable residents
- Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (1884–1968), Republican US representative; served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1947–1949 and 1953–1955. The J.W. Martin Elementary School bears his name.
- Frank C. Whitmore (1887–1947), known in the scientific field for providing supporting evidence for carbocation rearrangements, a process in physical organic chemistry
- Chris Sullivan, former professional football player, DE for the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Second lieutenant, Robert F. Toner - co-pilot of Lady Be Good. Toner Boulevard is named in his honor.
References
