Carlisle, Massachusetts

Carlisle, Massachusetts
Town
Downtown Carlisle in 2009
Seal Logo
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°31′45″N71°21′00″W / 42.52917°N 71.35000°W / 42.52917; -71.35000
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Middlesex
Settled	1651
Incorporated	1805
Area
• Total	15.6 sq mi (40.2 km2)
• Land	15.4 sq mi (39.8 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation	205 ft (62 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,237
• Density	340.1/sq mi (131.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	01741
Area code	351 / 978
FIPS code	25-11525
GNIS feature ID	0619397
Website	www.carlislema.gov

Carlisle is a town located northwest of Boston in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the town had a population of 5,237. ^[1]

History

English colonists first settled the area now incorporated as the town of Carlisle in 1651 on parcels of land of the neighboring towns of Acton, Billerica, Chelmsford and Concord. Carlisle became a district of Concord in 1780 and was incorporated as a town by an act of the legislature in 1805.

Activities

Carlisle contains a library, a country store, a book store, a dentist's office, many residential buildings, and the largest playground in the state of Massachusetts (Carlisle Castle). There are two ice cream stores: one of the four branches of Kimball Farms, and Great Brook Farm State Park which is home to the first robotic milking system in Massachusetts ^[2] and serves ice cream made from the farm's milk. Great Brook Farm is also the site of one of the premiere cross-country ski touring centers in New England. ^[3] On the east end of town there is an auto body shop and the former (closed in 2012) Blue Jay Recording Studio, where artists such as the Platters, Aerosmith, Aimee Mann, Amy Grant, Alice Cooper, Boston, John Williams and the Boston Pops, Buckwheat Zydeco, Billy Joel, Lauryn Hill, Rihanna, Roy Orbison, k. d. lang, Pat Metheny, Yo Yo Ma, Carly Simon, the Pussycat Dolls, Genesis and Lady Gaga have recorded. ^[4]

The town newspaper, the Carlisle Mosquito, has appeared as the weekly independent newspaper of the town since 1972. It is a non-profit publication distributed free to all town residents. The paper includes local news, announcements, and logs. ^[5]

The Gleason Public Library ^[6] is one of the 36 libraries in the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. Gleason Public Library also contains a seismograph.

Cultural organizations include the Carlisle Chamber Orchestra, ^[7] the Carlisle Community Chorus, ^[8] and the Savoyard Light Opera Company. ^[9]

Carlisle Old Home Day ^[10] has been held for over 100 years on the weekend prior to the Fourth of July as a free public event with family-friendly games and activities.

Geography

An 1875 map of Carlisle

Carlisle is located about 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of Lowell and 19 miles (31 km) northwest of Boston. It borders the towns of Concord, Acton, Westford, Chelmsford, Billerica, and Bedford.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.5 square miles (40 km²), of which 15.4 square miles (40 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) (1.09%) is water.

Conservation land makes up about a quarter of the town's area. Besides town-owned land overseen by the town's conservation committee, Carlisle is home to Great Brook Farm State Park and a portion of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge neighboring the Concord River.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1850	632	—
1860	621	−1.7%
1870	569	−8.4%
1880	478	−16.0%
1890	481	+0.6%
1900	480	−0.2%
1910	551	+14.8%
1920	463	−16.0%
1930	560	+21.0%
1940	747	+33.4%
1950	876	+17.3%
1960	1,488	+69.9%
1970	2,871	+92.9%
1980	3,306	+15.2%
1990	4,333	+31.1%
2000	4,717	+8.9%
2010	4,852	+2.9%
2020	5,237	+7.9%
2022*	5,157	−1.5%
* = population estimate. Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data. [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

Demographics

As of the census ^[22] of 2000, there were 4,717 people, 1,618 households, and 1,372 families residing in the town. The population density was 307.1 inhabitants per square mile (118.6/km²). There were 1,655 housing units at an average density of 107.7 per square mile (41.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.47% White, 0.17% African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.69% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.

There were 1,618 households, out of which 46.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.6% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.2% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 34.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town $176,228 (Average household income is $244,544). The per capita income for the town was $87,470.

Carlisle maintains a 2-acre (8,100 m²) zoning law on new development. ^[23]

• 
  The path between the school and library
• 
  Gleason Public Library
• 
  The Old Burying Ground in the center of town
• 
  Graves in the Green Cemetery

Climate

In a typical year, Carlisle, Massachusetts temperatures fall below 50 °F (10 °C) for 195 days per year. Annual precipitation is typically 45.6 inches (115.8 centimeters) per year (high in the US) and snow covers the ground 62 days per year or 17.0% of the year (high in the US). It may be helpful to understand the yearly precipitation by imagining 9 straight days of moderate rain per year. The humidity is below 60% for approximately 25.4 days or 7.0% of the year. ^[24]

Education

Carlisle has one public K–8 school, the Carlisle Public School. High School students attend Concord Carlisle High School in Concord or private schools such as Middlesex School in Concord.

Notable people

• John Berman, ^[25] journalist and CNN anchor
• Sean Bielat, businessman and two time Republican candidate for United States Congress in Massachusetts's 4th congressional district
• Clairo, ^[26] musician and recording artist

Notes

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Carlisle town, Middlesex County, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
2. "Great Brook Farm State Park". Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation . Archived from the original on March 10, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
3. Amos Decker (December 11, 2021). "Great Brook Bill Koch Ski League". Greatbrookski.org. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
4. Mosquito, Carlisle. "Carlisle Communications Group". The Carlisle Mosquito. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
5. Mosquito, Carlisle. "Carlisle Communications Group". The Carlisle Mosquito. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
6. "Home - Gleason Public Library". Gleasonlibrary.org. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
7. "Welcome to the Carlisle Chamber Orchestra". ccorch.org. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
8. "An intergenerational choral ensemble in Carlisle, MA". Carlisle Community Chorus. January 24, 2022. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
9. "The Savoyard Light Opera Company". savoyardlightopera.org. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
10. "CARLISLE OLD HOME DAY - Home page Carlisle Old Home Day celebration". Carlisleohd.org. June 26, 2021. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
11. "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
12. "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
13. "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
14. "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
15. "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
16. "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
17. "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
18. "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
19. "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
20. "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
21. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 25, 2023.
22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
23. The Way to Carlisle Village: Residents Enjoy Their Privacy but Seek a Place to be Neighborly Archived 2009-04-18 at the Wayback Machine . www.boston.com . Accessed September 24, 2008.
24. "Compare Climate" . Retrieved November 4, 2022.
25. "CNN Anchor John Berman Opens Up About 'Newsroom' and His Love of Politics". Westchester Magazine. September 29, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
26. "Meet Clairo, the Carlisle native who's playing Coachella | Boston.com". www.boston.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Carlisle.org, volunteer-run community website
• The Carlisle Mosquito, town newspaper
• Carlisle Conservation Foundation
• History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, compiled by Samuel Adams Drake, published 1879. Volume 1, page 359 Carlisle by B.F.Heald.