Plainville, Massachusetts

Not to be confused with Plainfield, Massachusetts.

Plainville, Massachusetts
Town
South Street
Seal
Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°00′15″N71°20′00″W / 42.00417°N 71.33333°W / 42.00417; -71.33333
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Norfolk
Settled	1661
Incorporated	1905
Government
• Type	Open Town Meeting
Area
• Total	29.9 km2 (11.5 sq mi)
• Land	28.6 km2 (11.0 sq mi)
• Water	1.3 km2 (0.5 sq mi)
Elevation	76 m (250 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,945
• Density	347.7/km2 (901/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	02762
Area code	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-54100
GNIS feature ID	0618327
Website	www.plainville.ma.us

Plainville is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,945 at the time of the 2020 census. Plainville is part of the Boston and Providence metropolitan areas. ^[1]

History

Originally included in a 1635 grant of land for Dedham, Massachusetts, the area was later deemed the Plantation of Wollomonuppoag and then later becoming Wrentham, Massachusetts before Plainville branched out as a separate community. Plainville became an officially recognized town on April 4, 1905, making it the third youngest town in the state, behind Millville (1916) and East Brookfield (1920).

One of the earliest documentations of Plainville being settled is from 1674, when a Wampanoag man by the name of Matchinamook petitioned and received a few acres of land at the head of the Ten Mile River, at present day Fuller's Dam. As Matchinamook was a native warrior under Wampanoag chieftain Metacomet, or more commonly known in the area as King Philip, he most likely fought during King Philip's War. In its early days, Plainville was nicknamed Slackville after Benjamin Slack, an affluent landowner at the time. After the establishment of a post office in 1856, Plainville became the town name after the abundance of geographical plains in the area. In 1905, Plainville officially separated from Wrentham and became its own town.

Along with bordering North Attleboro, Massachusetts, Plainville shares the Angle Tree Stone, a historic marker dividing the boundaries between the old Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Bay Colony. This is why the Angle Tree Stone is in the official town seal. Along with many notable veterans, Plainville was the home to George Robert Twelves Hewes, a Revolutionary War veteran who also partook in the Boston Tea Party as well as the Battle of Rhode Island.

Municipal Complex

In 2019, Plainville opened a new $34 million Municipal Complex, which included new space for the Town Hall, Fire Department, and Police. ^[2] These were sited adjacent to a pre-existing public library on South Street. ^[2] The new Town Hall replaced one that had been originally built in 1938 as a fire station. ^[2] The Municipal Complex was funded by tax revenue from a local casino. ^[2]

Geography

Telford Park

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.6 square miles (30 km²), of which 11.1 square miles (29 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) (4.24%) is water.

Plainville borders the towns of Wrentham, Foxboro, Mansfield, North Attleboro, and Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Demographics

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1910	1,385	—
1920	1,365	−1.4%
1930	1,583	+16.0%
1940	1,302	−17.8%
1950	2,088	+60.4%
1960	3,810	+82.5%
1970	4,953	+30.0%
1980	5,857	+18.3%
1990	6,871	+17.3%
2000	7,683	+11.8%
2010	8,264	+7.6%
2020	9,945	+20.3%
2022*	9,865	−0.8%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

As of the census ^[10] of 2000, there were 7,683 people, 3,009 households, and 2,040 families residing in the town. The population density was 694.6 inhabitants per square mile (268.2/km²). There were 3,111 housing units at an average density of 281.3 per square mile (108.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.77% White, 0.70% African American, 1.63% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 3,009 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. Of all households 26.2% were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there are 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,155, and the median income for a family was $68,640. Males had a median income of $50,708 versus $32,377 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,816. About 2.4% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Children and teens living in Plainville attend the A. W. Jackson Elementary School for kindergarten through second grade, then the B. H. Wood School for grades 3–6. Children then attend King Philip Middle School and King Philip Regional High School. Other high school options include the Foxborough Regional Charter School, Norfolk Aggie, and Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School all in neighboring towns.

Elementary Schools:

• Anna Ware Jackson School (K–3)
• Beatrice H. Wood School (4–6)

For secondary education Plainville is in the King Philip Regional School District. ^[11] which operates the public middle school and the comprehensive high school for Plainville.

• King Philip Regional Middle School|King Philip Middle School (7–8) - Norfolk
• King Philip Regional High School (9–12) - Wrentham

Plainville is also a member of the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Government

Local

Plainville Town Hall

Prior to 2019

2019-

Plainville built a new Municipal Complex in 2019, financed with revenue provided by a local casino. ^[2]

Plainville has a board of selectmen style government. ^[12] The town has a three-member select board, the current members, Maggie Clarke, Jeff Johnson, and Brian Kelly, were each elected to three year terms. ^[13] The town also elects park commissioners, library trustees, members of the boards of health, assessors, planning, redevelopment, school committee members, and a housing authority. In total there exist 24 boards and committees in town. ^[14]

The school committee is governed by: Justin Alexander, Michele Sharpe, Shannon Kerrigan, Jennifer Maloney Plante, and Steve Albert. ^[15] Greg Wehmeyer, Bruce Cates, and Christopher Brenneis represent the town at the King Philip Regional School Committee. ^[16]

After 15 years of service to the town, on April 3, 2023, town clerk Ellen Roberston retired; she was succeeded by Cynthia Bush. ^[17]

State

The town is represented in the Massachusetts State Senate by Democrat Rebecca Rausch (Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district). ^[18] She has served since 2019. Marcus Vaughn, a Republican, represents the town in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (9th Norfolk district).

Federal

Jake Auchincloss represents the town in the United States House of Representatives, and Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey represent Plainville in the United States Senate.

Notable people

• Michelle Carter, known for her involvement in the death of Conrad Roy
• Thomas John, psychic medium
• Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
• Jim Renner, PGA golfer
• Emory Rounds, Ret. CMDR US NAVY Director of Ethics for the United States Trump and Biden White House
• Lofa Tatupu, linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks

References

1. "Update of Statistical area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). whitehouse.gov. pp. 52, 108, 150. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 4, 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2007.
2. "New $34 Million Municipal Complex in Plainville Improves Town Services and Enhances Health and Wellbeing of Emergency First Responders". Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Massachusetts Gaming Commission. August 28, 2019. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
3. "TOTAL POPULATION (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
4. "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
5. "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. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2003. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
6. "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts". US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
7. "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). U.S. Census 1950. 1: Number of Inhabitants. Bureau of the Census. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. 1952. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
8. "1920 Census of Population". 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: 1900, 1910, and 1920. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 7.Fujiwara, D. (August 13, 2021). Map: See how each Mass. town has changed according to new census data - The Boston Globe. BostonGlobe.com. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/metro/new-census-data-see-how-each-mass-town-has-changed/.
9. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
11. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Norfolk County, MA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved October 17, 2022.
12. "Town of Plainville, MA Code". Town of Plainville, MA Code. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
13. "Select Board | Plainville, MA". www.plainville.ma.us. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
14. "Government | Plainville, MA". www.plainville.ma.us. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
15. "School Committee Members / Overview". www.plainville.k12.ma.us. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
16. "School Committee". King Philip Regional School District. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
17. Peterson, Stephen (April 2, 2023). "Plainville's longtime town clerk will have a busy last day". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
18. "Senate Members" . Retrieved February 24, 2023.

• Plainville 1930: Its Industries and History

External links

• Town website
• The Plainville Times