Plympton, Massachusetts | |
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Town of Plympton | |
![]() Plympton Historical Society | |
![]() Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts | |
Coordinates: 41°57′10″N70°48′54″W / 41.95278°N 70.81500°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Massachusetts |
County | Plymouth |
Settled | 1662 |
Incorporated | 1707 |
Government | |
• Type | Open town meeting |
Area | |
• Total | 15.1 sq mi (39.2 km2) |
• Land | 14.8 sq mi (38.3 km2) |
• Water | 0.4 sq mi (0.9 km2) |
Elevation | 105 ft (32 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,930 |
• Density | 190/sq mi (75/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
ZIP code | 02367 |
Area code | 339 / 781 |
FIPS code | 25-54415 |
GNIS feature ID | 0619472 |
Website | www.town.plympton.ma.us |
Plympton is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,930 at the 2020 census. [1] The United States senator William Bradford was born here.
Plympton was first settled in 1662 by Reverend Justin P. Daley as the western parish of Plymouth. Lands of the original town included all of Carver and Halifax, as well as small portions of Kingston and Middleborough. The town was officially incorporated in 1707 and named for Plympton, Devon, England. In 1734, the town of Halifax separated and incorporated, and Carver did the same in 1790. The current boundaries of the town were set in 1862.
Early residents of Plympton were mostly farmers, living off the land. The Industrial Revolution brought about factories, which made shoes and shovels, as well as lumber and cotton mills. Today, the town is mostly rural and residential, with very little industry.
The town's most famous resident was Deborah Sampson, born in the town in 1760. She is best known for pretending to be a man to fight in the American Revolution. [2]
The town's newest addition is a Sysco distribution plant located near U.S. Route 44.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39 km2), of which 14.8 square miles (38 km2) are land and 0.3-square-mile (0.78 km2) (2.31%) is water. Plympton is bordered by Halifax to the northwest, Pembroke to the north, Kingston to the northeast, Carver to the southeast, and Middleborough to the southwest. Plympton is approximately 35 mi (56 km) south of Boston and east of Providence, Rhode Island.
Plympton is mostly rural, with much of the land covered by forests. The northern tip of town lies along Silver Lake, which also extends into Kingston, Pembroke and along the Halifax border. The Winnetuxet River and many other brooks, as well as several smaller ponds, lie within the town. Plympton also has its own town forest and conservation area.
The new highway portion of U.S. Route 44 clips the southeastern corner of the town. Routes 58 and 106 pass through the town, Route 106 passing across the northern portion of town, and Route 58 passing from southeast to northwest. Just south of Silver Lake, the Kingston/Plymouth Line of the MBTA's Commuter Rail service to Boston passes through the town, with the nearest stop being in Halifax. The nearest regional airport is Plymouth Municipal Airport; the nearest national and international airport is Logan International Airport in Boston, however the closest airport in general is Cranland Municipal Airport in Hanson, MA.
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1850 | 927 | — |
1860 | 994 | +7.2% |
1870 | 804 | −19.1% |
1880 | 694 | −13.7% |
1890 | 597 | −14.0% |
1900 | 488 | −18.3% |
1910 | 561 | +15.0% |
1920 | 469 | −16.4% |
1930 | 511 | +9.0% |
1940 | 532 | +4.1% |
1950 | 697 | +31.0% |
1960 | 821 | +17.8% |
1970 | 1,224 | +49.1% |
1980 | 1,974 | +61.3% |
1990 | 2,384 | +20.8% |
2000 | 2,637 | +10.6% |
2010 | 2,820 | +6.9% |
2020 | 2,930 | +3.9% |
2022* | 2,923 | −0.2% |
* = population estimate. Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] |
As of the census [14] of 2000, there were 2,637 people, 854 households, and 737 families residing in the town. The population density was 178.3 inhabitants per square mile (68.8/km2). There were 872 housing units at an average density of 59.0 per square mile (22.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.85% White, 0.99% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.
There were 854 households, out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.5% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.7% were non-families. 10.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $70,045, and the median income for a family was $75,000. Males had a median income of $45,531 versus $34,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,344. About 0.8% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Plympton is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Twelfth Plymouth District, which includes Kingston and portions of Duxbury, Halifax, Middleborough and Plymouth. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Second Plymouth and Bristol District, which includes the city of Brockton and the towns of East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Plympton, Whitman. [15] The town is patrolled by its own full service Police department. [16]
On the national level, Plympton is a part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district, and is currently represented by William R. Keating. The state's senior (Class II) member of the United States Senate, elected in 2012, is Elizabeth Warren. The junior (Class I) senator, elected in a special election replacing John Kerry in 2013, is Ed Markey.
Plympton is governed by the open town meeting form of government, led by a board of selectmen. The Town has its own police and fire departments, both of which are headquartered next to the town hall at the center of town. The town's post office is just south of the center of town along Route 58. Adjacent to the town hall on its southern side is the Plympton Public Library, a member of the SAILS Library Network.
Plympton is a member of the Silver Lake Regional School District, which also includes the towns of Kingston and Halifax. Each town is responsible for its own elementary school, with a middle and high school shared between all three towns. Plympton operates the Dennett Elementary School for students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Both the Silver Lake Regional Middle School and the Silver Lake Regional High School are located in neighboring Kingston. The school's athletics teams are nicknamed the Lakers, and their colors are red and silver. There are no private schools in Plympton.
Plymouth County is a county in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, south of Boston. As of the 2020 census, the population was 530,819. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton. In 1685, the county was created by the Plymouth General Court, the legislature of Plymouth Colony, predating its annexation by the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Raynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located approximately 32 miles (51 km) south of Boston and 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 15,082 at the 2020 census. It has one village, Raynham Center.
Carver is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,645 at the 2020 census. It is named for John Carver, the first governor of the Plymouth Colony. The town features two popular tourist attractions: Edaville USA theme park and King Richard's Faire, the largest and longest-running renaissance fair in New England.
East Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 14,440 at the 2020 census. It is also a part of Massachusetts' 8th congressional district, of which it is represented by Stephen Lynch.
Halifax is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,749 at the 2020 census.
Lakeville is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,523 at the 2020 census.
Marion is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,347 at the 2020 census.
Mattapoisett is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,508 at the 2020 census. Mattapoisett Center is located in the town.
Middleborough is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,245 at the 2020 census. The census-designated place of Middleborough Center corresponds to the main village and commercial center of the town. It is the second largest municipality by land area in Massachusetts and nineteenth largest in New England. Middleborough proclaims itself to be the "Cranberry Capital of the World". Cranberry production remains a significant part of the local economy. In 2015, approximately 1,400 acres of the town were used to grow the crop, accounting for 3% of all land used to harvest cranberry bogs in the United States.
Pembroke is an historic town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. Pembroke is a South Shore suburb of the Boston metropolitan area. The town is located approximately halfway between Boston and Cape Cod. The town is considered rural in character, with pockets of suburban neighborhoods. The population was 18,361 at the 2020 census, with a median household income of $119,827.
Rochester is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,717 at the 2020 census.
Wareham is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2022 census, the town had a population of 23,303.
West Bridgewater is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,707 at the 2020 census.
Whitman is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 15,121 at the 2020 census. It is notable as being the place where the chocolate chip cookie was invented.
Petersham is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,194 at the 2020 census. Petersham is home to a considerable amount of conservation land, including the Quabbin Reservation, Harvard Forest, the Swift River Reservation, and Federated Women's Club State Forest.
Bourne is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,452 at the 2020 census.
Bridgewater is a town located in Plymouth County, in the state of Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the town's population was 28,633. Bridgewater is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Boston and approximately 35 miles east of Providence, Rhode Island.
Hanson is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. Part of Greater Boston, Hanson is located 20 miles (32 km) south of Boston and is one of the inland towns of the South Shore. The population was 10,639 at the 2020 census.
Kingston is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,708 at the 2020 census.
Marshfield is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States, on Massachusetts's South Shore. The population was 25,825 at the 2020 census.