Attleboro, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia : A : AT : ATT : Attleboro, Massachusetts
- See also: Attleborough, United Kingdom
History
Attleboro was incorporated from part of Rehoboth in 1694 as the Town of Attleborough. It was re-incorporated in 1914 as the City of Attleboro. Attleboro included the town of North Attleborough until 1887, and Cumberland, Rhode Island until 1747. When the city re-incorporated in 1914, the final "ugh" was removed from the name.During the colonial period, Nathaniel Woodcock lived in North Attleboro. During the Native American insurgency Woodcock's son was murdered and his head was placed on a pole in his front yard. The house where Woodcock lived is now a historical monument.
It is rumored George Washington once passed through and stayed near the Woodcock Garrison House at the Hatch Tavern where he swapped one shoe buckle with Nathan Hatch, Revolutionary Soldier and new owner of the Garrison House.
The city became known for jewelry manufacturing, notably through the L.G. Balfour Company starting in 1913. However, the company has since moved out of the city, with the site of the former plant turned into a riverfront park.
Geography
Attleboro is located at (41.928099, -71.314564)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 73.2 km² (28.3 mi²). 71.3 km² (27.5 mi²) of it is land and 2.0 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (2.72%) is water.
Attleboro's surrounding towns are: North Attleborough, MA, Mansfield, MA, Norton, MA, Rehoboth, MA, Seekonk, MA, Pawtucket, RI and Cumberland, RI.
Localities of Attleboro are: Briggs Corner, Dodgeville, East Junction, Hebronville, and South Attleboro.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 42,068 people, 16,019 households, and 10,924 families residing in the city. The population density was 590.4/km² (1,529.1/mi²). There were 16,554 housing units at an average density of 232.3/km² (601.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.30% White, 1.64% African American, 0.16% Native American, 3.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.29% of the population.There were 16,019 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,807, and the median income for a family was $59,112. Males had a median income of $40,331 versus $28,769 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,660. About 3.7% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
City landmarks
Attleboro is the home of LaSalette Shrine. The shrine has one of the most spectacular Christmas light displays in New England. The city is also home to one hospital, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, on Park Street.The city has several parks, with one of the largest being Capron Park. Capron Park also houses a zoo. Adjacent to the downtown business district is the L.G. Balfour Riverwalk, which was once the site of the L.G. Balfour jewelry plant.
It is also the home of various local cultural institutions, including the Attleboro Museum, the Women at Work Museum, and the Triboro Youth Theatre.
Education
Bishop Feehan High School is a Roman Catholic high school located in Attleboro. It was named after the bishop of Fall River, Daniel Feehan, and founded in 1961.Attleboro High School.
Bristol Community College.
Government
The city has a mayor-council form of government. The current mayor is Kevin Dumas, a 29-year-old who defeated longtime Mayor Judith Robbins in a 2003 election marked by record-low turnout of just 26%. He was re-elected to a second term in November 2005.Religion
The religions represented by the churches in Attleboro reveal the historic ethnic makeup of the community. The five Roman Catholic churches - St. John's, St. Stephen's, St. Joseph's, and Holy Ghost - reflect the English/Irish, formerly French now Hispanic, and Portuguese, neighborhoods, respectively.All Saints Episcopal Church (1890) on North Main Street represents that traditional English presence in the community - though the church is now very diverse. Currently All Saints is in the process of separating from the Episcopal Church - USA (ECUSA) to become affiliated with an Anglican diocese under a bishop in Uganda.
The Second Congregational Church (1748), located near the town common, is typical of a New England town. Second Congregational had a stately white clapboard building that was destroyed by fire. A red brick building replaced it in the early 1900's.
The Murray Unitarian-Universalist Church (1875)on North Main Street is also typical of a New England town.
The Evangelical Covenant Church (1903) on North Main Street recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. It was historically "the Swedish church," though it includes many different ethnic groups today.
Congregation Agudas Achim on Kelly Boulevard is part of the Jewish Reconstructionist movement.
There are a number of Protestant denominations represented in Attleboro including Baptist (Grace Baptist on Oakhill Avenue, the Bible Baptist on Union Street, and 1st Baptist on South Main), Christian & Missionary Alliance (Faith Alliance on Pleasant), Advent Christian (also on Pleasant), AME (AME Zion on Leroy Street), and Assembly of God (the South Attleboro AOG on Newport Avenue). [Living Waters Christian Church] is on N. Main St. (Rt. 152).
There are also numerous non-denominational churches such as Good News Bible Chapel on West Street (1935), and a handful of ethnic "store-front church plants."
The Attleboro Area Council of Churches is very active in the community.
Transportation
Attleboro is located along I-95, I-295, and US 1. The city is also home to two MBTA commuter rail stations: one in the downtown area and the other near the Rhode Island border in the South Attleboro district.Attleboro and Taunton are both served by GATRA (Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority), which provides bus transit between the two cities and the surrounding regions.
Cancer
Attleboro has an abnormally high incidence of cancer - particularly compared to neighboring cities and towns - including a surprisingly high number of residents stricken in recent years with glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer that is almost always terminal. Some have speculated that the high cancer rate could be related to the city's years as a haven for industrial activity. It has come to light in recent years that many of the companies which operated in Attleboro disposed of toxic chemicals and other harmful materials in the city's rivers. Additionally, other forms of waste most likely seeped into the city's soil.In late 2003, The Sun Chronicle reported that a state probe had been launched into the deaths of four city women from glioblastoma. As of October 2005; however, no report has been issued, and the status of the probe is unknown.
Scorecard, Environmental Defense's online database of polluters, lists seven facilities contributing to cancer hazards in Attleboro, including Engineered Materials Solutions Inc., the worst offender in Massachusetts. [link]
External links
- [City of Attleboro Home Page]
- [Capron Park Zoo]
- [GATRA Home Page]
- [LaSalette Shrine]
- [Triboro Youth Theatre]
- [Living Waters Christian Church]
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