Attleboro, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 Attleboro's city hall | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nicknames: The Jewelry City, A-Town | |
| Motto: Go Big Blue | |
 Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts | |
  Attleboro Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Attleboro Attleboro (the United States) Show map of the United States Attleboro Attleboro (North America) Show map of North America | |
| Coordinates:41°55′54″N71°17′40″W / 41.931653°N 71.294503°W /41.931653; -71.294503 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Bristol |
| Settled | 1634 |
| Incorporated | 1694 (town) |
| Reincorporated | 1914, (city) |
| Named after | Attleborough, England |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council city |
| • Mayor | Cathleen DeSimone[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 27.77 sq mi (71.93 km2) |
| • Land | 26.78 sq mi (69.36 km2) |
| • Water | 0.99 sq mi (2.57 km2) |
| Elevation | 138 ft (42 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 46,461 |
| • Density | 1,734.98/sq mi (669.87/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4:00 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 02703 |
| Area code | 508 /774 |
| FIPS code | 25-02690 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0612033 |
| Website | www |
Attleboro is a city inBristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It was once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its manyjewelry manufacturers. According to the2020 census, Attleboro had a population of 46,461.[4]
Attleboro is the fourth-largest municipality in Bristol County, behindNew Bedford,Fall River, andTaunton. It became a city in 1914 after being a town for over 200 years.
In 1634, English settlers first arrived in the territory that is now Attleboro.[5] The deed that granted them the land was written by Native AmericanWamsutta. The land.[6] It included the towns ofCumberland, Rhode Island, until 1747 andNorth Attleborough, Massachusetts, until 1887. In 1643, Attleboro was part of the adjacent town of Rehoboth until it was separately incorporated as a town in 1694.[7] In 1697 in response to an unwanted amount of disturbances, mainly from nearby tribes of natives, the town had a meeting and ended up deciding that selectmen would keep tabs on strangers and foreigners as well as banning certain ones from entering the town. The town was reincorporated in 1914 as the City of Attleboro, with the "-ugh" removed from the name, although North Attleborough kept it. In the 1600's many of the people who settled in this area were from Attleborough, England, after which the city is named.[8][clarification needed]
During the Native American insurgency in the colonial era, Nathaniel Woodcock, the son of an Attleborough resident, was murdered, and his head was placed on a pole in his father's front yard. His father's house is now a historical site. It is rumored thatGeorge Washington once passed through Attleborough and stayed near the Woodcock Garrison House at the Hatch Tavern, where he exchanged a shoe buckle with Israel Hatch, a revolutionary soldier and the new owner of the Garrison House.
The city became known for jewelry manufacturing in 1913, particularly because of theL.G. Balfour Company. That company has since moved out of the city, and the site of the former plant has been converted into a riverfront park. Attleboro was once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World", and jewelry manufacturing firms continue to operate there. One such is the Guyot Brothers Company, which was started in 1904.[9] General Findings, M.S. Company, James A. Murphy Co., Garlan Chain, Leach & Garner, and Masters of Design are jewelry manufacturing companies still in operation.
In late 2003,The Sun Chronicle reported that a state investigation had been launched into the deaths of three women in the city fromglioblastoma.[10] In 2007, the State of Massachusetts issued a report concluding that although the diagnosis rate for brain and central nervous system (CNS) cancers was higher than expected when compared to statewide data, the increase was determined not to be statistically significant.[11]
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.[12]
In 2002, the Massachusetts Public Health Department was asked to evaluate the formerShpack Landfill, on the border of Norton and Attleboro, for its cancer risks. The investigation continued at least through 2004.[13][14] The informal landfill includeduranium fuel rods, heavy metals, andvolatile organic compounds.[15]
.jpg)
Attleboro has an area of 27.772 square miles (71.930 km2), of which 26.779 square miles (69.356 km2) is land and 0.994 square miles (2.574 km2), or 3.59%, is water.[16] Its borders form an irregular polygon that resembles a truncated triangle pointing west. It is bordered byNorth Attleborough to the north,Mansfield andNorton to the east, Rehoboth,Seekonk, andPawtucket, Rhode Island, to the south, andCumberland, Rhode Island, to the west, as well as sharing a short border withCentral Falls, Rhode Island through theBlackstone River. It includes the areas known as City Center, Briggs Corner, West Attleboro, East Corner, East Attleboro, North Corner, Maple Square, Camp Hebron, Oak Hill, Dodgeville, East Junction, Hebronville, Park Square, andSouth Attleboro.
Waterways in the city include theTen Mile River, fed by theBungay River, the Manchester Pond Reservoir, and several small ponds.
Attleboro's highest point is 249-foot (76 m) Oak Hill, in the southern part of the city, north of Oak Hill Avenue.[17]
Attleboro is on the border between the Massachusetts and Rhode Islandregional dialects ofNew England English: the eastern part of the city is in the same dialect region as Boston, and the western part in the same dialect region as Providence.[18]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 2,166 | — |
| 1800 | 2,480 | +14.5% |
| 1810 | 2,716 | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 3,055 | +12.5% |
| 1830 | 3,215 | +5.2% |
| 1840 | 3,585 | +11.5% |
| 1850 | 4,200 | +17.2% |
| 1860 | 6,066 | +44.4% |
| 1870 | 6,769 | +11.6% |
| 1880 | 11,111 | +64.1% |
| 1890 | 7,577 | −31.8% |
| 1900 | 11,335 | +49.6% |
| 1910 | 16,215 | +43.1% |
| 1920 | 19,731 | +21.7% |
| 1930 | 21,769 | +10.3% |
| 1940 | 22,071 | +1.4% |
| 1950 | 23,809 | +7.9% |
| 1960 | 27,118 | +13.9% |
| 1970 | 32,907 | +21.3% |
| 1980 | 34,196 | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 38,383 | +12.2% |
| 2000 | 42,068 | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 43,593 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 46,461 | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 46,601 | +0.3% |
Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]: 21–07, 21-09 [30] Source: U.S. Decennial Census[31] | ||
Attleboro is part of theProvidence metropolitan area. It is a short distance fromBoston, and is linked to theBoston metropolitan area.
As of the 2010census, there were 46,461 people and 17,781 households in the city; thepopulation density was 1,735.0 inhabitants per square mile (669.9/km2). There were 19,097 housing units in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 77.14%White, 5.82%African American, 0.34%Native American, 4.73%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 4.52%some other race, and 7.41% from two or more races.Hispanic andLatino people of any race made up 8.91% of the total population.
Of the 17,781 households, 33.1% had someone under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 26.5% had a female householder with no spouse present, 17.3% had a male householder with no spouse present, 12.1% were individuals, and 5.4% were people aged 65 or older living alone. The average size of household was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.12.
The age distribution in the city was: 23.1% under 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% 65 or older. The median age was 39.4 years.
The estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $93,266, and the median income for a family was $106,104.Per capita income was $42,224. About 9.2% of the population was below thepoverty line, including 11.5% of those under 18 and 9.3% of those aged 65 or over.
In 2011, Attleboro was awarded $5.4 million in state and federal funding to support revitalization efforts in its historic downtown area.[32] The funds were intended to transform underutilized industrial and commercial parcels into areas of mixed use that included commercial, recreational, and residential space, as well as improvements toMBTA rail andGATRA bus services, and road improvements.[32]
Attleboro has four museums.
Other places of interest in the city include:
In 2017, Attleboro began hosting the annualJewelry City Steampunk Festival.
In 1942, theMissionaries of La Salette purchased 135 acres (0.55 km2) and a castle in Attleboro for use as aseminary.[41] The shrine opened to the public in 1953 with a Christmas manger display.[42][41] The annual Christmas Festival of Lights has grown to 300,000 lights and attracts about 250,000 visitors each year.[41] A devastating fire destroyed the castle on November 5, 1999.[41] A new welcome center opened in 2007 which includes a 600-seat concert hall.[41] In addition to the Christmas Festival, the shrine offers programs, concerts, workshops and events throughout the year.[42][41] The grounds also include Our Lady's Chapel of Lights, an outdoor chapel, and a church.[41]
There are over 20 conservation areas amounting to more than 600 acres of walkable woods: the Antony Lawrence Preserve, Coleman Reservation, Attleboro Springs, and the Bungay River Conservation Area in the north of the city.[citation needed]
Attleboro has amayor-council government. The city council acts as the legislative body, and the mayor handles traditional day-to-day chief executive functions. City councilors can run as either a representative of a city ward or at large. There are 11 councilors: five at-large and six ward councilors.[43] The mayor is former City Councilor At-LargeCathleen DeSimone.[44] The president of the Municipal Council is Jay DiLisio and the vice president is Todd Kobus. City Clerk Kate Jackson serves as clerk of the Municipal Council and Virginia Stuart is the administrative assistant.
Cathleen DeSimone
Attleboro is represented in thestate legislature by officials elected from the following districts:
Elected members:
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third parties | Total Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 54.65%12,675 | 43.14%10,007 | 2.21%513 | 23,195 | 11.51% |
| 2020 | 58.00%13,661 | 39.36%9,272 | 2.64%622 | 23,555 | 18.63% |
| 2016 | 51.45%10,518 | 41.93%8,571 | 6.62%1,353 | 20,442 | 9.52% |
| 2012 | 54.18%10,502 | 43.70%8,470 | 2.13%412 | 19,384 | 10.48% |
| 2008 | 55.33%10,523 | 42.08%8,003 | 2.59%492 | 19,018 | 13.25% |
| 2004 | 55.25%9,857 | 43.24%7,714 | 1.52%271 | 17,842 | 12.01% |
| 2000 | 56.95%8,924 | 36.24%5,679 | 6.81%1,067 | 15,670 | 20.71% |
| 1996 | 55.92%7,956 | 29.93%4,258 | 14.16%2,014 | 14,228 | 25.99% |
| 1992 | 38.81%5,831 | 31.81%4,779 | 29.37%4,413 | 15,023 | 7.00% |
| 1988 | 44.01%6,199 | 54.94%7,739 | 1.06%149 | 14,087 | 10.93% |
| 1984 | 35.82%4,524 | 63.66%8,041 | 0.52%66 | 12,631 | 27.84% |
| 1980 | 35.08%4,376 | 47.29%5,899 | 17.62%2,198 | 12,473 | 12.21% |
| 1976 | 49.05%6,073 | 47.68%5,903 | 3.27%405 | 12,381 | 1.37% |
| 1972 | 45.73%5,934 | 53.69%6,968 | 0.58%75 | 12,977 | 7.97% |
| 1968 | 56.19%6,924 | 39.44%4,860 | 4.37%539 | 12,323 | 16.75% |
| 1964 | 72.04%8,744 | 27.64%3,355 | 0.31%38 | 12,137 | 44.40% |
| 1960 | 50.80%6,402 | 49.08%6,186 | 0.12%15 | 12,603 | 1.71% |
| 1956 | 28.45%3,270 | 71.37%8,204 | 0.18%21 | 11,495 | 42.92% |
| 1952 | 35.88%4,265 | 63.88%7,593 | 0.24%28 | 11,886 | 28.00% |
| 1948 | 45.50%4,824 | 53.45%5,667 | 1.05%111 | 10,602 | 7.95% |
| 1944 | 44.90%4,412 | 54.91%5,396 | 0.19%19 | 9,827 | 10.01% |
| 1940 | 45.96%4,784 | 53.54%5,574 | 0.50%52 | 10,410 | 7.59% |
.jpg)
Attleboro's school district, Attleboro Public Schools,[48] has five elementary schools (Hill-Roberts, Hyman Fine, A. Irvin Studley, Peter Thacher and Thomas Willett), three middle schools (Brennan, Coelho and Wamsutta), and two high schools (Attleboro High School, and Attleboro Community Academy).Attleboro High School has its own vocational division, and its football team (the "Blue Bombardiers") has a traditional rivalry withNorth Attleborough High School, whom they play in theirThanksgiving Day football game. Attleboro Community Academy is a night school for students aged 16–25 to obtain their high school diplomas and could not function in traditional high school.Bishop Feehan High School is a co-educationalRoman Catholic high school that opened in 1961 and is named for BishopDaniel Francis Feehan, second Bishop of theDiocese of Fall River. The city also has a satellite branch ofBristol Community College, formerly housed in the city's former high school building but since relocated to an oldTexas Instruments site.Bridgewater State University opened a satellite site in Attleboro in 2009, sharing space withBristol Community College.
The former high school building was built in the 1960s, and added wings in several renovations throughout the years. The city of Attleboro voted on whether to build a new school or renovate the building, and "reached an agreement to put proceeds from the sale toward the cost of a new high school before the $260 million was approved by voters last spring."[49] The sale of the first Attleboro High School built in 1912 on County Street gave the city funds for the new building. The newAttleboro High School opened in 2022.[50][51]
Attleboro is besideInterstate 95 (which enters the state between Attleboro and Pawtucket, Rhode Island),I-295 (whose northern terminus is near the North Attleborough town line at I-95),US Route 1, and Routes1A,118,123 and152, the last three of which intersect at Attleboro center. The proposedInterstate 895 was to run through Attleboro and have a junction at the present day I-295/I-95 terminus. When driving from Rhode Island on I-295, the stub exits before the half-cloverleaf exit to I-95.
The city is home to twoMBTA commuter rail stations: one in thedowntown area and onein the South Attleboro district, near the Rhode Island border. Attleboro andTaunton are both served by theGreater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority, or GATRA, which provides bus transit between the two cities and the surrounding regions.
For airports, Attleboro is served byRhode Island TF Green International Airport to the south inWarwick, Rhode Island andBoston Logan International Airport to the north inBoston, Massachusetts.
ATTLEBORO -- New Mayor Cathleen DeSimone said in her inaugural address Saturday that Attleboro has a lot going for it, but the best is yet to come for the city.
ATTLEBORO — The deaths of three city women from a rare form of brain cancer has prompted local and state officials to look into the incidence of the disease, said health agent Jim Mooney.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Municipalities and communities ofBristol County, Massachusetts,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
