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Cohasset, Massachusetts

Cohasset is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 8,381.

History
Cohasset was inhabited by the Pokanoket until 1649, when it was conquered by the Wampanoag, and then the Massachusett in 1668.

The area entered the written record in 1614, when Captain John Smith explored the coast of New England and described an encounter of his ship with four Native Americans in a canoe at Quonahasit, two of whom were shot by the Europeans. In 1634, "Conihosset" is listed as a "noted habitation" in New England in a list of both indigenous and colonial settlements, though the area was first settled by English settlers in 1670 suggesting this was a settlement of Massachusett people. The town's name came from the Massachusett word "Conahasset," possibly meaning "long rocky place" or "fishing promontory."

Much of the land was originally granted without consultation of its indigenous inhabitants to the "Conahasset Partners." At a special town meeting of January 1670, the shares in the new town were apportioned and divided among the new proprietors, many of whom were large Hingham landowners. The largest number of shares (35) went to Hingham Town Clerk Daniel Cushing, with the second largest (25) to Reverend Peter Hobart, Hingham's minister. Others receiving large grants were: Capt. Joshua Hobart, Peter Hobart's brother (18 shares); Lieut. John Smith (15 shares); Ensign John Thaxter (16½ shares); and deacon John Leavitt (with 14½ shares). The layout of the town was distinctive. Many lots were laid out in long narrow strips, facilitating more lots with road frontage, and avoiding back lots.

Cohasset became a town separate from Hingham in 1770, 100 years later. Previously, what is today the town of Cohasset was known as Hingham's Second Parish.

Cohasset was originally part of Suffolk County, and when the southern part of the county was set off as Norfolk County in 1793, it included the towns of Cohasset, Hingham and Hull. In 1803, Hull and Hingham opted out of Norfolk County and became part of Plymouth County, leaving Cohasset as an exclave of Norfolk County.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 81.4 km2, of which 25.4 km2 are land and 56.1 km2, or 68.86%, are water. It is bordered on the west by Hingham, on the northwest by Hull, on the north and northeast by Massachusetts Bay and on the east and south by Scituate. Cohasset is approximately 12 mi east of Braintree and 20 mi by road southeast of Boston.

Cohasset is located on the "corner" of the South Shore, where greater Boston Harbor ends and Massachusetts Bay begins. The shore is rocky, with many small ledges and rocks lying offshore. Cohasset Cove and The Gulf provide a long portion of the border with Scituate, while Straits Pond divides Cohasset from neighboring Hull. Near the center of the coast lies Little Harbor, a large inlet divided from the ocean by Beach Island. Several other brooks and rivers run through the town. A large portion of the southwestern part of town is occupied by Wompatuck State Park (formerly the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex), and the Whitney & Thayer Woods Reservation. There is also a bird sanctuary, as well as a large park (Wheelwright Park) near Little Harbor. There are three beaches along the bay, and the Cohasset Yacht Club, Cohasset Sailing Club and a public boat launch in Cohasset Harbor.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cohasset has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

January is the coldest month of the year with an average low temperature of 20 °F and average high of 37 °F. July is the warmest month of the year with an average low temperature of 62 °F and average high of 81 °F. Average monthly precipitation falls between 3.47" and 4.80" depending on the time of year. Additionally, Cohasset averages 14.2" of snow in its snowiest month (February) and 48.3" for the year. The all-time record low and high temperatures are –13 °F (1961) and 100 °F (2002), respectively.

Government
On the national level, Cohasset is a part of Massachusetts's 8th congressional district, and is currently represented by Stephen Lynch. The senior (Class II) Senator, is Elizabeth Warren. The (Class I) member of the United States Senate is Edward Markey.

On the state level, Cohasset is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Joan Meschino as a part of the Third Plymouth district, which includes Hingham, Hull and Scituate. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate by Patrick O'Connor as a part of the Plymouth and Norfolk district, which includes the towns of Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate and Weymouth. The town is patrolled on a secondary basis by the First (Norwell) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.

Cohasset is governed on the local level by the open town meeting form of government, and is led by a town manager and a five-member board of selectmen. The current Town Manager is Christopher Senior. Selectmen are elected officials and serve three-year terms led by a chairman in a rotating one-year term. The current Board of Selectmen consists of Kevin McCarthy, Chair, Paul Schubert, Vice-Chair, and Diane Kennedy, Steve Gaumer, and Jack Keniley. The town operates its own police and fire departments, both of which are headquartered near the town center. Emergency services are also provided by the town, with patients taken to the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. The town's post office is also nearby, just off of the town common. The town's Paul Pratt Memorial Library is located just west of the town center, in what was once a school adjacent to the original library.

Cohasset Schools are represented by and headed by the Cohasset School Committee. Members of the Cohasset School Committee are Jeanne Astino(Chairman), Katie Dugan(Vice-Chairman), Ellen Maher, Barbara Stefan and Amanda Zani.

Demographics
As of the census of 2020, there were 8,373 people, 2,722 households, and 2,024 families residing in the town. The population density was 770.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,980 housing units, of which 258, or 8.7%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the town was 96% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population.

Of the 2,722 households in the town, 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were headed by married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. Of all households, 22.7% were made up of individuals, and 12.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74, and the average family size was 3.27.

29.4% of the town's population were under the age of 18, 4.3% were from 18 to 24, 18.6% were from 25 to 44, 31.6% were from 45 to 64, and 16.0% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

For the period 2013–2017, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $140,000. The median income for a family was $180,345, and the per capita income was $75,885. Male full-time workers earned an estimated $124,420 per year, while females earned $91,103. About 2.5% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

During the 2013–2017 period, the median home value was $852,300. Of the town residents, 98.3% held at least a high school degree, while 73.3% had a bachelor's degree or higher.

Education
Cohasset operates its own school department for the town's approximately 1,500 students. The Osgood Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through second grade. The Deer Hill Elementary School, located adjacent to the Osgood School, serves students from grades 3–5. The town operates a combined Middle/High School, which is located just over Bear Hill from the other two schools. Cohasset's athletics teams are known as the Skippers, and their colors are navy blue and white. They compete in the South Shore League, and their chief rival is Hull High School.

The athletic programs offered to Cohasset High School students include Baseball, Ice Hockey, Basketball, Cross Country, Tennis, a Competitive Debate Team, Football (which won the 2014 Division VI Super Bowl, and made it to the 2013 Division VI Super Bowl, but lost), Soccer, Competitive Swimming, Track and Field, Sailing, Ski Team, Wrestling and Lacrosse.

High school students may also choose to attend South Shore Vocational Technical High School in Hanover free of charge. There are no private schools in Cohasset, but there are several in neighboring Hingham and the towns west of it.

Transportation
No divided highways run through Cohasset. The longest state route through the town is Route 3A, which curves through the town between Scituate and Hingham. Route 228 runs along the border with Hingham, crossing the Weir River into Hull. The nearest airport to Cohasset is Marshfield Municipal Airport. The nearest national and international air service can be reached at Logan International Airport in Boston. T. F. Green Airport, located outside Providence, Rhode Island, is an alternative to this airport, although it is located further away.

The MBTA bus system services the bordering town of Hingham. The MBTA's commuter rail Greenbush Line has a Cohasset station off Route 3A, just east of a cemetery.

Media
Movies filmed in Cohasset:
 * The Witches of Eastwick (1987), starring Cher, Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jack Nicholson
 * HouseSitter (1992), starring Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin
 * The Finest Hours (2016), starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck and Eric Bana
 * Thoroughbreds (2017), starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Anton Yelchin
 * Confess, Fletch (2022), starring Jon Hamm and Roy Wood Jr.

In Popular Culture
Cohasset is the namesake of Cohasset Punch, a brand of rum-based drink historically popular in Chicago. It first debuted in the 1890s at the Cohasset residence of actor William H. Crane, and was commissioned by his friend, saloonkeeper Lewis Williams visiting from Chicago. Since 1899, an image of Minot's Ledge Light has featured on the label. Cohasset Punch was discontinued in the late-1980s, but was revived under new ownership in 2024.

title: Cohasset, Massachusetts


text:
Franklin, Massachusetts

The Town of Franklin is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Franklin is one of thirteen Massachusetts municipalities that have applied for, and been granted, city forms of government but wish to retain "The town of" in their official names. As of 2022, the city's population was 36,745, with a growth rate of 15.38% since 2015. It is home to the country's first public library, the Franklin Public Library with its first books donated by Benjamin Franklin in 1790. It also contains the largest Catholic parish in the Boston Archdiocese, St. Mary's Catholic church, with some 15,000 members.

History

Franklin was first settled by Europeans in 1660 and officially incorporated during the American Revolution. The town was formed from the western part of the town of Wrentham, and it was officially incorporated on March 2, 1778; its designated name at incorporation was to be Exeter. However, the town's citizens opted to call it Franklin, in honor of the statesman Benjamin Franklin, the first municipality in the U.S. to be so named.

It was hoped that Benjamin Franklin would donate a bell for a church steeple in the town, but he donated 116 books instead, including Night-Thoughts, James Janeway's Invisible Realities, and the works of John Locke. On November 20, 1790, it was decided that the volumes would be lent to the residents of Franklin for free via its library, which has been in operation since then as the Franklin Public Library making this the oldest running public library in the nation. The Ray Memorial Library building was dedicated in 1904. In 1990, on the library's bicentennial, its staff published a booklet, "A History of America's First Public Library at Franklin Massachusetts, 1790 ~ 1990" to commemorate America's first public library and book collection.

The town is also home to the birthplace of America's father of public education, Horace Mann. The town is also home to what may have been the nation's oldest continuously operational one-room school house (Croydon, New Hampshire's school dates to 1780, but there is debate as to whether it is truly "one room"). The Red Brick School was started in 1792, its building constructed in 1833, and was operational until 2008. St. Mary's Catholic Church, located in central Franklin and built by Matthew Sullivan, is the largest Catholic parish in the Boston Archdiocese with some 15,000 members.

Geography
Franklin is located at 42.08333°N, -71.4°W (42.0891, –71.4069). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.0 sqmi, of which 26.7 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi is water.

Much of the Town of Franklin lies within the Charles River watershed. Principal streams include Mine, Shepard's, Miller, Uncas, Dix and Miscoe Brooks. Much of the marshland along Mine Brook has been permanently protected by the Natural Valley Storage Project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The extreme southwestern corner of Franklin is part of the Blackstone River watershed. The town has an impounded series of lakes known as the Franklin Reservoir, which is not used as a public drinking water supply. The lakes are now protected open space.

Ernest DelCarte (1911–2000) bequeathed the land that would become the conservation area to the Town of Franklin. The DelCarte family assisted in the transfer to Franklin in return for the town's commitment to preserve the land as open space. Worth an estimated $3 million at the time of the transfer of title, the Recreation and Conservation Area received a multi-million-dollar upgrade in 2014. Significant public forests and parks include the Franklin State and the Franklin Town Forests.

Demographics
As of the 2010 census, there were 31,852 people, 10,866 households, and 7,877 families residing in the town. The population density was 1105.4 PD/sqmi. There were 10,327 housing units at an average density of 386.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 92.8 percent White, 3.83 percent Asian or Pacific Islander, 2.0 percent Hispanic or Latino of any race, 1.4 percent Black or African American, 0.15 percent Native American, 0.29 percent from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races.

There were 10,866 households, out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% contained married couples living together, 22.4% were non-families, and 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80, the average family size 3.29.

The population includes 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median household income in the town was $92,066, and the median income for a family was $81,826 (these figures had risen to $89,659 and $101,900, respectively, as of a 2008 estimate) ). Men had a median income of $58,888 versus $36,557 for women; the per capita income for the town was $27,849. About 2.2% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under 18 and 5.2% of those 65 or over.

65.5% of Franklin residents claim to be religious, of that 54.2% are Catholic, 3.0% are Jewish, 2.2% are Presbyterian, 1.7% are Episcopalian, while members of Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Buddhist, Pentecostal, Mormon, Hindu, Mennonite, and Muslim faiths make up less than 1.0% of the population each.

Government
The town is represented in the Massachusetts General Court by Representative Jeffrey Roy and Senator Becca Rausch.

It is part of the Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district. The Town is located in Massachusetts's 4th congressional district and is currently represented by Jake Auchincloss.

Education
The Franklin Public Schools have five elementary schools serving K–5, 4 middle schools serving 6-8, and 2 high schools serving 9–12. There is one charter school (grades K–8).

Elementary Schools K–5:
 * John F. Kennedy Memorial School
 * Gerald M. Parmenter Elementary School
 * Oak Street Elementary School
 * Helen Keller Elementary School
 * Jefferson Elementary School
 * The Red Brick School is a historic school in the town. It was used at various times for kindergarten through 4th grade students; sometimes for multiple grades simultaneously. It was one of the longest running one-room schools in the USA.
 * Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (K-8)

Middle Schools 6-8:
 * Horace Mann Middle School
 * Annie Sullivan Middle School
 * Remington Middle School
 * Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (K-8)

High Schools 9–12:
 * Franklin High School constructed a new high school building and tore down the old one in 2014.
 * Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School

The Town of Franklin is also home to Dean College, founded in 1865, a private residential college with over 1,100 students. The college grants associate degrees in a number of subjects (98% of the students are accepted for transfer to four-year schools) and also offers bachelor's programs in Arts and Entertainment Management, Psychology, Sociology, History, English, Business, Marketing, Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Management, Sport Management, Sport Fitness, Recreation and Coaching, Dance, Liberal Arts & Studies, and Theater.

Points of interest
As noted, the Franklin Public Library is the first public library in America, the original books of which were donated by Benjamin Franklin. Across the street from the library is Dean College.

At one end of Franklin's Historic District is the little Red Brick School. Its classroom, believed to be one of the oldest public schools in the United States, but is not still functioning, celebrated its 175th birthday in 2008.

Transportation
Franklin has two exits along I-495, at Route 140 and King Street. MBTA Commuter Rail service on the Franklin/Foxboro Line stops at Forge Park/495 and Franklin/Dean College. Franklin is part of the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) service region. It is served by demand-responsive transit.

Notable people

 * Charles Partridge Adams, born in Franklin, 1858; landscape painter, Gold Medal of National Mining and Industrial Exposition, Denver, for landscape
 * Asa Aldis, Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
 * Maria Barrett, US Army Major General; elder sister of US Army General Paula Lodi
 * Edward Reed Blake, born in Franklin; Wisconsin state legislator and businessman
 * Bernard Davis (1916–1994), biologist, was born in Franklin
 * Oliver Dean, MD, born in Franklin, 1783; physician and educator, benefactor and founder of Dean Academy
 * Nathanael Emmons, (1745–1840) Congregational minister, theologian
 * George Warren Fuller, born in Franklin, 1868; responsible for important innovations in water and wastewater treatment
 * Eddie Grant, born in 1883; baseball player, killed in WWI
 * Richard Grieco, Class of 1983, actor and former fashion model
 * Murray Hill, comedian, drag king
 * Kristi Kirshe, American rugby sevens player
 * Peter Laviolette, born in 1964 and grew up in Franklin; professional ice hockey player and coach – NHL hockey coach
 * Paula Lodi, US Army Brigadier General; younger sister of US Army General Maria Barrett
 * Horace Mann, born in Franklin, 1796; educator
 * Theron Metcalf, born in Franklin, 1784; Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
 * Robbie O'Connell, folk singer, former resident of Franklin
 * Jen O'Malley Dillon, political strategist and campaign manager
 * Albert D. Richardson, born in Franklin, 1833; journalist, spy, and author
 * Jermaine Samuels, basketball player, grew up in Franklin

 * Bobby Santos III, born in Franklin, 1985; NASCAR driver
 * Ilario Zannino, mobster, former resident of Franklin

General and cited references

 * McCarthy Earls, Eamon (2012). Franklin: From Puritan Precinct to 21st Century Edge City. Franklin: Via Appia Press (www.viaappiapress.com). ISBN 978-0-9825485-4-7.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Franklin, Massachusetts


text:
Salton Sea Beach, California

Salton Sea Beach is a census-designated place (CDP) in Imperial County, California, located 2.5 mi southeast of Desert Shores. The population was 508 at the 2020 census, up from 422 at the 2010 census, up from 392 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Centro, California Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was the location of the Naval Auxiliary Air Station Salton Sea.

Geography
Salton Sea Beach is located along the western shore of the Salton Sea, to the north of Salton City and to the south of Desert Shores along California State Route 86. The Salton Sea has an extremely high salt content and is surrounded by salt flats which can easily be broken using one's hand.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Salton Sea Beach had a population of 422. The population density was 1,400.9 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Salton Sea Beach was 309 (73.2%) White, 6 (1.4%) African American, 4 (0.9%) Native American, 2 (0.5%) Asian, 2 (0.5%) Pacific Islander, 82 (19.4%) from other races, and 17 (4.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 229 persons (54.3%).

The census reported that 422 people (100% of the population) lived in households and none were institutionalized or in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 177 households, of which 44 (24.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 67 (37.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 14 (7.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 13 (7.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 8 (4.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 3 (1.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 74 households (41.8%) were made up of individuals, and 46 (26.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38. There were 94 families (53.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.36.

109 people (25.8%) were under the age of 18, 41 (9.7%) aged 18 to 24, 71 (16.8%) aged 25 to 44, 93 (22.0%) aged 45 to 64 and 108 (25.6%) were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0. For every 100 females, there were 128.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.9 males.

There were 338 housing units at an average density of 1,122.0 /sqmi, of which 177 were occupied, of which 125 (70.6%) were owner-occupied and 52 (29.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 12.9%. 304 people (72.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 118 people (28.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census, there were 392 people, 200 households and 111 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,258.9 PD/sqmi. There were 384 housing units at an average density of 1,233.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 73.2% White, 2.0% African American, 3.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 17.9% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.5% of the population.

There were 200 households, of which 14.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 28.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.0 and the average family size was 2.6.

16.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 14.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 40.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median household income was $13,664 and the median family income was $14,457. Males had a median income of $33,750 and females $17,031. The per capita income was $17,252. About 31.2% of families and 33.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 58.3% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Salton Sea Beach is in, and.

Federally, Salton Sea Beach is in.

Water service is provided by the Coachella Valley Water District.

title: Salton Sea Beach, California


text:
Medway, Massachusetts

Medway is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The town had a population of 13,115 at the 2020 census.

History
Medway (originally Midway) was first settled in 1657 and was officially incorporated in 1713. At that time, Medway began as a farming community of two hundred thirty-three. It was not long before the water power of the Charles River and Chicken Brook stimulated the formation of cotton and paper mills, straw and boot factories, and a variety of cottage industries. Medway demonstrates the central importance of the Charles River and the thriving town that grew alongside it. Today, the one-room schoolhouses are gone and the country stores have moved to the mall, but the open town meetings continue.

After nearby Medfield was established as a town in 1651, an increasing number of newcomers settled on the land west of the Charles River. By 1712, this settlement west of the Charles had grown large enough to petition the Massachusetts General Court for the creation of a separate new town. That petition was granted, and the town of Medway incorporated on October 25, 1713. At its founding by Henry Garnsey, and for 170 years afterward, the town of Medway included the land that is now Millis. Eventually, the eastern section of the town, known as East Medway, separated in 1885 to form the town of Millis, and Medway assumed the shape it has today.

The main cause for the independent formation of Millis from Medway was the physical separation caused by a massive tract of undevelopable land appropriately named in those times, the Great Black Swamp. The Black Swamp was at the geographical center point of Medway and East Medway. Had the land been developable, this would have been the ideal location for a central meeting house, as well as churches and schools. However, because the thick forest/swamp was completely undevelopable, this forced inhabitants of Medway and East Medway to form separate communities with their own respective necessities such as a meeting house and churches. Despite this natural separation, the town remained as one for over 170 years.

The oldest road in Medway was laid out in 1670 and was known for years as Old Mendon Road. Since that time, this road has been known by many names including The Road to the Wilderness, The Old County Road, The Middle Post Road, and most recently, Village Street. Village Street runs from the Millis border on the east and meanders along the Charles River before eventually joining Main Street just before the Bellingham border on the west. The heart of the old town of Medway is found along this road, with the central location of activity at Medway Village, where Holliston Street intersects with Village Street.

In 1869, all of the streets in Medway were officially named. Many streets ended up losing their original names, and were instead named after influential townspeople of the past and present. Some examples of this were; Pine Hill Road became Winthrop Street, Vine Lane became Kelley Street, Candlewood Island Road was named Oakland Street, and The Old Hartford Turnpike was named Main Street. A few other examples of roads in Medway named after past residents include Lovering Street, Adams Street, Partridge Street, Ellis Street, Clark Street, Coffee Street, and Barber Street.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.5 sqmi, of which 11.4 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi  (0.78%) is water. Medway is the geographical center between Boston, Worcester, and Providence, which is purported by some to explain the origin of the name. However, like many New England cities and towns, it most likely derived its name from an English location, in this case, the region of Medway, England, or the River Medway.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,448 people, 4,182 households, and 3,337 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,087.0 PD/sqmi. There were 4,248 housing units at an average density of 371.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.5% White, 0.57% African American 0.10% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population.

There were 4,182 households, out of which 97.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.9% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $150,673 and the median income for a family was $172,302. Males had a median income of $121,245 versus $86,149 for females. The per capita income for the town was $51,008. About 1.8% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Football
In 2006, the New England Intensity of the Independent Women's Football League began playing its home games at Medway's Hanlon Field.

In 2008, the Bay State Renegades, of the New England Football League, began playing their home games at Hanlon Field. The team won four of the five games played at their new home. In 2007, the Worcester Wildcats, also of the NEFL, relocated for one season to Hanlon Field as their home in Worcester underwent significant renovations.

Education
Medway Public Schools are part of the Medway Public Schools school district. Currently, there are four schools actively enrolling students in the district. The McGovern school provides preschool, kindergarten, and 1st-grade education, the Burke-Memorial school provides 2nd–4th grade education, Medway Middle School provides 5th–8th-grade education, and Medway High School. The High School is the newest of the four schools. The building was completed in 2003 and the school saw its first graduating class in 2005. As of 2004, the high school had 771 students and 52 teachers, with a teacher:student ratio of 1:15. The Middle School was completely renovated and modernized in 2012.

In 2008, approximately 217 10th grade students participated in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam. The passing rate was 96.3% for both the Math and English Language sections, and 87.9% for the Science section. In 2007, 193 Medway High School students took the SAT, an increase from previous years. The average composite score was 1,614; of these students, 85.8% chose to attend a four-year college education program.

Transportation
Both Route 109 and Route 126 pass through the town and serve as some of the main roads in the town. Interstate 495 shortly passes through the southwest corner of the town, but does not provide any exits. The closest exits are in nearby Bellingham and Milford.

The closest MBTA Commuter Rail service is at Forge Park/495, Franklin/Dean College, and Norfolk stations on the Franklin/Foxboro Line. Until 1966, the Millis Branch served stations at Medway and West Medway.

Places of worship
Medway is home to four churches:

 * St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Village Street
 * Medway Community Church, which has Congregational and Baptist roots and is currently a member of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC)
 * Medway Village Church on Village Street, also a member of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference (CCCC)
 * Christ Episcopal Church on School Street

Notable people

 * James "Grizzly" Adams (1812–1860), famous mountain man and bear trainer; born in Medway
 * William Taylor Adams (1822–1897), author under the name "Oliver Optic"; born in Medway
 * Pete Carmichael, Jr., offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints
 * David Carson, a graduate of Medway High school, is a photojournalist with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and was a co-winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for their coverage of the protests in Ferguson, Missouri
 * Dennis Crowley, creator of the mobile application "Foursquare" and a member of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2010
 * Alphonso Van Marsh, American journalist and war correspondent for CNN. He became a resident of Medway at a young age in the early 1980s.  Alphonso lived at 42 Ellis St. with his older brother and parents

title: Medway, Massachusetts


text:
Millis, Massachusetts

Millis is a town in Norfolk County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It had a population of 8,460 at the 2020 census. The town is approximately 19 mi southwest of downtown Boston and is bordered by Norfolk, Sherborn, Holliston, Medfield, and Medway. Massachusetts state routes 109 and 115 run through Millis.

History
Millis was first settled in 1657 and was officially incorporated in 1885. Millis was originally part of Dedham, until that town granted the lands of Millis, and other present day surrounding towns, to Medfield in 1651. In 1713, pioneers of Medfield applied for a grant to create a new town and, when approved, named this new land Medway. This new town consisted of West Medway (the present day town of Medway) and East Medway (present day Millis). Lansing Millis, the founder of the town of Millis, successfully incorporated Millis into the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on February 24, 1885.

Lansing Millis was successful in turning the small town of Millis into an important area of Massachusetts. Lansing Millis, who was widely known as a railroad entrepreneur, built up a strong rail system in Millis. This was arguably his most important accomplishment, as the rail system is regarded as the most significant factor in its independence from Medway. In addition, the railroad system was a major factor in the early promotion of economic growth in the town and the integration of Millis to the larger cities of Dedham, Boston and Cambridge. Currently, this old railroad that formerly began in Medway is known as the Bay Colony Railroad. The Medway tracks have since been dismantled, making Millis the railroad's western terminus. The railroad is now mostly defunct, but several miles of the Bay Colony tracks in Millis are owned by the MBTA and are leased by the Bay Colony Railroad line. The Bay Colony Railroad merges with the present day MBTA Commuter Rail in Needham.

Aside from the tremendous contribution of the rail system to Millis' integration with the major Massachusetts cities, another important moment in the town's history is the construction of the Hartford and Dedham Turnpike, known today as Massachusetts Route 109. The road was constructed in 1806 and officially accepted by the town of Millis in 1896. The Hartford and Dedham Turnpike connected Millis, Medway, Medfield, and several other towns directly to Dedham and Boston. Today, Route 109 still serves as a major road connecting Metrowest Boston communities to the city of Boston.

Millis was the home of the "Millis Wonderland", a display of Christmas decorations and lights on the 40 acre Causeway Street estate of Kevin Meehan, the owner of several car dealerships. In 2004, Al Roker traveled to Millis for a segment centered on the "Millis Wonderland". After the publicity on The Today Show, an estimated 6,000 cars traveled to the "Millis Lights" daily during the Christmas season. The display was permanently closed after the 2014 holiday season.

Industrial history
The industrial history of Millis is long and varied, beginning with the water power of a small establishment named Hinsdell's mill. Soon, Millis grew from a small new town with a mill to a successful industrial society. Numerous industries opened up in the town and stimulated employment and growth. Some of these industries include the Holbrook factories, which included a bell foundry, organ manufactory, and organ pipe manufactory, Clicquot Club, and Herman Shoe Company; the latter two being the most notable industries in the town's history.

Today the prominent employers in the town are Tresca Brothers Sand & Gravel and Roche Bros. Supermarket. Millis was also home to a thriving automobile recycling industry located in the western, industrial section of town.

Herman Shoe Company
The Herman Shoe Company was an extremely important industry in town. The Herman Shoe Company, a result of several private buyouts, produced large amounts of material, specifically boots and other equipment, during the Spanish–American War. In addition, it produced most of the boots worn by the troops during World War II.

The company is now out of business and the former factory was demolished in March 2020.

Clicquot Club
Cliquot Club was started by Henry Millis, using funds from his father and founder of Millis, Lansing Millis. The company, which distributed the first brand of ginger ale in the United States for about eighty years, was located on Main Street and is the namesake for the village of Clicquot in Millis. The ginger ale produced by Clicquot Club was made using local Millis ginger. Later, the company produced several different sodas and was the first company in the nation to can drinks. Clicquot Club owned more than 100 factories throughout the United States and sold its beverages internationally. As sales declined in the 1960s, however, the company went bankrupt and was bought by the Cott company, which in turn was acquired by Canada Dry.

Causeway Street and the Brickyards
An area of land around Causeway Street, although now a rural street in the west of town, was once a huge industrial hub for the early town of Millis. This area of Causeway Street was used for clay excavation for the manufacture of bricks, as well as sand excavation. The clay excavations were turned into bricks that built many large estates and buildings in the immediate area and beyond. The remnants of clay pits today look like small ponds. In fact, one of the clay pits is so large that it is now a body of water named Heather's Pond. These abandoned pits are home to many species of wildlife and are protected along with the Great Black Swamp. Historically, the sand from the pits was used to fill in the most recent runway at Logan International Airport. Today, the remnants of old sand pits lie vacant.

The several large brickyards around Causeway Street were owned by a few wealthy families. One of these estates, the Clark Family estate, was later the home to former Massachusetts Governor and United States Secretary of State Christian Herter.

Notable sites
One of the most important sites in Millis is Richardson's Tavern, which was built c. 1720. This tavern accommodated George Washington for lunch on his way to Cambridge in 1775. It is rumored that Nathan Hale and the Marquis de Lafayette also stopped at the tavern to dine.

Millis' cemetery, called Prospect Hill Cemetery, is home to the grave of Christian Herter, the United States Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Secretary Herter lived on a large farm on Causeway Street in Millis and, it is rumored, when summoned to Washington, D.C., he left his farm directly by helicopter to Logan International Airport. Prospect Hill Cemetery is listed on the National Historic Register.

King Philip's War
The history of Millis is closely tied with King Philip's War of 1675 to 1676. On February 21, 1676, Native Americans killed 17 Medfield citizens and destroyed half of the town (32 houses, two mills, and many barns). Immediately after this attack, the Native Americans under King Philip (Metacom) fled to Millis where they held a grand feast. This spot is marked by "The King Phillip Trees", which are two hundred-year-old trees protected by the Millis Historical Society. The next day, on February 22, the Native American forces led an offensive against the Fayerbanke Palisades at Boggestowe Farms, which are in present-day Millis. This attack was repulsed, as well as a second attack, which occurred on May 6.

Geography
There are many areas of town-administered land, which helps to protect the environment and limit development. In addition, Millis has several wells and is home to various large farms.

The Charles River runs through Millis and the town has other smaller streams and brooks; most notably Bogastow Brook. Bogastow Brook, named after the Indian tribe formerly inhabiting the area, rises in East Holliston and runs through Millis, emptying in Millis' South End Pond.

Millis is also home to the Great Black Swamp. This swamp, covering hundreds of acres, is a very important characteristic of Millis. This swamp geographically divides Millis from its neighboring town Medway, and is a significant factor in the separation of the two towns in 1885.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.3 sqmi. Of this, 12.2 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (0.90%) is water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census, there were 8,472 people. The racial makeup of Millis is 92.3% White, 1.8% African American, 0.0% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 1.0% two or more races, and Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population. 11.1% of the population is foreign born and 14.9% of people over 5 years old speak a language other than English at home.

As of 2020 there are 3,110 households, with an average household size of 2.65 people. 82.7% of housing is owner-occupied with a median value of $446,200. 4.9% of the population is persons under 5 years old, 21.4% of the population is persons 18 years old and under, and 19.6% of the population is persons 65 years old and older. Female make up 52.5% of the population.

The median household income is $114,255.. The per capita income for the town was $50,185. Approximately 1.2% of the population is impoverished. 96.5% of persons over 25 years old had a high diploma and 48.4% of persons over 25 years old had a bachelor's degree or higher. 96.2% of households had a computer and 94.2% of households had a broadband internet subscription.

Government
The town is part of the Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district.

Education
The Millis school system is led by Superintendent Robert Mullaney, the former principal of Millis High School. The district consists of three schools: Clyde F. Brown Elementary School and Millis Middle/High School and has a student population of 1,175. As of the 2021-2022 school year 29.9% of students are high needs, 18.85 are low-income, 14.2% are students with disabilities, 6.4% have a first language other than English, and 2% are English language learners. The district had a student teacher ratio of 12:1.

In 2007 Millis was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Of Excellence award by the Federal Government under the No Child Left Behind Act. In addition, Millis High School has been awarded Silver Medal status in U.S. News & World Report's online ranking of U.S. high schools. In 2010, Millis earned Silver Medal status as one of America's Best High Schools in U.S. News & World Report's latest ranking of public high schools. The magazine editors analyzed 18,743 high schools in the United States and ranked Millis High School in the top 3%. As of 2021, Millis High School is ranked #74 in Massachusetts by U.S. News & World Report.

The Millis Public Library is the only library in the town and is part of the Minuteman Library Network.

Notable people

 * Matthew Boldy, NHL Hockey player for the Minnesota Wild
 * Haskell Curry, noted mathematician and logician and pioneer in the area of functional programming
 * Misha Defonseca (Monique De Wael), author. Misha claimed to be a Holocaust survivor. She is famous for her book Misha: A Memoire of the Holocaust Years, which she later admitted that the work was fictitious
 * Christian Herter, U.S. Secretary of State under Dwight D. Eisenhower
 * John Kerry, U.S. Senator. Senator Kerry lived at 359 Orchard Street in Millis until the age of seven, when the family moved to Washington, D.C. On July 4, 2004, the CBS show CBS Sunday Morning aired a segment on the upcoming presidential election between George W. Bush and Kerry. In this segment, Millis was featured as John Kerry's hometown. Jeffrey Hardin, a Millis selectman, was interviewed
 * John St. Cyr, politician, lawyer, and judge

title: Millis, Massachusetts


text:
Millis-Clicquot, Massachusetts

Millis-Clicquot is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Millis in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,403 at the 2010 census. The name "Clicquot" comes from the now-defunct Clicquot Club Company, a beverage manufacturer that was founded in the area in 1881.

Geography
Millis-Clicquot is located at 42.16917°N, -71.35528°W (42.169045, -71.355159).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.1 km$2$ (3.1 mi2), of which 3.1 mi2 (8.0 km$2$) is land and 0.04 mi2 (0.1 km$2$) (0.64%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,607 people, 1,860 households, and 1,231 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 570.1/km$2$ (1,476.3/mi2). There were 1,891 housing units at an average density of 234.0/km$2$ (606.0/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.83% White, 1.02% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.

There were 1,860 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $57,909, and the median income for a family was $64,750. Males had a median income of $51,238 versus $37,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,483. About 4.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

title: Millis-Clicquot, Massachusetts


text:
Norfolk, Massachusetts

Norfolk (, locally ) is a New England town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, with a population of 11,662 people at the 2020 census. Formerly known as North Wrentham, Norfolk broke away to become an independent town in 1870.

History
Norfolk is a suburban town on the periphery of metropolitan Boston, located on an upper valley of the Charles River. The land was originally part of Dedham, which was incorporated in 1636. There were a half dozen small farms in the area after 1669, the result of a determined effort to populate the colonial frontier, despite the remoteness of the area. Wrentham separated from Dedham in 1673; what is now Norfolk was in the northern part of Wrentham. The farms were abandoned during King Philip's War in 1675–76, but repopulated later that century.

As further settlement occurred in the late 17th and 18th centuries, agriculture and cattle grazing were joined by lumbering and planting of orchards. Small villages formed around sawmills and gristmills including City Mills (1680), Mann Pond/Highland Lake (after 1691), and Pondville (after 1730). The village center of North Wrentham formed in the late 18th century. After 1812, three cotton manufacturing companies were established at Stony Brook, and later in the 19th century George Campbell's paper mill was opened at Highland Lake making heavy wrapping and building papers. The Norfolk County Railroad opened in 1849, with North Wrentham station near the village center. North Wrentham separated from Wrentham in 1870 and was incorporated as Norfolk.

The town saw a rapid increase in population after 1925 when a hospital and a state prison were built in Norfolk on the Walpole line. Major residential development took place before 1940 in the Pondville and Clark Streets section of town with scattered new housing along Seekonk and Main Streets, and suburban residential building has continued since. In 2014, Norfolk was the filming location for Ted 2, a comedy film starring Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.2 sqmi, of which 14.8 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi (2.30%) is water.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 10,460 people, 2,818 households, and 2,412 families residing in Norfolk. The population density was 705.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,861 housing units at an average density of 192.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 88.97% White, 4.90% African American, 0.31% Native American, 1.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.43% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.88% of the population.

There were 2,818 households, out of which 50.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.1% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.4% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 142.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 157.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $86,153, and the median income for a family was $92,001. Males had a median income of $60,926 versus $40,825 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,454. About 0.8% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty threshold, including 0.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Local
Norfolk has a board of selectmen style government. The town is governed by three selectmen, each elected for three year staggered terms. The current members are Anita Mecklenburg, Kevin Kalkut, and Jim Lehan. The town also elects a town clerk, assessors, constables, library trustees, planning board, recreation commission, board of health, housing authority, and school committee members. In total there exist 21 boards and committees in town.

State
The town is represented in the Massachusetts State Senate by Democrat Rebecca Rausch (Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district). 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 Norfolk in the United States Senate.

Education
As of 2022, there are three public schools located within the town: the H. Olive Day Elementary School (grades Pre-K–2), the Freeman-Kennedy Elementary School (grades 3–6), and King Philip Regional Middle School (grades 7–8).

For secondary education Norfolk is in the King Philip Regional School District, which operates the public middle school and the comprehensive high school for Norfolk. Upon entering the 9th grade, students will go on to attend King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, or specialty high schools operated by other agencies such as Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin and Norfolk County Agricultural High School in Walpole. A new public library building recently opened on town hill. Inside the new library in 2009, a one-room school house, the original public library building, was reopened as a meeting room and historical landmark.

Transportation
The Norfolk Airpark (FAA airport code 32M) had one 2700 ft north–south runway and is about 2 mi west of the town center. In recent years, however, the airpark has been closed down and is currently in a state of disrepair. A seven house cul-de-sac known as Tailwind Cir now exists where the hangars used to stand while the remaining airport property is now conservation land known as Leland Wild.

The Norfolk MBTA commuter rail station is in Zone 5 and is located in the town's center at 9 Rockwood Road.

Emergency services
The Norfolk Police Department is a fairly small department located on Sharon Avenue in the south of town near the Norfolk–Wrentham town line. It is staffed by a total of 17 police officers, including the chief of police. The town's fire department and emergency medical services, located in the center of town on Main Street, was staffed full-time with 24h/7d coverage for the first time in April 2001, and since 2004 provides Advanced Life Support services. The Fire Department is staffed by 13 career firefighters, which includes the fire chief. The police and fire communications department (also known as dispatch) is operated by a total of four full-time dispatchers and six part-time dispatchers. All of these emergency services are located in the police station complex on Sharon Avenue.

At a special town meeting in December 2015, a small turnout of Norfolk voters approved a plan to construct a new police and public safety building on Sharon Street in the south part of town. The police department will be moved to this facility, with the fire department occupying the space vacated by the police. A regional communications center within the Public Safety Building will support the dispatch requirements of Norfolk and three surrounding towns: Wrentham, Plainville, and Franklin.

State prisons

 * Bay State Correctional Center (medium-security)
 * Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Cedar Junction (maximum-security; also lies partly across town line in neighboring Walpole )
 * Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Norfolk (medium security)
 * Pondville Correctional Center (minimum-security)

title: Norfolk, Massachusetts


text:
Plainville, Massachusetts

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.

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. These were sited adjacent to a pre-existing public library on South Street. The new Town Hall replaced one that had been originally built in 1938 as a fire station. The Municipal Complex was funded by tax revenue from a local casino.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.6 sqmi, of which 11.1 sqmi is land and 0.5 sqmi (4.24%) is water.

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

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,683 people, 3,009 households, and 2,040 families residing in the town. The population density was 694.6 PD/sqmi. There were 3,111 housing units at an average density of 281.3 /sqmi. 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. which operates the public middle school and the comprehensive high school for Plainville. Plainville is also a member of the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School.
 * King Philip Regional Middle School|King Philip Middle School (7–8) - Norfolk
 * King Philip Regional High School (9–12) - Wrentham

Local
Plainville built a new Municipal Complex in 2019, financed with revenue provided by a local casino.

Plainville has a board of selectmen style government. 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. 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.

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

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

State
The town is represented in the Massachusetts State Senate by Democrat Rebecca Rausch (Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district). 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

title: Plainville, Massachusetts