Abington, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 14,605 people, 5,263 households, and 3,747 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,469.1 people per square mile (567.3/km²). There were 5,348 housing units at an average density of 538.0 per square mile (207.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.48% White, 0.76% Black or African American
, 0.12% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 5,263 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 23.0% 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 2.74 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $57,100, and the median income for a family was $68,826. Males had a median income of $44,151 versus $30,923 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,380. About 2.1% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Statistically speaking, Abington is the 125th largest community by population in the Commonwealth, and ranks 71st by population density. Its population is lower than the population average but above the median; the population density is above the average.
, and is represented by Bill Keating
. The state's senior (Class II) member of the United States Senate
, re-elected in 2008, is John Kerry
. The junior (Class I) senator, elected in 2010, is Scott Brown
.
On the state level, Abington is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
as a part of the Seventh Plymouth district, which includes the towns of East Bridgewater and Whitman. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate
as a part of the Norfolk and Plymouth District, which includes Holbrook, Quincy, Rockland and part of Braintree. The town is patrolled by the First (Norwell) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police
.
Abington is governed by the open town meeting
form of government, and is led by a town manager and a board of selectmen
. The town operates its own police and fire department, with firehouses located in the north and south of town along Route 18. There are two post offices in town, on Route 123 east of Route 18 and on Route 58 north of Route 139. The Abington Public Library, a member of the Old Colony Library Network, is located adjacent to the town hall, both of which opened in 1997 across from the high school. The town operates a park, Island Grove Park, located in the southeast of town. Abington is known in the South Shore region as having the oldest public school buildings in the region. The newest Abington Public School was built over 50 years ago. Despite having a significant population increase in the past 20 years, Abington has less firefighters than it is did in 1970. Also Abington has enjoyed a significant increase in large retail stores locating to the town. Despite the increase in business moving into Abington, the tax rate for home owners has increased in recent years. Abington does not have a higher rate commercial tax rate for businesses.
Current Board of Selectmen (April 2009): Thomas Corbett (Chair), Richard Cunningham (Vice-Chair), Gerald Corcoran, Christopher Aiello, R. Andrew Burbine
is located just west of Route 18, down the street from the Town Hall and library. Abington's colors are green, gold, and white, and their teams are known as the Green Wave. The school's chief rival is Whitman-Hanson Regional High, whom they play in an annual Thanksgiving Day football
game.
High school students may also choose to attend South Shore Vocational-Technical High School
in Hanover free of charge. Abington is also home to Saint Bridget
School, a Catholic parochial school
along Route 58, which serves students from kindergarten
through eighth grade. There are other private schools nearby, located in the neighboring towns of Brockton and Weymouth.
and Route 58, the latter terminating at the former just a 0.5 miles (804.7 m) north of the town line. Route 123 and Route 139 run east to west through the town, with Route 139 being the more northern route. There is no freeway access to town; the town is located between Route 24
and Route 3.
The former Old Colony Railroad line runs through the eastern part of town, and is currently used as a part of the Plymouth-Kingston route of the MBTA's
commuter rail line. There is a stop in Abington
, just southwest of the intersection of Routes 123 and 58. A spur off the line formerly went into the town of Rockland; that spur is now abandoned. There is no air service in the town; the nearest national and international air service can be found at Logan International Airport
in Boston.
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 14,605 people, 5,263 households, and 3,747 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,469.1 people per square mile (567.3/km²). There were 5,348 housing units at an average density of 538.0 per square mile (207.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.48% White, 0.76% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.12% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 5,263 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 23.0% 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 2.74 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $57,100, and the median income for a family was $68,826. Males had a median income of $44,151 versus $30,923 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $23,380. About 2.1% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Statistically speaking, Abington is the 125th largest community by population in the Commonwealth, and ranks 71st by population density. Its population is lower than the population average but above the median; the population density is above the average.
Government
On the national level, Abington is a part of Massachusetts's 10th congressional districtMassachusetts's 10th congressional district
Massachusetts's 10th congressional district is a political constituency that includes parts of the South Shore of Massachusetts, and all of Cape Cod and the islands. With a population of 635,901 and a land area of , it is the most populous of Massachusetts's ten congressional districts and the...
, and is represented by Bill Keating
William R. Keating
William Richard "Bill" Keating is the U.S. Representative for . From 1999 to 2011 he was District Attorney of Norfolk County. He is a member of the Democratic Party and a former Massachusetts state representative and state senator....
. The state's senior (Class II) member of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, re-elected in 2008, is John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
. The junior (Class I) senator, elected in 2010, is Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
.
On the state level, Abington is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
as a part of the Seventh Plymouth district, which includes the towns of East Bridgewater and Whitman. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
as a part of the Norfolk and Plymouth District, which includes Holbrook, Quincy, Rockland and part of Braintree. The town is patrolled by the First (Norwell) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts State Police
The Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulation across the state...
.
Abington is governed by the open town meeting
Open town meeting
An open town meeting is a form of town meeting in which all registered voters of a town may vote . This form of government is typical of smaller municipalities in the New England region of the United States....
form of government, and is led by a town manager and a board of selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
. The town operates its own police and fire department, with firehouses located in the north and south of town along Route 18. There are two post offices in town, on Route 123 east of Route 18 and on Route 58 north of Route 139. The Abington Public Library, a member of the Old Colony Library Network, is located adjacent to the town hall, both of which opened in 1997 across from the high school. The town operates a park, Island Grove Park, located in the southeast of town. Abington is known in the South Shore region as having the oldest public school buildings in the region. The newest Abington Public School was built over 50 years ago. Despite having a significant population increase in the past 20 years, Abington has less firefighters than it is did in 1970. Also Abington has enjoyed a significant increase in large retail stores locating to the town. Despite the increase in business moving into Abington, the tax rate for home owners has increased in recent years. Abington does not have a higher rate commercial tax rate for businesses.
Current Board of Selectmen (April 2009): Thomas Corbett (Chair), Richard Cunningham (Vice-Chair), Gerald Corcoran, Christopher Aiello, R. Andrew Burbine
Education
Abington has its own school department for the town's approximately 2,300 students. Center School, located near the center of town, serves children pre-kindergarten to kindergarten. Beaver Brook Elementary (formerly The ECC [Early Childhood Center), located near the Charles M. Frolio Junior High School, serves kids first grade to fourth grade. Woodsdale Elementary, located near the Ames Nowell State Forest, serves students in fifth and sixth grade. The Charles M. Frolio Junior High School serves seventh and eighth grade students. Abington High SchoolAbington High School
Abington High School is a public high school located in Abington, Massachusetts. It is located at 201 Gliniewicz Way and has an enrollment of 584 students in grades 9-12. The school's mascot is the Green Wave and the school colors are Green and White. Abington High School is known best for its...
is located just west of Route 18, down the street from the Town Hall and library. Abington's colors are green, gold, and white, and their teams are known as the Green Wave. The school's chief rival is Whitman-Hanson Regional High, whom they play in an annual Thanksgiving Day football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
game.
High school students may also choose to attend South Shore Vocational-Technical High School
South Shore Vocational-Technical High School
South Shore Vocational Technical High School is a public high school located in Hanover, Massachusetts. The school serves about 600 students in grades 9 to 12....
in Hanover free of charge. Abington is also home to Saint Bridget
Brigid of Kildare
Saint Brigit of Kildare, or Brigit of Ireland , nicknamed Mary of the Gael is one of Ireland's patron saints along with Saints Patrick and Columba...
School, a Catholic parochial school
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
along Route 58, which serves students from kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through eighth grade. There are other private schools nearby, located in the neighboring towns of Brockton and Weymouth.
Transportation
There are two main north-south routes through town, Route 18Route 18 (Massachusetts)
Route 18 is a south–north state highway in southeastern Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 18 starts as a four-lane freeway, a continuation of John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway in downtown New Bedford, at U.S. Route 6. After the intersection with I-195, Route 18 runs via surface streets...
and Route 58, the latter terminating at the former just a 0.5 miles (804.7 m) north of the town line. Route 123 and Route 139 run east to west through the town, with Route 139 being the more northern route. There is no freeway access to town; the town is located between Route 24
Route 24 (Massachusetts)
Route 24 is a freeway south of I-93 in southeastern Massachusetts, linking Fall River with the Boston metropolitan area. It begins in the south in Fall River at the border with Tiverton, Rhode Island where it connects with Rhode Island Route 24, and runs north to an interchange with Interstate...
and Route 3.
The former Old Colony Railroad line runs through the eastern part of town, and is currently used as a part of the Plymouth-Kingston route of the MBTA's
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
commuter rail line. There is a stop in Abington
Abington (MBTA station)
Abington is a passenger rail station on MBTA Commuter Rail's Plymouth/Kingston Line. It is officially located at 231 Center Avenue east of Park Avenue, but the main entrance to the station's parking lot is located west of Park Avenue. Another one is located south of the parking lot from Summer...
, just southwest of the intersection of Routes 123 and 58. A spur off the line formerly went into the town of Rockland; that spur is now abandoned. There is no air service in the town; the nearest national and international air service can be found at Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
in Boston.
Notable residents
- Bill Schoppe, drummerDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for The Grass RootsThe Grass RootsThe Grass Roots is an American rock band that charted between 1966 and 1975 as the brainchild of songwriting duo P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri.In their career, The Grass Roots achieved two gold albums, one gold single and charted singles a total of 21 times. Among their charting singles, they... - Aaron HobartAaron HobartAaron Hobart was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts. Born in Abington, Massachusetts, Hobart pursued classical studies and graduated from Brown University in 1805. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Abington...
(1787–1858), United States Congressman from Massachusetts - Jared C. MontiJared C. MontiJared Christopher Monti was a soldier in the United States Army who received the United States military's highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in Afghanistan....
(1975–2006), Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her... - Gary Lee SampsonGary Lee SampsonGary Lee Sampson is a convicted murderer in Massachusetts, United States. He was raised in Abington, Massachusetts. Before Sampson's conviction for murder he had served eight years imprisonment for robbing banks and had a criminal record some 25 years long.-Offenses:In July 2001 Sampson carjacked...
, (b.1959), carjacker and serial killerSerial killerA serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification... - John L. SullivanJohn L. SullivanJohn Lawrence Sullivan , also known as the Boston Strong Boy, was recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing from February 7, 1881 to 1892, and is generally recognized as the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing under the London Prize Ring rules...
(1858–1918), bare-knuckleBare-knuckleBare-knuckle means without gloves, bandages or any other protection for and/or dangerous 'arming' of the knuckles, a larger part or even the whole hand...
boxerBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and first modern world heavyweightHeavyweightHeavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
champion - Martha WareMartha WareMartha Ware was an American district court judge in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.-Early life:Judge Ware was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts and raised in Abington...
(1917–2009), first female selectmanBoard of selectmenThe board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
and first female judgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of Plymouth CountyPlymouth County, MassachusettsPlymouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2010, the population was 494,919. Its county seats are Plymouth and Brockton... - Bruce Allen MurphyBruce Allen MurphyBruce Allen Murphy, Ph.D., is a judicial biographer and scholar of American Constitutional law and politics. He is the Fred Morgan Kirby Professor of Civil Rights at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, a position he has held since 1998...
, a native son who became a professor and noted judicial biographer. - A Loss for WordsA Loss For WordsA Loss for Words is an American pop-punk band from Abington, Massachusetts.They recorded their album The Kids Can't Lose at Playwork Productions in Pennsylvania...
, pop punkPop punkPop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band - Junction 18Junction 18Junction 18 was a punk rock band out of Abington, Massachusetts from 1995 – 2006 signed to Fearless Records.Junction 18 toured all the United States and Canada with bands such as New Found Glory, Midtown, Piebald, Big in Japan, Simple Plan, The Receiving End of Sirens, Hot Rod Circuit, The Stryder,...
- Pop Punk band on Fearless Records - Brian Lohnes, (1980-) Administrator of Bangshift.com and noted gearhead.
- Michael Sullivan (1954-) Boston Attorney, Served under Bush adminastration
- Dan Hoffman, (1980-) Legendary NYPD Detective
- Michael Manley,(1996-) Legendary World Leader
External links
- Abington Community Access and Media, Inc. - www.AbingtonCAM.org
- Video Tour by Prall Works: Abington Montage
- Local newspapers: The Patriot Ledger and The Enterprise
- Answer Book/Abington: Everything you need to know