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Acushnet, Massachusetts
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Acushnet is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,161 at the 2000 census.
hnet was first settled in 1659. It has been included as a part of three separate towns throughout its history. It was formerly the northeastern section of the town of Dartmouth, which included the towns of Westport, New Bedford, and Fairhaven. In 1787, New Bedford separated from Dartmouth, and included the lands of Fairhaven and Acushnet.
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Encyclopedia
Acushnet is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,161 at the 2000 census.
History
Acushnet was first settled in 1659. It has been included as a part of three separate towns throughout its history. It was formerly the northeastern section of the town of Dartmouth, which included the towns of Westport, New Bedford, and Fairhaven. In 1787, New Bedford separated from Dartmouth, and included the lands of Fairhaven and Acushnet. In 1812, Fairhaven was incorporated as a separate town, again including the lands of Acushnet. Finally, the town was officially incorporated in 1860. The name "Acushnet," which is also the name of the river the town lies on, comes from the Wampanoag "Cushnea," meaning "peaceful resting place near water," originally designating the fact that the tribe which sold the land to the Puritans inhabited the lands leading up to the river.
In 1910, the Acushnet Process Company (now the Acushnet Company), was founded in the town, and continues to be one of Southeastern Massachusetts's most enduring industries. The Acushnet Company owns the Titleist brand name, under which golf balls, golf clubs, and other golf paraphernalia are marketed.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.9 square miles (49.0 kmē), of which, 18.5 square miles (47.8 kmē) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 kmē) of it (2.43%) is water. Acushnet is located on the eastern border of Bristol County, and is bordered to the east by Rochester, to the southeast by Mattapoisett, to the south by Fairhaven, to the west by New Bedford, and by the northwest to Freetown.
Transportation
A short, 2.8-mile stretch of Route 105 passes through the northeast corner of town, both entering and exiting through Rochester. It is one of two state highways of any grade in the town, the other is a short section of South Main Street. Route 18 passes closely along the western border in New Bedford.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,161 people, 3,793 households, and 2,837 families residing in the town. The population density was 550.6 people per square mile (212.6/kmē). There were 3,889 housing units at an average density of 210.8/sq mi (81.4/kmē). The racial makeup of the town was 97.20% White, 0.42% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population. Acushnet's population is 32% of Portuguese ancestry, 15% of French Ancestry, 12% of French Canadian ancestry and 10% of English ancestry.
There were 3,793 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,500, and the median income for a family was $58,722. Males had a median income of $38,709 versus $28,649 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,753. About 1.9% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Acushnet is located in the Eleventh Bristol state representative district, which includes all of Acushnet and a large part of New Bedford. The town is represented in the state senate in the Second Bristol and Plymouth district, which includes the city of New Bedford and the towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett. Acushnet is patrolled by Troop D (Southeast District), 3rd Barracks (located in Dartmouth) of the Massachusetts State Police. On the national level, the town is part of Massachusetts Congressional District 4, which is represented by Barney Frank. The state's senior (Class I) Senator, re-elected in 2006, is Edward M. Kennedy, and the state's junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is John F. Kerry.
Acushnet uses the town meeting form of government, with open town meetings and an town administrator leading the board of selectmen. The town has its own police force, and two fire stations, near the population center of town and in the northeast corner of town. The town's Russell Memorial Library, dedicated to a member of the prominent Russell family of New Bedford, lies in the town's population center.
Education
Acushnet has two schools, the Acushnet Elementary School, with grades from preschool to 4th grade, and the Albert F. Ford Middle School, with grades 5th to 8th, both located near the geographic center of town. The town does not have a high school; the students may go to either New Bedford High School or Fairhaven High School per tuition agreements (although in practice, most go to New Bedford). High school students may also choose to attend Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School, Bristol County Agricultural High School or any other local private high school. The town is also home to Saint Francis Xavier School, a private Catholic school serving kindergarten through eighth grade. If there is a shop that a student decided to take, but it is not offered at Old Colony Regional, students are then allowed to go to Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School.
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