Berkley, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Berkley is a town
in Bristol County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county.
, the town has a total area of 17.4 square miles (45.1 km²), of which, 16.5 square miles (42.7 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (4.72%) is water. The town is bordered by the Taunton River
and Dighton
to the west, Taunton
to the north and northeast, Lakeville
to the east, and the Assonet Bay
and Freetown
to the south. The town is located 35 miles (56.3 km) south of Boston, 22 miles (35.4 km) east of Providence, Rhode Island
, and 30 miles (48.3 km) north west of the Cape Cod Canal
.
The mostly rural town is also the home to Dighton Rock State Park
, the home of Dighton Rock
, a tidal boulder well known for its strange markings, which have been totally or partly attributed to Vikings, Wampanoags, or Portuguese explorer Miguel Corte-Real
. At the southern tip of the "Berkley Neck" which hangs into the confluence of the Taunton River
and the Assonet Bay
, there is a small island, named "Conspiracy Island
", whose name origin remains obscure.
The town can be accessed by two state routes, Route 24 and Route 79. Route 24, a four-lane divided freeway, bisects the town, and includes one exit for the town at Padelford Street. Route 79 passes along the town's border with Lakeville, and meets Route 140 just across the town line in Taunton. The town is also known for the Berkley-Dighton Bridge
, which crosses the Taunton River to Dighton. The one-lane bridge, designed in 1896 was built in the 1890s, is the only bridge to cross the river between the Brightman Street Bridge
between Fall River
and Somerset
, and the Plain Street Bridge in Taunton, a distance of 12.5 miles (20.1 km). The construction on a temporary bridge began in the summer of 2009. The project expects the original bridge to be torn down and replaced by a new bridge to be completed in 2013.
of 2000, there were 5,749 people, 1,843 households, and 1,566 families residing in the town. The population density
was 347.6 people per square mile (134.2/km²). There were 1,885 housing units at an average density of 114.0 per square mile (44.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.7% White, 0.6% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races
, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 1,843 households out of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples
living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.0% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $66,295, and the median income for a family was $69,222. Males had a median income of $45,154 versus $31,639 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,652. About 0.7% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
with three-year staggered terms.
Legislative Branch: Open Town Meeting
.
Senator in General Court
Governor's Councillor
Senators in the United States Senate
High school students may also attend Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton
, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
in Taunton
, or local private and parochial schools; the closest Catholic high school is Coyle and Cassidy High School
in Taunton.
Dighton Rock State Park is a park that holds the Dighton Rock
, a boulder with petrogylphs of uncertain age and authorship, in a museum on an 85 acres (343,983.1 m²) site on the Taunton river. Trails and a stage for theatre productions highlight the park.
Berkley Congregational Church founded just two years after the towns founding in 1635. Located at 31 S Main Street, the church offers continuoous religious services since its founding.
, basketball player. Gaffney played college ball at Boston University
and UMass
, and played with the Los Angeles Lakers
on their 2009 summer league squad. Tony also signed with the Boston Celtics for their post-season in April 2010.
.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Bristol County
Bristol County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families residing in the county. The population density was 962 people per square mile . There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census, making it the least populated town in the county.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 17.4 square miles (45.1 km²), of which, 16.5 square miles (42.7 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (4.72%) is water. The town is bordered by the Taunton River
Taunton River
The Taunton River , is a river in southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. It arises from the confluence of the Town River and Matfield River, in the town of Bridgewater...
and Dighton
Dighton, Massachusetts
Dighton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,175 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the western shore of the Taunton River in the southeastern part of the state.- History :...
to the west, Taunton
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
to the north and northeast, Lakeville
Lakeville, Massachusetts
Lakeville is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,821 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on the village of North Lakeville, please see the article North Lakeville, Massachusetts.-History:...
to the east, and the Assonet Bay
Assonet Bay
Assonet Bay is a small inland bay in Assonet, a village within the town of Freetown, Massachusetts. The Assonet River connects the waters of the bay with the Taunton River.-References:...
and Freetown
Freetown, Massachusetts
Freetown is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,870 at the 2010 census.Freetown is one of the oldest communities in the United States, having been settled by the Pilgrims and their descendants in the latter half of the 17th century. The town once included...
to the south. The town is located 35 miles (56.3 km) south of Boston, 22 miles (35.4 km) east of Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, and 30 miles (48.3 km) north west of the Cape Cod Canal
Cape Cod Canal
The Cape Cod Canal is an artificial waterway traversing the narrow neck of land that joins Cape Cod to mainland Massachusetts.Part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the canal is roughly 17.4 miles long and connects Cape Cod Bay in the north to Buzzards Bay in the south...
.
The mostly rural town is also the home to Dighton Rock State Park
Dighton Rock State Park
Dighton Rock State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in Berkley. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.- Description :Dighton Rock State Park is a park principally used for picnicking....
, the home of Dighton Rock
Dighton Rock
The Dighton Rock is a 40-ton boulder, originally located in the riverbed of the Taunton River at Berkley, Massachusetts . The rock is noted for its petroglyphs, carved designs of ancient and uncertain origin, and the controversy about their creators...
, a tidal boulder well known for its strange markings, which have been totally or partly attributed to Vikings, Wampanoags, or Portuguese explorer Miguel Corte-Real
Miguel Corte-Real
Miguel Corte-Real was a Portuguese explorer who charted about 600 miles of the coast of Labrador. In 1501 he disappeared while on an expedition and was believed lost at sea.-Life:...
. At the southern tip of the "Berkley Neck" which hangs into the confluence of the Taunton River
Taunton River
The Taunton River , is a river in southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. It arises from the confluence of the Town River and Matfield River, in the town of Bridgewater...
and the Assonet Bay
Assonet Bay
Assonet Bay is a small inland bay in Assonet, a village within the town of Freetown, Massachusetts. The Assonet River connects the waters of the bay with the Taunton River.-References:...
, there is a small island, named "Conspiracy Island
Conspiracy Island
Conspiracy Island is a privately owned tidal island situated in the Assonet River off Berkley, Massachusetts.According to the 2000 census, Conspiracy Island is uninhabited. In very low tides, the island is actually a peninsula, accessible across a sandy stretch of land connecting it to a nearby...
", whose name origin remains obscure.
The town can be accessed by two state routes, Route 24 and Route 79. Route 24, a four-lane divided freeway, bisects the town, and includes one exit for the town at Padelford Street. Route 79 passes along the town's border with Lakeville, and meets Route 140 just across the town line in Taunton. The town is also known for the Berkley-Dighton Bridge
Berkley-Dighton Bridge
The fourth Berkley–Dighton Bridge will be a four-span concrete arch bridge with closed spandrel walls of cast-in-place concrete, using pile-supported abutments and piers. The bridge will be made such that it will appear to be constructed of stone masonry rather than concrete...
, which crosses the Taunton River to Dighton. The one-lane bridge, designed in 1896 was built in the 1890s, is the only bridge to cross the river between the Brightman Street Bridge
Brightman Street Bridge
The Brightman Street Bridge is a long, four-lane wide drawbridge spanning the Taunton River between the town of Somerset and the city of Fall River, Massachusetts. It was authorized in 1903 by the state legislature, and building took place between 1906 and 1908, when it opened full time on...
between Fall River
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
and Somerset
Somerset, Massachusetts
Somerset is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,234 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace and hometown of Clifford Milburn Holland , the chief engineer and namesake of the Holland Tunnel in New York City....
, and the Plain Street Bridge in Taunton, a distance of 12.5 miles (20.1 km). The construction on a temporary bridge began in the summer of 2009. The project expects the original bridge to be torn down and replaced by a new bridge to be completed in 2013.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 5,749 people, 1,843 households, and 1,566 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 347.6 people per square mile (134.2/km²). There were 1,885 housing units at an average density of 114.0 per square mile (44.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.7% White, 0.6% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.06% 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 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 1,843 households out of which 47.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% 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, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.0% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $66,295, and the median income for a family was $69,222. Males had a median income of $45,154 versus $31,639 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 $21,652. About 0.7% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Town government
Executive Branch: Three-member Board of SelectmenBoard 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:...
with three-year staggered terms.
Legislative Branch: Open Town Meeting
Town meeting
A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government....
.
State government
Representative in General CourtMassachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
- David B. SullivanDavid B. SullivanDavid B. Sullivan is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 6th Bristol District. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
(D-Fall RiverFall River, MassachusettsFall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
), 6th BristolBristol County, Massachusetts-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families residing in the county. The population density was 962 people per square mile . There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile...
District
Senator in General Court
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
- Marc Pacheco (D-TauntonTaunton, MassachusettsTaunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
), 1st PlymouthPlymouth 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...
and BristolBristol County, Massachusetts-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families residing in the county. The population density was 962 people per square mile . There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile...
District
Governor's Councillor
Massachusetts Governor's Council
The Massachusetts Governor's Council is a governmental body that provides advice and consent in certain matters such as judicial nominations, pardons, and commutations to the Governor of Massachusetts...
- Charles Oliver Cippolini (R-Fall RiverFall River, MassachusettsFall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
), 1st District
Federal government
Representative to the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
- Barney FrankBarney FrankBarney Frank is the U.S. Representative for . A member of the Democratic Party, he is the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and is considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States.Born and raised in New Jersey, Frank graduated from Harvard College and...
(D-NewtonNewton, MassachusettsNewton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
) (4th MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
DistrictCongressional districtA congressional district is “a geographical division of a state from which one member of the House of Representatives is elected.”Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the...
)
Senators in 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...
- John KerryJohn KerryJohn 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...
(D) - Scott BrownScott BrownScott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
(R)
Education
- Berkley Community School - Grades Pre-K through 4 : South Main Street, Berkley, MA
- Berkley Middle School - Grades 5 through 8 : North Main Street, Berkley, MA
- Somerset High School - Grades 9 through 12 : 270 Grandview Avenue, Somerset, MA (Tuition agreement ending in Spring 2011)
- Somerset Berkley Regional High SchoolSomerset Berkley Regional High SchoolSomerset Berkley Regional High School is the public secondary school for the towns of Somerset and Berkley, Massachusetts, beginning in September 2011. The school will include grades nine through twelve...
- Grades 9 through 12 : 270 Grandview Avenue, Somerset, MA (beginning in Fall 2011)
High school students may also attend Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton
Dighton, Massachusetts
Dighton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,175 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the western shore of the Taunton River in the southeastern part of the state.- History :...
, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School
Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School is a vocational high school located in East Taunton, Massachusetts that has been in operation since September 1972. It is one out of three schools in the City of Taunton, Massachusetts. It services grades 9 through 12, and draws its student body from the...
in Taunton
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
, or local private and parochial schools; the closest Catholic high school is Coyle and Cassidy High School
Coyle and Cassidy High School
"Coyle-Cassidy High School" redirects hereCoyle and Cassidy High School, often referred to as simply Coyle, is a private, Catholic Diocesan high school located in Taunton, Massachusetts, USA. The school bases its teachings in which the Christian philosophy of life is modeled...
in Taunton.
Local attractions
Bridge Village Heritage Park is a park created by the Berkley Historical Commission. It is at 70 Elm Street at the south-east abutment to the Berkley-Dighton Bridge. Opened October 2006, this 0.5 acres (2,023.4 m²) area is aimed at canoeing and kayaking. Motor boats and boats in tow are prohibited. It is also an ideal place for fishermen, picnickers, historians, and children.Dighton Rock State Park is a park that holds the Dighton Rock
Dighton Rock
The Dighton Rock is a 40-ton boulder, originally located in the riverbed of the Taunton River at Berkley, Massachusetts . The rock is noted for its petroglyphs, carved designs of ancient and uncertain origin, and the controversy about their creators...
, a boulder with petrogylphs of uncertain age and authorship, in a museum on an 85 acres (343,983.1 m²) site on the Taunton river. Trails and a stage for theatre productions highlight the park.
Berkley Congregational Church founded just two years after the towns founding in 1635. Located at 31 S Main Street, the church offers continuoous religious services since its founding.
Famous natives and residents
Tony GaffneyTony Gaffney
Anthony Joseph Gaffney Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at the University of Massachusetts. During the 2008–2009 season, he received numerous honors from the Atlantic 10 Conference including Defensive Player of the Year, All-Defensive Team, and Second...
, basketball player. Gaffney played college ball at Boston University
Boston University Terriers
The Boston University Terriers are the nine men's and twelve women's varsity athletic teams representing Boston University in NCAA Division I competition. The men compete in basketball, cross country, ice hockey, rowing, soccer, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, and wrestling...
and UMass
UMass Minutemen basketball
The UMass Minutemen basketball team, also known as the Massachusetts Minutemen, represents the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts, in NCAA Division I men's competition...
, and played with the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on their 2009 summer league squad. Tony also signed with the Boston Celtics for their post-season in April 2010.
.
See also
- Berkley Public Library (Massachusetts)Berkley Public Library (Massachusetts)The Berkley Public Library is a public library in Berkley, Massachusetts.-External links:* http://berkleylibrary.org/...
- Dighton RockDighton RockThe Dighton Rock is a 40-ton boulder, originally located in the riverbed of the Taunton River at Berkley, Massachusetts . The rock is noted for its petroglyphs, carved designs of ancient and uncertain origin, and the controversy about their creators...
- Greater Taunton AreaGreater Taunton Arearight|thumb|200px|A map of the Greater Taunton AreaThe Greater Taunton Area is the suburban area surrounding the city of Taunton, in northeastern Bristol County, Massachusetts. It comprises various present-day municipalities that were once under the jurisdiction of Taunton in Colonial America...
- Taunton River WatershedTaunton River Watershedright|thumb|200px|An USGS map of the Taunton River WatershedThe Taunton River watershed or Taunton River basin is made up of of rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands in southeastern Massachusetts, USA. It is the second largest watershed in the state...