Foxborough is a town in
Norfolk CountyNorfolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population was 650,308. Its county seat is Dedham. It is the 48th highest income county in the United States with a per capita income of $32,484...
,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. 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. Most of its population of...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, approximately southwest of Boston and northeast of
ProvidenceProvidence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated second or third largest city in the New England region...
,
Rhode IslandRhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. The population was 16,246 at the 2000
censusA "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.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
. The town is best known as the site of
Gillette StadiumGillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, residing 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston that serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution soccer team. The facility opened in...
, home of the
New England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the...
of the
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the largest professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. The league currently consists of...
and the
New England RevolutionThe New England Revolution is an American soccer club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts, that participates in Major League Soccer. The club is owned by Robert Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
of
Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by United States Soccer Federation . The league comprises 15 teams, 14 in the U.S. and one in Canada...
. "Foxborough" is the official spelling of the town name, although the alternative spelling "Foxboro" is also frequently used.
For geographic and demographic information on the
census-designated placeA census-designated place is a type of place identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
Foxborough, please see the article
Foxborough (CDP)Foxborough is a census-designated place in the town of Foxborough in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,509 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Foxborough is located at ....
,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. 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. Most of its population of...
.
Settled in 1704 and incorporated in 1778, Foxborough was named for
Charles James FoxCharles James Fox was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger...
,
WhigThe Whigs are often described as one of the two original political parties in England and later the United Kingdom from the late 17th to the mid-19th centuries. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
Member of the
British ParliamentThe Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories. It alone has parliamentary sovereignty, conferring upon it ultimate power over all other political bodies in the UK and its territories...
, who was a staunch supporter of the
ColoniesThe Thirteen Colonies were part of what became known as British America, a name that was used by Great Britain until the Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the original thirteen United States of America in 1783...
in the years leading up to the
American RevolutionThe American Revolution is the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America at first rejected the governance of the Parliament of Great Britain, and later the British monarchy itself, to become the sovereign United States of...
.
Foxborough was once home to the world's largest straw hat factory.
Foxborough is a town in
Norfolk CountyNorfolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population was 650,308. Its county seat is Dedham. It is the 48th highest income county in the United States with a per capita income of $32,484...
,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. 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. Most of its population of...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, approximately southwest of Boston and northeast of
ProvidenceProvidence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated second or third largest city in the New England region...
,
Rhode IslandRhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. The population was 16,246 at the 2000
censusA "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.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
. The town is best known as the site of
Gillette StadiumGillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, residing 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston that serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution soccer team. The facility opened in...
, home of the
New England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the...
of the
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the largest professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. The league currently consists of...
and the
New England RevolutionThe New England Revolution is an American soccer club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts, that participates in Major League Soccer. The club is owned by Robert Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
of
Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by United States Soccer Federation . The league comprises 15 teams, 14 in the U.S. and one in Canada...
. "Foxborough" is the official spelling of the town name, although the alternative spelling "Foxboro" is also frequently used.
For geographic and demographic information on the
census-designated placeA census-designated place is a type of place identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
Foxborough, please see the article
Foxborough (CDP)Foxborough is a census-designated place in the town of Foxborough in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,509 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Foxborough is located at ....
,
MassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. 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. Most of its population of...
.
History
Settled in 1704 and incorporated in 1778, Foxborough was named for
Charles James FoxCharles James Fox was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger...
,
WhigThe Whigs are often described as one of the two original political parties in England and later the United Kingdom from the late 17th to the mid-19th centuries. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
Member of the
British ParliamentThe Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories. It alone has parliamentary sovereignty, conferring upon it ultimate power over all other political bodies in the UK and its territories...
, who was a staunch supporter of the
ColoniesThe Thirteen Colonies were part of what became known as British America, a name that was used by Great Britain until the Treaty of Paris recognized the independence of the original thirteen United States of America in 1783...
in the years leading up to the
American RevolutionThe American Revolution is the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America at first rejected the governance of the Parliament of Great Britain, and later the British monarchy itself, to become the sovereign United States of...
.
Foxborough was once home to the world's largest straw hat factory. Founded by local businessman E.P. Carpenter, the Union Straw Works building burned to the ground in the early 20th century. It was then replaced with a postal building.
Foxborough was composed of small neighborhood communities until the early 1900s. These included Foxvale/Paineburgh, which remained semi-independent until the mid-twentieth century; Quaker Hill in South Foxborough; and Lakeview/Donkeyville in West Foxborough.
Foxborough is home to Gillette Stadium, home of the 3 time Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots. Bob Kraft, the Patriots owner, then bought out the surrounding area to make his own shopping plaza named Patriot Place. This plaza consists of stores such as The Christmas Tree Shops, Circuit City, and Bass Pro Shop, and many smaller clothing stores. Patriot Place also has restaurants including The CBS Scene, Bar Louie, Davio's, Five Guys and Fries, Olive Garden, Skipjack's, and Red Robin.
Geography
According to the
United States Census BureauThe 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. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the town has a total area of 20.9 square miles (54.1 km
2), of which, 20.1 square miles (52.0 km
2) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km
2) of it (3.88%) is water.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "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.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 16,246 people, 6,141 households, and 4,396 families residing in the town. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 809.1 people per square mile (312.4/km
2). There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 313.7/sq mi (121.1/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.09% White, 0.82% Black or
African AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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...
, 0.11% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 6,141 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,323, and the median income for a family was $78,811. Males had a median income of $51,901 versus $35,748 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the town was $32,294. About 2.3% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Foxborough is run by a five-member board of selectmen and elected town officials like the town moderator and town clerk. Day-to-Day operations involving items under the Board of Selectmen's purview is handled by an appointed Town Administrator.
Board of Selectmen (Term Ends)
Paul Feeney (2010) Chairman
Lynda Walsh (2010) Vice-Chairman
Paul D. Mortenson (2011) Clerk
Lorraine Brue (2012)
Lawrence Harrington (2012)
Other Town Officials
Andrew Gala (Town Administrator)
Robert E. Cutler Jr. (Town Clerk)
Robert Swanson (Department of Public Works)
Marc Resnick (Town Planner)
William Casbarra (Building Commissioner)
Pauline Clifford (Health Agent)
Jane Sears Pierce (Conservation Manager)
Bob Boette (Conservation Commission Chairman)
Leo Potter (Water and Sewer Superintendent)
Randy Scollins (Finance Director)
Roger P. Hatfield (Fire Chief)
Edward T. O’Leary (Police Chief)
Carl J.Kusch (Veteran's Agent)
Carl J.Kusch (Historical Commission Chairman)
Deborah Giardino (Recreation Director)
Thomas F. Buckley (Town Assessor)
Dr. Christopher H. Martes (Superintendent of Schools)
Town Hall is located at 40 South Street, Foxborough, MA 02035.
Public schools
Foxborough has a public school system. The Foxborough Public Schools (FPS) district currently has an enrollment of over 3,000 children in grades from pre-school to grade 12.
The schools are notable for the amount of money they invest in technology. FPS receives recognition for outperforming by both state and national standards.
Foxborough public schools:
- Charles G. Taylor Elementary School (K - 4)
- Vincent M. Igo Elementary School (Pre-K - 4)
- Mabelle M. Burrell Elementary School (K - 4)
- John J. Ahern Middle School (5 - 8)
- Foxborough High School (9 - 12)
The mascot of the high school is the Warriors; their colors are blue and gold. The high school offers a wide variety of sports including golf, track and field, football, soccer, cross country, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, hockey, indoor track, gymnastics, cheerleading, lacrosse, baseball, tennis, and softball. The football team has won the Hockomock League title and also won the Division 2 Super Bowl various times, most recently in 2007 with a 21-10 victory over Burlington. Coincidentally, the Super Bowl win also gave coach Jack Martinelli his 200th win. During the 1987 and 1988 seasons, the Warriors won back to back Division 3 Super Bowls and went undefeated in 1988. This team featured 5 players that went on to play Division 1 college football (Chris Cady, Eric Matckie, Tom Nalen, Dan Sullivan, Rob Turenne). The cheerleading team has also earned recognition, making it to nationals for the first time in 2004 and then again in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The golf team has produced many all-scholastic players and even state champions, as has the wrestling team. The boys' indoor track team were the Hockomock Champions in the 2006/2007 season. The field hockey team have been the Hockomock Champions several times in recent years. Foxborough High School is also known for its music program, which includes a string orchestra, symphony orchestra, chorus, marching band, concert band, symphonic winds, winds ensemble and jazz band/choir. Many of these groups regularly place in competitions.
Foxborough Regional Charter School (FRCS) is a college preparatory school for grades K-12 located near the town common, at 131 Central Street. FRCS was originally founded as the Sabis Foxborough Regional Charter School in 1998. In 2002, the school broke off from Sabis, and thus dropped it from the school name.
Community Organizations
- Foxborough Founders Day Planning Committee
- Foxborough Historical Society
- Foxboro Jaycees
- Foxboro Lions Club
- Foxboro Rotary Club
Points of interest
- Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, residing 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston that serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution soccer team. The facility opened in...
- Home of the New England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the...
and the New England RevolutionThe New England Revolution is an American soccer club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts, that participates in Major League Soccer. The club is owned by Robert Kraft, who also owns the New England Patriots of the National Football League...
.
- Patriot Place
Patriot Place is an open-air shopping center built around Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. Phase 1 opened in the Fall of 2007, which included the construction of a small strip mall containing Bass Pro Shops, Staples, Christmas Tree Shops, Bed Bath and Beyond, an Olive Garden, and...
- An outdoor shopping and entertainment complex next to Gillette StadiumGillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, residing 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston that serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution soccer team. The facility opened in...
.
- Orpheum Theater - A local non-profit theater which serves as the home to Bay Colony Productions, a local community theater company, as well as the venue for other live performances and movies, including the annual Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce.- Overview :...
film festival.
- F. Gilbert Hills State Forest - Encompassing in Foxborough and Wrentham, the state forest is used for hiking, biking, cross country skiing, horseback riding, and observing nature. Contained on state forest land are some unique stone structures that some believe were made and used by the native Algonquin tribes prior to the town's founding.
There are several historic sites within Foxborough. Memorial Hall is a stone building and monument in the center of town dedicated to those who served in the armed forces, and contains many town archives. The Historic Homes Plaque Program designates important historical homes in town. Area schoolhouses, such as the Quaker Hill School and the Paine School, now being made into a small museum, are of interest, while town graveyards, such as Rockhill Cemetery and the Centre Burial Ground are also important to town history.
Notable residents
- Jayson P. Ahern
Jayson P. Ahern is the Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He was Assistant Commissioner for Field Operations from March 2003 to August 2007...
, Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- Sarah Behn, basketball player.
- Frank Boyden
Frank Learoyd Boyden was headmaster of Deerfield Academy from 1902 to 1968.-Personal life:He married Helen Sears Childs on June 29, 1907...
, headmaster of Deerfield AcademyDeerfield Academy is a private, coeducational boarding school located in Deerfield, Massachusetts. It is a four-year college-preparatory school with approximately 600 students and about 100 faculty, all of whom live on or near campus....
- Ha Jin
Jīn Xuěfēi is a contemporary Chinese-American writer using the pen name Ha Jin . He was born in Liaoning, China. “Ha” comes from his favorite city, Harbin. In 1984, he came to America and began to write about China only in English...
, author.
- Matt Leonard, WAAF Radio Personality
- Tom Nalen
Thomas Andrew Nalen is a former American football center who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League...
, professional football player for the Denver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently a member of the American Football Conference Western Division in the National Football League . The Broncos began play in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League and joined...
- Nguyen Van Thieu
Nguyễn Văn Thiệu was a general and served as president of South Vietnam .- Biography :Born in a coastal village, central Vietnam , Thiệu was a son of a small but well-to-do landowner...
, (died in US exile in 2001) President of South Vietnam from 1967 to 1975.
- Madame Nguyen Van Thieu
Madame Nguyen Van Thieu born Nguyen Thi Mai Anh Khue, was the last serving First Lady of South Vietnam from 1967 to 1975. She is the wife of Nguyen Van Thieu a Vietnamese General and politician, who served as Prime Minister of South Vietnam from 1967 to 1975....
, the last serving First Lady of South VietnamSouth Vietnam refers to a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the State of Vietnam and later as the “Republic of Vietnam” . Its capital was Saigon...
from 1967 to 1975.
External links