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Norton, Massachusetts
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Norton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, and comprises the village of Norton Center. The population was 18,036 at the 2000 census. The town is the home of Wheaton College and the Tournament Players Club of Boston, at which the Deutsche Bank Championship, a tournament on the schedule of the PGA Tour, is contested annually on the weekend preceding the Labor Day holiday.
on was first settled in 1669. Then called North Taunton for its location on the northern border of Taunton, Massachusetts, the town's name was shortened to Norton upon its official establishment on March 17, 1710.
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Encyclopedia
Norton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, and comprises the village of Norton Center. The population was 18,036 at the 2000 census. The town is the home of Wheaton College and the Tournament Players Club of Boston, at which the Deutsche Bank Championship, a tournament on the schedule of the PGA Tour, is contested annually on the weekend preceding the Labor Day holiday.
History
Norton was first settled in 1669. Then called North Taunton for its location on the northern border of Taunton, Massachusetts, the town's name was shortened to Norton upon its official establishment on March 17, 1710. Parts of Norton were originally established as Easton on December 21, 1725, and as Mansfield on April 26, 1770.
Metacomet, the Wampanoag Indian sachem also known as "King Phillip", is said to have hidden in a cave here near the end of King Philip's War before meeting his death in Hockomock Swamp. According to one source, "Every Norton school child has been entertained with the legend of King Phillip's Cave."
The bandstand within the town center was originally erected using donated funds during the first Gulf War, in honor of the veterans who served from Norton.
Norton is a small but growing town. In elementary school, students were told the story of the "Devil's Foot Print," where James Wetherall sold his soul to the devil. The devil's foot print can be seen at the JCS elementary school. Every 26 years, the JCS unburies a time capsule, the last of which was buried in 1999. The Sun Chronicle describes:
So it was in December 1997, when a traffic light was installed at the intersection of routes 123 and 140 in Norton. It was the town's first full traffic light and, in a manner of speaking, it declared "Norton isn't Mayberry anymore."
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.8 square miles (77.2 kmē), of which, 28.7 square miles (74.4 kmē) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 kmē) of it (3.72%) is water. Norton is generally low and swampy. The waters of the area are fed by the Wading River and the Canoe River, both of which feed into the Taunton River downstream. The two largest bodies of water in town are the Norton Reservoir, north of the center of town, and the Winnecunnet Pond on the east (on the north side of I-495), which is fed by the Canoe River and feeds into the Mill River.
The town, an irregular polygon generally oriented from northeast to southwest, is bordered by Easton to the northeast, Taunton to the southeast, Rehoboth to the south, Attleboro to the southwest, and Mansfield to the northwest.
Transportation
The town is bisected southeast to northwest by Interstate 495, as well as Route 140 from north to south and Route 123 from southwest to northeast. Interstate 495's Exit 10 links the highway with Route 123. Exit 9 (Bay Street, Taunton) and Exit 11 (Route 140, Mansfield/Norton) are just over the town lines. Route 140 and Route 123 intersect at the center of town, by the town green. Although it is not officially signed as such, many fans attending concerts and events at the Comcast Center, just over the line in Mansfield along Route 140, reach the venue by driving along Route 123 to Route 140. The town is also a part of the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (or GATRA) bus line. The nearest MBTA station is Mansfield.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,036 people, 5,872 households, and 4,474 families residing in the town. The population density was 628.3 people per square mile (242.6/kmē). There were 5,961 housing units at an average density of 207.7/sq mi (80.2/kmē). The racial makeup of the town was 92.15% White, 1.16% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.47% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 5,872 households out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,818, and the median income for a family was $71,848. Males had a median income of $51,133 versus $33,149 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,876. About 2.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
State and National Government
The town is a part of three separate state representative districts; precinct one belonging to the Fourth Bristol district (which includes all of Rehoboth, Seekonk and part of Swansea), precinct two belonging to the Fourteenth Bristol district (which includes parts of North Attleborough, Attleboro and Mansfield as well), and precincts three through five belonging to the First Bristol district (whose district includes Mansfield Center and Foxborough). The town is a part of the state senate district of the Bristol and Norfolk district, stretching from Dover to the north to Rehoboth and Seekonk to the south. James Timilty serves as State Senator for the Bristol & Norfolk district. Norton is patrolled by Troop H (Metro Boston District), Third (Foxborough) Barracks 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 Ted Kennedy, and the state's junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is John Kerry.
Town Government and Services
The town has an open town meeting form of government, with a town manager and a board of selectmen governing the town. The town is served by the central police station (next to the town hall on Route 123), three fire stations (the central station next to the town hall, the Winnecunnet station (currently closed) and the Chartley station), and two post offices (Norton, next to the town center and Wheaton College; and Chartley, near the Attleboro line along Route 123). The town's public library is located next to the town hall, although the original still stands on Route 140 at the town green. There is also a senior center located along Route 123 near the high school.
Education
Norton has its own public school system [https://www.edline.net/pages/Norton_Public_Schools Norton Public Schools]. There are three elementary schools: [https://www.edline.net/pages/LGNourse_ES L.G. Nourse Elementary School (PK-3)] on the east side, [https://www.edline.net/pages/JCSolmonese J.C. Solomonese Elementary School (K-3)] in Chartley, and [https://www.edline.net/pages/Henri_A_Yelle_ES H.A. Yelle Elementary School (4-5)] near the center of town. The [https://www.edline.net/pages/Norton_Middle_School Norton Middle School (6-8)] is located in Chartley. [https://www.edline.net/pages/Norton_High_School Norton High School (9-12)] is located near the center of town, next to the H.A. Yelle School. The school colors are purple and white and their mascot is a lancer.
High school students may also attend in Easton or in Dighton free of charge. There is one private school in town, , a Baptist school which serves grades K-12. Many students also attend private or parochial schools in the surrounding communities. Norton is also home to .
See also
External links
- [https://www.edline.net/pages/Norton_Public_Schools Norton Public Schools]
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