Norton, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Norton is a town
in Bristol County
, Massachusetts
, United States
, and contains the village of Norton Center
. The population was 18,036 at the 2000 census
. The town is the home of Wheaton College
and the TPC 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.
, 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:
, the town has a total area of 29.8 square miles (77.2 km²), of which 28.7 square miles (74.4 km²) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 km²) (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.
, 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
.
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/km²). There were 5,961 housing units at an average density of 207.7 per square mile (80.2/km²). 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.
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, up for re-election in 2014, is John Kerry
and the state's junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2012, is Scott Brown
.
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.
High school students may also attend Southeast Regional Vocational-Technical High School in Easton or Bristol County Agricultural High School otherwise known as "Bristol Aggie" in Dighton free of charge. There is one private school in town, New Testament Christian School, 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 Wheaton College
.
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...
, and contains the village of Norton Center
Norton Center, Massachusetts
Norton Center is a census-designated place in the town of Norton in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,618 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Norton Center is located at ....
. The population was 18,036 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. The town is the home of Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Wheaton College is a four-year, private liberal arts college with an approximate student body of 1,550. Wheaton's residential campus is located in Norton, Massachusetts, between Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1834 as a female seminary, it is one of the oldest...
and the TPC of Boston
TPC of Boston
TPC Boston is a private golf club located in Norton, Massachusetts, approximately 25 miles south of Boston.Originally designed by Arnold Palmer and built in 2003, the course was re-designed by Gil Hanse and PGA Tour player Brad Faxon. The course is a member of the Tournament Players Club network...
, at which the Deutsche Bank Championship
Deutsche Bank Championship
The Deutsche Bank Championship is a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, held annually over the Labor Day weekend. The tournament made its debut in 2003 and is held at the Tournament Players Club of Boston in Norton, Massachusetts...
, a tournament on the schedule of the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, is contested annually on the weekend preceding the Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
holiday.
History
Norton was first settled in 1669. Then called North Taunton for its location on the northern border of TauntonTaunton, 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...
, 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...
, the town's name was shortened to Norton upon its official establishment on March 17, 1710. Parts of Norton were originally established as Easton
Easton, Massachusetts
Easton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 23,112 at the 2010 census.Easton is governed by an elected committee of selectmen and a town administrator.- History :...
on December 21, 1725, and as Mansfield
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island....
on April 26, 1770.
Metacomet
Metacomet
Metacomet , also known as King Philip or Metacom, or occasionally Pometacom, was a war chief or sachem of the Wampanoag Indians and their leader in King Philip's War, a widespread Native American uprising against English colonists in New England.-Biography:Metacomet was the second son of Massasoit...
, the Wampanoag Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
also known as "King Phillip", is said to have hidden in a cave here near the end of King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
before meeting his death in Hockomock Swamp
Hockomock Swamp
The Hockomock Swamp is a vast wetland encompassing much of the northern part of southeastern Massachusetts. This land is considered the second largest wetland in the state...
. According to one source, "Every Norton school child has been entertained with the legend of King Phillip's Cave
King Phillip's Cave (Massachusetts)
King Phillip's Cave is a cave in Norton, Massachusetts near Lake Winnecunnett. It may be accessed from Stone Run Drive off Plain Street near Bay Road and sits on a parcel of land owned by the Land Preservation Society a non-profit, independent conservation organization chartered in 1970 by the...
."
The bandstand within the town center was originally erected using donated funds during the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, 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
The Sun Chronicle
The Sun Chronicle is a daily newspaper in Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA...
describes:
So it was in December 1997, when a traffic lightTraffic lightTraffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
was installed at the intersection of routes 123Massachusetts Route 123Route 123 is a west–east state highway in southeastern Massachusetts. It crosses northern Bristol and Plymouth Counties, crossing several highways along the way.-Route description:...
and 140 in Norton. It was the town's first full traffic light and, in a manner of speaking, it declared "Norton isn't MayberryMayberryMayberry is a fictional community in North Carolina that was the setting for two American television sitcoms, The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. Mayberry was also the setting for a 1986 reunion television movie titled Return to Mayberry...
anymore."
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 29.8 square miles (77.2 km²), of which 28.7 square miles (74.4 km²) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 km²) (3.72%) is water. Norton is generally low and swampy. The waters of the area are fed by the Wading River
Wading River (Massachusetts)
The Wading River is a river in southeastern Massachusetts in the United States. It rises from Lake Miramichi in the town of Foxborough and flows southeast through Mansfield into the town of Norton, where it turns east, flows through Barrowsville Pond, and continues to its confluence with the...
and the Canoe River
Canoe River
The Canoe River is a river in southeastern Massachusetts. It is long and part of the Taunton River watershed.The Canoe River arises from headwaters near Lake Massapoag in Sharon, and meanders generally southwards through the towns of Sharon, Foxborough, Mansfield, and Easton to empty into...
, both of which feed into 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...
downstream. The two largest bodies of water in town are the Norton Reservoir
Norton Reservoir
The Norton Reservoir is a lake/reservoir/pond within the towns of Norton and Mansfield, in southeastern Massachusetts. The Rumford River empties out into the reservoir.-External links:http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/habitat/maps/ponds/pdf/dfwnorto.pdf...
, north of the center of town, and the Winnecunnet Pond
Winnecunnet Pond
Winnecunnet Pond or Winneconnet Pond or Winnecunnett Pond, very often called Lake Winnecunnet or Lake Winneconnet or Lake Winnecunnett although it is a pond rather than a lake, is a body of water in Norton, Massachusetts, USA....
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
Easton, Massachusetts
Easton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 23,112 at the 2010 census.Easton is governed by an elected committee of selectmen and a town administrator.- History :...
to the northeast, 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 southeast, Rehoboth
Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Rehoboth is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,172 at the 2000 census.-History:It was incorporated in 1643 making it one of the earliest Massachusetts towns to be incorporated. The Rehoboth Carpenter Family is among the founding families...
to the south, Attleboro
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
to the southwest, and Mansfield
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island....
to the northwest.
Transportation
The town is bisected southeast to northwest by Interstate 495Interstate 495 (Massachusetts)
Interstate 495 is the designation of an Interstate Highway half-beltway in Massachusetts. It was the longest auxiliary Interstate Highway of its kind—measuring 120.74 miles —until 1996, when the PA Route 9 section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike was redesignated as Interstate 476, making it about ...
, as well as Route 140
Route 140 (Massachusetts)
Route 140 is a long state highway which passes through parts of southeastern and central Massachusetts. The highway follows a southeast-northwest trajectory, running from U.S...
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
Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority
The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority oversees and coordinates public transportation in the areas of Attleboro and Taunton, Massachusetts and nearby areas. It operates daily on fixed routes and schedules within 26 communities in Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties...
(or GATRA) bus line. The nearest MBTA
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...
station is Mansfield
Mansfield (MBTA station)
Mansfield is a commuter rail station on the MBTA's Providence/Stoughton Line located in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The station was rebuilt in 2004, and is the second replacement station for Mansfield. It is also the south end of a former Old Colony Railroad line that runs north through Walpole and...
.
Demographics
Visit this site for updated information: (City-data.com).As of the census
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 18,036 people, 5,872 households, and 4,474 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 628.3 people per square mile (242.6/km²). There were 5,961 housing units at an average density of 207.7 per square mile (80.2/km²). 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
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 1.08% 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
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, 10.8% 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
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 $23,876. 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.
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
Barney Frank
Barney 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...
. The state's senior (Class I) Senator, up for re-election in 2014, 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...
and the state's junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2012, 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...
.
Town Government and Services
The town has an open town meetingOpen 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, with 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:...
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 Norton Public Schools. There are three elementary schools: L.G. Nourse Elementary School (PK-3) on the east side, J.C. Solomonese Elementary School (K-3) in Chartley, and H.A. Yelle Elementary School (4-5) near the center of town. The Norton Middle School (6-8) is located in Chartley. 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 Southeast Regional Vocational-Technical High School in Easton or Bristol County Agricultural High School otherwise known as "Bristol Aggie" in Dighton free of charge. There is one private school in town, New Testament Christian School, 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 Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Wheaton College is a four-year, private liberal arts college with an approximate student body of 1,550. Wheaton's residential campus is located in Norton, Massachusetts, between Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1834 as a female seminary, it is one of the oldest...
.