- Brockton, Massachusetts
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Brockton, Massachusetts
nickname = The City of Champions
motto =
imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Brockton City Hall
image_
mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =Massachusetts
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Plymouth
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1700
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1821
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Mayor-council city
leader_title =Mayor
leader_name =James E. Harrington (D)
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 55.9
area_total_sq_mi = 21.6
area_land_km2 = 55.6
area_land_sq_mi = 21.5
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
population_as_of = 2007
settlement_type =City
population_total = 93,092
population_density_km2 = 1,674.3
population_density_sq_mi = 4,329.9
elevation_m = 34
elevation_ft = 112
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 05 |lats = 00 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 01 |longs = 08 |longEW = W
website = http://www.ci.brockton.ma.us/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 02301
area_code = 508 / 774
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-09000
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0617571
footnotes =Brockton is a city in Plymouth County,
Massachusetts ,United States . The population size was recorded as 94,304 in the 2000 census; the size has roughly stayed about the same since [cite web | author=IDcide - Local Information Data Server | url=http://www.idcide.com/citydata/ma/brockton.htm
title=Brockton, MA Profile | accessdate=2007-05-23] . The city and Plymouth are thecounty seat s of Plymouth County.GR|6 Brockton is the 6th largest city in Massachusetts and is sometimes referred to the "City of Champions", mainly due to the success of native boxersRocky Marciano andMarvin Hagler , as well as its successfulBrockton High School sports programs.History
In 1649, Ousamequin (
Massasoit ) sold the surrounding land, then known as Saughtucket, toMyles Standish as an addition toDuxbury . Brockton was part of this area, which the English renamed Bridgewater, until 1821, when it became the town of North Bridgewater. Its name changed in 1874, after a contentious process finally decided on naming it afterIsaac Brock , after a local merchant heard ofBrockville, Ontario , on a trip toNiagara Falls . The town of Brockton became a city on April 9, 1881. During theAmerican Civil War , Brockton was America's largest producer of shoes, and until the latter parts of the 20th century Brockton had a large shoe and leather products industry.Historical Firsts
Brockton has claim to three "Firsts" in the world, and two in the country. On
October 1 ,1883 , Brockton became the first place in the world to have a three wire underground electrical system whenThomas Edison threw a switch to activate it. For the other two firsts for electricity, Brockton was home to the first theater in the world to be tied into the three wire electrical system. The City Theater opened onOctober 24 ,1894 . OnDecember 30 ,1884 , the first electrically operated fire station in the United States opened in Brockton.In addition, the department store
Santa Claus , now a main-stay of the Christmas season everywhere, appeared in Brockton in December 1890, when James Edgar, of Edgar's Department Store, suited up for the first time.Also of some note, Brockton became the first city in the country to abolish
grade crossings in 1896.Geography
Brockton is located at coor dms|42|4|57|N|71|1|18|W|city (42.082500, -71.021788).GR|1 According to the
United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 21.6square mile s (55.9km² ), of which, 21.5 square miles (55.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.56%) is water. Brockton is the 162nd largest city by land area in the Commonwealth, and the twelfth largest of the twenty-seven towns in Plymouth County. Brockton is bordered by Stoughton to the northwest, Avon to the north, Holbrook to the northeast, Abington to the northeast, Whitman and East Bridgewater to the southeast, West Bridgewater to the south, and Easton to the west. Brockton is approximately twenty miles south of Boston, and thirty miles northeast ofProvidence, Rhode Island .Brockton is mostly an urban setting, lying along the Salisbury River, which once powered the many shoe factories of the city. To the northeast lies the Beaver Brook Conservation Land, attached to the southern end of the
Ames Nowell State Park in Abington. There are several parks throughout the city, but the largest is D.W. Field Park, an Olmsted-inspired park which includes ponds, Waldo Lake and Brockton Reservoir in Avon, as well as a golf course.Demographics
USCensusPop
1830=1953
1840=2616
1850=3939
1860=6584
1870=8007
1880=13608
1890=27294
1900=40063
1910=56878
1920=66254
1930=63797
1940=62343
1950=62860
1960=62628
1970=72813
1980=95172
1990=92788
2000=94304
estyear=2007
estimate=93092As of thecensus GR|2 of 2000, there were 94,304 people, 33,675 households, and 22,764 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 4,392.8 people per square mile (1,695.9/km²). There were 34,837 housing units at an average density of 1,622.8/sq mi (626.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.49% White, 17.83% African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 10.32% from other races, and 7.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.01% of the population.Brockton has experienced dramatic demographic change in the past six years. Its population continues to boom, as does the rest of Southeastern Massachusetts, which is Massachusetts's fasting growing region. The African-American population in Brockton has nearly doubled in the last six years.
2006 estimates state Brockton's Demographics as: 49.8%
White , 32.7%African American , 0.2% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0%Pacific Islander , 10.3% fromother races , 4.1% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 10.0% of the population. [ [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=01000US&_geoContext=01000US&_street=&_county=Brockton&_cityTown=Brockton&_state=04000US25&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2006_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Brockton city, Massachusetts - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder ] ]Brockton has the largest population of Cape Verdian ancestry in the United States, with 9.0% of its population reporting this ancestry. [ [http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Cape-Verdean.html Cape Verdean ancestry by city - ePodunk ] ]
As of 2000, there were 33,675 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 19.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,507, and the median income for a family was $46,235. Males had a median income of $34,255 versus $26,886 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $17,163. About 12.1% of families and 14.5% of the population were below thepoverty line , including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.Statistically, Brockton is the most populated and most densely populated community in Plymouth County. It is the sixth largest community in the commonwealth, the largest of the sub-100,000 person cities. However, it is only the twenty-seventh most densely populated community in the Commonwealth.
Government
On the national level, Brockton is a part of
Massachusetts's 9th congressional district , and has been represented since 2001 by Stephen Lynch. The state's senior (Class I) member of theUnited States Senate , re-elected in 2006, isTed Kennedy . The junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, isJohn Kerry .On the state level, Brockton is represented in three districts in the
Massachusetts House of Representatives : the Ninth Plymouth, Tenth Plymouth (which includes West Bridgewater and a small portion of Easton), and the Eleventh Plymouth (which includes most of Easton). The city is represented in theMassachusetts Senate as a part of the Second Plymouth and Bristol district, which includes Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Whitman and portions of East Bridgewater and Easton [ [http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov] ] In addition to the Brockton Police department the city is patrolled by the Fourth (Middleborough) Barracks of Troop D of theMassachusetts State Police . [ [http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+D&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_d_msp_field_troop_d_station_d4&csid=Eeops Station D-4, SP Middleborough] ]Brockton has a city government led by a
mayor andcity council . The city elects a mayor for two year terms. Previous mayors include Winthrop H. Farwell, Jr., John T. Yunits, Jr., David Crosby, Carl Pitaro, Alvin Jack Sims, Joseph H. Downey and Paul Studenski. James Harrington was elected Mayor in 2005 and began serving in January 2006. He was re-elected November 6, 2007, for another two-year term. He had previously served 16 years as a City Councilor.The city council consists of 4 Councilors-at-Large and 7 ward Councilors, one for every ward in the city. There is a central police station on Commercial Street, six fire stations, and three post offices (the main building, plus branches in Montello and Campello). The city supports three buildings within the Brockton Public Library system. The main library is a Carnegie building and is located at 304 Main Street, and there are two branch libraries.Healthcare
Brockton also has three hospitals, Brockton Hospital on the east side, Caritas Good Samaritan Hospital to the northwest, and the Brockton Veterans Administration Hospital to the southwest. The VA Hospital also serves as a teaching hospital for students from the
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston.Fire Department
The Brockton Fire Department provides fire suppression, fire prevention, and rescue services, and has a Class 2 rating from
Insurance Services Office .City of Brockton website - [http://www.brockton.ma.us/Section_Departments/Fire.cfm Fire Department] ] The city has 7 fire stations, 6 of which are currently operational. The fire department does not provide EMS services; ambulance coverage is handled byAmerican Medical Response .American Medical Response website - [http://www.amr.net/company/locations.asp Locations] ]In 1905, local newspapers recounted many heroic acts by Brockton firefighters during the
Grover Shoe Factory disaster . cite web
first= Derek A
last= Canavan
url= http://www.brocktonma.com/Grover%20DC1.html
title = Remembering Brockton's Greatest Tragedy
quote= The men of the Campello firehouse were heroes that day. As hundreds of workers and residents of the Campello neighborhood ran from the fire, the Campello firefighters charged into the inferno looking for workers whose cries for help were barely audible over the roar of the flames. ]On
March 10 ,1941 , thirteen Brockton firefighters lost their lives when the roof collapsed as they were fighting a fire at the Strand Theatre. [ cite news
first=Milton J
last=Valencia
url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/04/a_memory_painful_and_indelible/
title=A memory painful and indelible
publisher="The Boston Globe "
quote=Outside, the flames roaring through the walls and ceiling were clearly visible. But to the firefighters inside, on the balcony, the flames were hidden. ] That fire resulted in one of the worst firefighting tragedies in U. S. history.Education
Public schools
Brockton operates its own school system for the city's approximately 15,600 students. There are two early education schools (Howard and Keith), twelve elementary schools (Angelo, Arnone, Ashfield, Brookfield, Downey, Franklin, Hancock, Huntington, John F. Kennedy, Plouffe, Raymond, and Whitman), the Davis School (which serves students from Kindergarten to Grade 8), three junior high schools (North, East, West), two middle schools (South and the Gilmore Academy),
Brockton High School and two alternative schools (Lincoln and B.B. Russell). Brockton High's athletics teams are called the Boxers (after the city's undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, Rocky Marciano), their mascot is a boxer dog and their colors are red and black. Brockton is known for its excellent athletics program, having won many state championships, as well as its facilities, includingCampanelli Stadium (baseball) andRocky Marciano Stadium (multi-purpose), the latter being afieldturf stadium used for high school championship games. Brockton traditionally plays New Bedford High School and B.M.C. Durfee High School of Fall River as part of the "Big Three," representing the three largest cities in southeastern Massachusetts. Their traditional rival forThanksgiving Day football games is Waltham High School, although the school has played twelve different teams throughout its 106 years of playing on that day, including several out of state high school teams and, most frequently after Waltham, Weymouth high.The Brockton High School Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Choruses have won numerous awards for their performances in various competitions throughout the country.
Private schools
Brockton was also home to three parochial schools (Sacred Heart, Saint Casimir and Saint Edward) which merged in 2007 to form two schools. Trinity Lower Campus at the former Saint Edwards school site, and Trinity Upper Campus located on the former site of the Saint Colemans school, two Christian schools (Brockton Christian and South Shore Christian), and
Cardinal Spellman High School , a Catholic high school named forFrancis Cardinal Spellman , Brockton area native and former Archbishop of New York. There is also a charter high school, Champion Charter School. Students may also choose to attendSoutheastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton free of charge.Higher education
Brockton is the site of
Massasoit Community College .Stonehill College in Easton andBridgewater State College are also nearby.Transportation
Major highways
Massachusetts Route 24 , a six-lane divided freeway, passes through the west side of the city, with exits at Route 27 to the north and Route 123 to the south. The two routes pass through the center of the city, crossing at that point.Massachusetts Route 28 passes from north to south through the center of the city, The western end of Route 14 (at its intersection with Route 27) and the southern end of Route 37 (at its intersection with Route 28) both are in the city.Bus
Brockton has its own bus services, operated by the
Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT). Each bus has a designated route running through a section of Brockton, i.e. Montello, Campello, Cary Hill, etc. There are also buses that with routes outside the city. i.e. Bridgewater Industrial Park, Ashmont Station, Stoughton. Montello Station is the destination ofMBTA bus #230.Rail
The
Middleborough/Lakeville Line line of the MBTA's commuter line passes through the city on the eastern side, with stops in the Montello and Campello neighborhoods, as well as in the city center, providing service to points south and South Station in Boston north of the city.National Historic Places and Points of interest
Asiaf Skating Rink
Audobon Conservation Area
Battle of East BrocktonBrockton City Hall Brockton Edison Electric Illuminating Company Power Station
Brockton Fair
Brockton Fire MuseumCampanelli Stadium
Central Fire StationCurtis Building Dr. Edgar Everett Dean House D.W. Field Park
D.W. Field Golf CourseForest Avenue School Franklin Block
Fuller Craft MuseumGardner J. Kingman House Goldthwaite Block Howard Block Lyman Block
Main LibraryMoses Packard House Old Post Office Building
Petronelli WayRocky Marciano ParkSacco & Vanzetti Museum
Shoe MuseumSnow Fountain and Clock
South Street Historic District
Thorney Lea Golf CourseWest Gate Lanes
West Gate Mall
The YMCANotable residents
*
Kristian Alfonso , actress
*Steve Balboni , professional baseball player
*Chris Bender , R&B singer
*Garfield Bright , pop singer for Shai
*Kevin R. Convey , editor in chief,Boston Herald
*William Damon , psychologist and author
*Al Davis , owner of the NFL'sOakland Raiders
*John Doucette , Western actor
*Bonnie Dumanis , District Attorney of San Diego County
*Shawn Fanning , creator ofNapster
*Kenneth Feinberg , attorney
*Scott Gordon , former professional hockey player and current head coach of the NHL'sNew York Islanders
*"Marvelous" Marvin Hagler, middleweight boxing champion of the world
*Pooch Hall , actor
*Rudy Harris , professional football player
*George V. Higgins , author
*Ken MacAfee , professional football player, finished 3rd inHeisman at Notre Dame
*Jim Mann , professional baseball player
*Rocky Marciano , undefeated heavyweight boxing champion of the world
*Bill McGunnigle , inventor of thebaseball glove
*Greg McMurtry , professional football player
*Christy Mihos ,entrepreneur &politician
*Goody Petronelli , boxing trainer
*Mike Quinn , Bodybuilder, former Mr. USA
*Robbie Sims , middleweight boxer
*Robert Skaltsis , professional musician
*Kevin Stevens , professional hockey player
*Dave Wedge , journalist forBoston Herald
*Art Whitney , professional baseball player
*Herbert Warren Wind , writerReferences
External links
* [http://www.ci.brockton.ma.us/ Official Brockton, MA Web Page]
* [http://www.inbrockton.com/ Brockton's Community Networking Site]
* [http://www.ridebat.com/ Official Website of Brockton Area Transit Authority]
* [http://www.brocktonpubliclibrary.org/ Brockton Public Library]
* [http://www.ccbrockton.org/ Community Connections of Brockton]
* [http://freepages.books.rootsweb.com/~blackwell/ma/BridgewaterNorth/chap1.html/ History of North Bridgewater]
* [http://www.brocktonfair.com/ Brockton Fair] Mapit-US-cityscale|42.0825|-71.021788
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