Pembroke, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pembroke, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Pembroke Town Hall
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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 = 1650
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1712
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 60.8
area_total_sq_mi = 23.5
area_land_km2 = 56.6
area_land_sq_mi = 21.8
area_water_km2 = 4.2
area_water_sq_mi = 1.6
population_as_of = 2000
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 16927
population_density_km2 = 299.2
population_density_sq_mi = 774.9
elevation_m = 21
elevation_ft = 70
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 04 |lats = 17 |latNS = N
longd = 70 |longm = 48 |longs = 35 |longEW = W
website = http://www.townofpembrokemass.org/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 02359
area_code = 339 / 781
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-52630
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618348
footnotes =

Pembroke is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,927 at the 2000 census.

The southwestern section of Pembroke is also known as Bryantville. For geographic and demographic information on the village of North Pembroke, please see the article North Pembroke, Massachusetts.

History

The earliest European settlers were Robert Barker and Dolor Davis, who settled in the vicinity of Herring Brook in 1650. Up until that time, the Wampanoag and the Massachuset were the only residents, fishing and farming along the rivers; they called the area Mattakeesett, which means "place of much fish," because of the annual springtime run of herring in the local rivers. The land was part of the Major's Purchase, a large tract of lands bought from Josias Wampatuck of the Massachusetts by a group of English investors. The area was once a part of Duxbury, before incorporating as a separate town in 1712, and was ultimately named for the town of Pembroke, Wales, the name of Brookfield being rejected because it was already in use by the town in Worcester county that still bears this name.

Residents of Pembroke served with honor in the French and Indian War, serving everywhere from Fort William Henry in New York to the shores of Nova Scotia. At least one family of "French Neutrals," the Pelrine family, was settled here after they and hundreds of others were expelled at gunpoint from Arcadia in Nova Scotia (those that settled in Louisiana became known as "Cajuns.")

Just before the Revolution, Reverend Gad Hitchcock of Pembroke (who had served with the provincial troops as a chaplain in upstate New York during the French and Indian war) gave a sermon in Boston blasting the British, and was rewarded for this with a set of fine new clothes from Samuel Adams. Residents of Pembroke again served with honor from the first "alarm" sent out by Paul Revere and others on April 19, 1774 till the end of the war.

The town took its current form in 1820, when the western half of town known as the "West Parish" was separated and incorporated as Hanson. Shipbuilding was among the area's industries, with five yards along the North River. Famous among these were the "Beaver," a vessel made famous for its role in the Boston Tea Party, and the "Maria", memorialized on the Pembroke town seal. It was along the same river, on the Norwell side, that the "Columbia," namesake of the Columbia River in Oregon, was launched. By the turn of the twentieth century, mills had sprung up along the river, and the town's ponds and streams provided the water for cranberry bogs. Because of rail service from Brockton, the town's ponds also provided recreation and vacation spots for city dwellers.

The town remained relatively stable in population from the end of the Civil War up until the 1960s, when suburban migration from Boston and environs saw the town more than treble in population. Today, Pembroke is mostly a suburban community, with the majority of residents working in the Greater Boston area. In recent years Pembroke has developed into a fairly affluent and desirable community, with new home developments geared towards upmarket buyers. [ [http://www.sealundcorp.com/communities.html Sealund Corporation Communities ] ] [ [http://www.townofpembrokemass.org/Public_Documents/PembrokeMA_WebDocs/about Facts about Town of Pembroke] ]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.5 square miles (60.8 km²), of which, 21.8 square miles (56.6 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²) of it (6.95%) is water. Statistically, Pembroke is slightly smaller than the state average in terms of land area. Pembroke is bordered by Norwell to the north, Marshfield to the northeast, Duxbury to the east, Kingston to the southeast, Plympton to the south, Halifax to the southwest, Hanson to the west, and Hanover to the northwest. Pembroke is approximately twelve miles east of Brockton, thirteen miles northwest of Plymouth, and twenty-seven miles southeast of Boston.

Pembroke's geography can be divided in half. The northern half is dominated by the rivers and streams of the area, flowing through thick forests which once provided the lumber for the North River's shipbuilding industry. The southern half is dominated by several ponds and Silver Lake, where the towns of Pembroke, Kingston, Plympton and Halifax come together. The town has its own forest, which is divided into sections around town.

One notable water resource in Pembroke is Great Sandy Bottom Pond, the water of which is currently leased to the Abington-Rockland Water Commission. A website [http://groups.google.com/group/gsbpond] displays many pictures of the plants and animals of the area.

Transportation

Massachusetts Route 3 passes through the town's northeast corner, skirting the irregular border with Marshfield. There is an exit off of Route 3 in the town, which also grants access to Marshfield along Route 139. The town's other state routes include Routes 14, 27, 36, 53 and 139. Route 14 is in the town the longest, and passes through the town center. Route 36's northern terminus is at Route 14 just south of the town center.

There is no rail or air service in the town. The Kingston-Route 3 line of the MBTA's commuter rail service passes just to the southeast of town, with the nearest stops being in Hanson and Halifax. Two small airfields are nearby: Cranland Airport in Hanson and Marshfield Municipal Airport. The nearest national and international air service is at Logan International Airport in Boston.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 16,927 people, 5,750 households, and 4,553 families residing in the town. The population density was 774.9 people per square mile (299.2/km²). Statistically, the town's population and population density is slightly smaller than average, just below both averages. There were 5,897 housing units at an average density of 270.0/sq mi (104.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.89% White, 0.50% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 5,750 households out of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $65,050, and the median income for a family was $74,985. Males had a median income of $50,778 versus $36,581 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,066. About 3.7% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

On the national level, Pembroke is a part of Massachusetts's 10th congressional district, and is currently represented by Bill Delahunt. The state's senior (Class I) member of the United States Senate, re-elected in 2006, is Ted Kennedy. The junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is John Kerry.

On the state level, Pembroke is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Sixth Plymouth district, which includes the towns of Duxbury, Hanson and portions of Halifax. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Plymouth and Barnstable District, which includes Bourne, Falmouth, Kingston, Plymouth, Plympton, Sandwich and a small portion of Barnstable. [ [http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov] ] The town is patrolled by the First (Norwell) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts 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_d1&csid=Eeops Station D-1, SP Norwell] ]

Pembroke is governed by the open town meeting form of government, and is led by an executive secretary and a board of selectmen. Pembroke operates its own police and fire departments, with four stations located in the town center, Bryantville, North Pembroke and at Brimstone Corner. The town has its own emergency services; South Shore Hospital in Weymouth and Jordan Hospital in Plymouth are the nearest hospitals; the Pembroke hospital serves psychiatric patients in the area. There are post offices at the town center, Bryantville and North Pembroke. The Pembroke Public Library is located at the town center, and is a part of the Southeast Area Internet Library Services (SAILS) network. There are also two small branch libraries, the Lydia Drake Library near Brimstone Corner and the Cobb Library in Bryantville.

Education

Pembroke was formerly a part of the Silver Lake Regional School District, along with Kingston, Halifax and Plympton. It separated from the other towns to re-establish its own school district for its growing population. The town has three elementary schools (Bryantville, Hobomock and North Pembroke), which serve students from kindergarten through sixth grades (North Pembroke also serves pre-kindergarten classes). The Pembroke Community Middle School, located in the former Silver Lake Regional Junior High School on Route 27, serves seventh and eighth grade students. Pembroke High School is located in the former Silver Lake Regional High School [Pembroke Campus] , later known as the Silver Lake Regional Junior High School building on Learning Lane, and serves students from ninth through twelfth grade. Pembroke's athletics teams are known as the Titans (complete with a logo reminiscent of the Tennessee Titans logo), and their colors are blue and white. They compete in the Patriot League, where the teams have already garnered six championships since 2004. Pembroke has established a Thanksgiving Day football rivalry with previously mentioned Silver Lake Regional High School. The town is also supportive to many arts programs, including [http://drumcorpswiki.com/Pembroke_Imperials The Pembroke Imperials Drum & Bugle Corps] .

The town has no contract with any vocational schools; there are, however private schools in the surrounding communities. The nearest college is Massasoit Community College, with Bridgewater State College near as well.

Notable residents

* Meg Lee Chin Singer & SongwriterFact|date=July 2008
* Ben Edlund, creator of The Tick
* Eric Flaim, Olympic silver medalist in Speed skating
* Pat Seltsam, Olympic speedskater and World Cup medalist in 1989
* Alexander Parris, architect
* Kevin Stevens, former NHL Hockey Player
* Dave Shea, former Boston Bruins play-by-play announcer
* Harry M. Woods Composer & lyricist, noted compositions include "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bobbin Along"

References

Harry M.Woods 1896-1970, Composer and lyricist. Most noted songs include"Paddlin Madeline Home" 1925,"When the Red Red Robin comes bobbin Along" 1926,and "Side by Side" 1927. A former Pembroke Resident he is buried in Pembroke CenterCemetery.

External links

* [http://www.pembrokepolice.org/ Pembroke Police Department]
* [http://www.pembroke.mec.edu/ Pembroke Public Schools]
* [http://www.pembrokexpress.com/ Pembroke Express newspaper]
* [http://www.wickedlocal.com/pembroke Pembroke Mariner & Reporter]