Stoughton, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Settled: 1713 – Incorporated: 1726 | |
| Zip Code(s): 02072 – Area Code(s): 339 / 781 | |
| Official website: http://www.stoughton-ma.gov/ | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
 Location in Massachusetts |
|
| Government | |
| County | Norfolk County |
| Form of Government | Representative town meeting |
| Executive office | Town Manager |
| Geography | |
| Area | |
| Total | 16.3 mi² / 42.1 km² |
| Land | 16.0 mi² / 41.5 km² |
| Water | 0.2 mi² / 0.6 km² |
| Coordinates | |
| Elevation | 236 ft / 72 m |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| Population | |
| Total (2000) | 27149 |
| Density | 1692.6/mi² / 653.5/km² |
Stoughton (Official Name: Town of Stoughton) is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 27,149 at the 2000 census.
Contents |
[edit] History
Stoughton was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1726. It was named after William Stoughton, who was the first Chief Justice of Colonial Courts but notorious Chief Justice at the Salem Witch Trials.
The Suffolk Resolves was written here, in Old Stoughton (current day Milton, Massachusetts) at Doty's Tavern, which was the basis for the Declaration of Independence. This meeting included Samuel Dunbar and Paul Revere. The site was chosen by Samuel Adams and Dr. Joseph Warren.
This full history of Stoughton can be seen here.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 42.1 km² (16.3 mi²). 41.5 km² (16.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.41%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 27,149 people, 10,254 households, and 7,270 families residing in the town. The population density was 653.5/km² (1,692.6/mi²). There were 10,488 housing units at an average density of 252.5/km² (653.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.46% White, 5.70% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.14% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.27% from other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 10,254 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $57,838, and the median income for a family was $69,942. Males had a median income of $44,853 versus $31,971 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,480. About 3.1% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Stoughton Culture
Stoughton is a lively town, with a large population of immigrants - many people from Portugal, Brazil and Poland. Stoughton is the end of a commuter train line.
There is one public high school in Stoughton,one public middle schools, 6 elementary schools, and several Catholic private schools in nearby towns. The favorite pizza place of local high school students and the unofficial gathering place in town is Town Spa Pizza, a favorite of former Boston Red Sox slugger Mo Vaughn, with their famous pizza recipe unchanged, since originated at the Cape Cod Cafe located in Brockton, MA. Stoughton High School has an award-winning music program, as well as an award-winning newspaper, The SHS Knight. It also has a healthy selection of sports teams. This past year, the Stoughton High School Marching Black Knights earned the title of best marching band in the NESBA championships, along with nabbing the award for best music.
Stoughton attracted national attention in the 1980s when a community group named Save Our Stoughton spent a year picketing the Times Square Bookstore, a local adult bookstore. The Bookstore was eventually forced to close, and the leaders of SOS indicated that the organization would remain intact as a kind of moral watchdog for the town. Save Our Stoughton faded away, however, after its president pleaded guilty to fraudulently acquiring traveler's checks worth $500,000.
Stoughton is oftened referred to as "Toughtown," as introduced by opposing Hockomock League football teams for the Black Knights' alleged steroids use, especially during the Thanksgiving season in preparation for the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between the Stoughton Black Knights and their arch-rival Canton Bulldogs.
The oldest choral society in the United States is located in Stoughton. Founded in 1786 as The Stoughton Musical Society, it is now known as the Old Stoughton Musical Society.
Every year, there are fireworks at the high school for celebration of the 4th of July.
It is possible to go biking in Stoughton, with Ames Pond being a nice destination. Surrounding towns: Canton, Avon, Randolph, Sharon, Easton, Brockton
Fire protection in Stoughton is from the Stoughton Fire Department.
[edit] External links
- Town of Stoughton
- Stoughton Chamber of Commerce
- Stoughton Massachusetts History & Genealogy Website
- Stoughton Historical Society
