Carver, Massachusetts
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| Carver, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Plymouth County |
| Settled | 1660 |
| Incorporated | 1790 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| - Town | 39.8 sq mi (103.1 km²) |
| - Land | 37.6 sq mi (97.3 km²) |
| - Water | 2.3 sq mi (5.9 km²) |
| Elevation | 92 ft (28 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 11,163 |
| - Density | 297.3/sq mi (114.8/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 02330 |
| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 |
| Website: http://www.carverma.org | |
Carver is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,163 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
Carver is a small town in Southeastern Massachusetts. Named for John Carver, the first elected leader of the Plymouth Colony, Carver was incorporated as a town in 1790. Early industry revolved around sawmills (due to the many water sources and abundant woodlands), and grew to include iron foundries and cranberry agriculture. Money from the iron helped the community to grow, as evidenced by several mansions still in existence in the town. Also located in Carver is Savery's Avenue, the first divided highway in America. Presented to the Public in 1861 by William Savery. The trees between the roads and on the outside of them were to be left for "shade and ornament for man and beast". Both road beds were Macadamized in 1907. A portion of the expense was advanced by the daughters of the builder, Mrs. Mary P.S. Jowitt and Ms. H.D. Savery. By the 1940s the cranberry harvest was the largest in the world, and today it is still a major business in town. Because of the land taken for the bogs, however, growth is limited, giving the town a rural flavor it takes pride in.[1]
Carver also has two notable tourist attractions. Edaville Railroad is a narrow-gauge railroad attraction which opened in 1949. It has long been a family tourist attraction in Southeastern Massachusetts, especially for its festival of lights around Christmastime. It has experienced a revival in recent years, after being sold in 1991 and nearly closing. The town is also the site of King Richard's Faire, a recreation of a 16th century English fair which is open on weekends throughout September and October. It is one of Massachusetts' largest Renaissance fairs.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 103.1 km² (39.8 mi²). 97.3 km² (37.5 mi²) of it is land and 5.9 km² (2.3 mi²) of it (5.68%) is water. It is locally famous for the large number of cranberry bogs throughout the town. Carver is bordered by Plympton to the north, Kingston to the northeast, Plymouth to the east, Wareham to the south, and Middleborough to the west. Carver is located approximately 45 miles south-southeast of Boston, and 38 miles east of Providence, Rhode Island.
Carver's geography is shaped by its many small brooks, rivers and ponds. The majority of them eventually drain in Buzzards Bay, although some (especially in the north of town) lead to Cape Cod Bay. The town also has an abundance of pine and cedar trees, and a portion of Myles Standish State Forest takes up much of the southeast corner of town. The town is also the site of a campground, a sportsmen's club, and a small town park at the center of town.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 11,163 people, 3,984 households, and 3,011 families residing in the town. The population density was 114.8/km² (297.3/mi²). There were 4,127 housing units at an average density of 42.4/km² (109.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.78% White, 1.22% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.96% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 3,984 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,506, and the median income for a family was $61,738. Males had a median income of $46,414 versus $28,336 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,398. About 4.6% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
Carver is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Second Plymouth district, which also includes Wareham and a portion of Bourne. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the First Plymouth and Bristol district, which includes Berkley, Bridgewater, Dighton, Marion, Middleborough, Raynham, Taunton and Wareham.[2] The town is patrolled by the Fourth (Middleborough) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.[3]
On the national level, Carver 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.
Carver is governed by the open town meeting form of government, led by a town administrator and a board of selectmen. Carver has its own police and fire departments, with a central police station and three on call firehouses, located in the north, south and center of town. There are also three post offices, each with their own ZIP code. The town's public library is located in the center of town, and is a part of the SAILS Library Network.
[edit] Education
Carver operates its own school department, led by a school committee and a superintendent of schools. There are four schools, each of which serves specific grade levels. The Erwin K. Washburn Primary School serves pre-kindergarten through second grades; the Governor John Carver Elementary School serves third through fifth grades; the Carver Middle School serves sixth through eighth grades; and Carver High School covers ninth through twelfth grades. Carver's sports teams are nicknamed the Crusaders, and their colors are maroon (or, more accurately, cranberry) and white. Their mascot wears an actual suit of armor, donated by the organizers of King Richard's Faire. Carver's chief rival is Middleborough High, whom they play in the annual Thanksgiving Day football game.
In addition to public school, students may also choose to attend Old Colony Regional Vocational-Technical High School in Rochester. There are no private schools in the town; the nearest are in Lakeville and Taunton.
[edit] Transportation
The town is crossed in the north of town by U.S. Route 44, a two-lane divided highway. The highway was recently expanded, so that rather than the highway portion ending at Route 58 (the other main route through town) and heading east after being concurrent for a half-mile, the highway portion now extends to Route 3 in neighboring Plymouth. Route 58 terminates just one mile south of town on the Wareham-Rochester line, just after it accesses Route 495. There is no rail service in town; the MBTA's commuter rail service has two termini nearby, in Middleborough and in Plymouth. Regional air service can be reached at Plymouth Municipal Airport (whose right-of-way extends into Carver south of South Meadow Road). The nearest national and international airport is Logan International Airport in Boston.
[edit] References
- ^ Town of Carver - History
- ^ Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov
- ^ Station D-4, SP Middleborough
[edit] External links
- Town of Carver Website
- Carver Public Schools
- Carver Fire Department
- Edaville Railroad
- King Richard's Faire
