| Boxborough, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Boxborough Town Hall, Boxborough MA | |
| Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Settled | 1680 |
| Incorporated | 1783 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.4 sq mi (27.0 km2) |
| • Land | 10.4 sq mi (26.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 335 ft (102 m) |
| Population (2009)[1] | |
| • Total | 4,996 |
| • Density | 469.7/sq mi (181.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01719 |
| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 |
| FIPS code | 25-07350 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618218 |
| Website | www.town.boxborough.ma.us |
Boxborough is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,996 at the 2010 census. The town name is often spelled "Boxboro" on highway signs and official documents, but the correct spelling is, in fact, Boxborough.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.4 square miles (27 km2), of which, 10.4 square miles (27 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.48%) is water.
Boxborough is bordered by Littleton to the north, Acton to the east, Stow to the south, and Harvard to the west.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 395 | — |
| 1860 | 403 | +2.0% |
| 1870 | 338 | −16.1% |
| 1880 | 319 | −5.6% |
| 1890 | 325 | +1.9% |
| 1900 | 316 | −2.8% |
| 1910 | 317 | +0.3% |
| 1920 | 298 | −6.0% |
| 1930 | 312 | +4.7% |
| 1940 | 376 | +20.5% |
| 1950 | 439 | +16.8% |
| 1960 | 744 | +69.5% |
| 1970 | 1,451 | +95.0% |
| 1980 | 3,126 | +115.4% |
| 1990 | 3,343 | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 4,868 | +45.6% |
| 2001* | 4,929 | +1.3% |
| 2002* | 4,925 | −0.1% |
| 2003* | 5,003 | +1.6% |
| 2004* | 5,038 | +0.7% |
| 2005* | 5,063 | +0.5% |
| 2006* | 5,064 | +0.0% |
| 2007* | 5,091 | +0.5% |
| 2008* | 5,113 | +0.4% |
| 2009* | 5,178 | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 4,996 | −3.5% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] |
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As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 4,868 people, 1,853 households, and 1,271 families residing in the town. The population density was 469.7 people per square mile (181.4/km²). There were 1,906 housing units at an average density of 183.9 per square mile (71.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 88.82% White, 0.33% African American, 0.02% Native American, 8.48% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 1,853 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $87,618, and the median income for a family was $110,572. Males had a median income of $72,414 versus $47,008 for females. The per capita income for the town was $40,794. About 1.5% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Boxborough is known for high quality education. The town has one elementary school, Blanchard Memorial School. http://www.boxboroughschool.org/. Blanchard consistently achieves MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) test scores within the top ten of Massachusetts school districts.[13]
Junior High (grades 7–8) and high school students (grades 9–12) attend school in the neighboring town of Acton. See the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. These post-elementary schools are administered by the regional school district, serving Acton and Boxborough. Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (ABRHS) is highly ranked within Massachusetts and nationwide. The U.S. Department of Education designated the institution as a Blue Ribbon School in 2009.[14] In 2008, Newsweek magazine ranked ABRHS as one of the best high schools in the country. Also, the school has ranked in the top ten for the National Academic Decathlon. http://usad.org/Competition/Winners.asp
On October 16, 2005 the Boxborough Historical Society opened "The Boxborough Museum". The museum is located at 575 Middle Road and is open several Sundays a year. Boxborough is also known for Steele Farm, a popular location for sledding and hikes.
Furthermore, Boxborough is known for its annual Fifer’s day celebration. The day commemorates Luther Blanchard, the fifer who marched the local minuteman company to the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1775. At the North Bridge minutemen companies from various towns of the Commonwealth successfully engaged the British, forcing the redcoats to retreat. During this action Blanchard was wounded slightly, one of the first battle casualties of the Revolutionary War. He survived to fight the British again a few short weeks later at the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he was again wounded. But in September of the same year, he died, ostensibly of the wounds he received in these battles. He is believed to be buried in the Blanchard family plot in Boxborough, although there is no stone there marking the exact spot of his resting place.
Fifer’s day is held every June at Flerra field in Boxborough. It begins with a 4-mile (6.4 km) road race, followed by a parade and many different festivities. Booths with hamburgers, hot dogs, snow cones etc. line the field and games, bands and volleyball tournaments complete the afternoon. Fifer’s day has pony rides, air balloon rides, a flea market and much more.
Flerra Field provides soccer fields, as well as a small playground and pond.
Also, Liberty Fields has a baseball diamond, multiple soccer fields and a conservation trail in the woods.
Another attraction is Steele Farm, a popular sledding site in the winter, with dog-friendly conservation trails.