Acushnet, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Acushnet is a town
in Bristol County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 10,303 at the 2010 census.
, which included the towns of Westport
, New Bedford
, and Fairhaven
. In 1787, New Bedford separated from Dartmouth, and included the lands of Fairhaven and Acushnet. In 1812, Fairhaven was incorporated as a separate town, again including the lands of Acushnet. Finally, the town was officially incorporated in 1860. The name "Acushnet," which is also the name of the river
the town lies on, comes from the Wampanoag "Cushnea," meaning "peaceful resting place near water," originally designating the fact that the tribe which sold the land to the Puritans inhabited the lands leading up to the river.
In 1910, the Acushnet Process Company (now the Acushnet Company
), was founded in the town, and continues to be one of Southeastern Massachusetts's most enduring industries. The Acushnet Company owns the Titleist
brand name, under which golf balls, golf clubs, and other golf paraphernalia are marketed.
, the town has a total area of 18.9 square miles (49 km²), of which, 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (2.43%) is water. Acushnet is located on the eastern border of Bristol County, and is bordered to the east by Rochester, to the southeast by Mattapoisett, to the south by Fairhaven, to the west by New Bedford, and to the northwest by Freetown.
passes through the northeast corner of town, both entering and exiting through Rochester. It is one of two state highways of any grade in the town, the other is a short section of South Main Street. Route 18 passes closely along the western border in New Bedford.
of 2000, there were 10,161 people, 3,793 households, and 2,837 families residing in the town. The population density
was 550.6 people per square mile (212.6/km²). There were 3,889 housing units at an average density of 210.8 per square mile (81.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.20% White, 0.42% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population. Acushnet's population is 32% of Portuguese ancestry, 15% of French Ancestry, 12% of French Canadian ancestry and 10% of English ancestry.
There were 3,793 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,500, and the median income for a family was $58,722. Males had a median income of $38,709 versus $28,649 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,753. About 1.9% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
, and the state's senior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is John F. Kerry.
Acushnet uses the town meeting form of government, with open town meetings and a town administrator leading the board of selectmen. The town has its own police force, and two fire stations, near the population center of town and in the northeast corner of town.
or Fairhaven High School
per tuition agreements (although in practice, most go to New Bedford). High school students may also choose to attend Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School
, Bristol County Agricultural High School or any other local private high school. The town is also home to Saint Francis Xavier School, a private Catholic school serving kindergarten through eighth grade. If there is a shop that a student decided to take, but it is not offered at Old Colony Regional, students are then allowed to go to Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School
.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Bristol County
Bristol County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families residing in the county. The population density was 962 people per square mile . There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 10,303 at the 2010 census.
History
Acushnet was first settled in 1659. It has been included as a part of three separate towns throughout its history. It was formerly the northeastern section of the town of DartmouthDartmouth, Massachusetts
Dartmouth is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States established in 1664. The population was 30,665 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth....
, which included the towns of Westport
Westport, Massachusetts
Westport is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 15,532 at the 2010 census.The village of North Westport lies in the town.- History :...
, New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, and Fairhaven
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located on the south coast of Massachusetts where the Acushnet River flows into Buzzards Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean...
. In 1787, New Bedford separated from Dartmouth, and included the lands of Fairhaven and Acushnet. In 1812, Fairhaven was incorporated as a separate town, again including the lands of Acushnet. Finally, the town was officially incorporated in 1860. The name "Acushnet," which is also the name of the river
Acushnet River
The Acushnet River is the largest river, long, flowing into Buzzards Bay in southeastern Massachusetts, in the United States. The name "Acushnet" comes from the Wampanoag or Algonquian word, "Cushnea", meaning "as far as the waters", a word that was used by the original owners of the land in...
the town lies on, comes from the Wampanoag "Cushnea," meaning "peaceful resting place near water," originally designating the fact that the tribe which sold the land to the Puritans inhabited the lands leading up to the river.
In 1910, the Acushnet Process Company (now the Acushnet Company
Acushnet Company
The Acushnet Company is a subsidiary of the Fortune Brands Corporation that makes golf equipment and golfing apparel.However, Fortune Brands announced on December 8, 2010, that it planned to focus on its liquor business, and would spin off or sell other parts of the company — including home...
), was founded in the town, and continues to be one of Southeastern Massachusetts's most enduring industries. The Acushnet Company owns the Titleist
Titleist
Titleist is a brand name owned by Fila for golf equipment and apparel products produced by its subsidiary called the Acushnet Company, which is headquartered in Fairhaven, Massachusetts....
brand name, under which golf balls, golf clubs, and other golf paraphernalia are marketed.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 18.9 square miles (49 km²), of which, 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (2.43%) is water. Acushnet is located on the eastern border of Bristol County, and is bordered to the east by Rochester, to the southeast by Mattapoisett, to the south by Fairhaven, to the west by New Bedford, and to the northwest by Freetown.
Transportation
A short, 2.8-mile stretch of Route 105Massachusetts Route 105
-Route description:Route 105 begins at U.S. Route 6 in Marion. The highway crosses over I-195 less than a mile into its journey. The highway winds in a westerly direction through Rochester. When the highway enters Long Plain village in Acushnet, the only town in Bristol County on the route, Route...
passes through the northeast corner of town, both entering and exiting through Rochester. It is one of two state highways of any grade in the town, the other is a short section of South Main Street. Route 18 passes closely along the western border in New Bedford.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 10,161 people, 3,793 households, and 2,837 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 550.6 people per square mile (212.6/km²). There were 3,889 housing units at an average density of 210.8 per square mile (81.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.20% White, 0.42% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population. Acushnet's population is 32% of Portuguese ancestry, 15% of French Ancestry, 12% of French Canadian ancestry and 10% of English ancestry.
There were 3,793 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,500, and the median income for a family was $58,722. Males had a median income of $38,709 versus $28,649 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $21,753. About 1.9% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Acushnet is located in the Eleventh Bristol state representative district, which includes all of Acushnet and a large part of New Bedford. The town is represented in the state senate in the Second Bristol and Plymouth district, which includes the city of New Bedford and the towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett. Acushnet is patrolled by Troop D (Southeast District), 3rd Barracks (located in Dartmouth) of the Massachusetts State Police. On the national level, the town is part of Massachusetts Congressional District 4, which is represented by Barney Frank. The state's junior (Class I) Senator is Scott BrownScott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
, and the state's senior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is John F. Kerry.
Acushnet uses the town meeting form of government, with open town meetings and a town administrator leading the board of selectmen. The town has its own police force, and two fire stations, near the population center of town and in the northeast corner of town.
Library
"The town of Acushnet established a free library in 1896." The town's Russell Memorial Library, dedicated to a member of the prominent Russell family of New Bedford, lies in the town's population center. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Acushnet spent 0.87% ($189,813) of its budget on its public library—some $18 per person.Education
Acushnet has two schools, the Acushnet Elementary School, with grades from preschool to 4th grade, and the Albert F. Ford Middle School, with grades 5th to 8th, both located near the geographic center of town. The town does not have a high school; the students may go to either New Bedford High SchoolNew Bedford High School
New Bedford High School is a public high school located at 230 Hathaway Boulevard in the West End of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The school has approximately 3,200 students, and is one of the largest schools in the state...
or Fairhaven High School
Fairhaven High School
Fairhaven High School is located in the town of Fairhaven in south eastern Massachusetts. The school building was donated in 1906 by Henry Huttleston Rogers, who was one of the key men in John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Trust...
per tuition agreements (although in practice, most go to New Bedford). High school students may also choose to attend Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School
Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School
is located on a 80-acre campus in Rochester, Massachusetts, the geographical center of the five-member town school district that includes Acushnet Carver,Mattapoisett, Rochester and students from Freetown & Lakeville Public Schools....
, Bristol County Agricultural High School or any other local private high school. The town is also home to Saint Francis Xavier School, a private Catholic school serving kindergarten through eighth grade. If there is a shop that a student decided to take, but it is not offered at Old Colony Regional, students are then allowed to go to Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School is a vocational high school located in New Bedford, Massachusetts for students in grades 9-12. The school draws its student body from the towns and cities of New Bedford, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven...
.