Attleboro, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County
, Massachusetts
, United States
and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island
. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census
, and a population of 43,645 as of July, 2009.
Attleboro was incorporated from part of Rehoboth
in 1694 as the Town
of Attleborough. It was reincorporated in 1914 as the City of Attleboro. Attleboro included the town of North Attleborough
until 1887 and Cumberland, Rhode Island
, until 1747. When the city re-incorporated in 1914, the "-ugh" was removed from the name; North Attleborough kept it. Like many towns in Massachusetts, it was named for a British town
.
During the colonial period, John Woodcock
lived in North Attleboro. During the Native American insurgency Woodcock's son, Nathaniel, was murdered and his head was placed on a pole in his front yard. The house where Woodcock lived is now a historical monument. It is rumored George Washington
once passed through and stayed near the Woodcock Garrison House at the Hatch Tavern where he swapped one shoe buckle with Israel Hatch, a revolutionary soldier and new owner of the Garrison House.
The city became known for jewelry manufacturing, notably through the L.G. Balfour Company, starting in 1913. However, the company has since moved out of the city, with the site of the former plant turned into a riverfront park. At one time, Attleboro was known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World." Jewelry related manufacturing firms continue to operate there. One of these companies is Guyot Brothers Company, which was started in 1904. General Findings, M.S. Company, James A. Murphy Co., Garlan Chain, Leach & Garner, and Masters of Design (which was started by former Balfour employees) are jewelry related manufacturing companies still in operation.
, the city has a total area of 28.3 square miles (73.3 km²), of which 27.5 square miles (71.2 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (2.72%) is water. Its borders are the shape of an irregular polygon, resembling a pointless triangle pointed west. It is bordered by North Attleborough
to the north; Mansfield
& Norton
to the east; Rehoboth
and Seekonk, Massachusetts
& Pawtucket, Rhode Island
to the south; and Cumberland, Rhode Island
to the west. It includes the localities of Briggs Corner, Dodgeville, East Junction, Hebronville, and South Attleboro.
The Ten Mile River
runs through the center of Attleboro, and is fed by several brooks and the Bungay River. Several small ponds are in the city, as well as the Manchester Pond Reservoir, located along Interstate 95
. There are also two reservation areas, the Antony Lawrence Reservation Area and Coleman Reservation Area, as well as the Bungay River Conservation Area located in the north of the city.
. It is also only a short distance from Boston, and is linked to the Boston metropolitan area.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 42,068 people, 16,019 households, and 10,924 families residing in the city, and the population density
was 1,529.1 people per square mile (590.4/km²). There were 16,554 housing units at an average density of 601.7 per square mile (232.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.30% White, 1.64% African American, 0.16% Native American, 3.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races
, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.29% of the population.Most of the Hispanic and Asian populations are concentrated in and around one area, the East Side.
There were 16,019 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,807, and the median income for a family was $59,112 (these figures had risen to $61,718 and $80,413 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $40,331 versus $28,769 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,660. About 3.7% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
In addition to Attleboro High School, which has its own vocational division, students from the city and surrounding towns may choose to attend Bishop Feehan
, a co-educational Roman Catholic high school which opened in 1961 and is named for Bishop Daniel Francis Feehan, second Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River. The city also has a satellite branch of Bristol Community College
, which was located in the city's former high school building but has since been located to an old Texas Instruments
site. Bridgewater State University opened a satellite site in Attleboro in 2009, sharing space with Bristol Community College.
Attleboro has four museums, including the Attleboro Arts Museum, Attleboro Area Industrial Museum, the Women at Work Museum, and the Museum at the Mill. Other points of interest within the city include:
(which enters the state between Attleboro and Pawtucket, Rhode Island), I-295 (whose northern terminus is near the North Attleborough town line at I-95), and US 1
, as well as Routes 1A
, 118
, 123 and 152, the last three all intersecting at Attleboro center. The proposed Interstate 895 was to run through Attleboro and have a junction at the present day I-295/I-95 terminus. Notice, when driving from Rhode Island on I-295, the stub exits before the half-cloverleaf exit to I-95. The city is also home to two MBTA
commuter rail stations: one in the downtown area
and the other near the Rhode Island border in the South Attleboro district
.
Attleboro and Taunton
are both served by Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority, or GATRA, which provides bus transit between the two cities and the surrounding regions.
All Saints Episcopal Church (1890) on North Main Street represents that traditional English presence in the community — though the church is now very diverse. In 2007 All Saints Episcopal Church divided over the liberal policies of the ECUSA resulting in the establishment of All Saints Anglican Church in the Hebronville village of Attleboro which is affiliated with an Anglican diocese under a Bishop in Uganda.
Centenary United Methodist Church
(1865) CUMC on North Main Street began as a fellowship on November 26, 1865, meeting in a building on Railroad Ave. The first church building was dedicated on the present site in 1896 under the name of Davis Methodist Episcopal Church. The structure was destroyed by fire in 1883. The rebuilt church named Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church in 1884, commemorating American Methodism's 100th Anniversary. In 1998 Centenary welcomed members of the Hebron Methodist church into the community after a consolidation of the two churches.
Second Congregational Church (1748), located near the town common, is typical of a New England town and is the founding church of what was then East Attleboro. It is a daughter church of the First Congregational Church in the Oldtown section of North Attleborough. Originally located in a meeeting house on what is now the common, Second Congregational had a stately white clapboard building built in 1825 that was removed in the early 1950s to make way for the addition of a new Fellowship Hall and education rooms. The main red brick building and clock tower were built in 1904 beside the white church. In the early 1960s, the interior of the Sancuary and the entry were dramatically remodeled, resulting in a blend of high Victorian style and the open feel of mid-century modern. The church owns the Old Kirk Yard Cemetery to its rear where many of the early families of the town are buried. Located in its tower is what was originally the city owned clock which is also now owned by the church. As an outreach of the church, the Jack & Jill School has operated at the church for over 60 years. One of the city's elementary schools is named in honor of the church's first settled minister, The Reverend Peter Thatcher.
Bethany Village Fellowship, formerly Bethany Congregational Church, (1886) is located in South Attleboro at 516 Newport Ave.
Murray Unitarian-Universalist Church (1875) on North Main Street is also typical of a New England town.
Evangelical Covenant Church
(1903) on North Main Street recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. It was historically "the Swedish church," though it includes many different ethnic groups today.
Congregation Agudas Achim on Kelly Boulevard is part of the Jewish Reconstructionist movement.
There are a number of Protestant denominations represented in Attleboro including Baptist (Grace Baptist on Oakhill Avenue, the Word of Truth Baptist Church on Union Street, and 1st Baptist on South Main), and Advent Christian (also on Pleasant), Fruit of the Spirit Mission Church (located on Leroy Street), Assembly of God (the South Attleboro AOG on Newport Avenue.
There are also numerous non-denominational churches such as Christian & Missionary Alliance (Faith Alliance Church on Pleasant Street), Good News Bible Chapel on West Street (1935), New Covenant Christian Fellowship at 609 North Main Street (Rt. 152), Candleberry Ministries on South Main St. (Rt. 152), and a handful of ethnic congregations such as St. James Anglican Church (Kenyan) started through church planting
.
The Salvation Army Bridges of Hope located on Mechanic Street offers Sunday Services as well as weekday and evening support services including "Bridging the Gap" for adolescent support.
The Attleboro Area Council of Churches is very active in the community.
The Immanuel Lutheran Church offers Sunday services.
reported that a state probe had been launched into the deaths of four city women from glioblastoma
. As of October 2005, no report has been issued, and the status of the probe is unknown.
Scorecard, Environmental Defense
's online database of polluters, lists seven facilities contributing to cancer hazards in Attleboro, including Engineered Materials Solutions Inc., the worst offender in Massachusetts.
In 2002, the Massachusetts Public Health Department was asked to evaluate the former Shpack Landfill, on the border of Norton and Attleboro, for its cancer risks. The investigation continued through at least 2004. The informal landfill included uranium fuel rods
, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds.
and Bloods
exists in some areas around the town. The Sun Chronicle article states that "there have been growing instances of graffiti
or 'tagging' on public property, homes and businesses with gang insignia and messages, along with sporadic crime in which gang influence is suspect."
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...
and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, and a population of 43,645 as of July, 2009.
History
Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Rehoboth is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,172 at the 2000 census.-History:It was incorporated in 1643 making it one of the earliest Massachusetts towns to be incorporated. The Rehoboth Carpenter Family is among the founding families...
in 1694 as the Town
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...
of Attleborough. It was reincorporated in 1914 as the City of Attleboro. Attleboro included the town of North Attleborough
North Attleborough, Massachusetts
North Attleborough, commonly written North Attleboro, is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,712 at the 2010 United States Census.The village of North Attleborough Center is located in the town.-History:...
until 1887 and Cumberland, Rhode Island
Cumberland, Rhode Island
Cumberland is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, incorporated in 1746. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, until 1747. When the city re-incorporated in 1914, the "-ugh" was removed from the name; North Attleborough kept it. Like many towns in Massachusetts, it was named for a British town
Attleborough
Attleborough is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England situated between Norwich and Thetford. The parish falls within the district of Breckland and has an area of 21.90 km² with a Mainline to both Norwich and Cambridge....
.
During the colonial period, John Woodcock
John Woodcock
John Woodcock may refer to:*John A. Woodcock Jr. , United States federal judge*John Woodcock , American football player*John Woodcock , British cricket writer and journalist...
lived in North Attleboro. During the Native American insurgency Woodcock's son, Nathaniel, was murdered and his head was placed on a pole in his front yard. The house where Woodcock lived is now a historical monument. It is rumored George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
once passed through and stayed near the Woodcock Garrison House at the Hatch Tavern where he swapped one shoe buckle with Israel Hatch, a revolutionary soldier and new owner of the Garrison House.
The city became known for jewelry manufacturing, notably through the L.G. Balfour Company, starting in 1913. However, the company has since moved out of the city, with the site of the former plant turned into a riverfront park. At one time, Attleboro was known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World." Jewelry related manufacturing firms continue to operate there. One of these companies is Guyot Brothers Company, which was started in 1904. General Findings, M.S. Company, James A. Murphy Co., Garlan Chain, Leach & Garner, and Masters of Design (which was started by former Balfour employees) are jewelry related manufacturing companies still in operation.
Geography
Attleboro is located at 41°55′41"N 71°18′52"W (41.928099, -71.314564). 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 city has a total area of 28.3 square miles (73.3 km²), of which 27.5 square miles (71.2 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (2.72%) is water. Its borders are the shape of an irregular polygon, resembling a pointless triangle pointed west. It is bordered by North Attleborough
North Attleborough, Massachusetts
North Attleborough, commonly written North Attleboro, is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,712 at the 2010 United States Census.The village of North Attleborough Center is located in the town.-History:...
to the north; Mansfield
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island....
& Norton
Norton, Massachusetts
Norton is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, and contains the village of Norton Center. The population was 18,036 at the 2000 census...
to the east; Rehoboth
Rehoboth, Massachusetts
Rehoboth is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,172 at the 2000 census.-History:It was incorporated in 1643 making it one of the earliest Massachusetts towns to be incorporated. The Rehoboth Carpenter Family is among the founding families...
and Seekonk, Massachusetts
Seekonk, Massachusetts
Seekonk is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Massachusetts border. It was incorporated in 1812 from the western half of Rehoboth. The population was 13,722 at the 2010 census. Until 1862, the town of Seekonk also included what is now the City of East Providence, Rhode...
& Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
to the south; and Cumberland, Rhode Island
Cumberland, Rhode Island
Cumberland is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States, incorporated in 1746. The population was 33,506 at the 2010 census.-History:...
to the west. It includes the localities of Briggs Corner, Dodgeville, East Junction, Hebronville, and South Attleboro.
The Ten Mile River
Ten Mile River
The Ten Mile River is a river within the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately and drains a watershed of .The North Attleborough National Fish Hatchery is located in its upper reaches, and the river offers stocked trout fishing in the spring.The Ten Mile River was...
runs through the center of Attleboro, and is fed by several brooks and the Bungay River. Several small ponds are in the city, as well as the Manchester Pond Reservoir, located along Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Massachusetts
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine. The Massachusetts portion of the highway enters from the state of Rhode Island in Attleboro and travels in a northeasterly direction to the junction with Route 128 in...
. There are also two reservation areas, the Antony Lawrence Reservation Area and Coleman Reservation Area, as well as the Bungay River Conservation Area located in the north of the city.
Demographics
Attleboro is officially a part of the Providence metropolitan areaProvidence metropolitan area
The Providence metropolitan area is a region covering six counties in two states, and is the 37th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Anchored by the city of Providence, Rhode Island, it has an estimated population of 1,622,520, exceeding that of Rhode Island by slightly over 60%. The...
. It is also only a short distance from Boston, and is linked to the Boston metropolitan area.
As of the census
Census
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 42,068 people, 16,019 households, and 10,924 families residing in the city, and 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 1,529.1 people per square mile (590.4/km²). There were 16,554 housing units at an average density of 601.7 per square mile (232.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.30% White, 1.64% African American, 0.16% Native American, 3.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.82% 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 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.29% of the population.Most of the Hispanic and Asian populations are concentrated in and around one area, the East Side.
There were 16,019 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,807, and the median income for a family was $59,112 (these figures had risen to $61,718 and $80,413 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $40,331 versus $28,769 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 city was $22,660. About 3.7% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Attleboro's school department has five elementary schools (Hill-Roberts, Hyman Fine, A. Irvin Studley, Peter Thacher and Thomas Willett), three middle schools (Brennan, Coelho and Wamsutta), and Attleboro High School. Attleboro High School's football team (the "Blue Bombardiers") has a traditional rivalry with North Attleborough High School, whom they play for their Thanksgiving Day game.In addition to Attleboro High School, which has its own vocational division, students from the city and surrounding towns may choose to attend Bishop Feehan
Bishop Feehan High School
Bishop Feehan High School is a co-educational Catholic high school in Attleboro, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River. Founded in 1961 by the Sisters of Mercy, the school has grown to over 1,000 students...
, a co-educational Roman Catholic high school which opened in 1961 and is named for Bishop Daniel Francis Feehan, second Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River. The city also has a satellite branch of Bristol Community College
Bristol Community College
Bristol Community College is a two-year community college located in Fall River, Massachusetts.-History:The college was originally established in December 1965 when it was instituted by the Massachusetts Board of Regional Community Colleges. Former President John F...
, which was located in the city's former high school building but has since been located to an old Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
site. Bridgewater State University opened a satellite site in Attleboro in 2009, sharing space with Bristol Community College.
Points of interest
- Capron ParkCapron Park ZooThe Capron Park Zoo is a small zoo that opened in 1937 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA. It is home to about 100 animals representing 44 species, Capron Park Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Association of Zoo and Aquarium Docents...
, which houses a zooZooA zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred.... - L.G. Balfour Riverwalk, which was once the site of the L.G. Balfour jewelry plant, is adjacent to the downtown business district.
- LaSalette ShrineShrines to the Virgin MaryIn the culture and practice of some Christian Churches - mainly, but not solely, the Roman Catholic Church - a Shrine to the Virgin Mary is a shrine marking an apparition or other miracle ascribed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or a site on which is centered a historically strong Marian devotion...
which has a Christmas light display - Triboro Youth Theatre / Triboro Musical Theatre
- Attleboro Community Theatre, located at the Ezekiel Bates Masonic Lodge, 71 North Main Street, Attleboro, Massachusetts.
- Dodgeville Mill
Transportation
Attleboro is located along I-95Interstate 95 in Massachusetts
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, paralleling the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Maine. The Massachusetts portion of the highway enters from the state of Rhode Island in Attleboro and travels in a northeasterly direction to the junction with Route 128 in...
(which enters the state between Attleboro and Pawtucket, Rhode Island), I-295 (whose northern terminus is near the North Attleborough town line at I-95), and US 1
U.S. Route 1 in Massachusetts
In the U.S. state of Massachusetts, U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south state highway through Boston. The portion of US 1 south of Boston is also known as the Boston-Providence Turnpike, and portions north of the city are known as the Northeast Expressway and the Newburyport Turnpike.-Route...
, as well as Routes 1A
Route 1A (Massachusetts)
Route 1A is a south–north state highway in Massachusetts. It is an alternate route to U.S. 1 with three signed sections and two unsigned sections where the highway is concurrent with its parent...
, 118
Route 118 (Massachusetts)
Route 118 is a north-south state highway in Bristol County, Massachusetts.-Route description:Route 118 begins at U.S. Route 6 just east of I-195's Exit 3. The route, which begins as Swansea Mall Drive, passes Swansea Mall and the Swansea Crossing shopping center before crossing Wood Street and...
, 123 and 152, the last three all intersecting at Attleboro center. The proposed Interstate 895 was to run through Attleboro and have a junction at the present day I-295/I-95 terminus. Notice, when driving from Rhode Island on I-295, the stub exits before the half-cloverleaf exit to I-95. The city is also home to two MBTA
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
commuter rail stations: one in the downtown area
Attleboro (MBTA station)
Attleboro is a commuter rail station on the MBTA's Providence/Stoughton Line located in Attleboro, Massachusetts.The two station buildings were originally built in 1906 and 1908 by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Later in the 20th Century, the station was both an MBTA and Amtrak...
and the other near the Rhode Island border in the South Attleboro district
South Attleboro (MBTA station)
South Attleboro is the southernmost station in Massachusetts on the Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail, and was the southernmost station on weekends, until June 29, 2006, when Rhode Island began funding weekend service to Providence...
.
Attleboro and Taunton
Taunton, Massachusetts
Taunton is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the seat of Bristol County and the hub of the Greater Taunton Area. The city is located south of Boston, east of Providence, north of Fall River and west of Plymouth. The City of Taunton is situated on the Taunton River...
are both served by Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority, or GATRA, which provides bus transit between the two cities and the surrounding regions.
Religion
The religions represented by the churches in Attleboro reveal the historic ethnic makeup of the community. The five Roman Catholic churches — St. John, St. Stephen, St. Joseph, St. Theresa of the Little Flower, and Holy Ghost — reflect the English/Irish, formerly French now Hispanic, and Portuguese, neighborhoods, respectively.All Saints Episcopal Church (1890) on North Main Street represents that traditional English presence in the community — though the church is now very diverse. In 2007 All Saints Episcopal Church divided over the liberal policies of the ECUSA resulting in the establishment of All Saints Anglican Church in the Hebronville village of Attleboro which is affiliated with an Anglican diocese under a Bishop in Uganda.
Centenary United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
(1865) CUMC on North Main Street began as a fellowship on November 26, 1865, meeting in a building on Railroad Ave. The first church building was dedicated on the present site in 1896 under the name of Davis Methodist Episcopal Church. The structure was destroyed by fire in 1883. The rebuilt church named Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church in 1884, commemorating American Methodism's 100th Anniversary. In 1998 Centenary welcomed members of the Hebron Methodist church into the community after a consolidation of the two churches.
Second Congregational Church (1748), located near the town common, is typical of a New England town and is the founding church of what was then East Attleboro. It is a daughter church of the First Congregational Church in the Oldtown section of North Attleborough. Originally located in a meeeting house on what is now the common, Second Congregational had a stately white clapboard building built in 1825 that was removed in the early 1950s to make way for the addition of a new Fellowship Hall and education rooms. The main red brick building and clock tower were built in 1904 beside the white church. In the early 1960s, the interior of the Sancuary and the entry were dramatically remodeled, resulting in a blend of high Victorian style and the open feel of mid-century modern. The church owns the Old Kirk Yard Cemetery to its rear where many of the early families of the town are buried. Located in its tower is what was originally the city owned clock which is also now owned by the church. As an outreach of the church, the Jack & Jill School has operated at the church for over 60 years. One of the city's elementary schools is named in honor of the church's first settled minister, The Reverend Peter Thatcher.
Bethany Village Fellowship, formerly Bethany Congregational Church, (1886) is located in South Attleboro at 516 Newport Ave.
Murray Unitarian-Universalist Church (1875) on North Main Street is also typical of a New England town.
Evangelical Covenant Church
Evangelical Covenant Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of more than 800 congregations and an average worship attendance of 179,000 people in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the church is now one of the most...
(1903) on North Main Street recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. It was historically "the Swedish church," though it includes many different ethnic groups today.
Congregation Agudas Achim on Kelly Boulevard is part of the Jewish Reconstructionist movement.
There are a number of Protestant denominations represented in Attleboro including Baptist (Grace Baptist on Oakhill Avenue, the Word of Truth Baptist Church on Union Street, and 1st Baptist on South Main), and Advent Christian (also on Pleasant), Fruit of the Spirit Mission Church (located on Leroy Street), Assembly of God (the South Attleboro AOG on Newport Avenue.
There are also numerous non-denominational churches such as Christian & Missionary Alliance (Faith Alliance Church on Pleasant Street), Good News Bible Chapel on West Street (1935), New Covenant Christian Fellowship at 609 North Main Street (Rt. 152), Candleberry Ministries on South Main St. (Rt. 152), and a handful of ethnic congregations such as St. James Anglican Church (Kenyan) started through church planting
Church planting
Church planting is a process that results in a new Christian church being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, new worship centre or fresh expression is created that is integrated into an already established congregation...
.
The Salvation Army Bridges of Hope located on Mechanic Street offers Sunday Services as well as weekday and evening support services including "Bridging the Gap" for adolescent support.
The Attleboro Area Council of Churches is very active in the community.
The Immanuel Lutheran Church offers Sunday services.
Cancer
In late 2003, The Sun ChronicleThe Sun Chronicle
The Sun Chronicle is a daily newspaper in Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA...
reported that a state probe had been launched into the deaths of four city women from glioblastoma
Glioblastoma multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, involving glial cells and accounting for 52% of all functional tissue brain tumor cases and 20% of all intracranial tumors. Despite being the most prevalent form of primary brain tumor, GBMs...
. As of October 2005, no report has been issued, and the status of the probe is unknown.
Scorecard, Environmental Defense
Environmental Defense
Environmental Defense Fund or EDF is a United States–based nonprofit environmental advocacy group. The group is known for its work on issues including global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, and human health...
's online database of polluters, lists seven facilities contributing to cancer hazards in Attleboro, including Engineered Materials Solutions Inc., the worst offender in Massachusetts.
In 2002, the Massachusetts Public Health Department was asked to evaluate the former Shpack Landfill, on the border of Norton and Attleboro, for its cancer risks. The investigation continued through at least 2004. The informal landfill included uranium fuel rods
Enriched uranium
Enriched uranium is a kind of uranium in which the percent composition of uranium-235 has been increased through the process of isotope separation. Natural uranium is 99.284% 238U isotope, with 235U only constituting about 0.711% of its weight...
, heavy metals, and volatile organic compounds.
Crime
In February 2008,The Sun Chronicle reported that gangs have made themselves known in Attleboro, although they have probably been present longer than this. Evidence of gangs such as the CripsCrips
The Crips are a primarily, but not exclusively, African American gang. They were founded in Los Angeles, California, in 1969 mainly by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams...
and Bloods
Bloods
The Bloods are a street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs...
exists in some areas around the town. The Sun Chronicle article states that "there have been growing instances of graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
or 'tagging' on public property, homes and businesses with gang insignia and messages, along with sporadic crime in which gang influence is suspect."
Notable residents
- Bazaleel Mann (1724–1796), eminent physician and a prominent patriotPatriot (American Revolution)Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
of the (American RevolutionAmerican RevolutionThe American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
); member of the committee to report on the first constitution submitted to the people of Massachusetts; judge of the Superior CourtSuperior courtIn common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
of Attleboro - Naphtali DaggettNaphtali DaggettNaphtali Daggett was an American academic and educator. He graduated from Yale University in 1748. Three years later, he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Smithtown, Long Island...
, (1727–1780), Presbyterian clergyman, professor of divinity at Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, fought in the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the... - David CobbDavid Cobb (Massachusetts)David Cobb was a Massachusetts physician, military officer, jurist, and politician who served as a U.S. Congressman for the At-large District of Massachusetts.-Biography:...
(1748–1830), major generalMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
of the Continental ArmyContinental ArmyThe Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, speakerSpeaker (politics)The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesMassachusetts House of RepresentativesThe Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
, United States CongressUnited States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man from Massachusetts - Daniel ReadDaniel ReadDaniel Read was an American composer of the First New England School, and one of the primary figures in early American classical music.-Life and work:...
(1757–1836), composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
published 400 hymns in several collections - David DaggettDavid DaggettDavid Daggett was a U.S. senator, mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, Judge of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, and a founder of the Yale Law School.-Life:...
(1764–1851), United States SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, associate justice of Connecticut Supreme CourtConnecticut Supreme CourtThe Connecticut Supreme Court, formerly known as the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, is the highest court in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. The seven justices sit in Hartford, across the street from the Connecticut State Capitol...
, mayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, and a founder of the Yale Law SchoolYale Law SchoolYale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers... - Jonathan MaxcyJonathan MaxcyJonathan Maxcy was the second president of Brown University ; the third president of Union College; and the first president of the University of South Carolina.Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts on September 2, 1768, Maxcy was educated at an academy in Wrentham, Massachusetts and...
(1768–1820), BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
clergyman and president of Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,... - Newton Mann (1770–1860), left Attleboro for Whitesboro, New YorkWhitesboro, New YorkWhitesboro is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. United States. The population was 3,943 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Hugh White, an early settler.The Village of Whitesboro is inside the Town of Whitestown....
in 1806 and opened the first cotton factory in that state; prominent WhigWhig Party (United States)The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
and outspoken Abolitionist who operated a safe-house along the underground railroadUnderground RailroadThe Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
, helping many runaway slaves escape to CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... - Virgil MaxcyVirgil MaxcyVirgil Maxcy was an American political figure. He was born in Massachusetts, and spent his adult years in Maryland. He was killed in 1844 in a shipboard accident, when a cannon exploded aboard the USS Princeton.-Early life:...
(1785–1844), member of the Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland House of DelegatesThe Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
and the Maryland State SenateMaryland State SenateThe Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
, later first solicitor of the treasury and charge d'affairesChargé d'affairesIn diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
at the United States embassy in BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... - Horace CapronHorace CapronHorace Capron was an American businessman and agriculturalist, a founder of Laurel, Maryland, a Union officer in the American Civil War, the United States Commissioner of Agriculture under U.S. Presidents Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S...
(1804–1885), Union ArmyUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
officer during the Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, later an agricultural advisor to JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
whose methods revolutionized Japanese agriculture - George BradburnGeorge BradburnGeorge Bradburn was an American politician and Unitarian minister in Massachusetts known for his support for abolitionism and women's rights. He attended the 1840 conference on Anti-Slavery in London where he made a stand against the exclusion of female delegates. In 1843 he was with Frederick...
(1806–1880), an American politician and Unitarian minister in Massachusetts known for his support for abolitionism and women's rights. - Robert RounsevilleRobert RounsevilleRobert Rounseville was an American tenor, who appeared in opera, operetta, and Broadway musicals.-Career:Rounseville was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts. He made his Broadway debut in a small role in the Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical Babes in Arms, then appeared in other musicals in...
(1914–1974), operatic tenor, who appeared in the films The Tales of HoffmannThe Tales of Hoffmann (film)The Tales of Hoffmann is a 1951 British film adaptation of Jacques Offenbach's opera Les contes d'Hoffmann, written, produced and directed by the team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger working under the umbrella of their production company, The Archers...
and CarouselCarousel (film)Carousel is a 1956 film adaptation of the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name which, in turn, was based on Ferenc Molnár's non-musical play Liliom. The 1956 Carousel film stars Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones, and was directed by Henry King...
, and onstage in the original productions of the musicals Candide and Man of La ManchaMan of La ManchaMan of La Mancha is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's seventeenth century masterpiece Don Quixote... - William ManchesterWilliam ManchesterWilliam Raymond Manchester was an American author, biographer, and historian from Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, notable as the bestselling author of 18 books that have been translated into over 20 languages...
(1922–2004), historianHistorianA historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and biographer, author of The Death of a PresidentThe Death of a PresidentThe Death of a President, November 20–November 25, 1963 is historian William Manchester's 1967 account of the assassination of John F. Kennedy... - Roger BowenRoger BowenRoger Bowen was an American comedic actor and novelist, known for his portrayal of Lt. Col. Henry Blake in the 1970 film MASH. He often portrayed roles as a stuffy defender of the upper class and had regular roles on a number of television series...
(1932–1996), comedic actor known for his portrayal of Lt. Col. Henry Blake in the 1970 film M*A*S*H; co-founder of famed comedy troupe The Second CityThe Second CityThe Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles... - Walter Cryan (1935-), long-time news anchor for WPRI-TVWPRI-TVWPRI-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the state of Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts that is licensed to Providence. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter on Homestead Avenue in Rehoboth, Massachusetts...
and WLNE-TVWLNE-TVWLNE-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Rhode Island and the South Coast of Massachusetts. It is licensed to New Bedford, Massachusetts, but is headquartered in and operates from studios at 10 Orms Street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It is one of two major Rhode Island...
television stations in ProvidenceProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
Began in radio at WARAWARLWARL is a radio station in Attleboro, Massachusetts. While its transmitters are located in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, its studio is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Its received signal is good in the town its transmitter is in but it cannot be received well in parts of...
-Attleboro. - Paul G. Gaffney IIPaul G. Gaffney IIVice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, USN , is the seventh president of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.Gaffney graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1968. Upon graduation, he was selected for immediate graduate education and received a master's degree in Ocean...
, President, Monmouth University. US Navy Vice Admiral (Ret.), former Chief of Naval Research, President of National Defense University - Robert A. Weygand (1948-), member of US House of Representatives 1997-2001
- Mark WilliamsMark Williams (radio host)Mark Williams is an American conservative activist and author based in Sacramento, California. He is the author of It's Not Right Versus Left, It's Right Versus Wrong; Exposing the Socialist Agenda and Taking Back America One Tea Party at a Time....
(1956- ), controversial television, radio newspaper personality and a founding member of the National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts / Tea Party Partriots / former chairman of the Tea Party Express, past President of the Conservative Party USA. Author of "Exposing the Socialist Agenda" and "Taking Back America One Tea Party at a Time" - Tom Cuddy (1956-), disc jockey and radio executive. Former Program Director for CapCities/ABC Radio stations WPRO and 92Pro-FM, and PD and Vice President at WPLJ, New York. Started at Attleboro radio station WARAWARLWARL is a radio station in Attleboro, Massachusetts. While its transmitters are located in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, its studio is located in Providence, Rhode Island. Its received signal is good in the town its transmitter is in but it cannot be received well in parts of...
1320 A.M.. - Anthony Parziale "Spaz" (1978-) Boston Radio personality on 107.3 and 97.7 WAAF's Hill-Man Morning weekday Mornings 5:30-10
- Geoff CameronGeoff CameronGeoffrey Scott "Geoff" Cameron is an American soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
(1985- ), professional soccer player (MLS) for the Houston Dynamo