Braintree, Massachusetts

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Braintree, Massachusetts
Official seal of Braintree, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°13′20″N 71°00′00″W / 42.22222°N 71°W / 42.22222; -71
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Norfolk
Settled 1634
Incorporated 1640
Government
 - Type Mayor-council
 - Mayor Joe Sullivan
Area
 - Total 14.5 sq mi (37.6 km2)
 - Land 13.9 sq mi (36.0 km2)
 - Water 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation 90 ft (27 m)
Population (2007)
 - Total 34,422
 - Density 2,476.4/sq mi (956.2/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02184
Area code(s) 339 / 781
FIPS code 25-07665
GNIS feature ID 0618316
Website http://www.townofbraintreegov.org/

The Town of Braintree is a municipality in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Although officially known as a town, Braintree adopted a municipal charter, effective 2008, with a mayor-council form of government and is considered a city under Massachusetts law.[1] The population was 33,828 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greater Boston area with access to the MBTA Red Line and, while it does not meet the strictest definition because it has no shoreline, is considered by some to be part of the South Shore because it is a member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission's South Shore Coalition.[2] The first and current mayor of Braintree is Joe Sullivan.[3]

Contents

[edit] History

In 1640, the town of Braintree was incorporated and named after the English town of Braintree. It comprised land that was later split into Randolph, Holbrook, and Quincy, as well as parts of Milton, Massachusetts. The "North Precinct" of Braintree, which is now the bulk of the city of Quincy, was the birthplace of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, as well as statesman John Hancock and General Sylvanus Thayer, the "Father of West Point".

Braintree is also the site of the infamous Sacco and Vanzetti murders as well as the retirement home of the co-inventor of the telephone Thomas A. Watson (See Watson Park).

In January 2008 Braintree converted from a representative town meeting form of government to a mayor-council government.

[edit] Geography

Braintree is located at 42°12′34″N 70°59′58″W / 42.20944°N 70.99944°W / 42.20944; -70.99944 (42.209555, -70.999683).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.6 km²). 13.9 square miles (36.0 km²) of it was land and 1.6 km² (0.6 sq mi/4.34%) of it was water. That water includes Pond Meadow Park and Sunset Lake to name a couple of bodies of water.

[edit] Census-designated place

Most of the town (including 96.5% of its land and 99.6% of its people) was a census-designated place in the 2000 census.[5]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 33,828 people, 12,652 households, and 8,907 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,434.4 people per square mile (939.6/km²). There were 12,973 housing units at an average density of 933.6/sq mi (360.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.96% White, 1.18% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.

There were 12,652 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $61,790, and the median income for a family was $73,417 (these figures had risen to $74,360 and $90,590 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[7]). Males had a median income of $49,607 versus $36,034 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,683. About 2.1% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

Braintree is situated in the Greater Boston Area, which has excellent rail, air, and highway facilities. State Route 128 and Interstate 95 divide the region into inner and outer zones, which are connected by numerous "spokes" providing direct access to the airport, port, and intermodal facilities of Boston.

[edit] Major highways

Principal highways in Braintree are Interstate 93 (which runs concurrently with U.S. 1) and Route 3, as well as 37, and 53. Entering Braintree from the north, I-93, Route 1, and Route 3 all run concurrently as the Southeast Expressway from Boston; in Braintree they diverge, with Route 3 heading south toward Cape Cod as the Pilgrims Highway, and I-93 and Route 1 heading west toward Route 128.

[edit] Rail

Commuter rail service to South Station, Boston, is available on the Middleboro & Plymouth lines from the Rail Station located on Union Street. Rail service on the Greenbush line started up in late 2007. The MBTA Red Line is also accessible at the same location.

[edit] Bus

Braintree is a member of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) which provides fixed route service to Quincy Adams, Quincy Center, Braintree, and Ashmont stations. The MBTA also provides THE RIDE, a paratransit service for the elderly and disabled.

[edit] Airport

The majority of Braintree residents use Logan International Airport for air transportation, and the Norwood Memorial Airport, a Reliever (RL) facility, is also easily accessible with two asphalt runways 4,001'x 150' and 4,007'x 150'. Instrument approaches available: Non-precision.

[edit] Education

There are three high schools in Braintree: Braintree High School, a public school; Thayer Academy, a private school; and Archbishop Williams, a Roman Catholic private school.

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Films shot in Braintree

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Braintree Town Charter and MGL 39: City and town forms of government
  2. ^ MAPC South Shore Coalition
  3. ^ The Patriot Ledger, 1/3/2008
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ Cartographic Boundary Files, United States Census Bureau, 2005-04-19. Accessed 2009-01-27.
  6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  7. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US2502107665&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=braintree&_cityTown=braintree&_state=04000US25&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
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