Carlisle, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Carlisle, Massachusetts | ||
Motto:
|
||
 |
||
| Coordinates: 42°31′45″N 71°21′00″W / 42.52917°N 71.35°W | ||
| Country | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Middlesex | |
| Settled | 1650 | |
| Incorporated | 1780 | |
| Government | ||
| - Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| - Total | 15.5 sq mi (40.2 km2) | |
| - Land | 15.4 sq mi (39.8 km2) | |
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2) | |
| Elevation | 205 ft (62 m) | |
| Population (2007) | ||
| - Total | 4,882 | |
| - Density | 317.0/sq mi (122.7/km2) | |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP code | 01741 | |
| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 | |
| FIPS code | 25-11525 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619397 | |
| Website | www.carlislema.gov | |
Carlisle is a small, rural, affluent town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town has a quaint New England feel, with winding roads, a classic town center, and much woodland and farmland. It has become known for its large homes and densely wooded lots. The town continues to maintain a 2-acre zoning law to limit new development. For this reason, Carlisle is sometimes accused of fostering isolation. Residents say that they like the privacy, but they find it difficult to connect with their neighbors, whom they might not see for months at a time.[1] Carlisle continues to struggle with environmental issues related to septic systems and the associated impact on drinking water quality when these systems fail.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
Carlisle was first settled in 1651, became a district of Concord in 1780 and was officially incorporated in 1805. When first settled, Carlisle belonged to Acton, Billerica, Chelmsford and Concord.
[edit] Geography
Carlisle is located about 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of Lowell, and 23 miles (37 km) northwest of Boston. It borders the following towns: Concord, Acton, Westford, Chelmsford, Billerica, and Bedford.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.5 square miles (40.2 km²), of which, 15.4 square miles (39.8 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (1.09%) is water. Conservation land makes up about a quarter of the town's area.
[edit] Environmental Issues
Drinking water quality continues to be a major source of concern for residents of Carlisle. The town is geographically situated in an area of extensive wetland, high water table, and extensive ledge, so repair locations are often unavailable when septic systems fail. This situation is further complicated by the lack of municipal sewerage, leaving residents with few options when problems arise.[2]
Voluntary water testing in May 2006 confirmed the presence of Coliform bacteria in four private wells within the town of Carlisle. The town's Board of Health indicated that one of the wells was located at Ferns Country Store.[3] As a result of these tests, the Town of Carlisle adopted supplementary regulations for sewage disposal in April 2008. The town said that the action was necessary because Carlisle has no town water backup. When wells are lost to pollution, there is no town water which can be brought in because the town government has no wells of its own.[2]
The water at the Carlisle Public School has also been a source of concern since January 2001, when it was determined that floor drains within the school did not comply with Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations. The school drains made it possible to discharge photographic, art, and science waste materials directly into the septic system, putting groundwater at a high level of risk.[4] The town was also notified of a violation by the Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) in January 2009 because of its failure to sample the water at Carlisle Public School in a timely manner.[5]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 4,717 people, 1,618 households, and 1,372 families residing in the town. The population density was 307.1 people per square mile (118.6/km²). There were 1,655 housing units at an average density of 107.7/sq mi (41.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.47% White, 0.17% African American, 0.06% Native American, 4.83% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.19% of the population.
There were 1,618 households out of which 46.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.6% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.2% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town, the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 34.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $129,811, and the median income for a family was $142,350. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $55,395 for females. The per capita income for the town was $59,559. About 1.5% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over. The town is ranked as having the third highest income per capita in Massachusetts, behind Weston and Dover.
 The path between the school and library |
 Gleason Public Library |
 The Old Burying Ground in the center of town |
 Graves in the Green Cemetery |
[edit] References
- ^ The Way to Carlisle Village: Residents Enjoy Their Privacy but Seek a Place to be Neighborly. www.boston.com . Accessed September 24, 2008.
- ^ a b c "New Septic Regulations: SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS: TOWN OF CARLISLE". Town of Carlisle, MA. April 4, 2008. http://www.carlislema.gov/Pages/CarlisleMA_Health/NewSepticRegs.doc. Retrieved on 2009-02-22.
- ^ "Town of Carlisle, MA: Minutes of the Carlisle Board of Health". Carlisle Board of Health. May 30, 2006. http://www.carlislema.gov/Pages/CarlisleMA_HealthMin/I00C0CAF1. Retrieved on 2009-02-22.
- ^ "Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report For Carlisle Public School". Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Resource Protection, Drinking Water Program. January 4, 2001. http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/drinking/3051004.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-02-22.
- ^ "SDWIS Violation Report". US Environmental Protection Agency. January 29, 2009. http://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/sdw_report_v2.first_table?pws_id=MA3051004&state=MA&source=Groundwater&population=890&sys_num=1. Retrieved on 2009-02-22.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- carlislema.gov, the official Town of Carlisle website
- carlisle.org, a volunteer-run Carlisle community website
- The Carlisle Mosquito, the town newspaper
- Carlisle Conservation Foundation
- History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, compiled by Samuel Adams Drake, published 1879. Volume 1, page 359 Carlisle by B.F.Heald.
|
||||||||||||||||
