Tyngsborough, Massachusetts
| Tyngsborough, Massachusetts | |
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| — Town — | |
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| Coordinates: 42°40′18″N 71°25′1″W / 42.67167°N 71.41694°WCoordinates: 42°40′18″N 71°25′1″W / 42.67167°N 71.41694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Settled | 1661 |
| Incorporated | 1809 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18.1 sq mi (46.7 km2) |
| • Land | 16.9 sq mi (43.7 km2) |
| • Water | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 154 ft (47 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 11,292 |
| • Density | 701.8/sq mi (271.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01879 |
| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 |
| FIPS code | 25-71025 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618240 |
| Website | http://www.tyngsboroughma.gov/ |
Tyngsborough (also spelled Tyngsboro) is a town located in the northwest section of Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Composed of 17.86 square miles (46.3 km2) of land and surface water, Tyngsborough borders the towns of Dunstable, Groton, Westford, Chelmsford, Dracut, and the City of Lowell, as well as the New Hampshire communities of Hudson, Pelham, and the City of Nashua. Tyngsborough is 44 miles (71 km) from Boston[1] along the recently widened Route 3 corridor. The town calls itself 'The Gateway to the White Mountains' of New Hampshire, which is the source of the Merrimack River that bisects the town. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 11,292 but has experienced steady growth since World War II as part of Greater Boston.
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[edit] History
Tyngsborough was settled in 1661, as part of the massive Dunstable Township. The town of Dunstable, incorporated in 1673, was named after the hometown of pioneer Edward Tyng. However, a relative of his, and the source of the town of Tyngsborough's name, was Colonel Jonathan Tyng whose home, the Tyng Mansion House, was one of the oldest north of Boston. He settled near the Merrimack in what is now Tyngsborough in 1675. The house stood until the 1970s, when it was destroyed by arson. Early on Tyngsborough residents fought a series of small and bloody skirmishes with local Native American tribes. Evidence of this can be found in several old colonial homes in town that still have emergency passages that were used during these attacks. In 1789, Tyngsborough's parish split from the rest of Dunstable, making Tyngsborough a recognized district. On February 23, 1809, Tyngsborough became a town.
After Tyngsborough was incorporated it became known for its ferries which travelled up and down the Merrimack River, the quarries that produced granite, and several box companies that started in town. As the town developed, Tyngsborough became a vacation community and had a large seasonal resident population even up until the late 1960s. A notable summer resident was actress Nance O'Neil, whose estate became the campus of the Academy of Notre Dame. Today, Tyngsborough is primarily a bedroom community, part of Greater Lowell and the Nashua, New Hampshire region, as well as being an easy commute to the Boston area. The town is probably best known today for its green painted single-arched iron bridge over the Merrimack. Constructed in the early 1930s as a replacement for an earlier wooden planked structure, this bridge has become the town's emblem, and more practically, a major river crossing for residents of Massachusetts and New Hampshire alike. Having fallen into serious disrepair, the green bridge has been replaced by a temporary structure while work is done to restore the former.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 799 | — |
| 1860 | 626 | −21.7% |
| 1870 | 629 | +0.5% |
| 1880 | 631 | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 662 | +4.9% |
| 1930 | 1,358 | +105.1% |
| 1940 | 1,634 | +20.3% |
| 1950 | 2,059 | +26.0% |
| 1960 | 3,302 | +60.4% |
| 1970 | 4,204 | +27.3% |
| 1980 | 5,683 | +35.2% |
| 1990 | 8,642 | +52.1% |
| 2000 | 11,081 | +28.2% |
| 2008* | 12,019 | +8.5% |
| Source: US Census data.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] | ||
[edit] Government
The town uses a Open Town Meeting model with a Board of Selectmen overseeing the operation of the town. Reporting to the Board of Selectmen is the Town Administrator, Michael P. Gilleberto, who oversees the public employees and day-to-day operations of the Town Offices. Other elected boards include: Planning Board, School Committee, Conservation Commission, Library Trustees, Cemetery Commission, Board of Health, Sewer Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Current members of the Board of Selectmen are (as of May 2011): Rick Reault (Chairman), Robert Jackson (Vice-Chairman), Elizabeth Coughlin (Clerk), Allen Curseaden and Corliss Lambert.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.0 square miles (47 km2), of which 16.9 square miles (44 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (6.65%) is water. Besides a series of lakes and ponds that dot Tyngsborough, the town is split in two by the Merrimack River which runs roughly north-south near the center of town. The land is mostly rolling hills, small cleared fields, and wooded land. Marshlands can also be found in the area, although they are less prevalent than in surrounding towns.
[edit] Schools
The Tyngsborough Public School district is coterminous with the town, and supports three schools:
- Tyngsborough Elementary School (grades Pre K-5)
- Tyngsborough Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Tyngsborough High School (grades 9-12)
Additionally, Tyngsborough is home to Greater Lowell Technical High School, a public vocational school which serves the towns of Tyngsborough, Dracut, and Dunstable as well as the City of Lowell. There is one private school in Tyngsborough, the Academy of Notre Dame
The town also has one public charter school, Innovation Academy, serving over 400 students in grades five through 12. Innovation Academy moved to the town in of September 2008 from neighboring Chelmsford.
There are no colleges or universities in Tyngsborough, but Boston University once maintained a corporate education center in Tyngsborough. The facility has since been moved to nearby Chelmsford.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 799 | — |
| 1860 | 626 | −21.7% |
| 1870 | 629 | +0.5% |
| 1880 | 631 | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 662 | +4.9% |
| 1900 | 773 | +16.8% |
| 1910 | 829 | +7.2% |
| 1920 | 1,044 | +25.9% |
| 1930 | 1,358 | +30.1% |
| 1940 | 1,634 | +20.3% |
| 1950 | 2,059 | +26.0% |
| 1960 | 3,302 | +60.4% |
| 1970 | 4,204 | +27.3% |
| 1980 | 5,683 | +35.2% |
| 1990 | 8,642 | +52.1% |
| 2000 | 11,081 | +28.2% |
| 2001* | 11,297 | +1.9% |
| 2002* | 11,332 | +0.3% |
| 2003* | 11,342 | +0.1% |
| 2004* | 11,293 | −0.4% |
| 2005* | 11,262 | −0.3% |
| 2006* | 11,345 | +0.7% |
| 2007* | 11,567 | +2.0% |
| 2008* | 11,820 | +2.2% |
| 2009* | 11,989 | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 11,292 | −5.8% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] |
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As of the census[20] of 2000, there were 11,081 people, 3,731 households, and 2,947 families residing in the town. The population density was 657.4 people per square mile (253.8/km²). There were 3,806 housing units at an average density of 225.8 per square mile (87.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.63% White, 0.50% African American, 0.23% Native American, 2.48% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.
There were 3,731 households out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 16.1% 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 2.97 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $69,818, and the median income for a family was $78,680. Males had a median income of $46,942 versus $33,396 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,249. About 4.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Points of interest
- Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest
- Pheasant Lane Mall Parking Lot
- Old Town Hall
- Vesper Country Club
[edit] References
- ^ GoogleMaps
- ^ "2008 Population Estimates, 2000 Census, 1990 Census". Population Finder - American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&_name=tyngsborough&_state=04000US25&_county=tyngsborough&_cityTown=tyngsborough&_zip=&_sse=on&_lang=en&pctxt=fph. Retrieved January 24, 2010.
- ^ 1980 Census. Characteristics of the Population: Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts: Population of Towns: 1960 to 1980. United States Census Bureau. Volume 1, Chapter A, Part 23, Table 5a.
- ^ 1950 Census. Characteristics of the Population: Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts: Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. United States Census Bureau. Volume 1, Chapter 6, Part 21-10, Table 6.
- ^ 1920 Census. Characteristics of the Population: Number and Distribution of Inhabitants: Detailed Tables-Population of Counties, Incorporated Places & Minor Civil Divisions: Massachusetts: Population of all Cities, and of Towns having, in 1920, 2,500 Inhabitants or More: 1920, 1910, and 1900. United States Census Bureau. Volume 1, Chapter 2, Part 21-10, page 230, Table 51.
- ^ 1890 Census. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Division: 1880 and 1890. Part 1, p. 180, Table 5.
- ^ Compendium of the 1870 Census. Population, with Race - Part IV: Populations of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. - Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. p. 218, Table IX.
- ^ 1860 Census. Classified Population of the States and Territories, by County: Part V - Massachusetts: Population of Cities, Towns &c. p. 223, Table No. 3.
- ^ 1850 Census. Statistical View of the United States, Part VI. p 346.
- ^ "TOTAL POPULATION (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/P1/0400000US25.06000. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
- ^ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US25&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-T1&-ds_name=PEP_2009_EST&-_lang=en&-format=ST-9&-_sse=on. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts". US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cp1/cp-1-23.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts". US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_maABC-01.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population". Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch06.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1920 Census of Population". Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084506no553ch2.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1890 Census of the Population". Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084506no553ch2.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1870 Census of the Population". Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1870e-05.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1860 Census". Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c.. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1860a-08.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1850 Census". Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c.. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1850c-11.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
[edit] Further reading
- 1871 Atlas of Massachusetts. by Wall & Gray.Map of Massachusetts. Map of Middlesex County.
- History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 (A-H), Volume 2 (L-W) compiled by Samuel Adams Drake, published 1879-1880. 572 and 505 pages. Tyngsborough article by Rev. Elias Nason in volume 2 pages 391-399.
[edit] External links
- Tyngsborough official website
- The Lowell Sun (Newspaper) website
- Tyngsborough official bicentenial website
- Tyngsborough Public Schools website
- Tyngsborough Public Library
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