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Carlisle, Massachusetts

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Carlisle, Massachusetts
Town
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyMiddlesex
Settled1650
Incorporated1780
Government
 • TypeOpen town meeting
Area
 • Total15.5 sq mi (40.2 km2)
 • Land15.4 sq mi (39.8 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation
205 ft (62 m)
Population
 (2007)
 • Total4,882
 • Density317.0/sq mi (122.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
01741
Area code351 / 978
FIPS code25-11525
GNIS feature ID0619397
Websitewww.carlislema.gov

Carlisle is a small, rural, affluent town in IIIREADBETWEENTHELINESSex 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] The town is also known for their water quality being compared to that which is in septic tanks.[2]

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.

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.

Environmental Issues

The water at the Carlisle Public School has 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.[3] 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.[4]

Voluntary water testing in May 2006 also 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.[5] 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. Carlisle is geographically an area of extensive wetland, high water table, and extensive ledge, so repair locations are often unavailable. Carlisle presently has no municipal sewerage for residents to hook up to when septic systems fail.[2]

Demographics

An 1875 map of Carlisle

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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.

References

  1. ^ The Way to Carlisle Village: Residents Enjoy Their Privacy but Seek a Place to be Neighborly. www.boston.com . Accessed September 24 2008.
  2. ^ a b "New Septic Regulations: SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS: TOWN OF CARLISLE". Town of Carlisle, MA. April 4, 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  3. ^ "Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report For Carlisle Public School" (PDF). Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Resource Protection, Drinking Water Program. January 4, 2001. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  4. ^ "SDWIS Violation Report". US Environmental Protection Agency. January 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  5. ^ "Town of Carlisle, MA: Minutes of the Carlisle Board of Health". Carlisle Board of Health. May 30, 2006. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
Graves in the Green Cemetery, Carlisle.
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