List of municipalities in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a state located in Northeastern United States. Minor civil divisions or municipalities in the U.S. state of Massachusetts are classified as either towns or cities, distinguished by their form of government under state law. Towns have an open town meeting or representative town meeting form of government. Cities, on the other hand, use a mayor-council or council-manager form. Based on the form of government, there are 296 towns and 55 cities in Massachusetts. Some municipalities, however, still refer to themselves as "towns" even though they have a city form of government.
Maps of Massachusetts cities and towns |
List of municipalities
Municipality | Type[1] | County[2] | Form of government[1] | Population (2010)[2] |
Year established[3] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abington | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 15,985 | 1712 |
Acton | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 21,924 | 1735 |
Acushnet | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 10,303 | 1860 |
Adams | Town | Berkshire | Representative town meeting | 8,485 | 1778 |
Agawam | City[4] | Hampden | Mayor-council | 28,438 | 1855 |
Alford | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 494 | 1773 |
Amesbury | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 16,283 | 1668 |
Amherst | Town | Hampshire | Representative town meeting | 37,819 | 1775 |
Andover | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 33,201 | 1646 |
Aquinnah | Town | Dukes | Open town meeting | 311 | 1870 |
Arlington | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 42,844 | 1807 |
Ashburnham | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 6,081 | 1765 |
Ashby | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 3,074 | 1767 |
Ashfield | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,737 | 1765 |
Ashland | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 16,593 | 1846 |
Athol | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 11,584 | 1762 |
Attleboro | City | Bristol | Mayor-council | 43,593 | 1694 |
Auburn | Town | Worcester | Representative town meeting | 16,188 | 1778 |
Avon | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 4,356 | 1888 |
Ayer | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 7,427 | 1871 |
Barnstable | City[4] | Barnstable | Council-manager | 45,193 | 1639 |
Barre | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 5,398 | 1774 |
Becket | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 1,779 | 1765 |
Bedford | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 13,320 | 1729 |
Belchertown | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 14,649 | 1761 |
Bellingham | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 16,332 | 1719 |
Belmont | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 24,729 | 1859 |
Berkley | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 6,411 | 1735 |
Berlin | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 2,866 | 1812 |
Bernardston | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 2,129 | 1762 |
Beverly | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 39,502 | 1668 |
Billerica | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 40,243 | 1655 |
Blackstone | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 9,026 | 1845 |
Blandford | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 1,233 | 1741 |
Bolton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 4,897 | 1738 |
Boston | City | Suffolk | Mayor-council | 617,660 | 1630 |
Bourne | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 19,754 | 1884 |
Boxborough | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 4,996 | 1835 |
Boxford | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 7,965 | 1685 |
Boylston | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 4,355 | 1785 |
Braintree | City[4] | Norfolk | Mayor-council | 35,744 | 1640 |
Brewster | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 9,820 | 1803 |
Bridgewater | City[4] | Plymouth | Council-manager | 26,563 | 1656 |
Brimfield | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 3,609 | 1731 |
Brockton | City | Plymouth | Mayor-council | 93,810 | 1821 |
Brookfield | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 3,390 | 1718 |
Brookline | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 58,732 | 1705 |
Buckland | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,902 | 1779 |
Burlington | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 24,498 | 1799 |
Cambridge | City | Middlesex | Mayor-manager-council | 105,162 | 1636 |
Canton | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 21,561 | 1797 |
Carlisle | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 4,852 | 1780 |
Carver | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 11,509 | 1790 |
Charlemont | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,266 | 1765 |
Charlton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 12,981 | 1755[5] |
Chatham | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 6,125 | 1712 |
Chelmsford | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 33,802 | 1655 |
Chelsea | City | Suffolk | Council-manager | 35,177 | 1739 |
Cheshire | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 3,235 | 1793 |
Chester | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 1,337 | 1765 |
Chesterfield | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 1,222 | 1762 |
Chicopee | City | Hampden | Mayor-aldermen | 55,298 | 1848 |
Chilmark | Town | Dukes | Open town meeting | 866 | 1714 |
Clarksburg | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 1,702 | 1798 |
Clinton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 13,606 | 1850 |
Cohasset | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 7,542 | 1775 |
Colrain | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,671 | 1761 |
Concord | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 17,668 | 1635 |
Conway | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,897 | 1775 |
Cummington | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 872 | 1779 |
Dalton | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 6,756 | 1784 |
Danvers | Town | Essex | Representative town meeting | 26,493 | 1775 |
Dartmouth | Town | Bristol | Representative town meeting | 34,032 | 1664 |
Dedham | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 24,729 | 1636 |
Deerfield | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 5,125 | 1677 |
Dennis | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 14,207 | 1793 |
Dighton | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 7,086 | 1712 |
Douglas | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 8,471 | 1775 |
Dover | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 5,589 | 1836 |
Dracut | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 29,457 | 1701 |
Dudley | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 11,390 | 1732 |
Dunstable | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 3,179 | 1673 |
Duxbury | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 15,059 | 1637 |
East Bridgewater | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 13,794 | 1823 |
East Brookfield | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 2,183 | 1920 |
East Longmeadow | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 15,720 | 1894 |
Eastham | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 4,956 | 1646 |
Easthampton | City | Hampshire | Mayor-council | 16,053 | 1809 |
Easton | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 23,112 | 1725 |
Edgartown | Town | Dukes | Open town meeting | 4,067 | 1671 |
Egremont | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 1,225 | 1775 |
Erving | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,800 | 1838 |
Essex | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 3,504 | 1819 |
Everett | City | Middlesex | Mayor-council-aldermen | 41,667 | 1870 |
Fairhaven | Town | Bristol | Representative town meeting | 15,873 | 1812 |
Fall River | City | Bristol | Mayor-council | 88,857 | 1803 |
Falmouth | Town | Barnstable | Representative town meeting | 31,531 | 1686 |
Fitchburg | City | Worcester | Mayor-council | 40,318 | 1764 |
Florida | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 752 | 1805 |
Foxborough | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 16,865 | 1778 |
Framingham | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 68,318 | 1700 |
Franklin | City[4] | Norfolk | Council-administrator | 31,635 | 1778 |
Freetown | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 8,870 | 1683 |
Gardner | City | Worcester | Mayor-council | 20,228 | 1785 |
Georgetown | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 8,183 | 1838 |
Gill | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,500 | 1793 |
Gloucester | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 28,789 | 1623 |
Goshen | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 1,054 | 1781 |
Gosnold | Town | Dukes | Open town meeting | 75 | 1864 |
Grafton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 17,765 | 1735 |
Granby | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 6,240 | 1768 |
Granville | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 1,566 | 1775 |
Great Barrington | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 7,104 | 1761 |
Greenfield | City[4] | Franklin | Mayor-council | 17,456 | 1775 |
Groton | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 10,646 | 1655 |
Groveland | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 6,459 | 1850 |
Hadley | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 5,250 | 1661 |
Halifax | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 7,518 | 1734 |
Hamilton | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 7,764 | 1793 |
Hampden | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 5,139 | 1878 |
Hancock | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 717 | 1776 |
Hanover | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 13,879 | 1727 |
Hanson | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 10,209 | 1820 |
Hardwick | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 2,990 | 1739 |
Harvard | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 6,520 | 1732 |
Harwich | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 12,243 | 1694 |
Hatfield | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 3,279 | 1670 |
Haverhill | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 60,879 | 1641 |
Hawley | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 337 | 1792 |
Heath | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 706 | 1785 |
Hingham | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 22,157 | 1635 |
Hinsdale | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 2,032 | 1804 |
Holbrook | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 10,791 | 1872 |
Holden | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 17,346 | 1741 |
Holland | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 2,481 | 1835 |
Holliston | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 13,547 | 1724 |
Holyoke | City | Hampden | Mayor-council | 39,880 | 1850 |
Hopedale | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 5,911 | 1886 |
Hopkinton | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 14,925 | 1715 |
Hubbardston | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 4,382 | 1775 |
Hudson | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 19,063 | 1866 |
Hull | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 10,293 | 1644 |
Huntington | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 2,180 | 1775 |
Ipswich | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 13,175 | 1634 |
Kingston | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 12,629 | 1726 |
Lakeville | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 10,602 | 1853 |
Lancaster | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 8,055 | 1653 |
Lanesborough | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 3,091 | 1765 |
Lawrence | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 76,377 | 1847 |
Lee | Town | Berkshire | Representative town meeting | 5,943 | 1777 |
Leicester | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 10,970 | 1714 |
Lenox | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 5,025 | 1775 |
Leominster | City | Worcester | Mayor-council | 40,759 | 1740 |
Leverett | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,851 | 1774 |
Lexington | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 31,394 | 1713 |
Leyden | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 711 | 1809 |
Lincoln | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 6,362 | 1754 |
Littleton | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 8,924 | 1715 |
Longmeadow | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 15,784 | 1783 |
Lowell | City | Middlesex | Mayor-manager-council | 106,519 | 1826 |
Ludlow | Town | Hampden | Representative town meeting | 21,103 | 1775 |
Lunenburg | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 10,086 | 1728 |
Lynn | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 90,329 | 1629 |
Lynnfield | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 11,596 | 1814 |
Malden | City | Middlesex | Mayor-council | 59,450 | 1649 |
Manchester-by-the-Sea | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 5,136 | 1645 |
Mansfield | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 23,184 | 1775 |
Marblehead | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 19,808 | 1649 |
Marion | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 4,907 | 1852 |
Marlborough | City | Middlesex | Mayor-council | 38,499 | 1660 |
Marshfield | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 25,132 | 1640 |
Mashpee | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 14,006 | 1870 |
Mattapoisett | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 6,045 | 1857 |
Maynard | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 10,106 | 1871 |
Medfield | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 12,024 | 1651 |
Medford | City | Middlesex | Mayor-council | 56,173 | 1630 |
Medway | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 12,752 | 1713 |
Melrose | City | Middlesex | Mayor-aldermen | 26,983 | 1850 |
Mendon | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 5,839 | 1667 |
Merrimac | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 6,338 | 1876 |
Methuen | City[4] | Essex | Mayor-council | 47,255 | 1725 |
Middleborough | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 23,116 | 1669 |
Middlefield | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 521 | 1783 |
Middleton | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 8,987 | 1728 |
Milford | Town | Worcester | Representative town meeting | 27,999 | 1780 |
Millbury | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 13,261 | 1813 |
Millis | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 7,891 | 1885 |
Millville | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 3,190 | 1916 |
Milton | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 27,003 | 1662 |
Monroe | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 121 | 1822 |
Monson | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 8,560 | 1775 |
Montague | Town | Franklin | Representative town meeting | 8,437 | 1775 |
Monterey | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 961 | 1847 |
Montgomery | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 838 | 1780 |
Mount Washington | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 167 | 1779 |
Nahant | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 3,410 | 1853 |
Nantucket | Town | Nantucket | Open town meeting | 10,172 | 1671 |
Natick | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 33,006 | 1781 |
Needham | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 28,886 | 1711 |
New Ashford | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 228 | 1835 |
New Bedford | City | Bristol | Mayor-council | 95,072 | 1787 |
New Braintree | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 999 | 1775 |
New Marlborough | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 1,509 | 1775 |
New Salem | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 990 | 1775 |
Newbury | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 6,666 | 1635 |
Newburyport | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 17,416 | 1764 |
Newton | City | Middlesex | Mayor-council[6] | 85,146 | 1688 |
Norfolk | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 11,227 | 1870 |
North Adams | City | Berkshire | Mayor-council | 13,708 | 1878 |
North Andover | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 28,352 | 1855 |
North Attleborough | Town | Bristol | Representative town meeting | 28,712 | 1887 |
North Brookfield | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 4,680 | 1812 |
North Reading | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 14,892 | 1853 |
Northampton | City | Hampshire | Mayor-council | 28,549 | 1656 |
Northborough | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 14,155 | 1775 |
Northbridge | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 15,707 | 1775 |
Northfield | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 3,032 | 1723 |
Norton | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 19,031 | 1711 |
Norwell | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 10,506 | 1849 |
Norwood | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 28,602 | 1872 |
Oak Bluffs | Town | Dukes | Open town meeting | 4,527 | 1880 |
Oakham | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 1,902 | 1775 |
Orange | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 7,839 | 1810 |
Orleans | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 5,890 | 1797 |
Otis | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 1,612 | 1773 |
Oxford | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 13,709 | 1713 |
Palmer | City[4] | Hampden | Council-manager | 12,140 | 1775 |
Paxton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 4,806 | 1775 |
Peabody | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 51,251 | 1868 |
Pelham | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 1,321 | 1743 |
Pembroke | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 17,837 | 1712 |
Pepperell | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 11,497 | 1775 |
Peru | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 847 | 1771 |
Petersham | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 1,234 | 1754 |
Phillipston | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 1,682 | 1786 |
Pittsfield | City | Berkshire | Mayor-council | 44,737 | 1761 |
Plainfield | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 648 | 1807 |
Plainville | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 8,264 | 1905 |
Plymouth | Town | Plymouth | Representative town meeting | 56,468 | 1620 |
Plympton | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 2,820 | 1707 |
Princeton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 3,413 | 1771 |
Provincetown | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 2,942 | 1727 |
Quincy | City | Norfolk | Mayor-council | 92,271 | 1792 |
Randolph | City[4] | Norfolk | Council-manager | 32,112 | 1793 |
Raynham | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 13,383 | 1731 |
Reading | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 24,747 | 1644 |
Rehoboth | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 11,608 | 1645 |
Revere | City | Suffolk | Mayor-council | 51,755 | 1846 |
Richmond | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 1,475 | 1765 |
Rochester | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 5,232 | 1686 |
Rockland | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 17,489 | 1874 |
Rockport | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 6,952 | 1840 |
Rowe | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 393 | 1785 |
Rowley | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 5,856 | 1639 |
Royalston | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 1,258 | 1765 |
Russell | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 1,775 | 1792 |
Rutland | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 7,973 | 1713 |
Salem | City | Essex | Mayor-council | 41,340 | 1626 |
Salisbury | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 8,283 | 1639 |
Sandisfield | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 915 | 1762 |
Sandwich | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 20,675 | 1638 |
Saugus | Town | Essex | Representative town meeting | 26,628 | 1815 |
Savoy | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 692 | 1797 |
Scituate | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 18,133 | 1636 |
Seekonk | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 13,722 | 1812 |
Sharon | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 17,612 | 1775 |
Sheffield | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 3,257 | 1733 |
Shelburne | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,893 | 1775 |
Sherborn | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 4,119 | 1674 |
Shirley | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 7,211 | 1775 |
Shrewsbury | Town | Worcester | Representative town meeting | 35,608 | 1727 |
Shutesbury | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,771 | 1761 |
Somerset | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 18,165 | 1790 |
Somerville | City | Middlesex | Mayor-aldermen | 75,754 | 1842 |
South Hadley | Town | Hampshire | Representative town meeting | 17,514 | 1775 |
Southampton | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 5,792 | 1775 |
Southborough | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 9,767 | 1727 |
Southbridge | City[4] | Worcester | Council-manager | 16,719 | 1816 |
Southwick | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 9,502 | 1775 |
Spencer | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 11,688 | 1775 |
Springfield | City | Hampden | Mayor-council | 153,060 | 1636 |
Sterling | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 7,808 | 1781 |
Stockbridge | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 1,947 | 1739 |
Stoneham | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 21,437 | 1725 |
Stoughton | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 26,962 | 1726 |
Stow | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 6,590 | 1683 |
Sturbridge | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 9,268 | 1738 |
Sudbury | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 17,659 | 1639 |
Sunderland | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 3,684 | 1714 |
Sutton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 8,963 | 1714 |
Swampscott | Town | Essex | Representative town meeting | 13,787 | 1852 |
Swansea | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 15,865 | 1667 |
Taunton | City | Bristol | Mayor-council | 55,874 | 1639 |
Templeton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 8,013 | 1762 |
Tewksbury | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 28,961 | 1734 |
Tisbury | Town | Dukes | Open town meeting | 3,949 | 1671 |
Tolland | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 485 | 1810 |
Topsfield | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 6,085 | 1650 |
Townsend | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 8,926 | 1732 |
Truro | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 2,003 | 1709 |
Tyngsborough | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 11,292 | 1809 |
Tyringham | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 327 | 1762 |
Upton | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 7,542 | 1735 |
Uxbridge | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 13,457 | 1727 |
Wakefield | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 24,932 | 1812 |
Wales | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 1,838 | 1762 |
Walpole | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 24,070 | 1724 |
Waltham | City | Middlesex | Mayor-council | 60,632 | 1738 |
Ware | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 9,872 | 1775 |
Wareham | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 21,822 | 1739 |
Warren | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 5,135 | 1742 |
Warwick | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 780 | 1763 |
Washington | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 538 | 1777 |
Watertown | City[4] | Middlesex | Council-manager | 31,915 | 1630 |
Wayland | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 12,994 | 1780 |
Webster | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 16,767 | 1832 |
Wellesley | Town | Norfolk | Representative town meeting | 27,982 | 1881 |
Wellfleet | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 2,750 | 1775 |
Wendell | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 848 | 1781 |
Wenham | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 4,875 | 1643 |
West Boylston | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 7,669 | 1808 |
West Bridgewater | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 6,916 | 1822 |
West Brookfield | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 3,701 | 1848 |
West Newbury | Town | Essex | Open town meeting | 4,235 | 1819 |
West Springfield | City[4] | Hampden | Mayor-council | 28,391 | 1774 |
West Stockbridge | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 1,306 | 1775 |
West Tisbury | Town | Dukes | Open town meeting | 2,740 | 1892 |
Westborough | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 18,272 | 1717 |
Westfield | City | Hampden | Mayor-council | 41,094 | 1669 |
Westford | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 21,951 | 1729 |
Westhampton | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 1,607 | 1778 |
Westminster | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 7,277 | 1770 |
Weston | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 11,261 | 1713 |
Westport | Town | Bristol | Open town meeting | 15,532 | 1787 |
Westwood | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 14,618 | 1897 |
Weymouth | City[4] | Norfolk | Mayor-council | 53,743 | 1635 |
Whately | Town | Franklin | Open town meeting | 1,496 | 1771 |
Whitman | Town | Plymouth | Open town meeting | 14,489 | 1875 |
Wilbraham | Town | Hampden | Open town meeting | 14,219 | 1763 |
Williamsburg | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 2,482 | 1775 |
Williamstown | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 7,754 | 1765 |
Wilmington | Town | Middlesex | Open town meeting | 22,325 | 1730 |
Winchendon | Town | Worcester | Open town meeting | 10,300 | 1764 |
Winchester | Town | Middlesex | Representative town meeting | 21,374 | 1850 |
Windsor | Town | Berkshire | Open town meeting | 899 | 1771 |
Winthrop | City[4] | Suffolk | Council-manager | 17,497 | 1852 |
Woburn | City | Middlesex | Mayor-aldermen | 38,120 | 1642 |
Worcester | City | Worcester | Mayor-manager-council | 181,045 | 1684 |
Worthington | Town | Hampshire | Open town meeting | 1,156 | 1768 |
Wrentham | Town | Norfolk | Open town meeting | 10,955 | 1673 |
Yarmouth | Town | Barnstable | Open town meeting | 23,793 | 1639 |
List of cities by official name
The following tabular list shows the 55 government divisions of the Commonwealth which have been officially granted the right to use the city form of government along with the official name in use by each municipality.[Note 1]
Municipality | Official name | Web reference |
---|---|---|
Agawam | Town of Agawam | http://www.agawam.ma.us/ |
Amesbury | City of Amesbury | http://www.amesburyma.gov/ |
Attleboro | City of Attleboro | http://www.cityofattleboro.us/ |
Barnstable | Town of Barnstable | http://www.town.barnstable.ma.us/ |
Beverly | City of Beverly | http://www.beverlyma.gov |
Boston | City of Boston | http://www.cityofboston.gov/ |
Braintree | Town of Braintree | http://www.townofbraintreegov.org/ |
Bridgewater | Town of Bridgewater | http://www.bridgewaterma.org/ |
Brockton | City of Brockton | http://www.brockton.ma.us/ |
Cambridge | City of Cambridge | http://www.cambridgema.gov/ |
Chelsea | City of Chelsea | http://www.ci.chelsea.ma.us/ |
Chicopee | City of Chicopee | http://www.chicopeema.gov/ |
Easthampton | City of Easthampton | http://www.easthampton.org/ |
Everett | City of Everett | http://www.ci.everett.ma.us/ |
Fall River | City of Fall River | http://www.fallriverma.org/ |
Fitchburg | City of Fitchburg | http://www.ci.fitchburg.ma.us/ |
Franklin | Town of Franklin | http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/ |
Gardner | City of Gardner | http://www.gardner-ma.gov/ |
Gloucester | City of Gloucester | http://www.ci.gloucester.ma.us/ |
Greenfield | Town of Greenfield | http://www.cityofgreenfield.org/ |
Haverhill | City of Haverhill | http://www.ci.haverhill.ma.us/ |
Holyoke | City of Holyoke | http://www.holyoke.org/ |
Lawrence | City of Lawrence | http://www.cityoflawrence.com |
Leominster | City of Leominster | http://www.leominster-ma.gov/ |
Lowell | City of Lowell | http://www.lowellma.gov/ |
Lynn | City of Lynn | http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/ |
Malden | City of Malden | http://www.ci.malden.ma.us/ |
Marlborough | City of Marlborough | http://www.marlborough-ma.gov/ |
Medford | City of Medford | http://www.medford.org/ |
Melrose | City of Melrose | http://www.cityofmelrose.org/ |
Methuen | City of Methuen | http://www.ci.methuen.ma.us/ |
New Bedford | City of New Bedford | http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/ |
Newburyport | City of Newburyport | http://www.cityofnewburyport.com/ |
Newton | City of Newton | http://www.newtonma.gov/ |
North Adams | City of North Adams | http://www.northadams-ma.gov/ |
Northampton | City of Northampton | http://www.northamptonma.gov/ |
Palmer | Town of Palmer | http://www.townofpalmer.com |
Peabody | City of Peabody | http://www.peabody-ma.gov/ |
Pittsfield | City of Pittsfield | http://www.pittsfield-ma.org/ |
Quincy | City of Quincy | http://www.quincyma.gov/ |
Randolph[7] | Town of Randolph | http://www.townofrandolph.com/ |
Revere | City of Revere | http://www.revere.org/ |
Salem | City of Salem | http://www.salem.com |
Somerville | City of Somerville | http://www.somervillema.gov |
Southbridge | Town of Southbridge | http://www.ci.southbridge.ma.us |
Springfield | City of Springfield | http://www.springfieldcityhall.com |
Taunton | City of Taunton | http://www.taunton-ma.gov |
Waltham | City of Waltham | http://www.city.waltham.ma.us/ |
Watertown | Town of Watertown | http://www.watertown-ma.gov |
Westfield | City of Westfield | http://www.cityofwestfield.org |
West Springfield | Town of West Springfield | http://www.west-springfield.ma.us |
Weymouth | Town of Weymouth | http://www.weymouth.ma.us/ |
Winthrop | Town of Winthrop | http://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/ |
Woburn | City of Woburn | http://www.cityofwoburn.com/ |
Worcester | City of Worcester | http://www.ci.worcester.ma.us/ |
Geography of towns at formation
This map shows towns colored by the date they were incorporated in Massachusetts since the founding of Plimoth Plantation in 1620. Many of the towns and future cities shown covering the area of their original incorporation have since been divided into two, three or in some cases several smaller municipalities. For example, Dorchester was incorporated in 1630 and originally included all of the current Dorchester, now the largest neighborhood of Boston, plus the Boston neighborhood of Mattapan, and all of present-day Quincy, Milton, Braintree, Randolph, Holbrook, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon and the northeast portion of Foxboro. Nearly all of Massachusetts territory had been incorporated by 1815, with the final three areas of Erving (1838), Gay Head (now Aquinnah) and Mashpee (both 1870) being incorporated from previously Native American land.
Former municipalities
Some towns and cities were annexed to others; disincorporated; or ceded to another state in their entirety. This list does not include territory changes affecting only part of a municipality; see History of Massachusetts.
Annexations
The following formerly independent municipalities have been annexed to Boston:
- Brighton (1873)
- Charlestown (1873)
- Dorchester (1869)
- Hyde Park (1912)
- Roxbury (1867)
- West Roxbury (1873)
The town of Bradford was annexed to Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1897.
Disincorporations
The following towns were disincorporated in 1938 due to the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir; all their territory was absorbed into surrounding towns:
Cessions
The following towns were ceded the Rhode Island colony in 1747 as part of a border dispute:
- Barrington
- Bristol
- Little Compton
- Tiverton
- Warren (Sowams) [possibly part of Swansea, Massachusetts in 1747?]
The following towns joined the Connecticut Colony in the late 1749 after separating from Springfield or just joining Connecticut.
Also all settlements in the District of Maine were ceded when the state of Maine gained its independence from Massachusetts in 1820 as part of the Missouri Compromise, and numerous towns were ceded to New Hampshire after the Northern boundary of Massachusetts was defined by royal decree.
Archaic names
Many municipalities have changed names.[8]
Old name | Modern name | County | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Acushena | Dartmouth | Bristol | |
Agawam | Dartmouth | Bristol | Different from Agawam in Hampden County |
Agawam Plantation | Springfield | Hampden | An Agawam separated from Springfield via West Springfield |
Andrewstown | Chesterfield | Hampshire | |
Apponegansett | Dartmouth | Bristol | |
Ashuelot Equivalent | Dalton | Berkshire | |
Attleborough | Attleboro | Bristol | The -ugh was dropped when the city was re-incorporated in 1914 |
Barnardstone's Grant | Florida | Berkshire | |
Basse River | Beverly | Essex | |
Belcher’s Town | Belchertown | Hampshire | |
Berkshire Equivalent | Florida | Berkshire | |
Billirikey | Billerica | Middlesex | |
Blue Hill Lands | Braintree | Norfolk | |
Boggestow | Sherborn | Middlesex | |
Boston Township Number One | Charlemont | Franklin | |
Boston Township Number Two | Colrain | Franklin | |
Bullock's Grant | Florida | Berkshire | |
Bullocks Grant | Clarksburg | Berkshire | |
Cabotville | Chicopee | Hampden | |
Cambridge Farms | Lexington | Middlesex | |
Cambridge South Parish | Brighton | Suffolk | |
Cape Ann | Gloucester | Essex | Different from the modern definition of Cape Ann, which includes Gloucester, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport |
Chabakongomum | Dudley | Worcester | |
Chabanagungamug | Dudley | Worcester | |
Chappequiddick | Edgartown | Dukes | |
Charley Mount | Charlemont | Franklin | |
Charlton | Charlestown | Suffolk | |
Chebacco | Essex | Essex | |
Chequocket | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Chuckomug | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Coa | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Cochickawick | Andover | Essex | |
Cochituit | Andover | Essex | |
Cokachoise | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Cold Spring | Belchertown | Hampshire | |
Colechester | Salisbury | Essex | |
Conahasset | Cohasset | Norfolk | |
Concord Village | Acton | Middlesex | |
Contentment | Dedham | Norfolk | |
Cotachesett | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Cottage City | Oak Bluffs | Dukes | |
Danforth's Farms | Framingham | Middlesex | |
District of Carlisle | Carlisle | Middlesex | |
Dorchester Village | Canton | Norfolk | |
Dorchester-Canada Plantation | Ashburnham | Worcester | |
Ducksburrow | Duxbury | Plymouth | |
Duxburrow Plantation | Bridgewater | Plymouth | |
East Hoosuck Plantation | Adams | Berkshire | |
East Sudbury | Wayland | Middlesex | |
Edgar Towne | Edgartown | Dukes | |
Emesbury | Amesbury | Essex | |
Erving's Grant | Enfield | Hampshire | |
Fair Haven Village | Fairhaven | Bristol | |
Falls Fight | Bernardston | Franklin | |
Falltown Plantation | Bernardston | Franklin | |
Five Pound Island | Gloucester | Essex | |
Foords Farm | Bridgewater | Plymouth | |
Fort Massachusetts | Adams | Berkshire | |
Freeman's Purchase | Fall River | Bristol | |
Freemens Land | Freetown | Bristol | |
Gageborough | Windsor | Berkshire | |
Gay Head | Aquinnah | Dukes | |
Gay Head Indian District | Aquinnah | Dukes | |
Gerry | Phillipston | Worcester | |
Glasgow | Blandford | Hampden | |
Gloscester | Gloucester | Essex | |
Great Harbour | Edgartown | Dukes | |
Green Harbor | Duxbury | Plymouth | |
Greenwich | Enfield | Hampshire | |
Grundleborough | North Andover | Essex | |
Hack's Grant | Enfield | Hampshire | |
Hawthorn | Danvers | Essex | |
Hadley Third Precinct | Amherst | Hampshire | |
Hockamock | Easton | Bristol | |
Hockomock | Bridgewater | Plymouth | |
Housatonic Township Number Four | Becket | Berkshire | |
Huntstown Plantation | Ashfield | Franklin | |
Hutchinson | Barre | Worcester | |
Ipswich Eighth Parish | Essex | Essex | |
Ireland | Holyoke | Hampden | |
Iron Work Farm | Acton | Middlesex | |
Ketiticut | Bridgewater | Plymouth | |
Kokachoise | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Litchfield | Dunstable | Middlesex | |
Little Cambridge | Brighton | Suffolk | |
Little Salisbury | Amesbury | Essex | |
Lyttleton | Littleton | Middlesex | |
Manamoiet | Chatham | Barnstable | |
Manamoit Village | Chatham | Barnstable | |
Manamooskeagin | Abington | Plymouth | |
Manchaug | Sutton | Worcester | |
Manor of Tisbury | Chilmark | Dukes | |
Mattakeeset | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Mattakeeset | Duxbury | Plymouth | |
Mattapan | Dorchester | Suffolk | Section of Boston |
Mennems Moone | Dorchester | Suffolk | |
Menotomy | Arlington | Middlesex | |
Merry Mount | Merrymount | Norfolk | Neighborhood of Quincy |
Middlesex Gore | Dudley | Worcester | |
Mile & Half of Land | Attleboro | Bristol | |
Minnechaug | Hampden | Hampden | |
Minot's Grant | Cummington | Hampshire | |
Mishawum | Charlestown | Suffolk | |
Mistic | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Mohootset | Carver | Plymouth | |
Monatiquot | Braintree | Norfolk | |
Monomoy | Chatham | Barnstable | |
Monument Village | Bourne | Barnstable | |
Moskeehtucketqut | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Mount Dagan | Braintree | Norfolk | |
Mount Wollaston | Merrymount | Norfolk | Neighborhood of Quincy |
Muddy River | Brookline | Norfolk | |
Murrayfield | Chester | Hampden | |
Murrayfield Grant | Cummington | Hampshire | |
Musketequid | Concord | Middlesex | |
Namassakeesett | Duxbury | Plymouth | |
Nashowakemmuck | Chilmark | Dukes | |
Nawsett | Eastham | Barnstable | |
New Glasgow | Blandford | Hampden | |
New Grant | Acton | Middlesex | |
New Hingham Plantation | Chesterfield | Hampshire | |
New Providence | Cheshire | Berkshire | |
New Providence Hill | Cheshire | Berkshire | |
New Providence Plantation | Adams | Berkshire | |
New Providence Purchase | Cheshire | Berkshire | |
New Rowley | Georgetown | Essex | |
New Sherburn | Douglas | Worcester | |
Newe Towne | Cambridge | Middlesex | Included modern Newton |
Newtown | Cambridge | Middlesex | Included modern Newton |
No Town Plantation | Buckland | Franklin | |
Nobscusset | Dennis | Barnstable | |
Noman's Land | Chilmark | Dukes | |
Noddle's Island | Boston | Suffolk | |
North Bridgewater | Brockton | Plymouth | |
North Purchase | Attleboro | Bristol | |
North Sandwich | Bourne | Barnstable | |
North Wrentham | Norfolk | Norfolk | |
Nossett | Eastham | Barnstable | |
Noticock | Dunstable | Middlesex | |
Nottingham | Dunstable | Middlesex | |
Number Thirteen | Chelsea | Suffolk | |
Nunketest | Bridgewater | Plymouth | |
Nunnepog | Edgartown | Dukes | |
Passacomuck | Easthampton | Hampshire | |
Pawtucket | Chelmsford | Middlesex | |
Pawtucket | Dracut | Middlesex | |
Payquage Plantation | Athol | Worcester | |
Peymechit | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Plantation Chickleystown | Charlemont | Franklin | |
Plantation Number Five (1762 Township) | Cummington | Hampshire | |
Plantation Number Four | Becket | Berkshire | |
Plantation Number Nine (1762 Township) | Chester | Hampden | |
Plantation Number One (Western Township of 1762) | Chesterfield | Hampshire | |
Plantation Number One | Adams | Berkshire | |
Pocomtuck | Deerfield | Franklin | |
Podunke | Alford | Berkshire | |
Podunkville | Alford | Berkshire | |
Poguaige | Athol | Worcester | |
Pompositicut | Stow | Middlesex | |
Provincetown on Mills River | Athol | Worcester | |
Pullen Poynte | Chelsea | Suffolk | |
Pullin Point | Chelsea | Suffolk | |
Punkapoag | Canton | Norfolk | |
Quabaug Territory | Brookfield | Worcester | |
Quabaug Territory | East Brookfield | Worcester | |
Quaboag | Brookfield | Worcester | |
Quequechan Region | Fall River | Bristol | |
Quichickichick | Andover | Essex | |
Quinsigamond | Worcester | Worcester | |
Quobauge | Brookfield | Worcester | |
Rowley Village | Boxford | Essex | |
Rumney Marsh | Chelsea | Suffolk | |
Rutland District | Barre | Worcester | |
Sacconeesett | Falmouth | Barnstable | |
Salem Farms | Danvers | Essex | |
Salem Middle Parish | Danvers | Essex | |
Salem Village Parish | Danvers | Essex | |
Salisbury-new-toune | Amesbury | Essex | |
Santuite | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Satucket | Brewster | Barnstable | |
Satuite | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Sawkatucket | Brewster | Barnstable | |
Scipuiszet | Falmouth | Barnstable | |
Sconticut | Fairhaven | Bristol | |
Seipuiszet | Falmouth | Barnstable | |
Sepoese | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Sepuit | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Sesuet | Dennis | Barnstable | |
Shawanon | Egremont | Berkshire | |
Shawanon Purchase | Alford | Berkshire | |
Shawmut | Boston | Suffolk | |
Shawshinnock | Billerica | Middlesex | |
Shawsin | Billerica | Middlesex | |
Sipnesset | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Skonkonet | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Skunkamug | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Slacksville | Plainville | Norfolk | |
South Malden | Everett | Middlesex | |
South Parish | Enfield | Hampshire | |
South Purchase | Dighton | Bristol | |
South Reading | Wakefield | Middlesex | |
South Redding | Wakefield | Middlesex | |
South Wilbraham | Hampden | Hampden | |
Springfield Parish | Dover | Norfolk | |
Squantums Neck | Quincy | Norfolk | Annexed to Dorchester 1641, annexed to Quincy 1792[9] |
Suckanesset | Falmouth | Barnstable | |
Sudbury | Wayland | Middlesex | |
Suffield Equivalent Lands | Blandford | Hampden | |
Tamahappaseeacon | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Taunton | Dighton | Bristol | Different from modern Taunton |
Taunton North Purchase | Easton | Bristol | |
Tiverton | Freetown | Bristol | Different from modern Tiverton, Rhode Island |
Tragabigzanda | Gloucester | Essex | |
Tremont | Boston | Suffolk | |
Trimountaine | Boston | Suffolk | |
Troy | Fall River | Bristol | |
Turkey Hill | Fitchburg | Worcester | |
Unquityquesset | [[Milton,
Massachusetts|Milton]] || Norfolk || | ||
Vinson's Cove | Gloucester | Essex | |
Wameset | Chelmsford | Middlesex | |
Waqua | Edgartown | Dukes | |
Ward | Auburn | Worcester | |
Washqua | Edgartown | Dukes | |
Waskotussoo | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Watatick Hill | Ashburnham | Worcester | |
Wattuppa | Freetown | Bristol | |
Weguasset | Chatham | Barnstable | |
Wellington | Dighton | Bristol | |
Wequaquet | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
Wessagusset Colony | Weymouth | Norfolk | Founded by Thomas Weston in 1622, 2nd oldest European settlement in Massachusetts. Incorporated as Weymouth in 1635 by settlers from the Dorset, England town of the same name. |
West Cambridge | Arlington | Middlesex | |
West Hoosuck | Williamstown | Berkshire | |
West Sandwich | Bourne | Barnstable | |
Weymouth Canada | Ashfield | Franklin | |
Willard’s Farm | Acton | Middlesex | |
Winnissimet | Chelsea | Suffolk | |
Wood End | Reading | Middlesex | |
Wyngaersheek | Gloucester | Essex | |
Yanno's Land | Barnstable | Barnstable | |
York | Egremont | Berkshire |
See also
- Administrative divisions of Massachusetts
- Equivalent lands
- List of cities in the United States
- List of villages in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts gateway cities
Notes
- ^ The main source for the table is the Massachusetts Municipal Association 2009-2010 Municipal Directory. The MMA Directory is not an official state document, but is more up to date and specific than the official list from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's office, which is dated 03-11-2008 and does not include Palmer, Randolph and Winthrop, which have since adopted the city form of government.
References
- ^ a b "2009-10 Municipal Directory". Massachusetts Municipal Association. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
- ^ a b "Population and Housing Occupancy Status: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision, 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ "Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n One of 14 municipalities with a city form of government that refers to itself as "The Town of". "Citizen Information Service: Massachusetts City and Town Incorporation and Settlement Dates". Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
- ^ William O. Hultgren (Fall 2004). "Time Line for the Establishment of the Town of Charlton" (PDF). Charlton Historical Society Newsletter. Charlton Historical Society. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
- ^ "Newton, MA - News Details". www.newtonma.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
- ^ "Chapter 147 of the Acts of 2009". Boston: Massachusetts General Court. November 19, 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ Archaic Community, District, Neighborhood, Section and Village, Names in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Secretary of State Citizen Information Service. Retrieved 2008 Apr 13.
- ^ "DIOTD, Mar. 10, 2009 Dorchester Territory". Dorchester Atheneum. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
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External links
- Massachusetts City and Town Directory, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Elections Division