Braintree, Massachusetts

"For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Braintree, please see the article Braintree (CDP), Massachusetts."Infobox Settlement
official_name = Braintree, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Massachusetts
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Norfolk
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1634
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1640
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Mayor-council city
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Joe Sullivan
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 37.6
area_total_sq_mi = 14.5
area_land_km2 = 36.0
area_land_sq_mi = 13.9
area_water_km2 = 1.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.6
population_as_of = 2007
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 34,422
population_density_km2 = 956.2
population_density_sq_mi = 2,476.4
elevation_m = 27
elevation_ft = 90
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 13 |lats = 20 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 00 |longs = 00 |longEW = W
website = http://www.townofbraintreegov.org/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 02184
area_code = 339 / 781
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-07665
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618316
footnotes =

Braintree is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 33,828 at the 2000 census. It is part of the inner core of metropolitan Boston but is considered by some to be part of the South Shore. The mayor is Joe Sullivan [ [http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2008/01/03/news/news07.txt The Patriot Ledger, 1/3/2008] ] .

History

Braintree was founded on land first colonized in 1625 by Captain Wollaston, and initially named "Mount Wollaston". Under the rule of Thomas Morton it was renamed "Merry Mount." In 1640 the area was resettled and incorporated as the town of Braintree, named after the English town of Braintree, on land which was further split into the settlements of Randolph, Holbrook, the city of Quincy, and part of Milton. Braintree is the birthplace to 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.

Geography

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.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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. 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.

Transportation

Braintree is situated in the Greater Boston Area, which has excellent rail, air, and highway facilities. State Route 128 and Interstate 495 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Points of interest

* General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace
* South Shore Plaza

Notable residents

* John Adams, President;
* John Hancock, Statesman;
* John Quincy Adams, President;
* Thomas Watson, Inventor;
* Jim Calhoun, UConn basketball coach
* Tiffany Kelly, Miss Massachusetts USA 2006
* Butch Stearns, Sports Anchor, FOX 25 TV
* William Rosenberg, creator of Dunkin' Donuts
* Mark Wahlberg, formerly of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, now an actor

* Chris Doherty, musician and recording artist from Gang Green
* Thomas A. Watson, co-inventor of the telephone
* Sylvanus Thayer, "the Father of West Point"
* Nathaniel B. Wales, inventor of the first household mechanical refrigerator, the Kelvinator
* Nick Santino, musician in A Rocket to the Moon

External links

* [http://www.braintreeschools.org/ Braintree Public Schools]
* [http://www.townofbraintreegov.org/ Town of Braintree]
* [http://www.thayerpubliclibrary.org/ Thayer Public Library, Braintree, MA]
* [http://www.familytales.org/results.php?city=braintree Historic letters written from Braintree]

References