Sharon, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sharon, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto = A nice place to live, because it’s naturally beautiful.


imagesize =
image_caption =
image_



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 = 1650
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1775
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title = Town Manager
leader_name = Benjamin E. Puritz
leader_title1 = Board of
Selectmen
leader_name1 = Walter "Joe" Roach
Richard Powell
William A. Heitin
area_total_sq_mi = 24.2
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 62.6
area_land_sq_mi = 23.3
area_land_km2 = 60.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.9
area_water_km2 = 2.2
area_water_percent = 3.56
elevation_m = 76
elevation_ft = 249
latd = 42 |latm = 6 |lats = 46 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 11 |longs = 2 |longEW = W
population_as_of = 2007
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 17,033
population_density_km2 = 282.0
population_density_sq_mi = 731.0
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
website = http://www.townofsharon.net/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 02067
area_code = 339 / 781
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-60785
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618329
footnotes =
[
Deborah Sampson outside the Sharon public library] Sharon is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,408 at the 2000 census. For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Sharon, please see the article Sharon (CDP), Massachusetts.

History

Sharon, first settled as part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1637, was deemed the 2nd Precinct of Stoughton in 1740. It was established as the district of Stoughtonham on June 21, 1765, incorporated as the Town of Stoughtonham on August 23, 1775 and named Sharon on February 25, 1783. Part of Stoughtonham went to the new town of Foxborough on June 10, 1776. During the American Revolution the townspeople of Sharon made cannonballs for the Continental Army.

In front of the Sharon Public Library stands a statue of Deborah Sampson, Sharon's town heroine. Sampson disguised herself as a man to fight in the Revolutionary War. She married Benjamin Gannett, a farmer, after she fought in the war and lived in Sharon until the end of her life. She is buried in the local Rockridge Cemetery.

The Unitarian and Congregational Churches in Sharon Center both have a church bell manufactured by Paul Revere.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 24.2 square miles (62.6 km²), of which, 23.3 square miles (60.4 km²) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²) (3.56%) is water. This includes Lake Massapoag, which is one of the town's most prominent features and a popular recreational site for swimming and boating. It was largely responsible for the town's early development as a summer resort location.

Adjacent towns

Sharon is located in Eastern Massachusetts, bordered by these neighboring towns:
*Canton, Massachusetts
*Norwood, Massachusetts
*Walpole, Massachusetts
*Foxboro, Massachusetts
*Stoughton, Massachusetts
*Easton, Massachusetts
*Mansfield, Massachusetts

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 17,408 people, 5,934 households and 4,931 families residing in the town. The population density was 747.0 people per square mile (288.3/km²). There were 6,026 housing units at an average density of 258.6/sq mi (99.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.95% White, 3.39% African American, 0.13% Native American, 4.86% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

Of the 5,934 households 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 16.9% were non-families. 14.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 people and the average family size was 3.25 people.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64 and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $89,256 and the median income for a family was $99,015. Males had a median income of $70,563 versus $46,774 for females. The per capita income for the town was $41,323. About 2.1% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Sharon currently has an Open Town Meeting form of government, with three Selectmen. In early 2008 a commission was elected to prepare a charter document specifying the executive, legislative, and administrative structure of town government. It will consider whether the town should retain its current government form or change to a representative, more centralized form. There is debate whether the town has outgrown Open Town Meeting, where decisions are made only by those attending (they must be present to vote) or whether direct-vote government works well because residents who choose to attend are particularly interested in and informed on the issues.

Education

The Sharon Public Schools system has five schools. Grades K-5 attend one of the three elementary schools: East, Cottage or Heights. Grades 6-8 attend Sharon Middle School and grades 9-12 attend Sharon High School. The Sharon High School team is the Eagles, and its colors are maroon and gold. The school system is noted for its outstanding academic performance and learning curriculum. In 2006, it's fifth grade Cottage Street Class scored the highest on the MCAS out of all Massachusetts elementary schools. It's High School consistently ranks within the top 10 in the state on the MCAS test.

Transportation

Commuter rail service from Boston's South Station is provided by the MBTA with a stop in Sharon on its Providence/Stoughton Line.

Notable natives

*Tennessee Volunteers head basketball coach, Bruce Pearl, graduated from Sharon High School.
*Larry Rubin, founder of Swipe It Technology [http://www.swipeit.com] , is a Sharon High School graduate.
*Patriots Hall of famer Andre Tippett, grew up and still resides in Sharon. He married his high school sweetheart, and is a Jewish convert and is a member of Temple Sinai.
*Roland James, former defensive back for the New England Patriots.

References

External links

* [http://sharoncommunitycalendar.com/ Sharon Community Calendar]
* [http://www.sharontv.com/ SCTV]
* [http://www.sharonhistoricalsociety.org/ Sharon Historical Society]
* [http://www.sharonupdate.com/ SharonUpdate - News from the Source] Sharon Community Center/ Recreation CEnter http://www.townofsharon.net/PUBLIC_DOCUMENTS/SHARONMA_RECREATION/INDEX