Plympton, Massachusetts
Town
Town of Plympton
Flag of Plympton, Massachusetts
Flag
Official seal of Plympton, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 41°57′10″N 70°48′54″W / 41.95278°N 70.81500°W / 41.95278; -70.81500
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyPlymouth
Settled1662
Incorporated1707
Government
 • TypeOpen town meeting
Area
 • Total15.1 sq mi (39.2 km2)
 • Land14.8 sq mi (38.3 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (0.9 km2)
Elevation
105 ft (32 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,930
 • Density190/sq mi (75/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
02367
Area code339 / 781
FIPS code25-54415
GNIS feature ID0619472
Websitewww.town.plympton.ma.us

Plympton is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,930 at the 2020 census.[1] The United States senator William Bradford was born here.

History

Plympton was first settled in 1662 by Reverend Justin P. Daley as the western parish of Plymouth. Lands of the original town included all of Carver and Halifax, as well as small portions of Kingston and Middleborough. The town was officially incorporated in 1707 and named for Plympton, Devon, England. In 1734, the town of Halifax separated and incorporated, and Carver did the same in 1790. The current boundaries of the town were set in 1862.

Early residents of Plympton were mostly farmers, living off the land. The Industrial Revolution brought about factories, which made shoes and shovels, as well as lumber and cotton mills. Today, the town is mostly rural and residential, with very little industry.

The town's most famous resident was Deborah Sampson, born in the town in 1760. She is best known for pretending to be a man to fight in the American Revolution.[2]

The town's newest addition is a Sysco distribution plant located near U.S. Route 44.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.1 square miles (39 km2), of which 14.8 square miles (38 km2) are land and 0.3-square-mile (0.78 km2) (2.31%) is water. Plympton is bordered by Halifax to the northwest, Pembroke to the north, Kingston to the northeast, Carver to the southeast, and Middleborough to the southwest. Plympton is approximately 35 mi (56 km) south of Boston and east of Providence, Rhode Island.

Plympton is mostly rural, with much of the land covered by forests. The northern tip of town lies along Silver Lake, which also extends into Kingston, Pembroke and along the Halifax border. The Winnetuxet River and many other brooks, as well as several smaller ponds, lie within the town. Plympton also has its own town forest and conservation area.

Transportation

The new highway portion of U.S. Route 44 clips the southeastern corner of the town. Routes 58 and 106 pass through the town, Route 106 passing across the northern portion of town, and Route 58 passing from southeast to northwest. Just south of Silver Lake, the Kingston/Plymouth Line of the MBTA's Commuter Rail service to Boston passes through the town, with the nearest stop being in Halifax. The nearest regional airport is Plymouth Municipal Airport; the nearest national and international airport is Logan International Airport in Boston, however the closest airport in general is Cranland Municipal Airport in Hanson, MA.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1850927—    
1860994+7.2%
1870804−19.1%
1880694−13.7%
1890597−14.0%
1900488−18.3%
1910561+15.0%
1920469−16.4%
1930511+9.0%
1940532+4.1%
1950697+31.0%
1960821+17.8%
19701,224+49.1%
19801,974+61.3%
19902,384+20.8%
20002,637+10.6%
20102,820+6.9%
20202,930+3.9%
2022*2,923−0.2%
* = population estimate.
Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 2,637 people, 854 households, and 737 families residing in the town. The population density was 178.3 inhabitants per square mile (68.8/km2). There were 872 housing units at an average density of 59.0 per square mile (22.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.85% White, 0.99% African American, 0.61% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 854 households, out of which 43.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.5% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.7% were non-families. 10.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.32.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $70,045, and the median income for a family was $75,000. Males had a median income of $45,531 versus $34,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,344. About 0.8% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Plympton is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Twelfth Plymouth District, which includes Kingston and portions of Duxbury, Halifax, Middleborough and Plymouth. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Second Plymouth and Bristol District, which includes the city of Brockton and the towns of East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Plympton, Whitman.[15] The town is patrolled by its own full service Police department.[16]

On the national level, Plympton is a part of Massachusetts's 9th congressional district, and is currently represented by William R. Keating. The state's senior (Class II) member of the United States Senate, elected in 2012, is Elizabeth Warren. The junior (Class I) senator, elected in a special election replacing John Kerry in 2013, is Ed Markey.

Plympton is governed by the open town meeting form of government, led by a board of selectmen. The Town has its own police and fire departments, both of which are headquartered next to the town hall at the center of town. The town's post office is just south of the center of town along Route 58. Adjacent to the town hall on its southern side is the Plympton Public Library, a member of the SAILS Library Network.

Education

Plympton is a member of the Silver Lake Regional School District, which also includes the towns of Kingston and Halifax. Each town is responsible for its own elementary school, with a middle and high school shared between all three towns. Plympton operates the Dennett Elementary School for students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Both the Silver Lake Regional Middle School and the Silver Lake Regional High School are located in neighboring Kingston. The school's athletics teams are nicknamed the Lakers, and their colors are red and silver. There are no private schools in Plympton.

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Plympton town, Plymouth County, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Town of Plympton: A Brief History". Archived from the original on January 5, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  4. ↑ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  5. ↑ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  7. ↑ "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). 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. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  8. ↑ "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). 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. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  9. ↑ "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). 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. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  10. ↑ "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  11. ↑ "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  12. ↑ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. ↑ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  15. ↑ "Senator Michael D. Brady". malegislature.gov.
  16. ↑ Station D-4, SP Middleborough
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