Bellingham, Massachusetts
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| Bellingham, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Norfolk County |
| Settled | 1713 |
| Incorporated | 1719 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| - Town | 19.0 sq mi (49.2 km²) |
| - Land | 18.5 sq mi (47.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 293 ft (89 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 15,314 |
| - Density | 827.8/sq mi (319.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 02019 |
| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 |
| Website: http://www.bellinghamma.org/ | |
Bellingham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 15,314 at the 2000 census. 2005 estimates place the population at 22,734 [1]. The town sits on the western fringe of Metropolitan Boston, along the rapidly growing "outer belt" that is Route 495. The town is part of the Boston-Worcester-Manchester combined statistical area. It is home to the new Dunkin' Donuts Northeast Distribution Center.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Bellingham, please see the article Bellingham (CDP), Massachusetts.
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[edit] History
Bellingham was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1719. Allegedly, it was named for the third governor of Massachusetts, Richard Bellingham. The town hall, built in 1802, was the second oldest working town hall in the state of Massachusetts until November of 2005, when a new town hall was built just behind the old building. The centuries old yet historic town hall is now used for storage space and for part-time committees that do not currently have space in the new building. Three historic school buildings, the North, Center, and South Schools all were in use by some municipilaity or another until the late 1990s, and currently two out of the three have been since demolished. The South School was razed and a public common has since been built in a heavily congested intersection (and has since been the subject of an ongoing dispute between the town and CVS/Pharmacy to build a new store there). The Center School, located behind the historic town hall, was razed shortly after the new building opened. The North School is undergoing a debate on what its future use should be, as the town realized that it must save one of the few historic buildings remaining.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 49.2 km² (19.0 mi²). 47.9 km² (18.5 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (2.58%) is water. Elevation is 293 feet above sea level.
Bellingham is located in southeastern Massachusetts, bordered by Franklin and Wrentham on the east; Woonsocket, Rhode Island, on the south; Blackstone, Mendon, and Hopedale on the west; and Milford and Medway on the north. Bellingham is 25 miles southeast of Worcester; 30 miles southwest of Boston; 27 miles north of Providence, Rhode Island; and 185 miles from New York City.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 15,314 people, 5,557 households, and 4,284 families residing in the town. The population density was 319.6/km² (827.8/mi²). There were 5,642 housing units at an average density of 117.8/km² (305.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.93% White, 0.91% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 5,557 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,496, and the median income for a family was $72,074. Males had a median income of $48,533 versus $33,476 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,047. About 1.6% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
As of current, there are 3 elementary schools (Stallbrook, South, and Clara Macy), 1 middle school (Bellingham Memorial), and 1 high school.
[edit] Transportation
Interstate 495 runs across the north end of town, with only one exit in the town itself, Exit 18 at Hartford Avenue. Exit 17 in Franklin, is just about 3 miles from the town line leading to the Town Center. State route 126 runs north to south from the town of Medway to the Rhode Island border. State route 140 runs east to west from Franklin to Mendon. The town went from having no traffic lights in the late 1980s to well over a dozen in 2006. The town is also known for having one of the best snow removal systems in the area.
The town currently has no mode of public transportation of its own, however, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's commuter rail line to Boston is located just 2 miles from the town line in Franklin, and approximately 5 miles from the town center.
The neighboring city of Woonsocket, Rhode Island has proposed a plan to bring commuter rail service to the area which would require an extension of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Franklin line, a direct route from Boston's South Station. Bringing commuter rail service to the Greater Woonsocket area would essentially bring the rail line through the town of Bellingham, Blackstone, and terminating in Woonsocket, bringing an increased amount of tourism to the area, and increasing ridership in persons commuting to the city of Boston and Logan International Airport. A study is being conducted and should be complete by June 30, 2007 on whether or not the MBTA finds it feasible to expand its Franklin line westward, which would require rehabilitating abandoned rail lines running through each town.
[edit] Commerce
The town has never experienced any large growth until 1993, when Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, opened a store along Hartford Avenue, near the 495 interchange. This opened the doors to an explosive growth, with major retailers like Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, Staples, Gap, Old Navy, Regal Cinemas, Chili's, Outback Steakhouse, and Linens 'N Things to sign long-term leases. After the closure of Newbury Comics, a Verizon Wireless and Coldstone Creamery opened in the Charles River Center. In December of 2006, Decathlon Group closed its doors in the Crossroads Center, opening up 30,000 s.f. of available space. Most recently, the town has been in talks with S.R. Weiner of Chestnut Hill, MA to develop a 550,000 square foot "lifestyle center" to be called the "Shoppes at Bellingham" that would include upscale shops like Crate & Barrel or Williams Sonoma, restaurants, hotels, and office space on North Main Street behind Home Depot. The buildings will primarily be one level and encourage pedestrian traffic, have lush landscaping, and restaurants with outdoor dining facilities. While it is common for "lifestyle centers" to have accessible parking close to the stores, a large parking structure is planned for the rear of the property. Although not yet in development, planning is underway for a new highway interchange and rerouting of Route 126, and Phase One of the project is most likely to open in late 2008.
As of December 30th, 2006, the town created the Pulaski Boulevard Village Overlay District Subcommittee to develop the downtrodden southern portion of the town with a mix of retail shops, homes, and condominiums in a "downtown feel." After the Archdiocese of Boston closed and sold Assumption Parish in 2005, the town has looked at many different options to revitalize its southern end (and a stark contrast to its northern, where most of the development is located). The newest of development along this 2 mile stretch of road (from the Rhode Island border to Crooks Corner) is the newly opened Stop & Shop along the Blackstone border. Public meetings will be held in January 2007 to discuss the options for development, along with a revitalization plan for the Town Center, where construction continues to re-develop the route 140 and 126 intersection, along with a new Walgreens pharmacy.
Other developments are in the works, such as the new plaza along South Main Street with the towns third Dunkin' Donuts, a Cumberland Farms at the intersection of South Main Street and Elm Street, and a moderate sized development at the intersection of Mechanic Street (140) and Maple Street near the Franklin town border and MBTA Forge Park Station, that will include a 24,000 square foot retail building, restaurant, and a self-storage facility. At one time a McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts were proposed.
[edit] Notable residents
- William Taylor Adams, (1822-1897), author under the name "Oliver Optic"[1]
[edit] References
- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
