Sharon, Massachusetts
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| Sharon, Massachusetts | |||
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| Motto: A nice place to live, because it’s naturally beautiful. | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Norfolk | ||
| Settled | 1650 | ||
| Incorporated | 1775 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | Open town meeting | ||
| - Town Manager | Benjamin E. Puritz | ||
| - Board of Selectmen |
Walter "Joe" Roach Richard Powell William A. Heitin |
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| Area | |||
| - Total | 24.2 sq mi (62.6 km²) | ||
| - Land | 23.3 sq mi (60.4 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.2 km²) 3.56% | ||
| Elevation | 249 ft (76 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 17,408 | ||
| - Density | 258.6/sq mi (99.8/km²) | ||
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 02067 | ||
| Area code(s) | 339 / 781 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-60785 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618329 | ||
| Website: http://www.townofsharon.net/ | |||
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.
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[edit] 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, 1778. 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 Church in Sharon Center has a church bell manufactured by Paul Revere.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] 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.
[edit] Government
Sharon currently uses a Open Town Meeting form of government. In early 2008 a commission was chartered to determine whether a more centralized form of town government is needed. Many residents feel that the town has outgrown the ability to have decisions made a group of residents in the Sharon High School auditorium, where such meetings currently take place.
[edit] Education
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
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.
[edit] Transportation
Commuter rail service from Boston's South Station is provided by the MBTA with a stop in Sharon on its Providence/Stoughton Line.
[edit] Noteable natives
- Tennessee Volunteers head basketball coach, Bruce Pearl, graduated from Sharon High School.
[edit] References
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
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