Brockton, Massachusetts

Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population is 95,708 as of 2019. Along with Plymouth, it is one of the two county seats of Plymouth County.[3] It is the seventh largest city in Massachusetts and is sometimes referred to as the "City of Champions", due to the success of native boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, as well as its successful Brockton High School sports programs. Two villages within it are Montello and Campello, both of which have MBTA Commuter Rail Stations and post offices. Campello is the smallest neighborhood, but also the most populous. Brockton hosts a baseball team, the Brockton Rox. It is the second-windiest city in the United States, with an average wind speed of 14.3 mph.[4]

Brockton, Massachusetts
City
City Hall
Seal
Nickname(s): 
The City of Champions
Motto(s): 
"Education, Industry, Progress"
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Brockton
Location within Massachusetts
Brockton
Location within the United States
Brockton
Location within North America
Coordinates: 42°05′00″N 71°01′08″W
Country United States
State Massachusetts
CountyPlymouth
Settled1700
Incorporated1821
Government
 • TypeStrong mayor / Council
 • MayorRobert F. Sullivan
 • CouncilBrockton City Council
Area
 • Total21.52 sq mi (55.73 km2)
 • Land21.33 sq mi (55.25 km2)
 • Water0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2)
Elevation
112 ft (34 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total93,810
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
95,708
 • Density4,486.38/sq mi (1,732.23/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
02301
02302
02303
02304
02305
Area code(s)508/774
FIPS code25-09000
GNIS feature ID0617571
Websitewww.brockton.ma.us

History

In 1649, Ousamequin (Massasoit) sold the surrounding land, then known as Saughtucket, to Myles Standish as an addition to Duxbury. Brockton was part of this area, which the English renamed Bridgewater, until 1821, when it became the town of North Bridgewater. Its name changed in 1874, after a contentious process finally decided on naming it after Isaac Brock (the initial British commanding general at Queenston Heights, where invading American troops suffered a rout, in 1812), after a local merchant heard of Brockville, Ontario, on a trip to Niagara Falls. Brockton became a city on April 9, 1881. During the American Civil War, Brockton was America's largest producer of shoes, and until the latter parts of the 20th century, Brockton had a large shoe and leather products industry.[5]

  • Brockton station on a 1906 postcard
  • Oldest house in 1910
  • Main Street c. 1910
  • Shoe factory in 1910

World firsts
  • On October 1, 1883, Brockton became the first place in the world to have a three-wire underground electrical system when Thomas Edison threw a switch to activate it.[6]
  • The City Theater opened on October 24, 1894, the first theater in the world to be tied into the three-wire electrical system.

US firsts
  • On December 30, 1884, the first electrically operated fire station in the United States opened in Brockton.
  • The department store Santa Claus appeared in Brockton in December 1890, when James Edgar, of Edgar's Department Store, suited up for the first time.[7]
  • Brockton became the first city in the country to abolish grade crossings in 1896.

World Records
  • On November 23, 2010, Brockton set the world record for the most Santa Hat wearers in one place at one time with 872 people participating in the event.[8]
  • On November 20, 2011, Brockton doubled the city's Santa Claus hat-wearing record with 1792 people in downtown Brockton wearing hats.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.6 square miles (56 km2), of which 21.5 square miles (56 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.56%) is water. Brockton is the 162nd largest city by land area in the Commonwealth, and the twelfth largest of the twenty-seven towns in Plymouth County. Brockton is bordered by Stoughton to the northwest, Avon to the north, Holbrook to the northeast, Abington to the northeast, Whitman and East Bridgewater to the southeast, West Bridgewater to the south, and Easton to the west. Brockton is approximately 25 miles south of Boston, and 30 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island.

Brockton is mostly an urban setting, lying along the Salisbury Plain River, which once powered the many shoe factories of the city. To the northeast lies the Beaver Brook Conservation Land, attached to the southern end of the Ames Nowell State Park in Abington. There are several parks throughout the city, but the largest is D.W. Field Park, an Olmsted-inspired park which includes ponds, Waldo Lake and Brockton Reservoir in Avon, as well as a golf course.

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±%
18301,953—    
18402,616+33.9%
18503,939+50.6%
18606,584+67.1%
18708,007+21.6%
188013,608+70.0%
189027,294+100.6%
190040,063+46.8%
191056,878+42.0%
192066,254+16.5%
193063,797−3.7%
194062,343−2.3%
195062,860+0.8%
196072,813+15.8%
197089,040+22.3%
198095,172+6.9%
199092,788−2.5%
200094,304+1.6%
201093,810−0.5%
201995,708+2.0%
* = population estimate.
Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]
Source:
U.S. Decennial Census[20]

As of the census[21] of 2019, there were 95,705 people, 31,440 households, and about 3.04 people living in each household, and about an average family size of 3.59. The population density was 4,486.3 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 27.3% White, 50.9% African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.9% of the population. The African-American population in Brockton has grown significantly since the beginning of the early 2000s.

Brockton has one of the largest population of Cape Verdean ancestry in the United States, with about 9% of its population. [22] Brockton also reportedly has one of the largest communities of Angolans in the United States.

Statistically, Brockton is the most populous and most densely populated community in Plymouth County. It is the sixth largest community in the commonwealth, the largest of the sub-100,000 person cities. However, it is only the twenty-seventh most densely populated community in the Commonwealth.

As of 2010, there were 33,675 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 19.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

As of 2018, the median income for a household in Brockton is $55,140. Males have an average income of $41,093 versus $35,145 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,163. The poverty rate in Brockton is 15.61% of the population. Notably by race, 23.55% of Hispanics were in poverty, while the Black population of Brockton had about 18.61% of its population living in poverty.

Income
See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

Data is from the 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.[23][24][25]

Rank ZIP Code (ZCTA) Per capita
income		 Median
household
income		 Median
family
income		 Population Number of
households
Massachusetts $35,763 $66,866 $84,900 6,605,058 2,530,147
Plymouth County $35,220 $75,092 $90,431 497,386 179,617
United States $28,155 $53,046 $64,719 311,536,594 115,610,216
1 02301 (West Brockton) $22,728 $61,060 $65,914 34,929 11,516
Brockton $21,942 $49,025 $57,773 93,911 32,856
2 02302 (East Brockton) $21,477 $44,144 $53,080 58,982 21,340

Arts and culture

Music

Brockton is home to the Brockton Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra founded in 1948.[26][27] The orchestra performs five or six concerts per season at local venues such as Brockton's West Middle School Auditorium and the Oliver Ames Auditorium in the neighboring town of Easton. The orchestra comprises 65 musicians from the greater Brockton area and its musical director since 2007 is James Orent, a guest conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops.[28][29]

Festivals
  • Brockton Summer Concert Series[30]
  • Downtown Brockton Arts and Music Festival - end of August annually[31][32]
  • Towerfest - Columbus Day Weekend annually [33]
  • Veterans Day Parade annually
  • Holiday Parade - Late November annually
  • The Cape Verdean Festival- last Sunday in July[34]
Headlines posted in street-corner window of newspaper office (Brockton Enterprise), 60 Main Street, Brockton, Massachusetts, December 1940

Library

The city supports three buildings within the Brockton Public Library system. The main library is a Carnegie building [35]

Notable sites
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Sites listed on National Register of Historic Places

Sports

Based at Campanelli Stadium the Brockton Rox play in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL). From 2003 through 2011 the team was a member of the independent professional Can-Am League but in 2012 decided to join the amateur FCBL. Collegiate players on FCBL teams, who are looking for more experience and scouting exposure, are offered non-paid playing opportunities.[36]

Government
See also: List of mayors of Brockton, Massachusetts

On the national level, Brockton is a part of Massachusetts's 8th congressional district, and has been represented since January 2013 by Stephen Lynch.

On the state level, Brockton is represented in three districts in the Massachusetts House of Representatives: the Ninth Plymouth, Tenth Plymouth (which includes West Bridgewater and Precinct 1 of East Bridgewater), and the Eleventh Plymouth (which includes most of Easton). The city is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Second Plymouth and Bristol district, which includes Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Whitman and portions of East Bridgewater and Easton[37]

Brockton has a city government led by a mayor and city council. The city elects a mayor for two-year terms. Previous mayors include Winthrop H. Farwell Jr., John T. Yunits Jr., David Crosby, Carl Pitaro, Richard L. Wainwright, John E. Sullivan, Alvin Jack Sims, Joseph H. Downey and Paul Studenski. James Harrington was elected mayor in 2005 and began his term in January 2006. He was re-elected on November 6, 2007, for another two-year term. He had previously served 16 years as a City Councilor. In the fall of 2009, City Councilor Linda Balzotti defeated Harrington to become the city's first female mayor. Balzotti was defeated in 2013 by Bill Carpenter who won the election by only 44 votes. After the unexpected death of Bill Carpenter on July 3, 2019, Moises Rodrigues was elected unanimously by the 11-person City Council to become acting mayor of Brockton.[38] On July 15, 2019 Moises Rodrigues became the first person of color to become Mayor of Brockton after serving six years on the Brockton city council. In 2009, community activist Jass Stewart was elected to councilor-at-large becoming the first African American to serve in Brockton's city council.[39] The city council consists of four Councilors-at-Large and seven ward Councilors, one for every ward in the city. As of January 2020, the mayor of Brockton is Robert F. Sullivan.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2018[40]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Democratic 27,843 49.63%
Republican 3,612 6.44%
Libertarian 211 0.38%
Minor Parties 787 1.40%
Unenrolled 23,644 42.15%
Total 56,097 100%

Education

Public schools

Brockton operates its own school system for the city's approximately 17,000 students. There is an early education school (Barrett Russell), ten elementary schools (Angelo, Arnone, Baker, Brookfield, Downey, George, Gilmore, Hancock, John F. Kennedy and Raymond), the Davis K-8 school, six middle/junior high schools (North, East, West, South, Ashfield and the Plouffe Academy), Brockton High School and four alternative schools (Huntington, Edison, Champion and B.B. Russell). Brockton High School's athletics teams are called the Boxers (after the city's undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, Rocky Marciano[41]).

Private schools

Brockton was home to three parochial schools (Sacred Heart, Saint Casimir and Saint Edward) which merged in 2007 to form two schools. Trinity Lower Campus at the former Saint Edwards school site, and Trinity Upper Campus located on the former site of the Saint Colman's school, one Christian school (South Shore Christian and the Brockton Christian School closed in 2010), and Cardinal Spellman High School, a Catholic high school named for Francis Cardinal Spellman, Brockton area native and former Archbishop of New York. Students may also choose to attend tuition-free Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School (in South Easton).

Higher education

Brockton is the site of Massasoit Community College and offers Adult Studies/LEAD classes in Brockton.[42]

Infrastructure

Major highways

Massachusetts Route 24, a six-lane divided motorway, passes through the west side of the city, with exits at Route 27 to the north and Route 123 to the south. The two routes pass through the center of the city, crossing at that point. Massachusetts Route 28 passes from north to south through the center of the city, The western end of Route 14 (at its intersection with Route 27) and the southern end of Route 37 (at its intersection with Route 28) both are in the city.

Bus

Brockton has its own bus services, operated by the Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT). Each bus has a designated route running through a section of Brockton, i.e. Montello, Campello, Cary Hill, etc. There are also buses that have routes outside the city. i.e. Bridgewater Industrial Park, Ashmont Station (MBTA subway end-of-line), Stoughton and a connecting bus stop in Montello to the Braintree Station (MBTA subway end-of-line).

Rail

The Middleborough/Lakeville Line of the MBTA's commuter rail system passes through the city on the eastern side, with stops in the Montello and Campello neighborhoods, as well as in the city center, providing service to points south and South Station in Boston north of the city.

Healthcare

Brockton has three hospitals: Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital on the east side, Good Samaritan Medical Center - a Steward Family Hospital (formerly Caritas Good Samaritan, and before that Cardinal Cushing) Hospital to the northwest, and the Brockton Veterans Administration Hospital to the southwest. The VA Hospital is the sponsoring institution for the Harvard South Shore Psychiatry program. It serves as a teaching facility for residents of various medical specialties from Boston University, physician assistant students from Northeastern University, nursing students from the University of Massachusetts Boston and pharmacy students from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

Brockton has a community health center that serves individuals with low income and poor access to health care at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center.[43]

Fire department
Central Fire Station

The city of Brockton is protected around the clock by 174 paid, professional firefighters of the city of Brockton Fire Department. The Brockton Fire Department currently operates out of six fire stations, located throughout the city, and maintains a fire apparatus fleet of five engines, three ladders, one squad, one tactical rescue unit and several other special, support, and reserve units. The fire department does not provide EMS services; ambulance coverage is handled by Brewster Ambulance.

In 1905, local newspapers recounted many heroic acts by Brockton firefighters during the Grover Shoe Factory disaster.[44] On March 10, 1941, thirteen Brockton firefighters died when the roof collapsed as they were fighting a fire at the Strand Theatre.[45] That fire resulted in one of the worst firefighting tragedies in American history.

Law enforcement

The City of Brockton Police Department has roughly 181 sworn members and 31 non-sworn employees. The officers are assigned to the Patrol Division, and Operations Division which includes; Detectives, Narcotics, Gang Unit, Special Weapons And Tactics, K-9, Quality of Life, GREAT Program, Elderly Affairs, and Community Education Units.[46] In addition, the city is patrolled by the Fourth (Middleborough) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.[47] Brockton also has several citizen anti-crime groups, including the Guardian Angels and Operation Archangel.

Notable people

Awards

Brockton was named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in the United States in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2011, by the America's Promise Alliance.[50]

References
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  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Top 101 cities with the highest average wind speeds (population 50,000+)". www.city-data.com.
  5. Allegrini, Elaine. "Once known as 'Shoe City,' Brockton loses its last factory".
  6. Edison's Fabulous Breakthrough in Brockton, Massachusetts, thomasedison.com; accessed April 16, 2014.
  7. Department Store Santa Tradition; retrieved April 19, 2011
  8. World Records Academy Archived 2012-05-15 at the Wayback Machine; accessed April 16, 2014.
  9. "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  10. "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  11. "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.
  12. "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.
  13. "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.
  14. "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.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. "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.
  18. "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  19. "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). 1: Number of Inhabitants. Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, pp. 21-7 through 21-09, Massachusetts Table 4. Population of Urban Places of 10,000 or more from Earliest Census to 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. Jones, Jarred (2020-10-21). "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  22. Cape Verdean ancestry by city Archived 2015-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, epodunk.com; accessed April 16, 2014.
  23. "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2015-01-17. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  24. "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  25. "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
  26. Pfeifer, Ellen (10 April 1998). "Handel rarity is a royal tragedy; Brockton Symphony celebrates 50 years". Boston Herald; retrieved December 3, 2012 via Highbeam (subscription required)
  27. Webmaster, BrSO. "The Brockton Symphony Orchestra". www.brocktonsymphony.org.
  28. Mccready, Daniel (February 25, 2012)."Orchestra to bring 'Life' to Brockton" Archived August 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Enterprise; retrieved December 3, 2012.
  29. Knox, Robert (September 9, 2007). "Brockton Symphony's pilot - New director plans both rare, popular works". Boston Globe; retrieved December 3, 2012 via Highbeam (subscription required)
  30. Primavera, Jessica. "Free summer concerts return to Brockton".
  31. Downtown Brockton Arts and Music Festival
  32. "About Us". Brockton Arts. 2015-08-29. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  33. "Photos: Brockton's Towerfest offers a bird's-eye view of D.W. Field Park". The Enterprise, Brockton, MA. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  34. Larocque, Marc (July 28, 2019). "Brockton Cape Verdeans celebrate 25th annual CV Day in style". The Enterprise.
  35. "Brockton Public Library". Brockton Public Library. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  36. Staff (February 29, 2012). "Brockton Rox Join FCBL". pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  37. Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, mass.gov; accessed April 16, 2014.
  38. Larocque, Marc (July 15, 2019). "Moises Rodrigues becomes Brockton's first Cape Verdean mayor". The Enterprise. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  39. Thomas, John (November 11, 2009). "Brockton's Stewart makes history in city council election". Bay State Banner.
  40. "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 17, 2018" (PDF). Massachusetts Elections Division. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  41. "Rocky Marciano Biography". Biography.
  42. "ENC's Adult and Graduate Studies Program expands into satellite locations around the state". Nazarene Communications Network. December 18, 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
  43. Brockton Neighborhood Health Center website; accessed April 16, 2014.
  44. Canavan, Derek A. "Remembering Brockton's Greatest Tragedy". The men of the Campello firehouse were heroes that day. As hundreds of workers and residents of the Campello neighborhood ran from the fire, the Campello firefighters charged into the inferno looking for workers whose cries for help were barely audible over the roar of the flames.
  45. Valencia, Milton J. (May 4, 2008). "A memory painful and indelible". The Boston Globe. Outside, the flames roaring through the walls and ceiling were clearly visible. But to the firefighters inside, on the balcony, the flames were hidden.
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  47. "Mass.gov". Mass.gov.
  48. Uncredited, Six notable African-Americans with ties to the Brockton area. The Enterprise, February 7, 2010. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  49. Filing, Jane. "Rising LPGA Star Megan Khang". Womansgolf.com. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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