Braintree, Massachusetts
Braintree, Massachusetts | ||
---|---|---|
Town of Braintree | ||
FIPS code 25-07740, 25-07665 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 0618316 | |
Website | www |
Braintree (
Braintree, Massachusetts, is named after Braintree, Essex, in England. The town was first chartered in 1640. Later, some sections of Braintree formed separate municipalities: Quincy (1792), Randolph (1793), and Holbrook (1872).
History
Braintree was colonized in 1635 and incorporated in 1640.[3] The town is named after the Essex town of Braintree. Its boundaries initially were larger, but some portions were split into the municipalities of Quincy (incorporated in 1792), Randolph (1793), and Holbrook (1872).[12] Braintree was part of Suffolk County until the formation of Norfolk County in 1793.[13]
In 1888, the villages of Braintree and South Braintree were separate communities within the town of Braintree.[14]
In 1920, Braintree was the site of the murders that led to the trial of Sacco and Vanzetti. During that same decade, the town's population grew by more than 50%.[15]
Geography
Braintree shares borders with Quincy to the north, Randolph to the west (separated by the Cochato River), Holbrook to the south, and Weymouth to the east.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.6 km2), of which 13.9 square miles (36.0 km2) is land and 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2) is water. The total area is 4.34% water
Park and recreation locations in Braintree include Pond Meadow Park, Sunset Lake, and Blue Hills Reservation.
Climate
Braintree has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) with some maritime influence. Summers are typically warm to hot, rainy, and humid, while winters oscillate between periods of cold rain and snow, with cold temperatures. Spring and fall are usually mild, with varying conditions dependent on wind direction and jet stream positioning. Prevailing wind patterns that blow offshore minimize the influence of the Atlantic Ocean.
The hottest month is July, with a mean temperature of 69.7 °F (20.9 °C). The coldest month is January, with a mean of 25.7 °F (−3.5 °C). Periods exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) in summer and below freezing in winter are not uncommon but are rarely extended, with about 13 and 25 days per year seeing each, respectively. The city's average window for freezing temperatures is November 9 through April 5. Official temperature records have ranged from −21 °F (−29 °C) in February 1934, up to 101 °F (38 °C) in August 1949 and 1974.
Braintree's coastal location on the North Atlantic moderates its temperature, but makes the city very prone to
Most snowfall occurs from December through March, as most years see no measurable snow in April and November, and snow is rare in May and October. There is also high year-to-year variability in snowfall; for instance, the winter of 2011−2012 saw only 24.2 in (61.5 cm) of accumulating snow, but in the winter of 2014–2015, the figure was 150.8 in (383 cm).
Fog is fairly common, particularly in spring and early summer, and the occasional tropical storm or
Thunderstorms occur from May to September and are occasionally severe, with large hail, damaging winds and heavy downpours. Although Braintree has never been struck by a violent tornado, the city has experienced many tornado warnings. Damaging storms are more common in areas north, west, and northwest of the city.
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
71 (22) |
89 (32) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
99 (37) |
100 (38) |
101 (38) |
99 (37) |
88 (31) |
81 (27) |
74 (23) |
101 (38) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 56.6 (13.7) |
56.9 (13.8) |
65.6 (18.7) |
79.4 (26.3) |
87.3 (30.7) |
90.0 (32.2) |
92.9 (33.8) |
91.3 (32.9) |
86.9 (30.5) |
77.6 (25.3) |
68.4 (20.2) |
60.0 (15.6) |
94.7 (34.8) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 34.7 (1.5) |
37.0 (2.8) |
44.1 (6.7) |
56.3 (13.5) |
66.8 (19.3) |
75.4 (24.1) |
81.7 (27.6) |
80.2 (26.8) |
72.7 (22.6) |
61.0 (16.1) |
50.1 (10.1) |
40.2 (4.6) |
58.4 (14.6) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 26.5 (−3.1) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
35.5 (1.9) |
47.1 (8.4) |
58.5 (14.7) |
66.5 (19.2) |
72.7 (22.6) |
71.4 (21.9) |
64.2 (17.9) |
52.5 (11.4) |
42.0 (5.6) |
32.5 (0.3) |
49.8 (9.9) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.3 (−7.6) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
37.9 (3.3) |
48.2 (9.0) |
57.6 (14.2) |
63.8 (17.7) |
62.6 (17.0) |
55.6 (13.1) |
44.0 (6.7) |
33.8 (1.0) |
24.9 (−3.9) |
41.1 (5.1) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 0.0 (−17.8) |
3.1 (−16.1) |
10.1 (−12.2) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
37.5 (3.1) |
45.9 (7.7) |
54.9 (12.7) |
53.4 (11.9) |
42.3 (5.7) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
19.6 (−6.9) |
8.7 (−12.9) |
−2.5 (−19.2) |
Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) |
−21 (−29) |
−5 (−21) |
6 (−14) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
44 (7) |
39 (4) |
28 (−2) |
21 (−6) |
5 (−15) |
−19 (−28) |
−21 (−29) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.50 (114) |
4.00 (102) |
5.52 (140) |
4.76 (121) |
3.82 (97) |
4.63 (118) |
3.47 (88) |
3.91 (99) |
4.06 (103) |
5.49 (139) |
4.31 (109) |
5.39 (137) |
53.86 (1,367) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 18.6 (47) |
18.2 (46) |
15.0 (38) |
2.8 (7.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.7 (1.8) |
1.8 (4.6) |
12.6 (32) |
69.7 (176.5) |
Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 10.6 (27) |
11.5 (29) |
9.8 (25) |
2.6 (6.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
1.3 (3.3) |
7.7 (20) |
17.1 (43) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 13.2 | 11.3 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 13.0 | 12.1 | 10.5 | 10.2 | 9.2 | 11.5 | 10.9 | 12.6 | 139.5 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 8.1 | 7.1 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 29.2 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 132.1 | 146.7 | 174.0 | 185.6 | 220.2 | 231.8 | 258.1 | 242.5 | 204.1 | 182.1 | 133.3 | 125.9 | 2,236.4 |
Percent possible sunshine | 46.3 | 50.9 | 48.5 | 47.9 | 50.4 | 52.7 | 58.0 | 58.7 | 56.7 | 55.1 | 47.0 | 45.9 | 51.5 |
Source: NOAA, BHO[16][17] |
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1800 | 1,285 | — |
1810 | 1,351 | +5.1% |
1820 | 1,466 | +8.5% |
1830 | 1,758 | +19.9% |
1840 | 2,168 | +23.3% |
1850 | 2,969 | +36.9% |
1860 | 3,468 | +16.8% |
1870 | 3,948 | +13.8% |
1880 | 3,855 | −2.4% |
1890 | 4,848 | +25.8% |
1900 | 5,981 | +23.4% |
1910 | 8,066 | +34.9% |
1920 | 10,580 | +31.2% |
1930 | 15,712 | +48.5% |
1940 | 16,378 | +4.2% |
1950 | 23,161 | +41.4% |
1960 | 31,069 | +34.1% |
1970 | 35,050 | +12.8% |
1980 | 36,337 | +3.7% |
1990 | 33,836 | −6.9% |
2000 | 33,828 | −0.0% |
2010 | 35,744 | +5.7% |
2020 | 39,143 | +9.5% |
2022* | 38,567 | −1.5% |
* = population estimate. Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] Source: |
As of the
There were 12,652 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the town the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $85,590, and the median income for a family was $90,590 as of a 2007 estimate
Economy
Braintree is home to several large companies, including
From 1964 to 1991, Braintree was the location of the largest Valle's Steak House in the restaurant chain.[34] One of the chain's busiest locations, it was capable of serving over 5,000 customers per day.[35] In 1980, then presidential candidate Ronald Reagan made a campaign speech at a South Shore Chamber of Commerce luncheon held there.[36]
Arts and culture
Points of interest
- Blue Hills Reservation
- General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace
- Hollingsworth Park
- Monatiquot River
- Pond Meadow Park
- South Shore Plaza
- Sunset Lake
Education
Braintree is home to various educational institutions, both
Public primary and secondary education
Public education at the primary and secondary levels is managed by Braintree Public Schools (BPS), a system that includes one kindergarten center, six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.
Public high school
Public middle schools
- East Middle School
- South Middle School
Public elementary schools
- Flaherty Elementary School
- Highlands Elementary School
- Hollis Elementary School
- Liberty Elementary School
- Morrison Elementary School
- Ross Elementary School
Private and alternative education
Private and alternative education institutions in Braintree include Thayer Academy, Archbishop Williams High School, and CATS Academy.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Braintree is situated in the
Principal highways in Braintree are
Commuter rail service to
From 1948 to 1968, the town was the home of Braintree Airport, a general aviation airport located near Great Pond that was used by civil defense officials and private pilots. The airport featured a 2,800-foot (850 m) dirt runway and offered flight training. Residential development, proximity to the town's water supply, and a number of accidents led to its closure in 1968.[39][40]
Water and Sewer
In 2020, Braintree, together with Randolph, and Holbrook, formed a regional drinking water supply agency, which is called the Tri-Town Water Board. Braintree operates its own water treatment plant while a second treatment plant serves the Randolph-Holbrook Joint Water Board.[41]
Notable people
- Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams; mother of John Quincy Adams
- Henry Adams, original emigrant to the Americas
- Jeremy Adams, original emigrant to the Americas
- Declaration of Independence
- John Quincy Adams, diplomat, sixth President of the United States; member of the United States House of Representatives
- WHDH-TV
- Amy Bishop, perpetrator of the 2010 University of Alabama in Huntsville shooting
- American Modernistpainter
- University of Connecticut men's basketball team
- Priscilla Chan, philanthropist and pediatrician; wife of Mark Zuckerberg
- Chris Doherty, musician and recording artist from the band Gang Green
- NHL player[42]
- NHLplayer
- Declaration of Independence; fourth President of the Continental Congress; first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; diplomat and statesman
- Henry Hope, member of the Dutch bankers Hope & Co.
- Tiffany Kelly, beauty pageant winner, Miss Massachusetts of 2006
- Peter Kormann, gymnast and winner of the bronze medal in men's floor competition at the 1976 Olympics
- Don McKenney, hockey center; captain of the Boston Bruins, 1954–1963
- Jose Offerman, baseball player for the Boston Red Sox[43]
- Stanzi Potenza, actor and TikToker
- Rufus Putnam, American Revolutionary War military officer[44]
- William Rosenberg, creator of the Dunkin' Donuts restaurant chain
- Nick Santino, founding member of the American rock band A Rocket to the Moon
- Butch Stearns, sports anchorman; Chief Content Officer for the Pulse Network[45]
- West Point"
- Mo Vaughn, baseball player for the Boston Red Sox[46]
- Donnie Wahlberg, record producer, songwriter, singer, actor; founding member of the musical group New Kids on the Block[47]
- Mark Wahlberg, film and television producer; Academy Award-nominated actor; former lead singer of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch[48]
- Thomas A. Watson, primary assistant of Alexander Graham Bell; assisted in invention of the telephone; founder of Fore River Shipyard
Filming locations
- June 1969: Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, directed by Otto Preminger (sequence filmed at 710 West Street)[49]
- April 2008: Paul Blart: Mall Cop, directed by Steve Carr (sequence filmed in the South Shore Plaza)[50]
- September 2009: What Doesn't Kill You, directed by Brian Goodman (sequence filmed at the Mobil station on Elm Street)[51]
- April 2016: Stronger, directed by David Gordon Green (sequence filmed at the Skyline Drive apartment complex)[52]
References
- ^ "Braintree Historical Society". Braintree Historical Society. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
- Town of Braintree. Archived from the originalon January 19, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
Braintree was founded on land first colonized in 1625 by Captain Wollaston, and initially named Mount Wollaston.
- ^ Town of Braintree. Archived from the originalon February 18, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
Incorporated in 1640, Braintree has a rich history and a promising future.
- ^ Lambert, Lane (May 28, 2015). "After 367 years, Braintree town government made a dramatic change". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ "Braintree, MA | Official Website". braintreema.gov.
- ^ Braintree Town Charter Archived September 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine and MGL 39: City and town forms of government Archived November 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Braintree Town city, Norfolk County, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ "MAPC South Shore Coalition". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
- ^ "The Patriot Ledger, 1/3/2008".[permanent dead link]
- Town of Braintree. Archivedfrom the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
In November 2007, Joe Sullivan was elected as the first Mayor of Braintree and in November 2011, he was re-elected.
- Town of Braintree. Archived from the originalon January 19, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
The area was resettled and incorporated as the town of Braintree in 1640, on land which is now part of the current town of Braintree, from which Randolph, Holbrook, the City of Quincy.
- ^ Davis, William T. Bench and Bar of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, p. 44. The Boston History Company, 1895.
- ^ Map of the Villages of Braintree and South Braintree. Plate 22. 1888 Atlas of Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Accessed 9 June 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-231-05165-1.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Blue Hill COOP, MA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ "Blue Hill Observatory daily sunshine data". Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
- ^ "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
- ^ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "A Look at Braintree's Population History". Braintree, MA Patch. May 29, 2011. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Braintree Among Most Irish Towns in State". Braintree, MA Patch. March 18, 2013. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ "American FactFinder - Community Facts". Factfinder.census.gov. October 5, 2010. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Largest Valle's Opens in Braintree" (May 8, 1964) The Boston Globe page A4
- ^ Value, John B. (February 2, 1965) "They All Stay Trim Keeping Others Fed" The Boston Globe, page 21
- ^ Tuoti, Gerard (June 11, 2004) "Ronald Reagan 1911-2004" The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, Mass), page 10.
- ^ Whitfill, Mary (July 20, 2017). "Gov. Baker visits Braintree bridge construction site". The Patriot Ledger. GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ "Baker-Polito Administration Highlights 90 Road and Bridge Projects Across 61 Northeast Massachusetts Communities". www.mass.gov. July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ Markman, Joseph (September 20, 2011) "Braintree's Expansion and Dangerous Flights Proved too Much for Old Airport" Braintree Patch. Retrieved November 4, 2013 [1] Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Freeman, Paul "Braintree Airport, Braintree, Mass." Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields. Retrieved November 6, 2013 "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Massachusetts: Southeastern Boston area". Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- ^ "Tri-Town Board of Water Commissioners". Town of Braintree. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
- ^ Johnson, John. "Braintree's Adam Gaudette a spark for surging Northeastern hockey team". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ "Dynamic duo - Braintree, MA - Braintree Forum". Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-670-02544-2. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
- ^ The Pulse Network – Executive Team
- ISBN 9780761985068. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ ""Donnie Wahlberg: Biography" The New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
- ^ "Bennetts, Leslie "Rogue Star" (August 2001) Vanity Fair". Vanity Fair. February 7, 2011. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2012.
- ^ "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970) - Trivia". IMDb. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ Dennis Tatz (May 15, 2008). "Scenes for upcoming movie being filmed at Braintree mall". Braintree, Massachusetts: MetroWest Daily News. Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- ^ "Braintree American Fun Facts". 9/10 Eastern Region Baseball Tournament. Retrieved May 12, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Jake Gyllenhaal film "Stronger" shooting scenes around Braintree". Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- Dennehy, John A. "Images of America: Braintree." Arcadia Publishing, 2010. ISBN 978-0-7385-7247-5
External links
- Town of Braintree
- Braintree Historical Society Archived March 12, 2017, at the Wayback Machine