Duxbury, Massachusetts
Duxbury, Massachusetts | ||
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FIPS code 25-17895 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 0618338 | |
Website | www |
Duxbury (alternative older spelling: "Duxborough") is a historic seaside town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb located on the South Shore approximately 35 miles (56 km) to the southeast of Boston, the population was 16,090 at the 2020 census.[1]
Geographic and demographic information on the specific parts of the town of Duxbury is available in the articles Duxbury (CDP), Green Harbor, and South Duxbury.
History
The area now known as Duxbury was inhabited by people as early as 12,000 to 9,000 BCE. By the time
17th century
In 1620,
At first, those who settled in Duxbury came to work their new farms just in the warmer months and returned to Plymouth during the winter. It was not long, however, before they began to build homes on their land, and soon requested permission from the colony to be set off as a separate community with their own church. Duxbury, which originally included land that is now Pembroke, was incorporated in 1637.[2]
Some of the most influential men in the colony received grants in Duxbury and became its first leaders. Captain
The graves of some of Duxbury's first settlers can be found in the
Theory has it that the town was named by Myles Standish after the family estate of his childhood in Lancashire. The ancient Standish family in northern England owned much land and large estates, including the two main family headquarters of Standish Hall and Duxbury Manor, in Lancashire, since before the Middle Ages. Myles Standish's will delineates his inheritance rights to very particular lands near and around Standish and mostly Duxbury Manor, stating his descent from both lines of the Standish family; and so it has been suggested that he named the new town in Massachusetts after the estate where he grew up.[2]
Duxbury was primarily a farming community throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
18th century
Its quiet history in the 18th century was interrupted only by the
In 1775, General Thomas Gage dispatched a company of regulars to the town in response to pleas from the loyalists at Marshfield.[3]
When the
Duxbury's
The largest industry in Duxbury was owned by Ezra Weston, who came to be known as "King Caesar" due to his success and influence. Weston began building small vessels in 1764 and soon became famous for his successful merchant fleet. His son, Ezra Weston II, who inherited his father's kingly sobriquet, would bring the industry to its height.
19th century
Lloyd's of London recognized Weston as the owner of the largest fleet in America, and this judgment was confirmed by Daniel Webster in a speech in 1841. His empire, a fore-runner of vertical integration, dominated the town.[2] The King Caesar House is now a museum owned by the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society.[5] By 1837 there were nearly 40 shipyards along the west shore of Duxbury Bay between Captains Hill and the mouth of the Bluefish River. These shipyards were supported by a foundry, a sail loft, a ropewalk, and a spar soak where masts were stored in a pool of salt water to prevent warping before they were stepped as ships' masts. Inland farmers provided food for the ships' crews; and a bank handled the shipbuilders' money.[6]
Demand for shallow-
There was, however, a silver lining. By the 1870s, Duxbury's rural character and unspoiled
20th century
This pattern continued in Duxbury well into the 20th century. It was not until the construction of Route 3 that transportation to Boston became expedient and the town's population rose further with the arrival of thousands of year-round residents.[2]
Geography
According to the
Duxbury is the sixth largest cranberry producer in Massachusetts and has oyster beds and other shellfish.
The town has many ponds and bogs throughout. The Back River lies along the western edge of Saquish Neck, and has many tributaries from the local rivers, brooks, and marshes. There are several sanctuaries, a conservation area and other forests within the town, especially in the western half.[citation needed]
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1850 | 2,679 | — |
1860 | 2,597 | −3.1% |
1870 | 2,341 | −9.9% |
1880 | 2,196 | −6.2% |
1890 | 1,908 | −13.1% |
1900 | 2,075 | +8.8% |
1910 | 1,688 | −18.7% |
1920 | 1,553 | −8.0% |
1930 | 1,696 | +9.2% |
1940 | 2,359 | +39.1% |
1950 | 3,167 | +34.3% |
1960 | 4,727 | +49.3% |
1970 | 7,636 | +61.5% |
1980 | 11,807 | +54.6% |
1990 | 13,895 | +17.7% |
2000 | 14,248 | +2.5% |
2010 | 15,059 | +5.7% |
2020 | 16,090 | +6.8% |
2022* | 16,107 | +0.1% |
* = population estimate. Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] |
As of the
There were 5,344 households, of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 15; 7.6% from 15 to 19; 5.3% from 20 to 29; 7.0% from 30 to 39; 17.5% from 40 to 49; 23.7% from 50 to 64 and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $117,124; and the median income for a family was $136,245. Males had a median income of $77,228 versus $41,730 for females. The
Government
On the national level, Duxbury is a part of
On the state level, Duxbury is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Sixth Plymouth district; the Sixth includes the Town of Duxbury, and portions of the Towns of Hanson, Halifax, Marshfield, and Pembroke. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Plymouth and Norfolk district, which includes the towns of Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate and Weymouth.[20] The town is patrolled by the First (Norwell) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.[21]
Duxbury is governed by the
The Duxbury Free Library is located in the heart of town, next to the
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of February 1, 2019[22] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Number of Voters | Percentage | |||
Democratic | 2,296 | 18.84% | |||
Republican | 2,413 | 19.80% | |||
Unaffiliated | 7,309 | 60.00% | |||
Libertarian | 44 | 0.36% | |||
Total | 12,186 | 100% |
Education
Public schools
Over $26 million of Duxbury's annual budget is devoted to the town's nationally recognized public school system. According to Newsweek magazine's 2005, 2006, and 2007 rankings of the Nation's Top 1200 Public High Schools (the top 5% of public school systems), Duxbury was ranked at 246, 185, and 142 respectively. By 2013, it had fallen off of the Newsweek national rankings and locally, Boston Magazine's yearly town/school rankings, dropped it out of a top 40 spot.[23]
Duxbury operates its own school system for the town's approximately 3,400 students, serving preschool through 12th grade. Chandler School is located near Tree of Knowledge Corner in the west of town and serves students from pre-kindergarten through second grade. The Alden Elementary School, near the John Alden House, serves grades 3–5.
Duxbury Middle/High School is located on Alden Street and serves grades 6–12. Duxbury High School[24] was rebuilt into a combined building along with Duxbury Middle School,[24] called the 21st Learning experience. Duxbury's athletic teams are known as the Dragons, and their colors are green and white. Their chief rival is Marshfield High School, team mascot the Rams, and they play against them in the Thanksgiving Day Tournament. It is a local event whose rivalry goes back 30 years.
The parents of a former Duxbury Middle School student filed a $1 million lawsuit in March 2021 against the Duxbury Public Schools and a former gym teacher and hockey coach, accusing him of repeatedly raping their son in his eighth grade gym class.
In March 2021, the High School's Football Coach David Maimaron was fired, despite an exceptionally strong football record, when it was exposed that the football team was using anti-Semitic language (including terms like "Auschwitz") as
As audibles must be known and agreed to by players and coaches, it was assumed that there was staff approval of seriously racially inappropriate language, and the Coach was fired and the team was disciplined.Private schools
There are two private schools located in Duxbury. Bay Farm Montessori Academy
Transportation
Bus
For buses in Duxbury, the local
Road
Other
There is no rail or air service in town. There are no bicycle paths or bicycle lanes. A few of the roads in the town have sidewalks. [citation needed]
Notable people
- Ichabod Alden, American Revolutionary War officer[32]
- John Alden, Mayflower immigrant and one of Duxbury's founders[32]
- Salem Witch Trialsand survived by breaking out of prison and later writing a book about the trials
- Charlotte Bradford, American Civil War nurse
- Love Brewster, a founder of Duxbury
- Elder Pilgrim leader, spiritual elder of the Plymouth Colony, passenger on the Mayflower, and a founder of Duxbury
- John Malcolm Brinnin, Canadian-born poet and literary critic[33]
- Bill Curley, former professional basketball player, San Antonio Spurs
- Captain Amasa Delano, captain of the 19th century merchant ship Bachelors Delight
- William Bradford and Edward Winslow
- Juliana Hatfield, indie rock singer
- Scott Woodruff, frontman of Reggae band Stick Figure
- George Partridge, Continental Congress delegate and representative to the 1st United States Congress
- Joe Perry, lead guitarist, Aerosmith[34]
- George Soule, a Mayflower Pilgrim, signer of the Mayflower Compact, and one of Duxbury's founders[35]
- Myles Standish, deputy governor, Mayflower settler, and a Duxbury founder
- Ezra Weston II, 19th century shipbuilding merchant
Points of interest
- Alexander Standish House, built in 1666
- Art Complex Museum: the Carl A. Weyerhaeuser collection[36]
- Captain Daniel Bradford House
- Capt. Gamaliel Bradford House
- Duxbury Beach
- Duxbury Free Library[37]
- Duxbury Yacht Club near Snug Harbor was founded in 1875 and incorporated in 1895. As part of the club's 120th anniversary celebrations, David A. Mittell wrote "The Duxbury Yacht Club Story."[38]
- Pilgrims, it was the second religious body of the Plymouth Colony.[39]
- Capt. Gershom Bradford House: This early 19th-century house remains virtually untouched from when it was built and furnished by the seafaring captain. It remained in the family for four generations until donated to the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society.[40]
- John Alden House, built in 1653, home to Pilgrim John Alden
- King Caesar House[41]
- Myles Standish Burial Ground, cemetery and Pilgrim burial site
- Myles Standish Monument State Reservation[42]
- North Hill Marsh Pond: The Massachusetts Audubon Society's 129-acre (0.52 km2) sanctuary on Mayflower Street includes a forest, bike trails, and a 90-acre (360,000 m2) pond.[43]
- Old Shipbuilder's Historic District
- Pillsbury Summer House
- Mill Pond, Island Creek Pond, Island Creek[44]
- Camp Wing: Located in Duxbury's northeast tip, it is a summer camp with many year-round events.
- Wright Memorial Library, home of the Duxbury Student Union and the Drew Archival Library of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society
- Nathaniel Winsor Jr. House, headquarters of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society
- Powder Point Bridge: A wooden bridge built from Powder Point to Gurnet in 1892. The bridge was in the Guinness World Records as the longest and oldest wooden bridge in the world until it sustained some damage from a fire in 1985.[45] The fire proved that the bridge in its whole was unstable and in 1986 it was rebuilt in its original style and is still standing today. The bridge was also shown in the 2013 The Way, Wack Back. The bridge features prominently in the Film The Equalizer 2.
- Tree of Knowledge Corner: A tri-point intersection between Elm Street, Summer Street, and South Street, where mail carriers used to drop off their mail inboxes nailed to a tree.[46] The tree is no longer standing as it was hit by lightning but in its place is an engraved stone.
Media
Newspapers
- The Duxbury Clipper[47]
- The Duxbury Reporter[48] (online only as Wicked Local Duxbury, published by GateHouse Media of Perinton, New York)
Television
- Duxbury Community Television (Comcast; Channel 14-Verizon; Channel 38)
- Duxbury Government (Comcast; Channel 15-Verizon; Channel 39)[49]
- Dragon TV (Comcast; Channel 14-Verizon; Channel 38)[50]
Radio
- WDSU,[51] internet radio
See also
- Dead Boots
- John and Priscilla Alden Family Sites
- Keene Pond
- Lower Chandler Pond
- Pine Lake
- Pine Street Pond
- Round Pond
- South Shore Railroad
- Upper Chandler Pond
References
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Duxbury town, Plymouth County, Massachusetts". Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Duxbury in Brief: A Historical Sketch Archived January 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, duxburyhistory.org; accessed May 24, 2017.
- ^ Duxbury profile Archived February 5, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, maintour.com; accessed May 24, 2017.
- ^ Duxbury in the Revolution, duxburyhistory.org; accessed May 24, 2017.
- ^ "Historic Houses - Duxbury Rural and Historical Society". duxburyhistory.org. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
- Boston Sunday Globe: 40.
- ^ Commissioners, Massachusetts Board of Railroad (July 10, 1878). "Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners". Wright & Potter, State Printers – via Google Books.
- ^ "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 4, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved March 7, 2007.
- ^ Station D-1, SP Norwell, mass.gov; accessed May 24, 2017.
- ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of February 1, 2019" (PDF). Massachusetts Elections Division. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
- ^ "Best Schools in Boston: Our exclusive ranking of the top cities, towns". Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ a b "Duxbury High School | Homepage". /www.duxbury.k12.ma.us.
- ^ a b Cowperthwaite, Wheeler. "Parents of deceased former Duxbury Middle School student accuse gym teacher of rape". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ a b Cowperthwaite, Wheeler. "Duxbury refuses to release findings of school rape investigation". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ "Duxbury fires football coach, cancels Friday night's game over 'Auschwitz' audible". March 25, 2021.
- ^ Levenson, Michael (March 24, 2021). "High School Football Coach Is Fired After Players' Use of Anti-Semitic Language". The New York Times.
- ^ "High school fires football coach, cancels games over players' use of anti-Semitic terms in audibles". CBSSports.com. March 24, 2021.
- ^ "Bay Farm Montessori". December 16, 2013. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013.
- ^ "Good Shepherd Christian Academy, MA Homes for Sale | Redfin". www.redfin.com.
- ^ a b Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
- ^ Stewart, Barbara (June 30, 1998). "John Malcolm Brinnin, Poet and Biographer, Dies at 81". The New York Times.
- ^ Gerber, Dana (September 14, 2021). "Aerosmith's Joe Perry puts Duxbury mansion on the market for $4.5 million". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ Title: Mayflower Families Through Five Generations- George Soule, Volume 3; Author: John E Soule, Col. and Milton E. Perry, Ph.D.; Publication: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1980; Abbrev: Mayflower Families Through Five Generations- George Soule, Volume 3
- ^ "The Art Complex Museum – Duxbury, MA".
- ^ "Duxbury Free Library | Duxbury MA". www.town.duxbury.ma.us.
- ^ David A. Mittell, "The Duxbury Yacht Club Story" (Attleboro, Mass.: The Club, Colonial Lithograph, 1995)
- ^ "First Parish Church Unitarian Universalist | Duxbury, MA". First Parish Church Duxbury.
- ^ "Gershom Bradford House at duxburyhistory.org". Archived from the original on May 26, 2007.
- ^ "King Caesar House". Archived from the original on May 26, 2007.
- ^ "Myles Standish Monument State Reservation".
- ^ "North Hill Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary". Mass Audubon.
- ^ "Chad Conway's Website / Eagle Scout Project". chadconway.pbworks.com.
- ^ "Powder Point Bridge". Bridgehunter.com.
- ^ "Curse of the Tree of Knowledge".
- ^ "Duxbury's Hometown Newspaper since 1950". Duxbury Clipper.
- ^ "The Patriot Ledger: Local News, Politics & Sports in Quincy, MA". The Patriot Ledger.
- ^ "Archived copy". 173.162.207.246. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Joseph Ferguson - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Duxbury Student Union". Duxbury Student Union.
External links
- Media related to Duxbury, Massachusetts at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Duxbury Rural & Historical Society
- Duxbury Business Association Archived May 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- Duxbury Public Schools