Acushnet, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Acushnet, Massachusetts
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Acushnet Town Hall
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Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Bristol | ||
| Settled | 1659 | ||
| Incorporated | 1860 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 19.0 sq mi (49.1 km2) | ||
| • Land | 18.4 sq mi (47.7 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,559 | ||
| • Density | 557.0/sq mi (215.05/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP code |
02743
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| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-00520 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1729673 | ||
Acushnet (
i/əˈkʊʃnət/) is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. It's located in the South Coast area of Massachusetts. This region includes towns and cities around Buzzards Bay and Mount Hope Bay.
In 2020, about 10,559 people lived in Acushnet.
Contents
History of Acushnet
Acushnet was first settled way back in 1659. Over time, it was part of three different towns. First, it was part of Dartmouth. This larger area was called Old Dartmouth. It also included the towns of Westport, New Bedford, and Fairhaven.
In 1787, New Bedford became its own town, and Acushnet was part of it. Then, in 1812, Fairhaven became a separate town, and Acushnet was included with Fairhaven. Finally, in 1860, Acushnet officially became its own town.
The name "Acushnet" comes from the Wampanoag word Cushnea. This word means "peaceful resting place near water." It refers to the Acushnet River, which runs through the town. The Wampanoag tribe sold this land to the Puritans long ago.
A famous writer, Herman Melville, joined a whaling ship called the Acushnet in 1841. His experiences at sea later inspired his famous novel, Moby Dick.
In 1910, the Acushnet Process Company was started in the town. Today, it's known as the Acushnet Company. This company is famous for owning the Titleist brand. They make golf balls, golf clubs, and other golf gear.
Geography of Acushnet
Acushnet covers about 49.1 square kilometers (18.9 square miles). Most of this area, about 47.7 square kilometers (18.4 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1.4 square kilometers (0.5 square miles), is water.
Acushnet is surrounded by other towns. To the east and northeast is Rochester. To the southeast is Mattapoisett. Fairhaven is to the south. New Bedford is to the west, and Freetown is to the northwest.
The town is about 50 miles (80 km) south of Boston. It's also about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Buzzards Bay.
The Acushnet River flows through the town. Other smaller streams, like the Keene River, also run here. These rivers feed into the New Bedford Reservoir. The Acushnet River forms part of the border between Acushnet and New Bedford.
Most of Acushnet is fairly flat, usually below 80 feet (24 meters) in height. Some higher spots reach over 160 feet (49 meters) above sea level.
Neighboring Communities
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Freetown | Lakeville | Rochester | |
| New Bedford |  |
Mattapoisett | ||
 Acushnet  |
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| Fairhaven |
Transportation in Acushnet
A small part of Route 105 goes through the northeast corner of Acushnet. Other than that, there are no major state or federal highways directly in the town.
Nearby, Route 18 and Route 140 pass through New Bedford. Interstate 195 is also close by, just south of Acushnet in Fairhaven.
The SRTA runs a short bus route in the southern part of town. This bus connects to Fairhaven. Acushnet does not have its own train service or airports. The nearest airport is the New Bedford Regional Airport. For flights to other states, people usually go to T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island.
On average, people in Acushnet spend about 28.4 minutes traveling to work.
Population and People
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1860 | 1,387 | — |
| 1870 | 1,132 | −18.4% |
| 1880 | 1,105 | −2.4% |
| 1890 | 1,027 | −7.1% |
| 1900 | 1,221 | +18.9% |
| 1910 | 1,692 | +38.6% |
| 1920 | 3,075 | +81.7% |
| 1930 | 4,092 | +33.1% |
| 1940 | 4,145 | +1.3% |
| 1950 | 4,401 | +6.2% |
| 1960 | 5,755 | +30.8% |
| 1970 | 7,767 | +35.0% |
| 1980 | 8,704 | +12.1% |
| 1990 | 9,554 | +9.8% |
| 2000 | 10,161 | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 10,303 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 10,558 | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 10,585 | +0.3% |
| Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. | ||
In 2020, Acushnet had 10,558 residents. The town had about 573 people per square mile.
- About 18.3% of residents were under 18 years old.
- About 3.7% were under 5 years old.
- About 21.5% of residents were 65 or older.
- More than half the population, 52.3%, was female.
Most people in Acushnet, about 93.9%, identified as White. Other groups included African American (0.3%), Native American (0.1%), and Asian (0.5%). About 4.4% of people were of two or more races.
About 2.9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. Also, 8.3% of residents were born outside the United States. About 13.1% of people aged 5 or older spoke a language other than English at home.
In 2022, the average household income in Acushnet was $88,196. The income per person was $44,630. About 6.4% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Public Library
Acushnet opened its first free library in 1896. The town's library is called the Russell Memorial Library. It was named after a member of the well-known Russell family from New Bedford.
In 2008, Acushnet spent about $189,813 on its public library. This was about $18 for each person in town.
On December 5, 2015, the Russell Memorial Library closed its old building. It moved to the former Marie S. Howard School on Middle Road. The new Acushnet Public Library opened its doors on December 21, 2015.
Education in Acushnet
The Acushnet Public School District has two public schools. These schools are located next to each other on Middle Road.
- The Acushnet Elementary School teaches students from preschool through fourth grade.
- The Albert F. Ford Middle School serves students from fifth through eighth grade.
After middle school, students can choose which public high school to attend. Many go to Fairhaven High School in Fairhaven. Others attend New Bedford High School in New Bedford.
Students also have other options. They can go to Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester. Another choice is Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton. There are also private high schools in the area.
Acushnet is also home to Saint Francis Xavier School. This is a private Catholic school for students from kindergarten to eighth grade.
Notable People
- Pat Flynn, Frontman of Straight Edge Hardcore band Have Heart and post-hardcore band Fiddlehead
- Antonio Gattorno (1904–1980), leader in the Cuban Modern Art
- Gideon Nye (1812–1888), merchant in the China trade
- Clement Nye Swift (1846–1918), painter
See Also
In Spanish: Acushnet (Massachusetts) para niños
