Berkley, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berkley, Massachusetts
Town
Berkley's new Town Hall was opened in 2015
Seal
Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Bristol
Settled	1638
Incorporated	1735
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	17.4 sq mi (45.1 km2)
• Land	16.5 sq mi (42.8 km2)
• Water	0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)
Elevation	80 ft (24 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,764
• Density	388.4/sq mi (149.98/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	02779
Area code(s)	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-05280
GNIS feature ID	0619432

Berkley is a small and friendly town in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located south of Boston and east of Providence, Rhode Island. In 2020, about 6,764 people lived here. This makes Berkley the least populated town in its county.

Berkley is part of the South Coast region of Massachusetts. This area includes towns and cities around Buzzards Bay, Mount Hope Bay, and the Sakonnet River.

History of Berkley

Old Town Hall was built in 1849

The area that is now Berkley was first settled in 1638. At that time, it was part of the nearby towns of Dighton and Taunton. Berkley officially became its own town in 1735.

The town was named after a famous thinker and bishop named George Berkeley (1685–1753). He lived in Newport, Rhode Island for a few years. The spelling of the town's name changed slightly to "Berkley" because of a small mistake by a clerk.

Town Hall Buildings

Berkley's old Town Hall is a two-story white building. It was built in 1849 and is located on Berkley Common. When a new Town Hall was built in 2015, the old building became home to the Berkley Historical Society.

The new Town Hall is much bigger, covering about 9,778 square feet. It was built between 2014 and 2015. This modern building has a senior center, offices, a kitchen, and energy-saving LED lights.

Geography and Nature

An 1895 map of Berkley

Berkley covers about 45.1 square kilometers (17.4 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The town is next to the Taunton River and Dighton to the west. To the north and northeast is Taunton. Lakeville is to the east, and Assonet Bay and Freetown are to the south.

Berkley is about 35 miles (56 km) south of Boston. It is also 22 miles (35 km) east of Providence, Rhode Island. The town is about 30 miles (48 km) northwest of the Cape Cod Canal.

Special Places in Berkley

Near the southwest part of town, you can find Dighton Rock State Park. This park is home to Dighton Rock. This large rock is famous for its mysterious markings. People have wondered if these marks were made by Norsemen, Wampanoag people, or even a Portuguese explorer named Miguel Corte-Real.

At the very end of Berkley Neck, where the Taunton River and the Assonet River meet, there is a small island. It's called "Conspiracy Island", but no one is quite sure how it got its interesting name!

The highest point in Berkley is Bryant Hill. It is about 51 meters (167 feet) above sea level. You can find it near the southern border of the town.

Getting Around Berkley

You can reach Berkley using two main state roads: Route 24 and Route 79. Route 24 is a four-lane highway that goes right through the town. It has one exit for Berkley at Padelford Street. Route 79 runs along the border with Lakeville.

The Berkley–Dighton Bridge crosses the Taunton River. This bridge connects Berkley to the Segreganset area of Dighton. The current bridge was finished in 2015. It is the only bridge crossing the river for a long distance.

Myricks is a small community in Berkley. It is known as a place where different railroad lines meet.

Population and People

In 2000, there were 5,749 people living in Berkley. The town has grown quite a bit over the years. Many families live in Berkley, and about 47% of households had children under 18. The average age of people in Berkley in 2000 was 35 years old.

Education in Berkley

Somerset Berkley Regional High School

Students in Berkley attend local schools based on their age.

• Berkley Community School serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through 4th grade.
• Berkley Middle School is for students in 5th through 8th grades.
• For high school, students attend Somerset Berkley Regional High School. This school is located in Somerset, Massachusetts, and serves grades 9 through 12.

Students can also choose to attend other schools. These include Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton or Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School in Taunton. There are also private and religious schools nearby.

Local Attractions and Parks

Berkley Bridge Village Heritage Park

Berkley has some nice places to visit and enjoy nature.

Bridge Village Heritage Park

The Bridge Village Heritage Park is a small park located at 70 Elm Street. It's right at the base of the Berkley-Dighton Bridge, next to the Taunton River. This park is a great spot for fishing or having a picnic. You can also launch a canoe or kayak here. The park opened in 2006 and is about half an acre in size.

Dighton Rock State Park

Dighton Rock State Park is home to the famous Dighton Rock. This large boulder has ancient carvings, called petroglyphs, that are still a mystery. The rock is kept in a museum within the park. The park itself is 85 acres and has trails for walking. Sometimes, there are even theater shows held there.

Berkley Congregational Church

Berkley Congregational Church

The Berkley Congregational Church was founded in 1737, just two years after the town was created. Located at 13 South Main Street, this church has been holding services for people in Berkley for a very long time.

Notable People from Berkley

• Thomas Andros: He was a minister in Berkley for 46 years.
• C. G. W. French: A judge and politician who was born in Berkley.
• Tony Gaffney: A former professional basketball player who was born in and lives in Berkley.

See also

In Spanish: Berkley (Massachusetts) para niños