Brockton, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brockton, Massachusetts
City
City Hall
Seal
Nickname(s):  The City of Champions
Motto(s):  "Education, Industry, Progress"
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Brockton, Massachusetts Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Brockton, Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States Brockton, Massachusetts Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Plymouth
Settled	1700
Incorporated (town)	1821
Incorporated (city)	1881
Government
• Type	Strong mayor/council
Area
• Total	21.52 sq mi (55.73 km2)
• Land	21.33 sq mi (55.25 km2)
• Water	0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2)
Elevation	112 ft (34 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	105,643
• Density	4,952.09/sq mi (1,912.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	02301–02305
Area code(s)	508/774
FIPS code	25-09000
GNIS feature ID	0617571

Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2020, about 105,643 people lived there. It is one of the two county seats of Plymouth County. Brockton is the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts. It is often called the "City of Champions." This is because famous boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler came from Brockton. Also, Brockton High School has very successful sports teams.

Two smaller areas within Brockton are Montello and Campello. Both have train stations and post offices. Campello is the smallest area but has the most people. Brockton also has a baseball team called the Brockton Rox. It is known as the second-windiest city in the United States. The average wind speed is about 14.3 miles per hour (23.0 km/h).

History of Brockton

In 1649, a Native American leader named Ousamequin (Massasoit) sold land called Saughtucket to Myles Standish. This land was added to Duxbury. Brockton was part of this area, which the English later called Bridgewater. On June 15, 1821, a part of Bridgewater became North Bridgewater.

The city's name has an interesting story. Some say Brockton was named after Isaac Brock. He was a British general who won a battle against American troops in the War of 1812. Because Brock was a loyalist (someone loyal to Britain), naming the town after him caused some arguments. However, the name Brockton was chosen in 1874. It officially became a city on April 9, 1881.

Brockton was a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. A famous leader against slavery, Frederick Douglass, spoke in Brockton before the American Civil War. During the Civil War, Brockton made more shoes than any other place in America. The city continued to have a big shoe and leather industry for many years.

Since 1898, the office supply company W.B. Mason has been based in Brockton. It started by providing supplies to the city's shoe factories. Brockton's economy used to be mostly about shoes. Now, it includes other areas like healthcare, education, and manufacturing. The city has worked hard to improve its downtown area. It celebrates its many different cultures and rich history.

Amazing Firsts in Brockton

World Firsts

• On October 1, 1883, Brockton was the first place in the world to have a special three-wire underground electrical system. Thomas Edison himself turned it on!
• The City Theater opened on October 24, 1894. It was the first theater in the world to use this new 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 first appeared in Brockton in December 1890. James Edgar, who owned Edgar's Department Store, dressed up as Santa for the first time.
• Brockton was the first city in the country to remove train crossings at street level in 1896.
• In 2020, Brockton became the first city in New England where most of the people were Black. This change is expected to bring good things to the city's culture, economy, and politics.

World Records

• On November 23, 2010, Brockton set a world record. 872 people wore Santa hats in one place at the same time!
• On November 20, 2011, Brockton broke its own record. 1,792 people wore Santa hats in downtown Brockton.

Geography of Brockton

Brockton covers about 21.6 square miles (55.9 km2). Most of this area is land. Brockton is the 162nd largest city in Massachusetts by land area. It is bordered by several towns, including Stoughton and Easton. Brockton is about 25 miles (40 km) south of Boston and 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Providence, Rhode Island.

Brockton is mostly a city area. It is located along the Salisbury Plain River. This river used to power the many shoe factories. The city has several parks. The biggest is D.W. Field Park, which has ponds and a golf course.

Brockton's Climate

Brockton has a climate with warm summers. It can get quite hot in July and August. Winters are cold, with snow usually falling from December to March.

People of Brockton

In 2020, Brockton had 105,673 people. There were about 3.04 people in each household. The city is very diverse. About 50.9% of the people were African American. About 27.3% were White. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 11.9% of the population. Brockton has one of the largest groups of people with Cape Verdean heritage in the United States. It also has a notable Angolan American community.

Brockton is the most populated city in Plymouth County. It is also the sixth largest community in Massachusetts. The average age of people in Brockton was 34 years old. In 2018, the average household income in Brockton was about $55,140.

Arts and Culture in Brockton

Music

Brockton is home to the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. This orchestra started in 1948. It performs several concerts each year at places like the West Middle School Auditorium. The orchestra has 65 musicians from the Brockton area.

Festivals

Brockton hosts many fun festivals throughout the year:

• Brockton Summer Concert Series
• Downtown Brockton Arts and Music Festival (late August)
• Towerfest (Columbus Day Weekend)
• Greek Festival (third week of September)
• Veterans Day Parade
• Holiday Parade (late November)
• The Cape Verdean Festival (last Sunday in July)

Library

The city has three buildings that are part of the Brockton Public Library system. The main library is a historic Carnegie building.

Places to Visit

• Fuller Craft Museum - a museum focused on contemporary craft.
• Westgate Mall - a popular shopping center.

Historic Sites

Many places in Brockton are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include:

• Brockton City Hall
• Central Fire Station
• D.W. Field Park
• Moses Packard House
• Old Post Office Building

Sports in Brockton

The Brockton Rox baseball team plays at Campanelli Stadium. They are part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL). This league gives college players a chance to gain experience and be seen by scouts.

Government

Brockton has a city government led by a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected for a two-year term. At the national level, Brockton is part of Massachusetts's 8th congressional district. At the state level, Brockton is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Senate.

Education in Brockton

Public Schools

Brockton has its own school system for about 17,000 students. It has an early education school, ten elementary schools, a K-8 school, six middle/junior high schools, and Brockton High School. Brockton High School's sports teams are called the Boxers. This name honors Rocky Marciano, the city's undefeated heavyweight boxing champion.

Private Schools

Brockton has private schools, including Trinity Lower Campus and Trinity Upper Campus. There is also Cardinal Spellman High School, a Catholic high school. Students can also attend Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in South Easton.

Colleges and Universities

Brockton is home to Massasoit Community College. Fisher College also has a campus here. The Brockton VA Hospital offers training for medical students from several universities. Other schools in Brockton include the National College of Technical Instruction and Porter and Chester Institute.

City Services

Transportation

Main Roads

Massachusetts Route 24 is a large highway that goes through the west side of Brockton. Other important roads like Massachusetts Route 27, Route 123, and Massachusetts Route 28 also pass through the city.

Bus Service

Brockton has its own bus system, run by the Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT). Buses travel on different routes within Brockton. Some routes also go to nearby towns and connect to the MBTA subway system in Boston.

Train Service

The Middleborough/Lakeville Line of the MBTA's commuter rail system runs through Brockton. It has stops in the Montello and Campello areas, as well as in the city center. This train service connects Brockton to Boston.

Healthcare

Brockton has three hospitals: Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, Good Samaritan Medical Center, and the Brockton Veterans Administration Hospital. These hospitals provide medical care to the community. The VA Hospital also helps train medical students. Brockton also has a community health center for people who need affordable healthcare.

Fire Department

The city of Brockton is protected by 174 professional firefighters. The Brockton Fire Department has six fire stations and many fire trucks. They work hard to keep the city safe. In 1941, thirteen Brockton firefighters died while fighting a fire at the Strand Theatre. This was one of the worst firefighting tragedies in American history.

Famous People from Brockton

Awards

Brockton has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in the United States. It received this award in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2011 from the America's Promise Alliance.

See also

In Spanish: Brockton (Massachusetts) para niños

Images for kids

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  Brockton station on a 1906 postcard

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  Oldest house in 1910

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  Main Street around 1910

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  Shoe factory in 1910

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  Newspaper headlines in a street window, December 1940.

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  Central Fire Station