Mansfield, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mansfield, Massachusetts
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North Main Street, Mansfield, MA
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Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Bristol | |
| Settled | 1658 | |
| Incorporated | 1775 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 20.7 sq mi (53.7 km2) | |
| • Land | 20.5 sq mi (53.0 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2) | |
| Elevation | 160 ft (49 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,860 | |
| • Density | 1,163.90/sq mi (450.19/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
02048
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| Area code(s) | 508/774 | |
| FIPS code | 25-38225 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618283 | |
| Website | www.mansfieldma.com | |
Mansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2020, about 23,860 people lived there. Mansfield is located about 33 miles southwest of Boston. It is also 22 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island. A small part of the town is called Mansfield Center. Mansfield is also connected to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, England, as a "sister city."
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History of Mansfield
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The area where Mansfield is now was first explored in 1640 by Captain Miles Standish. People started settling here in 1658. The town officially became a town in 1775. It was named after William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield. He was a member of the British Parliament who supported the American colonies.
Mansfield is home to the Xfinity Center. This is a very popular place for concerts in New England. It used to be called Great Woods, Tweeter Center, and Comcast Center.
One of the oldest buildings in Mansfield is the Fisher–Richardson House. It was built between 1743 and 1751. This house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was fixed up in 1930 and is now a local history museum.
Mansfield is also where Honey Dew Donuts started. This is a chain of donut shops popular in New England. The first Honey Dew opened on June 6, 1973. It was located at 221 North Main Street.
Some famous people were born in Mansfield. Benjamin E. Bates, who started Bates College, was born here in 1808. Gordon Chilson (1804–1877), who made stoves and furnaces, also worked in Mansfield.
Exploring Mansfield's Geography
Mansfield covers about 20.7 square miles (53.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 20.5 square miles (53.0 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.3 square miles (0.7 square kilometers), is water.
The town has five special areas for nature. These are called conservation areas. They are Great Woods, Maple Park, York, Marie Strese, and Sweet Pond. Several rivers flow through Mansfield. These include the Canoe, Rumford, and Wading Rivers. All these rivers are part of the Taunton River Watershed.
Mansfield is located about 28 miles south of Boston. It is 14 miles west of Brockton. It is also 19 miles north of Providence, Rhode Island.
Mansfield shares its borders with several other towns. To the north are Foxborough and Sharon. To the east is Easton. Norton is to the south. To the west are North Attleborough and Attleboro. The northern edge of Mansfield is also part of the northern edge of Bristol County.
Mansfield has several neighborhoods. These include East Mansfield, Whiteville, Ginty Corner, Mansfield Center, Purdy Corner, Robinsonville, and West Mansfield.
Mansfield's Population Over Time
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,789 | — |
| 1860 | 2,114 | +18.2% |
| 1870 | 2,432 | +15.0% |
| 1880 | 2,765 | +13.7% |
| 1890 | 3,432 | +24.1% |
| 1900 | 4,006 | +16.7% |
| 1910 | 5,183 | +29.4% |
| 1920 | 6,255 | +20.7% |
| 1930 | 6,364 | +1.7% |
| 1940 | 6,530 | +2.6% |
| 1950 | 7,184 | +10.0% |
| 1960 | 7,773 | +8.2% |
| 1970 | 9,939 | +27.9% |
| 1980 | 13,453 | +35.4% |
| 1990 | 16,568 | +23.2% |
| 2000 | 22,414 | +35.3% |
| 2010 | 23,184 | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 23,860 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 23,816 | −0.2% |
Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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In 2000, there were 22,414 people living in Mansfield. The town has grown a lot over the years. You can see how the population has changed in the table above.
Many families live in Mansfield. In 2000, about 44.7% of homes had children under 18 living there. The average family size was 3.34 people. The median age in town was 34 years old.
Education in Mansfield
The first school record in Mansfield is from 1719. Thomas Skinner was the first schoolmaster. For a long time, school was taught in people's homes. The first school building was built in 1793. Mansfield's first high school opened in 1872.
Today, Mansfield has its own school system. There are five schools in total. They are managed by a superintendent and a school committee.
The schools in Mansfield are:
- Roland Green Preschool
- Everett W. Robinson Elementary School (grades K–2)
- Jordan-Jackson Elementary School (grades 3–5)
- Harold L. Qualters Middle School (grades 6–8)
- Mansfield High School
The sports teams at Mansfield High are called the Hornets. Their colors are green and white. The school's marching band used to host the first competition of the New England Scholastic Band Association season. Most of the town's schools are located on East Street.
Besides public schools, students can also go to other schools. The Foxboro Regional Charter School is an option. High school students can also attend Southeastern Regional Vocational-Technical High School in Easton. Another choice is Bristol County Agricultural High School in Dighton.
Mansfield also has private schools. Saint Mary's Catholic School serves grades Pre-K–8. Al-Noor Academy is an Islamic high school that opened in 2000.
Mansfield is known for its great high school sports and music programs. Many sports teams have won championships. These include football, soccer, baseball, basketball, and track and field. In 2013 and 2019, the Mansfield Hornets football team won the Division 2 state title. In 2018, the boys' basketball team won the state Division 1 championship.
The music program has also won many awards. The school’s percussion ensemble has won regional championships. They also won an international championship in 2015 from WGI. The school also has a marching band, concert band, choir, and orchestra.
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Superintendent of Schools
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Mansfield High School
Mansfield Public Library
The Mansfield Public Library opened in 1884. In 2008, the town spent about $605,929 on its public library. This was about $25 for each person in town that year.
Transportation in Mansfield
Two major highways, I-95 and I-495, meet near Mansfield. Both highways pass through the town. Parts of Route 140 and Route 106 are also in Mansfield.
The town has a train stop called Mansfield Station. This is part of the MBTA commuter line. This line connects Providence and Boston.
Mansfield also has a small airport called Mansfield Municipal Airport. It is for smaller planes. The town is about the same distance from two larger airports. These are Logan International Airport in Boston and T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island. Both are about 30 to 35 miles away.
Notable People from Mansfield
- Benjamin Bates IV (born 1808), a famous businessman
- Don Currivan (born 1920), a football player
- Tom Gilson (born 1988), an Arena Football League player
- Jeff Hill, played three seasons in the NFL
- Shawnae Jebbia (born 1971), Miss Massachusetts USA 1998 and Miss USA 1998
- Frank Jerome Murray (born 1904), a US federal judge
- Charlie Romero (born 1989), a soccer player
- Jen Royle (born 1974), a former reporter who became a chef
- Laban Wheaton (born 1846), a US Representative from Massachusetts
See also
In Spanish: Mansfield (Massachusetts) para niños
