North Attleborough, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Attleborough, Massachusetts
City
North Attleborough Town Hall
Seal
Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Bristol
Settled	1669
Incorporated	1887
Government
• Type	Town manager and town council
Area
• Total	19.1 sq mi (49.3 km2)
• Land	18.6 sq mi (48.3 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2)
Elevation	200 ft (61 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	30,834
• Density	1,657.7/sq mi (638.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	02760
Area code(s)	508/774
FIPS code	25-46598
GNIS feature ID	0618284

North Attleborough, also known as North Attleboro, is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2020, about 30,834 people lived there.

The villages of Attleboro Falls and North Attleborough Center are part of the town.

History of North Attleborough

Early Settlements and Native American Trails

Long ago, before European settlers arrived, the land where North Attleborough now stands was home to the Bay Path. This was an important trail used by Native Americans. It connected to places like Narragansett Bay, the Seekonk River, and Boston.

English settlers first came to this area in 1634. They created a settlement called Rehoboth. This large area included what is now North Attleborough, Attleboro, and parts of Rhode Island. The land was bought from the Pokanoket people.

In 1669, John Woodcock started a small community here. People lived by farming, fishing, and hunting. By 1670, Woodcock even opened a tavern.

King Philip's War and George Washington's Visit

During King Philip's War, the settlement was attacked. Two people were killed, and one home was burned. However, the strong Garrison house built by Woodcock survived. Later, this Woodcock-Garrison house became a resting place for George Washington. He stayed there with his army on their way to Boston.

In 1694, the larger area became the Town of Attleborough.

Growth of Industry and Manufacturing

Around 1780, a French settler named Lazarus Periera started a brass forge. This marked the beginning of industry in the area. In 1794, people from England brought machinery from Birmingham. They improved how buttons were made and got patents for their new designs.

In the 18th and early 19th centuries, small mills were built along the Ten Mile River. These mills ground grain and cut wood. Later, factories making nails appeared. Soon, cotton spinning mills became very important. The War of 1812 stopped imports, which helped the cotton industry grow.

By 1832, making textiles (cloth) and jewelry were the main industries. But buttons became the most important product. The American Civil War helped this industry, as the U.S. Army ordered many badges and medals. By 1834, Attleborough made more buttons than any other place in the United States. By 1855, there were 24 shops making almost $1 million worth of jewelry.

Becoming North Attleborough

In 1887, the people living in the village of East Attleborough decided to form their own town. They had more people and votes. So, they took the name Attleborough and its original founding date of 1694. The rest of the original town then became known as North Attleborough.

Modern North Attleborough

In the 1900s, North Attleborough was home to famous jewelry companies. These included Jostens, known for class rings, and the Balfour Company, which made championship rings for the National Football League's Super Bowl and Major League Baseball's World Series.

In 2006, North Attleborough was recognized as one of the best places for professional sports communities. It was also listed as an affordable and safe place to raise a family. Today, many professional athletes live here because it's close to Gillette Stadium, which is only five miles away.

Geography and Nature

North Attleborough covers about 19 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The town is shaped roughly like a rectangle. It forms the northwest corner of Bristol County.

Neighboring Towns and Cities

North Attleborough is surrounded by other towns:

• To the north: Plainville
• To the east: Mansfield
• To the south: Attleboro
• To the west: Cumberland, Rhode Island

It is about 16 miles north of Providence, Rhode Island. It's also about 38 miles southwest of Boston.

Rivers, Ponds, and Parks

Several rivers and streams flow through North Attleborough. These include the Ten Mile River and the Seven Mile River. There are also many ponds and lakes. Greenwood Lake, for example, has a fish hatchery.

The town's biggest park is World War I Memorial Park. It's in the northern part of town. This park is home to Sunrise Hill, which is the highest point in Bristol County. The park has a petting zoo and fields for sports. Next to the park is the North Attleborough Arboretum, a place to see different plants.

On High Street, there's an ice-skating pond called Titus Pond. The North Attleborough Rotary Club takes care of it, and the Fire Department fills it with water each winter.

Cemeteries

North Attleborough has five cemeteries:

• Woodcock Cemetery (small and old)
• Paine Road Cemetery
• Mt. Hope Cemetery & Arboretum
• Old St. Mary's Cemetery
• New St. Mary's Cemetery

Population and People

In 2000, there were 27,143 people living in North Attleborough. There were 10,391 households. About 36% of these households had children under 18.

The average age of people in North Attleborough was 36 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 94.6 males.

In 2016, the average household income was $90,125. A small number of families and people lived below the poverty line.

Arts and Culture

Richards Memorial Library

Richards Memorial Library

The North Attleborough Public Library started in 1889. Today, the Richards Memorial Library is located downtown. It is part of the SAILS Library Network, which connects libraries in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Interesting Places to Visit

• Angle Tree Stone: A historic marker.
• Emerald Square: A large shopping mall.
• North Attleborough Town Center Historic District: An area with historic buildings.

Education in North Attleborough

Little Red Schoolhouse

Public Schools

North Attleborough has a strong public school system. The North Attleborough Public School District has eight schools. About 4,000 students attend these schools. There are seven elected School Committee members who help make decisions.

In 2018, citizens voted to increase taxes to help fund the schools. This money helped improve school buildings and hire more staff. Massachusetts has top-ranked public schools. North Attleborough Public Schools (NAPS) are known for good academics and quality teachers.

Here are the public schools in North Attleborough:

• The Early Learning Center (Preschool)
• Amvet Boulevard School (Grades K–5)
• Community School (Grades K–5)
• Falls School (Grades K–5)
• Joseph W. Martin Jr. School (Grades K–5)
• Roosevelt Avenue School (Grades K–5)
• North Attleborough Middle School (Grades 6–8)
• North Attleborough High School (Grades 9–12)

Private Schools

North Attleborough has one Catholic school for grades K–8, called Saint Mary-Sacred Heart School. For high school, students can attend Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, which is a Catholic high school. There is also a trades high school called Tricounty.

Town Services and Transportation

Police station

Transportation Options

Major highways like I-95 and I-295 pass through North Attleborough. U.S. Route 1 also runs through the town's shopping and downtown areas.

For public transportation, there are bus services provided by the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority. The closest airports are T.F. Green Airport in Rhode Island and Logan International Airport in Boston.

Police and Fire Services

The North Attleborough Police Department is located downtown. There are three fire stations in different parts of the town. There are also two post offices, one downtown and one in Attleboro Falls.

Town Revitalization Projects

The old Balfour Co. Building was once a big jewelry company. It was abandoned for many years and looked very run down. In 2014, there were plans to build new apartments and a bus stop there. However, the developers couldn't get enough money.

In 2017, new plans were made. A company called Boston Realty Advisors got a loan to develop the area. They are building a modern apartment complex with 193 units. It will also have 11,500 square feet of shops and restaurants. This new building will have a gym and shuttles to train stations.

This project helps the town by bringing in new businesses and residents. It also uses an old, empty building instead of building on new land. However, some residents have reported flooding in their homes due to changes in water drainage from the new building. The town is working with the developers to fix this issue.

Famous People from North Attleborough

• Allen Ripley: A professional baseball player.
• Anthony Sherman: A professional football player.
• Chris Sullivan: A former football player for the New England Patriots.
• Colin Grafton: A Team USA figure skater.
• Elizabeth Poirier: A politician who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
• Frank C. Whitmore: A well-known organic chemist.
• Jeff Sutherland: A computer scientist who helped create Scrum.
• Jerod Mayo: Current head coach and former linebacker for the New England Patriots.
• Joseph W. Martin Jr.: A Republican US Representative and Speaker of the House. An elementary school is named after him.
• Steve Pearce: A professional baseball player.
• William J. Maguire: A politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly.
• Will Levis: A professional football player for the Tennessee Titans, who lived in North Attleborough as a child.

See also

In Spanish: North Attleborough para niños