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Bridgewater
Chartered in 1656, the town of Bridgewater is one of the oldest communities in the country. As early as the 18th century, foundries were operating along the northern periphery of the downtown where iron forgings for the Revolutionary and Civil Wars were produced. A century later, shoe, nail and brick manufacturing emerged in the area, employing hundreds of former agricultural workers from nearby farms or immigrants from distant lands.
Today, Bridgewater is a charming, residential, suburban community. Located approximately 25 miles south of Boston, the town is accessible by bus, commuter rail and highway at the junction of routes 24 and 495. Its historic character and unique landscaping are prominent throughout the community, particularly in the downtown central common area. Bridgewater is a growing community of approximately 25,000 and serves as home to Bridgewater State College. Founded in 1840, Bridgewater State College is one of the oldest institutions of higher education dedicated to teacher preparation in the United States. Offering a diversity of activities, Bridgewater maintains a caring, friendly, small-town, community atmosphere.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (508) 697-3700
Assessors: (508) 697-0928
Board of Health: (508) 697-0903
Building Inspector: (508) 697-0904
Clerk: (508) 697-0921
Conservation Commission: (508) 697-0907
Council on Aging: (508) 697-0929
Dept. of Public Works: (508) 697-0931
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (508) 697-0920
Fire Department, non-emergency: (508) 697-0900
Fuel Assistance: (508) 679-0041
Historical Commission: (508) 697-0920
Highway Department: (508) 697-0931
Industrial Finance Board: (508) 697-0920
Library: (508) 697-3331
Planning Board: (508) 697-0942
Police Department, non-emergency: (508) 697-6118
Selectmen: (508) 697-0919
School Superintendent: (508) 824-2730
Tax Collector: (508) 697-0923
Veterans’ Services: (508) 697-0908
Water Department: (508) 697-0910
Zoning Board: (508) 697-0906
Carver
Named for John Carver, the first elected leader of the Plymouth Colony, Carver was incorporated as a town in 1790. Early industry revolved around sawmills (due to the many water sources and abundant woodlands), and grew to include iron foundries and cranberry agriculture.
Carver’s Savery Avenue, a half-mile road built in 1861, was the first divided highway in America. Myles Standish State Forest, located in Carver and Plymouth, was the first state forest in Massachusetts. With more than 12,000 acres, it offers a variety of camping and recreational facilities including hiking, swimming and fishing.
In the 1940’s, Carver produced more cranberries than any town in the world. Although Carver is now clearly a suburban commuter community, it is one of the few towns with a significant remaining agricultural component, as cranberries have become an important national business.
Carver also has two notable tourist attractions. Edaville Railroad is a narrow-gauge railroad attraction which opened in 1949. It has long been a family tourist attraction in Southeastern Massachusetts, especially for its festival of lights around Christmastime. The town is also the site of King Richard’s Faire, a recreation of a 16th century English fair which is open on weekends throughout September and October. It is one of Massachusetts’ largest Renaissance fairs.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (508) 866-3400
Assessors: (508) 866-3410
Board of Health: (508) 866-3401
Building Inspector: (508) 866-3405
Clerk: (508) 866-3403
Conservation Commission: (508) 866-8482
Council on Aging: (508) 866-4698
Dept. of Public Works: (508) 866-3425
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (508) 866-3400
Fire Department, non-emergency: (508) 866-3440
Fuel Assistance: (508) 746-6707
Historical Commission: (508) 866-3400
Industrial Finance Board: (508) 866-3400
Library: (508) 866-3415
Planning Board: (508) 866-3450
Police Department, non-emergency: (508) 866-2000
Selectmen: (508) 866-3401
School Superintendent: (508) 866-6150
Tax Collector: (508) 866 3434
Town Nurse: (508) 866-3873
Veterans’ Services: (508) 866-3406
Zoning Board: (508) 866-3400
Halifax
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Settled in 1669 by Europeans, the town of Halifax is a pastoral community located in the geographic center of Plymouth County. Early colonists found extensive woods of white and pitch pine, cedar and oak. The first sawmill was built about 1728 to process this lumber. Agriculture and lumbering continued to be the basis of the community’s economy, and iron furnaces, a cotton factory and a large woolen mill were established by 1822.
In 1795, Halifax was the site of an early effort to construct a canal between Buzzards Bay and Massachusetts Bay by connecting the Taunton and North Rivers through the ponds of Halifax and Pembroke. The plan never succeeded.
During the 19th century, as other communities became increasingly industrialized and Halifax’s industries burned or closed, the town’s economy shifted back to agriculture. Poultry and cranberry production continue today. Halifax is a quiet, residential community with a small retail area growing at the center of town.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (781) 293-7970
Assessors: (781) 293-5960
Board of Health: (781) 293-6768
Building Inspector: (781) 293-6557
Clerk: (781) 293-7970
Conservation Commission: (781) 293-1735
Dept. of Public Works: (781) 293-1760
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (781) 294-1316
Fire Department: (781) 293-2323
Historical Commission: (781) 294-7501
Library: (781) 293-2271
Planning Board: (781) 293-1736
Police Department: (781) 294-8713
Selectmen: (781) 294-1316
School Superintendent: (781) 585-4313
Zoning Board: (781) 293-1736
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Lakeville
The town of Lakeville is an inland rural town on the Plymouth-Bristol County boundary. The town was settled about 1702. Lacking the major resources necessary to attract early industrialists, the town development was largely agricultural.
In the 19th century, however, limited water power allowed development of a tack and nail factory, a tannery, and some small shoe-making companies. The town has remained essentially as it began, a pleasant rural community still showing significant agricultural character but with some suburban development emerging. Residents are very proud of the community’s continuing beauty, and enjoy using the Long Pond and Clear Pond recreational areas. The woodlands surrounding the town’s lakes provide hiking and picnicking opportunities. Three golf courses, indoor tennis facilities and a racquet and fitness club provide for the athletic interests of residents.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (508) 946-8800
Assessors: (508) 947-4428
Board of Health: (508) 946-3473
Building Inspector: (508) 946-8804
Clerk: (508) 946-8800
Conservation Commission: (508) 946-8823
Council on Aging: (508) 947-7224
Dept. of Public Works: (508) 947-9521
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (508) 946-8803
Fire Department, non-emergency: (508) 947-4121
Fuel Assistance: (508) 679-0041
Historical Commission: (508) 946-8803
Highway Department: (508) 947-9521
Library: (508) 947-9028
Planning Board: (508) 946-8803
Police Department, non-emergency: (508) 947-4422
Selectmen: (508) 946-8803
School Superintendent: (508) 923-2000
Tax Collector: (508) 946-8801
Veterans’ Services: (508) 947-7224
Zoning Board: (508) 946-8800
Middleborough
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The town of Middleborough is a 70-square mile historic industrial town on the Nemasket River and was a major Native American settlement area used for seasonal fishing, hunting and berry gathering. Settled in 1660, the town is one of only a handful of southeastern Massachusetts communities that retained a sizable Indian population throughout the Colonial period.
Agriculture, fishing, hunting and some lumbering were the main occupations of early settlers, and, as Indian settlements dwindled, the town’s industries grew. A large, self-contained industrial complex was developed by Judge Peter Oliver, which included a blast furnace, forge, slitting mill, blacksmith, finishing and hammer shops, grist mill and fuel storage. This complex and his country estate, were confiscated when Oliver fled the Revolution as a loyalist.
Middleborough has retained the flavor of an old New England town while experiencing major suburban and residential growth and industrial park development.
Today, visitors to Middleborough can enjoy the partially restored Oliver Mill Park on the site of Judge Oliver’s industrial complex and follow the spring herring run which brings thousands of alewives upstream to spawn. General and Mrs. Tom Thumb, famous midgets of the P.T. Barnum era, were among the most prominent 19th century residents. Their memorabilia is on display at the Middleborough Historic Museum, along with many other local artifacts. Notable landmarks include the 1870’s Victorian-style town hall and the Greek revival-style town library. Once the shoe capital of the world, today Middleborough is cranberry capital of the world, hosting the corporate headquarters of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., on the Middleborough-Lakeville town line.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (508) 947-0928
Assessors: (508) 946-2410
Board of Health: (508) 946-2408
Building Inspector: (508) 946-2426
Clerk: (508) 946-2415
Conservation Commission: (508) 946-2406
Council on Aging: (508) 9476-2490
Dept. of Public Works: (508) 946-2480
Economic & Community Dev: (508) 946-2402
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (508) 947-0928
Fire Department, non-emergency: (508) 946-2461
Fuel Assistance: (508) 746-6707
Health Department: (508) 946-2408
Historical Commission: (508) 947-0928
Industrial Finance Board: (508) 947-0928
Library: (508) 946-2470
Planning Board: (508) 946-2425
Police Department, non-emergency: (508) 946-2451
Selectmen: (508) 946-2405
School Superintendent: (508) 946-2000
Tax Collector: (508) 946-2420
Veterans’ Services: (508) 946-2407
Water Department: (508) 946-2482
Zoning Board: (508) 947-4095
Plympton
Plympton was first settled in 1662 as the western parish of Plymouth. The town was officially incorporated in 1707 and named for Plympton, Devon, England. Early residents of Plympton were mostly farmers, living off of the land. The Industrial Revolution brought about factories, which made shoes and shovels, as well as lumber and cotton mills. Today, the town is mostly rural and residential, with very little industry. It is easily one of the least developed towns in the southeastern part of the state.
Plympton’s Deborah Sampson was the only woman to serve in uniform during the Revolutionary War. A descendant of Myles Standish, Deborah disguised herself as “Private Robert Shurtleff” and served in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment of Foot until her secret was discovered. A plaque on Plympton Town Green honors Sampson, who was designated the “official heroine of Massachusetts” in 1983.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (781) 585-3220
Assessors: (781) 585-3227
Board of Health: (781) 585-7000
Building Inspector: (781) 585-0571
Clerk: (781) 585-3220
Conservation Commission: (781) 585-3220
Dept. of Public Works: (617) 585-3703
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (781) 585-3220
Fire Department, non-emergency: (781) 585-2633
Historical Commission: (781) 585-3220
Industrial Finance Board: (781) 585-3220
Library: (781) 585-4551
Planning Board: (781) 585-3220
Police Department, non-emergency: (781) 585-3339
Selectmen: (781) 585-2700
School Superintendent: (781) 585-4313
Zoning Board: (781) 585-3220
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Raynham
Raynham, incorporated in 1731, was once part of the city of Taunton. Known as the site of the earliest successful iron works (1652), Raynham continues today as a thriving, successful community. It is a suburban bedroom community, but because of its location at the crossroads of Routes 24, 44, 104, 138 and Interstate 495, it has become a commercial center as well.
Raynham has always been proud of its school system and the quality education it provides for its children. At the high school level, students have a choice of superb public schools: Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School, Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational High School and Bristol County Agricultural High School. It is one of the few towns left in Massachusetts with a private library.
Raynham offers a variety of recreational programs and facilities for both children and adults. The Town’s 200-acre Borden Colony complex has many fields for soccer, baseball and softball plus acres of forest and farmlands for passive recreation. Johnson’s Pond is open to the public for fishing, picnicking and boating.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (508) 824-2700
Assessors: (508) 824-2704
Board of Health: (508) 824-2766
Building Inspector: (508) 824-2708
Clerk: (508) 824-2700
Conservation Commission: (508) 824-2706
Council on Aging: (508) 824-2740
Dept. of Public Works: (508) 824-2718
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (508) 824-2707
Fire Department, non-emergency: (508) 824-2713
Fuel Assistance: (508) 588-5440
Historical Commission: (508) 824-2700
Industrial Finance Board: (508) 824-2707
Library: (508) 823-1344
Planning Board: (508) 824-2774
Police Department, non-emergency: (508) 824-2716
Selectmen: (508) 824-2707
School Superintendent: (508) 824-2730
Tax Collector: (508) 824-2702
Veterans’ Services: (508) 824-2707
Zoning Board: (508) 824-2707
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Rochester
The Town of Rochester was founded in 1679 and incorporated in 1686. At that time, the areas now known as Marion, Mattapoisett and West Wareham were all part of Rochester. These towns were subsequently separated from Rochester, and by 1857 Rochester stood alone, having had the foresight to reserve rights on the seashores of the other towns. Today residents of Rochester enjoy rights for shellfish licenses and beach use in communities other than their own.
Zoning in Rochester includes industrial, general commercial and residential/ agricultural uses. The town’s center includes the town hall, library, First Congregational Church and vestry. Across from these buildings is the Plumb Corner Mall, a source of pride to town residents because it was designed to harmonize architecturally with the town green.
Rural Rochester still retains many of the farms that began in the town over 300 years ago. Rochester’s agricultural character, winding roads, and open space are evident as one travels throughout the town and views scenic pastures, meadows, woodlands, ponds, and cranberry bogs.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (508) 763-3871
Assessors: (508) 763-5250
Board of Health: (508) 763-3871
Building Inspector: (508) 763-5421
Clerk: (508) 763-3866
Conservation Commission: (508) 763-3871
Council on Aging: (508) 763-8723
Dept. of Public Works: (508) 763-4336
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (508) 763-3871
Fire Department, non-emergency: (508) 763-2424
Fuel Assistance: (508) 999-9920
Health Department: (508) 763-3871
Highway Department: (508) 763-1991
Historical Commission: (508) 763-3871
Industrial Finance Board: (508) 763-3871
Library: (508) 763-8600
Planning Board: (508) 763-3871
Police Department, non-emergency: (508) 763-5111
Selectmenv(508) 763-3871
School Superintendent: (508) 758-2772
Tax Collector: (508) 763-3871
Zoning Board: (508) 763-3871
Wareham
Wareham was first settled in 1678 as part of the towns of Plymouth and Rochester. It was officially incorporated in 1739 and named for the town of Wareham, England. Because of its geography, Wareham’s early industry revolved around shipbuilding and the related industries. It also served as a resort town, with many smaller resorts scattered around the town, especially in Onset.
Situated at the head of Buzzards Bay, Wareham offers an exceptional location within easy traveling distance to the Boston and Providence metropolitan areas. All of the tourist amenities of Cape Cod are available in Wareham.
The town has more than 54 miles of coastline enhanced by beaches, estuaries, rivers and ponds, which create a subtle contrast to a vibrant, growing community. From its early beginnings of farming and ship building in the 1700’s, Wareham has evolved as a diversified industrial and commercial community with ample human and natural resources to support continued growth.
With a population about 20,000, the town offers a distinctive social and economic mix – from stately mansions to modest cottages, and high-tech industry to traditional boat building.
Municipal Offices
Main Number: (508) 291-3100
Assessors: (508) 291-3100 x3160
Board of Health: (508) 291-3100 x3197
Building Inspector: (508) 291-3100 x3190
Clerk: (508) 291-3100 x3140
Conservation Commission: (508) 295-9344 x12
Council on Aging: (508) 291-3130
Dept. of Public Works: (508) 295-5300
Exec. Secretary/Town Mgr: (508) 291-3100 x3110
Fire Department - Onset, non-emergency: (508) 295-2122
Fire Department – Wareham, non-emergency: (508) 295-2973
Harbor Master: (508) 291-3100 x3186
Health Department: (508) 291-3100 x3197
Historical Commission: (508) 291-3100
Library: (508) 295-2343
Planning Board: (508) 291-3100 x6501
Police Department, non-emergency: (508) 295-1473
Selectmen: (508) 291-3100 x3102
School Superintendent: (508) 291-3500
Tax Collector: (508) 291-3150
Veterans’ Services: (508) 291-3100 x3135
Water Department: (508) 295-5300
Zoning Board: (508) 291-3100 x3201
