Acton, Massachusetts
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Acton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts about twenty-four miles west-northwest of Boston along Massachusetts Route 2 past Concord. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 20,331. It is bordered by Westford and Carlisle to the north, Concord to the east, Stow and Maynard to the south, and Boxborough and Littleton to the west.
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History
According to "History of Acton" 1954 by Harold Phalen, Acton was first settled as part of Concord, (the New Grant or Concord Village) in 1639 and was incorporated as a town in 1735. By 1738 a church building had been constructed, and a minister called in accordance with the requirements of the incorporation as passed by the General Court.
Acton has a small but important place in history. A company of minutemen from Acton responded to the call to arms initiated by Paul Revere on April 19, 1775 and fought at the North Bridge in Concord, at the start of the American Revolutionary War. The Acton minutemen were led by Captain Isaac Davis. When a company was needed to lead the advance on the bridge which was defended by the British regulars, Captain Davis was heard to reply, "I haven't a man that is afraid to go."
The colonists advanced on the bridge; in the exchange of musket fire that followed, Captain Davis was killed and Abner Hosmer, also of Acton was mortally wounded. Thus, in Acton they refer to "the battle of Lexington, fought in Concord, by men of Acton."
Geography
Acton is located at Template:Coor dm. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 52.5 km² (20.3 mi²). 51.7 km² (20.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.53% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 20,331 people, 7,495 households, and 5,538 families residing in the town. The population density is 393.1/km² (1,018.1/mi²). There are 7,680 housing units at an average density of 148.5/km² (384.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 88.45% White, 0.70% African American, 0.07% Native American, 8.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 1.77% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 7,495 households out of which 43.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% are married couples living together, 6.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% are non-families. 21.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.19.
In the town the population is spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $91,624, and the median income for a family is $108,189. Males have a median income of $77,371 versus $47,113 for females. The per capita income for the town is $41,901. 2.9% of the population and 1.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.4% of those under the age of 18 and 3.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Official town website (http://www.town.acton.ma.us/)
- Acton Public Schools and Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (http://ab.mec.edu/)