Milton, Massachusetts
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Milton is a town located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 26,062. It is the home of the prestigious secondary school Milton Academy, the liberal arts college Curry College, and the birthplace of former President George H. W. Bush and Buckminster Fuller. Milton is also the most Irish town in the United States per capita, with 43% of its residents being of Irish decent.
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History
Milton was first settled in 1636* and was officially incorporated in 1662.
The Suffolk Resolves were signed in Milton.
Milton was home to America's first piano factory and New England's first chocolate factory.
America's first railroad ran through Milton.
Milton, MA is a community between the Neponset River and the Blue Hills. Although the first English traders used Milton in the 1620's, the earliest permanent settlement occurred in 1634* when colonists created an agricultural community growing barley, rye and Indian corn. A powder mill established in 1674 is thought to be the earliest in the colonies, taking advantage of the town's valuable water power sites. Boston investors, seeing the potential of the town and its proximity to the city, provided the capital to develop 18th century Milton, MA as an important industrial site with an iron slitting mill, paper and sawmills and the first chocolate factory in New England in 1764. Laying of streetcar lines fueled the rapid expansion of residential development and between 1870 and 1915 Milton grew into essentially the community it is now, a streetcar suburb with only some chocolates, biscuits and market produce to remind residents of the past. By 1929 many of the big estates were broken up into subdivisions continuing the town's residential growth. Milton now retains a good many 19th century country houses and estates and 19th century workers' housing. (Narrative supplied by Mass.gov)
- The exact year Milton was settled is debated, but it is believed to be sometime before 1640 and after the mid part of the 1630's. The town seal says 1640, as well as several other town monuments.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.4 km² (13.3 mi²). 33.8 km² (13.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.81% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 26,062 people, 8,982 households, and 6,754 families residing in the town. The population density is 771.7/km² (1,999.1/mi²). There are 9,161 housing units at an average density of 271.2/km² (702.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 85.38% White, 10.23% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 2.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 1.73% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The top five ancestries of Milton are Irish (43.0%), Italian (11.3%), English (8.6%), West Indian (4.8%), German (4.7%)
There are 8,982 households out of which 37.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% are married couples living together, 11.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% are non-families. 21.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.79 and the average family size is 3.27.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $78,985, and the median income for a family is $94,359. Males have a median income of $61,194 versus $40,875 for females. The per capita income for the town is $37,138. 2.8% of the population and 1.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.2% of those under the age of 18 and 4.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Official Milton homepage (http://www.townofmilton.org/)
- Milton, MA (http://www.milton-ma.com/)
- Milton Times article on Milton history (http://miltontimes.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=84&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=)