Whitman, Massachusetts
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Whitman is a town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 13,882.
History
Whitman was first settled in 1670 and was officially incorporated in 1875. In the 1930s, Ruth Graves Wakefield invented chocolate chip cookies near Whitman at the Toll House Inn along the road between Boston and New Bedford.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.1 km² (7.0 mi²). 18.0 km² (7.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.14% is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 13,882 people, 4,999 households, and 3,604 families residing in the town. The population density is 770.1/km² (1,995.7/mi²). There are 5,104 housing units at an average density of 283.1/km² (733.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.15% White, 0.65% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 0.88% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 4,999 households out of which 36.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% are married couples living together, 11.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% are non-families. 22.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.30.
In the town the population is spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $55,303, and the median income for a family is $63,706. Males have a median income of $41,950 versus $30,629 for females. The per capita income for the town is $23,002. 3.3% of the population and 2.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.