Scituate, Massachusetts
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Scituate is a small seacoast town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod Bay midway between Boston and Plymouth. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 17,863. Fishing was a significant part of the local economy in the past, as well as the sea mossing industry. A small fishing fleet is still resident in Scituate Harbor.
For geographic and demographic information on the village of North Scituate, which is a part of Scituate, please see the article North Scituate, Massachusetts.
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History
It was settled by a group of people from Plymouth about 1627, who were joined by immigrants from the County of Kent in England. They were initially governed by the General Court at Plymouth: in 1636 the town elected its own officers. At this time its borders were established. The name Scituate is derived from Satuit, the Indian term for cold brook. It refers to a brook which runs to the inner harbor of Scituate.
In 1717 the western portion of the original grant was separated and incorporated as the town of Hanover, and in 1849 another western section became the town of South Scituate, which later changed its name to Norwell. In 1788 a section of the town was ceded to Marshfield. Since then, the borders have remained essentially unchanged.
Samuel Woodworth's Old Oaken Bucket house is located in Scituate.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 82.4 km² (31.8 mi²). 44.5 km² (17.2 mi²) of it is land and 37.8 km² (14.6 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 45.94% water. Scituate is bordered on the south by Marshfield, on the west by Norwell and Hingham, all of which are in Plymouth County, and on the northwest by Cohasset, in Norfolk County.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 17,863 people, 6,694 households, and 4,920 families residing in the town. The population density is 401.5/km² (1,039.6/mi²). There are 7,685 housing units at an average density of 172.7/km² (447.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 96.71% White, 0.49% Black or African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,694 households out of which 34.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% are married couples living together, 8.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% are non-families. 22.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.64 and the average family size is 3.13.
In the town the population is spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $70,868, and the median income for a family is $86,058. Males have a median income of $60,322 versus $40,200 for females. The per capita income for the town is $33,940. 2.6% of the population and 1.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.5% of those under the age of 18 and 4.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
See also: Scituate (CDP), Massachusetts
External links
- Official town Website (http://www.town.scituate.ma.us/)
- Scituate Historical Society (http://www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org/)
- Page about early settler Walter Woodworth including a map of early Scituate (http://members.aol.com/wildwudy/pubpage.htm)