Norton, Massachusetts

File:1794 Plan of Norton.png

The lands of Norton remained unsettled by English colonists for many years after their initial arrival on the eastern Massachusetts coast. But by the late 1640s, the townships of Rehoboth and Taunton were looking to expand their boundaries further inland. The settlement of Rehoboth bought the lands north of it—what would become Attleboro—from Wamsutta in the 1666 North Purchase.Leonard Bliss, "History of Rehoboth, 1836, pg. 50. The residents of Taunton were also looking to acquire more land to develop, cutting the forest back and using felled timber to feed construction and fuel industries, and settle the cleared grounds into meadows and pastureland.Emery, "History of Taunton," p. 103, 108. Norton was first legally settled by European colonists after the Taunton North Purchase in 1668.Emery, "History of Taunton," p. 109. This deed of purchase from Metacomet entitled the residents of Taunton to the lands north of their current settlement—the forests, cedar swamps, rivers, meadows, and lakes that would become established as Norton, Mansfield, and Easton. In 1686, more payments to access the North Purchase lands were made by Taunton men to Wompatuck, a descendent of Chickatawbut.Henry Williams, 1880, “Was Elizabeth Pool the First Purchaser,” Old Colony Historical Society, p. 51. During King Philip’s War, “a group of twenty Taunton men, fearing attack" against their settlement "followed the Three Mile River to its confluence… at the Coweset (Wading) and Rumford Rivers and the thick swamp between them,”(Lisa Brooks, 2018, "Our Beloved Kin," p. 324. attacking women and children who were sheltering there. In this fight, at Norton's so-called "Lockety Neck," the men murdered or otherwise participated in the killing of Weetamoo, the female sachem of the Pocasset Wampanoag people.Lisa Brooks, 2018, "Our Beloved Kin," p. 34. There is a memorial plaque on Pine Street commemorating her and other Wampanoag families killed in this attack.{{cite web | url=https://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/historical-war-site-marked-in-norton/article_e9e5808e-08fb-5bee-807b-55255f838074.html | title=Historical war site marked in Norton | date=May 25, 2010 }}

When Norton was first settled in 1669 it was called North Taunton for its location on the northern border of Taunton, Massachusetts.

The town was renamed "Norton"—after Norton, Oxfordshire, England, where many early settlers had originated{{cite book | last = Clark | first = George Faber | title = A History of the Town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 | publisher = Crosby, Nichols, and Company | year = 1859 | url = https://archive.org/details/ahistorytownnor01clargoog | pages = [https://archive.org/details/ahistorytownnor01clargoog/page/n70 34], 35}}—when the town was officially established on March 17, 1710. Parts of Norton were set out as Easton on December 21, 1725, and as Mansfield on April 26, 1770.[http://media.townonline.com/patriotledger/documents/answerbook/norton.pdf Norton: Your Town]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Metacomet, the Wampanoag Indian sachem also known as "King Phillip", used to camp at a cave made by huge glacial rocks resting on top of each other, just north-east of Lake Winnecunnet. Every Norton school child has been entertained with the legend of King Phillip's Cave.[http://www.mamantapett.com/about_mgalinks/history.html MGA Links at Mamantapett] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206225009/http://www.mamantapett.com/about_mgalinks/history.html |date=February 6, 2006 }}

The bandstand within the town center was originally erected using donated funds during the first Gulf War, in honor of the veterans who served from Norton.

In elementary school, students were told the story of the "Devil's Foot Print", where Major George Leonard sold his soul to the devil.https://archive.org/details/devilsfootprints00yell/page/28/mode/2up Yelle, The Devil's Footprints and Other Sketches of Old Norton, p. 28. The devil's foot print can be seen at Norton's Joseph C. Solmonese Elementary School, on land which was once Leonard's farmland. Every 26 years, the school unburies a time capsule, the last of which was buried in 1999. The time capsule will be opened next in 2026. The Sun Chronicle describes:

Norton is a small but slowly-evolving town.

So it was in December 1997, when a traffic light was installed at the intersection of routes 123 and 140 in Norton. It was the town's first full traffic light and, in a manner of speaking, it declared "Norton isn't Mayberry anymore."[http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2007/10/18/opinion/opinion01.txt Sun Chronicle Online]

Norton is also a location in the claimed paranormal Bridgewater Triangle.

File:Map-of-Norton-1830.pdf

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|29.8|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|28.7|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.1|sqmi}}, or 3.72%, is water. The terrain of Norton is generally low and swampy. The waters of the area are fed by the Wading River and the Canoe River, both of which feed into the Taunton River downstream. The two largest bodies of water in town are the Norton Reservoir, north of the center of town, and Winnecunnet Pond on the east (on the north side of I-495), which is fed by the Canoe River and feeds into the Mill River.

Lake Winnecunnet is Norton’s only natural body of water. Classified as a kettle pond, it formed over 13,000 years ago when a large chunk of glacial ice rested there and gradually melted, creating the lake as the climate slowly warmed.{{cite web|url=https://www.nortonma.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3606/f/uploads/2017_section_4a_environment_inventory_and_analysis_part_i_page_32-44.pdf

|title=Environmental, Inventory, and Analysis|website=nortonma.org|access-date=December 21, 2023}}

The town, an irregular polygon generally oriented from northeast to southwest, is bordered by Easton to the northeast, Taunton to the southeast, Rehoboth to the south, Attleboro to the southwest, and Mansfield to the northwest. Norton is approximately 27 miles south-southwest of Boston, and 15 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island.

Norton is served by Interstate 495 and Massachusetts Routes 123 and 140, which meet at the center of town. There is an exit off I-495 for Route 123 in the eastern part of town, and 140's exit to the interstate lies just north of the Mansfield town line.Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) Route 18 (Taunton/Norton/Attleboro) runs through town, linking the two cities on either side. The Middleboro Subdivision passes through the town, with 4.5 miles (7.35 km) of railroad track crossing the southern quarter of town, linking lines in Attleboro and Taunton. The Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail system has stops in both Attleboro and Mansfield nearby, providing rail access to Providence and Boston. The nearest municipal airport is in neighboring Mansfield, with the nearest national and international flights being either from Boston's Logan International Airport or T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island.

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Norton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Norton was {{convert|101|F|C|1}} on July 20, 1991, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-19|F|C|1}} on January 22, 1984.

{{Weather box

|location = Norton, Massachusetts, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1913–present

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 69

|Feb record high F = 70

|Mar record high F = 86

|Apr record high F = 96

|May record high F = 96

|Jun record high F = 99

|Jul record high F = 101

|Aug record high F = 99

|Sep record high F = 97

|Oct record high F = 89

|Nov record high F = 77

|Dec record high F = 76

|Jan avg record high F = 57.9

|Feb avg record high F = 57.5

|Mar avg record high F = 66.9

|Apr avg record high F = 79.5

|May avg record high F = 88.0

|Jun avg record high F = 91.4

|Jul avg record high F = 93.9

|Aug avg record high F = 91.9

|Sep avg record high F = 87.3

|Oct avg record high F = 77.2

|Nov avg record high F = 68.7

|Dec avg record high F = 61.2

|year avg record high F = 95.4

|Jan high F = 36.5

|Feb high F = 38.9

|Mar high F = 46.2

|Apr high F = 58.0

|May high F = 68.6

|Jun high F = 77.1

|Jul high F = 82.5

|Aug high F = 80.9

|Sep high F = 73.2

|Oct high F = 61.2

|Nov high F = 51.1

|Dec high F = 41.5

|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 27.4

|Feb mean F = 29.1

|Mar mean F = 36.4

|Apr mean F = 46.7

|May mean F = 57.2

|Jun mean F = 66.2

|Jul mean F = 72.1

|Aug mean F = 70.5

|Sep mean F = 62.6

|Oct mean F = 51.1

|Nov mean F = 41.5

|Dec mean F = 32.9

|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 18.3

|Feb low F = 19.4

|Mar low F = 26.5

|Apr low F = 35.4

|May low F = 45.8

|Jun low F = 55.3

|Jul low F = 61.6

|Aug low F = 60.0

|Sep low F = 52.0

|Oct low F = 41.0

|Nov low F = 32.0

|Dec low F = 24.3

|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -0.3

|Feb avg record low F = 2.0

|Mar avg record low F = 10.4

|Apr avg record low F = 24.6

|May avg record low F = 32.1

|Jun avg record low F = 42.8

|Jul avg record low F = 51.0

|Aug avg record low F = 48.9

|Sep avg record low F = 37.2

|Oct avg record low F = 27.2

|Nov avg record low F = 17.8

|Dec avg record low F = 7.8

|year avg record low F = -3.1

|Jan record low F = -19

|Feb record low F = -17

|Mar record low F = -5

|Apr record low F = 15

|May record low F = 20

|Jun record low F = 27

|Jul record low F = 41

|Aug record low F = 30

|Sep record low F = 23

|Oct record low F = 10

|Nov record low F = 1

|Dec record low F = -15

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 4.41

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.79

|Mar precipitation inch = 5.35

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.72

|May precipitation inch = 3.62

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.33

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.48

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.81

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.11

|Oct precipitation inch = 5.06

|Nov precipitation inch = 4.46

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.20

|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 10.8

|Feb precipitation days = 9.7

|Mar precipitation days = 11.2

|Apr precipitation days = 11.4

|May precipitation days = 11.9

|Jun precipitation days = 10.3

|Jul precipitation days = 9.6

|Aug precipitation days = 9.1

|Sep precipitation days = 8.8

|Oct precipitation days = 10.8

|Nov precipitation days = 9.7

|Dec precipitation days = 10.6

|Jan snow inch = 14.3

|Feb snow inch = 12.6

|Mar snow inch = 10.1

|Apr snow inch = 1.9

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.2

|Nov snow inch = 1.2

|Dec snow inch = 9.2

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 5.6

|Feb snow days = 4.7

|Mar snow days = 4.0

|Apr snow days = 0.6

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 0.7

|Dec snow days = 3.1

|Jan snow depth inch = 8.4

|Feb snow depth inch = 9.4

|Mar snow depth inch = 7.3

|Apr snow depth inch = 1.5

|May snow depth inch = 0.0

|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0

|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0

|Sep snow depth inch = 0.0

|Oct snow depth inch = 0.1

|Nov snow depth inch = 0.9

|Dec snow depth inch = 6.0

|year snow depth inch = 14.8

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00195984&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Norton W, MA

|access-date = July 7, 2025

}}

|source 2 = National Weather Service

{{cite web

|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=box

|publisher = National Weather Service

|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boston

|access-date = July 7, 2025

}}

}}

The town is bisected southeast to northwest by Interstate 495, as well as Massachusetts Route 140 from north to south and Massachusetts Route 123 from southwest to northeast. Exit 27 off I-495 links the highway with Route 123. Exit 25 (Bay Street, Taunton) and Exit 30 (Route 140, Mansfield) are just over the town lines. Route 140 and Route 123 intersect at the center of town, by the town green. Although it is not officially signed as such, many fans attending concerts and events at the Xfinity Center (formerly the Tweeter Center, and originally the Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts) reach the venue by driving along Route 123 to Route 140. The town is also a part of the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (or GATRA) Route 18 bus line. The nearest MBTA station is in Mansfield.

{{Historical populations | type=USA

| 1850|1966

| 1860|1848

| 1870|1821

| 1880|1782

| 1890|1785

| 1900|1826

| 1910|2544

| 1920|2374

| 1930|2737

| 1940|3107

| 1950|4401

| 1960|6818

| 1970|9487

| 1980|12690

| 1990|14265

| 2000|18036

| 2010|19031

| 2020|19202

| 2023|19146

| footnote= {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022| publisher=United States Census Bureau | access-date=November 23, 2023 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 18,036 people, 5,872 households, and 4,474 families residing in the town. These residents are often referred to as either "Nortonites" or "Nortonians", though the term "Norts" is often used in colloquial context. The population density was {{convert|628.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,961 housing units at an average density of {{convert|207.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 92.15% White, 1.16% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.47% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.

There were 5,872 households, out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

According to a 2016 estimate, the median income for a household in the town was $80,806, and the median income for a family in 2016 was estimated at $104,176.{{cite web|url=http://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/massachusetts/norton |title=Economy in Norton, Massachusetts |publisher=Bestplaces.net |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Norton-Massachusetts.html|title = Norton, Massachusetts (MA 02766) profile: Population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders}} Males had a median income of $51,133 versus $33,149 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,876. About 2.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.

File:Norton Fire Department and Town Hall, Massachusetts.jpg

The town is a part of three separate state representative districts; precinct one belonging to the Fourth Bristol district (which includes all of Rehoboth, Seekonk and part of Swansea), precinct two belonging to the Fourteenth Bristol district (which includes parts of North Attleborough, Attleboro and Mansfield as well), and precincts three through five belonging to the First Bristol district (whose district includes Mansfield Center and Foxborough). The town is a part of the state senate district of the Bristol and Norfolk district, stretching from Dover to the north to Rehoboth and Seekonk to the south. James Timilty served as State Senator until 2017 for the Bristol & Norfolk district. Upon his retirement, he was succeeded by State Senator Paul Feeney. State Representatives Steven S. Howitt and Frederick J. Barrows serve the Town. Norton is patrolled by Troop H (Metro Boston District), Third (Foxborough) Barracks of the Massachusetts State Police.

On the national level, the town is part of Massachusetts Congressional District 4, which is represented by Jake Auchincloss. The state's senior Senator, newly elected in 2012, is Elizabeth Warren and the state's junior Senator is currently Ed Markey.

File:Norton Public Library, Massachusetts.jpg

The town has an open town meeting form of government, with a town manager and a board of selectmen governing the town. The town is served by the central police station (next to the town hall on Route 123), three fire stations (Station 2 on Route 123, Station 1 in Chartley (currently closed), and Station 5 (Fire Alarm) in Barrowsville), and two post offices (Norton, next to the town center and Wheaton College; and Chartley, near the Attleboro line along Route 123). The town's public library is located next to the town hall, although the original still stands on Route 140 at the town green. There is also a senior center located along Route 123 near the high school.

Norton has its own public school system, Norton Public Schools. There are three elementary schools: L.G. Nourse Elementary School (K–3) on the east side, J.C. Solomonese Elementary School (Pre-K–3) in Chartley, and H.A. Yelle Elementary School (4–5) near the center of town. The Norton Middle School (6–8) is located in Chartley. Norton High School (9–12) is located near the center of town, next to the H.A. Yelle School. The school colors are purple and white and their mascot is a lancer.

High school students may also attend Southeast Regional Vocational-Technical High School in Easton or Bristol County Agricultural High School, otherwise known as "Bristol Aggie", in Dighton free of charge. There are two private schools in town, Life Church, a Baptist school which serves grades K–12, and the Pinecroft School on 33 Pine Street. Many students also attend private or parochial schools in the surrounding communities. Norton is also home to Wheaton College.

• Troy Brown, former New England Patriots wide receiver{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/15/the-secret-lives-of-the-players-wives/|title=The Secret Lives of the Players' Wives|last1=Voss|first1=Gretchen|publisher=Boston Magazine|date=May 15, 2006|access-date=February 4, 2019}}
• George L. Clarke (1813–1890), Mayor of Providence 1869–1870, was born in Norton
• Jonathan Eddy, colonel in the American Revolution
• Rob Holland, aerobatic pilot

{{Portal|United States}}

• Greater Taunton Area
• Shpack Landfill Superfund site
• Taunton River Watershed

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.nortonma.org/ Town of Norton official website]
• [http://www.nortontv.org/ Norton Community Television] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216210758/http://www.nortontv.org/ |date=February 16, 2007 }}
• [https://www.norton.k12.ma.us/ Norton Public Schools]
• [http://www.nortonlibrary.org/ Norton Public Library]

{{Bristol County, Massachusetts}}

{{Greater_Boston}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Greater Taunton Area

Category:Populated places established in 1669

Category:Providence metropolitan area

Category:Towns in Bristol County, Massachusetts

Category:Towns in Massachusetts

Category:1669 establishments in Plymouth Colony