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Billerica (IPA: *) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 38,981 at the 2000 census. Its name is pronounced "bill-RI-ca", rather than rhyming with America, as some might be led to believe.
History
Billerica was settled in about 1652 by families moving inland from Cambridge and Charlestown Village (later Woburn). The new town was incorporated in 1655, on the same day as nearby Chelmsford and Groton. The oldest remaining homestead in the town is the Manning Manse, built in 1696, and later the residence of William Manning (1747–1814), the author of "The Key of Liberty," a critique of Federalist policies. Other notable Revolutionary Era residents included Asa Pollard (1735–1776), the first soldier killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and Thomas Ditson (born 1741), who was tarred and feathered by the British in 1775 while on a visit to Boston. The song "Yankee Doodle" was written to honor him. The town now celebrates "Yankee Doodle Weekend" every September.
The oldest canal in the United States, the Middlesex Canal, which flowed through Billerica between 1795 and 1852, was used to transport goods between Lowell and Boston. Billerica also has a Native American burial site dating back to 1000 B.C.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.3 km² (26.4 mi²). 67.1 km² (25.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (1.90%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 38,981 people, 12,919 households, and 10,244 families residing in the town. The population density was 581.3/km² (1,505.9/mi²). There were 13,071 housing units at an average density of 194.9/km² (504.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.68% Caucasian, 1.11% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.76% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 12,919 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $67,799, and the median income for a family was $72,102. Males had a median income of $47,014 versus $33,862 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,953. About 2.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Celebrities
- Gary DiSarcina - Former Professional Baseball Player
- Tom Fitzgerald - Professional Hockey Player
- Tom Glavine - Professional Baseball Player
- Danny Jamieson - _Austin cast member
External links
"Billerica, Massachusetts"