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Foxborough (or Foxboro) is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 20 miles (32 kilometers) southwest of Boston. The population was 16,246 at the 2000 census. The town is best known as the site of Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots of the National Football League and the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Foxborough, please see the article Foxborough (CDP), Massachusetts.
History
Foxborough was first settled in 1704 and was officially incorporated in 1778. Foxborough was named in honor of Charles James Fox, Whig Member of the British Parliament, who was a staunch supporter of the Colonies in the years leading up to the American Revolution.
Foxborough was once home to the world's largest straw hat making factory, known as the Union Straw Works. Founded by local businessman E.P. Carpenter, the building burned to the ground in the early 20th Century.
Foxborough was also once composed of small neighborhood communities up until the early 1900's. These included Foxvale/Paineburgh, which remained semi-independent until the mid-twentieth century, Quaker Hill in South Foxborough, and Lakeview/Donkeyville, in West Foxborough.
There are several memorable historic sites within Foxborough. Memorial Hall is a stone building and monument in the center of town dedicated to those who served in the armed forces, and contains many town archives. The Historic Homes Plaque Program designates important historical homes in town. Area schoolhouses, such as the Quaker Hill School and the Paine School, now being made into a small museum, are also of interest. Town graveyards, such as Rockhill Cemetery, and the Centre Burial Ground, can also be seen as important to town history.
Education
Foxborough Regional Charter School (FRCS) is a college preparatory school for grades K-12 located near the town common, on 131 Central Street. FRCS was originally founded as the Sabis Foxborough Regional Charter School in 1998. In 2002, the school broke off from the "mother organization" and renamed itself FRCS. The school is best known for its rigorous academic work.
The Foxborough Public Schools (FPS) is the public school system within Foxborough. It currently has an enrollment of over 3,000 children in grades from preschool to Grade 12. The schools are notable for their integration of technology into the curriculum. FPS receives recognition for outperforming by both state and national standards. The five current FPS buildings, with grade levels, are:
Foxborough High School (9 - 12)
Ahern Middle School (5 - 8)
Taylor Elementary School (K - 4)
Igo Elementary School (Pre-K - 4)
Burrell Elementary School (K - 4)
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 54.1 km² (20.9 mi²). 52.0 km² (20.1 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (3.88%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 16,246 people, 6,141 households, and 4,396 families residing in the town. The population density was 312.4/km² (809.1/mi²). There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 121.1/km² (313.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.09% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 6,141 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,323, and the median income for a family was $78,811. Males had a median income of $51,901 versus $35,748 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,294. About 2.3% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
External links
Towns in Massachusetts | Norfolk County, Massachusetts | 1704 establishments
"Foxborough, Massachusetts"