Bristol County, Massachusetts

Bristol County is a county in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As of the 2020 census, the population was 579,200.[1] The shire town is Taunton.[2] Some governmental functions are performed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, others by the county, and others by local towns and cities.

Bristol County
County
The Old Bristol County Courthouse in Taunton
The Old Bristol County Courthouse in Taunton
Official seal of Bristol County
Seal
Map of Massachusetts highlighting Bristol County
Location within the U.S. state of Massachusetts
Map of the United States highlighting Massachusetts
Massachusetts's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41.75°N 71.09°W / 41.75; -71.09
Country United States
State Massachusetts
FoundedJune 2, 1685 (from Plymouth Colony)
Named forBristol, Rhode Island
SeatTaunton
Largest cityNew Bedford
Area
 • Total691 sq mi (1,790 km2)
 • Land553 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water138 sq mi (360 km2)  20%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total579,200
 • Density1,047.2/sq mi (404.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts4th, 8th, 9th
Websitewww.countyofbristol.net

Bristol County is part of the Providence–Warwick, RI–MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Boston–Worcester–Providence, MA–RI–NH–CT Combined Statistical Area. The county is adjacent to the state of Rhode Island. It is geographically adjacent to the Massachusetts counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, and Dukes (via water), and the Rhode Island counties of Bristol, Newport, and Providence.

History
Further information: History of Massachusetts

Bristol County was created by the Plymouth Colony on June 2, 1685,[3] and named after its "shire town" (county seat), Bristol.[4] The Plymouth Colony, along with the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Maine Colony and several other small settlements were rechartered in 1691, by King William III, to become The Province of Massachusetts Bay.

The towns of Bristol, Barrington, and Warren were awarded to Rhode Island in 1746 as part of the settlement of a long-running boundary dispute (see History of Massachusetts), forming Bristol County, Rhode Island. At the same time, Cumberland, Rhode Island was carved out of Attleborough, Massachusetts and annexed to Providence County, Rhode Island; Tiverton and Little Compton were transferred to Newport County, Rhode Island. East Freetown was officially purchased by Freetown, Massachusetts, from Tiverton in 1747, and so remained on the Massachusetts side.

After the departure of Bristol, Taunton was made the shire town of the county. A second county courthouse was constructed in 1828 in the growing town of New Bedford (designed a "half-shire town"). In 1862, a part of Seekonk (that portion of which is now East Providence, Rhode Island) and the entirety of East Pawtucket were transferred to Providence County, Rhode Island. At the same time, land ceded from Rhode Island was added to Fall River and Westport. The growing Fall River became the site of the third county courthouse in 1877.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 691 square miles (1,790 km2), of which 553 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 138 square miles (360 km2) (20%) is water.[5] The highest point in Bristol County is Sunrise Hill (Watery Hill) at 390 feet (120 m) above sea level located in World War I Memorial Park in North Attleborough. It is also to note that Bristol, Plymouth and Taunton are all places in South West England. Their Massachusetts cousins were named after the originals as South West England was the focal point for sailing and discovery at the time of America's discovery. John Cabot set sail from Bristol and sailed down the Severn on which lies Newport in Wales.

Adjacent counties

To the south, Dukes County, Massachusetts is opposite Buzzards Bay from Bristol County.

National protected area

Demographics
Largest self-reported ancestry groups in New England. Americans of Portuguese descent plurality shown in grey.
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179031,696—
180033,8806.9%
181037,1689.7%
182040,90810.1%
183049,59221.2%
184060,16421.3%
185076,19226.6%
186093,79423.1%
1870102,8869.7%
1880139,04035.1%
1890186,46534.1%
1900252,02935.2%
1910318,57326.4%
1920359,00512.7%
1930364,5901.6%
1940364,6370.0%
1950381,5694.6%
1960398,4884.4%
1970444,30111.5%
1980474,6416.8%
1990506,3256.7%
2000534,6785.6%
2010548,2852.5%
2020579,2005.6%
2021 (est.)580,1640.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2020[10]

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families in the county. The population density was 962 inhabitants per square mile (371/km2). There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile (150/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.98% White, 2.03% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.26% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.12% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. 3.60%[11] was Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.7% were of Portuguese, 13.0% Irish, 8.9% French, 8.2% English, 6.8% Italian and 6.4% French Canadian ancestry according to Census 2000. 79.1% spoke English, 13.9% Portuguese, 2.9% Spanish and 1.6% French as their first language. The United States Census Bureau reported Bristol County as being one of two counties in the United States with a plurality of people of Portuguese ancestry[12] (the other being the contiguous Bristol County, Rhode Island).

Of the 205,411 households 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% were married couples living together, 13.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. Of all households 26.50% were one person and 11.00% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 30.50% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.50 males.

The median household income was $43,496 and the median family income was $53,733. Males had a median income of $39,361 versus $27,516 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,978. About 7.80% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 12.00% of that age 65 or over.

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 548,285 people, 213,010 households, and 141,338 families in the county.[13] The population density was 991.3 inhabitants per square mile (382.7/km2). There were 230,535 housing units at an average density of 416.8 per square mile (160.9/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 88.4% white, 3.3% black, 1.9% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 3.4% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.0% of the population.[13] The largest ancestry groups were:[15]

  • 30.1% Portuguese
  • 19.2% Irish
  • 13.1% French
  • 12.5% English
  • 9.3% Italian
  • 5.7% French Canadian
  • 5.0% German
  • 4.5% Polish
  • 3.4% Puerto Rican
  • 3.3% Sub-Saharan African
  • 2.5% American
  • 2.0% Scottish
  • 1.4% Swedish
  • 1.3% Scotch-Irish
  • 1.0% Arab

Of the 213,010 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.6% were non-families, and 27.4% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 39.8 years.[13]

The median household income was $54,955 and the median family income was $70,161. Males had a median income of $51,785 versus $39,714 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,736. About 8.8% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Income breakdown by town
See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective if the census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.[17][18][19]

Rank Town Per capita
income		 Median
household
income		 Median
family
income		 Population Number of
households
1 Mansfield Town $39,792 $98,182 $112,788 23,094 8,161
2 Easton Town $39,751 $89,714 $111,045 23,061 7,852
3 Rehoboth Town $38,415 $87,563 $97,711 11,470 4,093
4 Westport Town $35,337 $73,736 $83,289 15,396 5,867
Massachusetts State $35,051 $65,981 $83,371 6,512,227 2,522,409
5 Raynham Town $34,904 $82,855 $96,190 13,208 4,739
6 North Attleborough Town $34,374 $80,757 $94,469 28,593 10,426
7 Dighton Town $34,258 $85,284 $94,044 7,003 2,386
8 Swansea Town $33,910 $71,716 $79,486 15,886 6,173
North Westport CDP $33,858 $67,614 $82,827 4,188 1,700
9 Seekonk Town $33,136 $78,032 $89,833 13,700 4,752
10 Freetown Town $32,437 $82,208 $93,773 8,828 3,150
11 Dartmouth Town $32,138 $73,007 $86,650 33,759 12,119
Raynham Center CDP $32,034 $84,028 $91,154 4,619 1,563
Mansfield Center CDP $31,762 $71,685 $98,902 7,946 3,022
12 Somerset Town $31,718 $69,449 $80,795 18,172 6,983
13 Norton Town $30,772 $75,538 $91,636 18,970 6,297
North Seekonk CDP $30,705 $65,804 $81,111 2,552 941
14 Attleboro City $30,398 $65,298 $76,563 43,459 16,393
Smith Mills CDP $30,207 $67,907 $79,123 5,030 1,965
15 Acushnet Town $30,084 $64,695 $81,643 10,299 3,818
Bliss Corner CDP $29,569 $52,285 $63,554 6,063 2,534
Bristol County County $28,682 $55,813 $71,416 547,305 210,536
16 Fairhaven Town $28,658 $60,179 $77,089 15,915 6,444
17 Berkley Town $28,206 $81,094 $83,228 6,336 1,970
United States Country $27,915 $52,762 $64,293 306,603,772 114,761,359
18 Taunton City $26,309 $53,401 $67,447 55,930 21,799
Acushnet Center CDP $26,295 $51,782 $64,750 2,737 1,159
Ocean Grove CDP $25,058 $60,267 $72,594 3,098 1,230
19 New Bedford City $21,558 $37,493 $46,881 95,006 38,869
20 Fall River City $21,118 $34,789 $44,635 89,220 38,245
Norton Center CDP $16,578 $83,465 $84,781 2,977 446

Politics and government
Voter registration and party enrollment as of August 27, 2022[20]
Party Number of voters Percentage
Unenrolled 250,562 62.94%
Democratic 101,656 25.53%
Republican 40,053 10.06%
Other 5,845 1.47%
Total 398,116 100%

Bristol County has voted for the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in every election since 1960.

United States presidential election results for Bristol County, Massachusetts[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 119,872 42.92% 153,377 54.92% 6,030 2.16%
2016 105,443 41.82% 129,540 51.38% 17,157 6.80%
2012 93,898 38.88% 143,433 59.39% 4,178 1.73%
2008 90,531 37.24% 146,861 60.41% 5,728 2.36%
2004 82,524 35.44% 147,854 63.49% 2,500 1.07%
2000 62,848 29.74% 136,325 64.51% 12,164 5.76%
1996 47,164 23.79% 127,725 64.44% 23,324 11.77%
1992 52,370 24.73% 102,406 48.36% 56,978 26.91%
1988 83,797 43.30% 107,854 55.73% 1,879 0.97%
1984 93,232 49.58% 94,010 49.99% 797 0.42%
1980 77,545 41.12% 83,460 44.25% 27,600 14.63%
1976 69,957 36.48% 116,318 60.65% 5,496 2.87%
1972 84,390 44.71% 103,163 54.65% 1,215 0.64%
1968 56,672 30.87% 119,439 65.06% 7,458 4.06%
1964 39,230 21.02% 146,885 78.70% 521 0.28%
1960 64,290 33.02% 130,049 66.79% 383 0.20%
1956 109,542 57.85% 79,357 41.91% 466 0.25%
1952 98,105 51.09% 93,444 48.67% 462 0.24%
1948 63,216 36.64% 106,741 61.86% 2,594 1.50%
1944 60,880 40.13% 90,529 59.68% 283 0.19%
1940 60,143 37.97% 97,571 61.60% 677 0.43%
1936 49,754 35.25% 80,805 57.25% 10,586 7.50%
1932 50,846 43.58% 62,474 53.55% 3,355 2.88%
1928 55,205 47.69% 59,257 51.19% 1,293 1.12%
1924 58,929 66.23% 19,802 22.25% 10,249 11.52%
1920 56,734 73.65% 17,719 23.00% 2,579 3.35%
1916 22,578 53.69% 18,065 42.96% 1,407 3.35%
1912 13,279 34.98% 12,420 32.72% 12,264 32.31%
1908 20,683 60.58% 10,719 31.39% 2,742 8.03%
1904 18,742 60.00% 11,103 35.55% 1,390 4.45%
1900 19,396 64.77% 9,355 31.24% 1,196 3.99%
1896 21,629 76.06% 6,022 21.18% 784 2.76%
1892 15,732 57.72% 10,825 39.72% 699 2.56%
1888 14,570 60.39% 8,972 37.19% 584 2.42%
1884 12,291 60.03% 6,475 31.62% 1,710 8.35%
1880 13,418 67.51% 6,136 30.87% 323 1.62%
1876 11,578 66.43% 5,814 33.36% 38 0.22%
Gubernatorial elections results
Gubernatorial elections results[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2018 70.76% 132,371 29.02% 54,280 0.23% 423
2014 49.70% 72,641 45.19% 66,045 5.11% 7,471
2010 42.66% 73,220 47.23% 81,059 10.11% 17,340
2006 34.32% 57,233 57.33% 95,623 8.36% 13,925
2002 44.99% 71,189 50.73% 80,275 4.28% 6,779


  • Paul B. Kitchen—County Commissioner
  • John R. Mitchell—County Commissioner
  • John T. Saunders—County Commissioner
  • Thomas M. Quinn, III—District Attorney
  • Thomas M. Hodgson—Sheriff
  • Christopher T. Saunders—County Treasurer
  • Barry Amaral—Register of Deeds, Northern District
  • Bernard McDonald—Register of Deeds, Fall River District
  • Frederick M. Kalisz—Register of Deeds, Southern District
  • Marc Santos—Clerk of Courts

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office maintains its administrative headquarters and operates several jail facilities in the Dartmouth Complex in North Dartmouth in Dartmouth. Jail facilities in the Dartmouth Complex include the Bristol County House Of Correction and Jail, the Bristol County Sheriff's Office Women's Center, and the C. Carlos Carreiro Immigration Detention Center. The office also operates the Ash Street Jail and Regional Lock-Up and the Juvenile Secure Alternative Lock Up Program (JALP) in New Bedford.[23]

The Bristol County House Of Correction and Jail has room for 1,100 prisoners. It houses men convicted of crimes who have been sentenced to 2+1⁄2 years or less. It also houses high-security male pre-trial prisoners, high-security female prisoners, and pre-trial female prisoners.[23]

The women's center, a medium security jail, can house up to 106 women. The self-contained women's center had opened as a minimum security pre-release center for male prisoners in 1990 which could house up to 106 prisoners. When it was a pre-release facility it only housed an average of 60 prisoners because the county sheriff imposed strict conditions upon the pre-release program. In 1999 the sheriff received a federal grant to convert the pre-release center into a women's center, and he moved the pre-release program to modular units at the main jail.[23]

The Carreiro jail houses detained individuals who are scheduled for deportation and individuals who are engaging in proceedings with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Ash Street jail houses over 200 pre-trial prisoners and a few sentenced inmate workers for the system. JALP houses up to 12 pre-arraingment juvenile prisoners.[23]

Twin town

The county is twinned with the municipality of Lagoa in the Azores.[24][25]

Transportation

Transportation authorities providing public bus service include the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority; and the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority serving the Fall River and New Bedford areas.

Airports include the Mansfield Municipal Airport, Myricks Airport, New Bedford Municipal Airport and Taunton Municipal Airport; of these, the New Bedford airport is a commercial airport, with flights serving the Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard area.

The Providence/Stoughton Line of the MBTA commuter rail has stops in Mansfield, Attleboro, and South Attleboro. The line provides connections to Providence and Boston (at Back Bay Station and South Station), as well as intermediate stops. An extension has been completed that connects to T. F. Green Airport.

Major highways

Communities
Bristol County Superior Courthouse in Taunton.

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other villages

Ghost town

Education

School districts include:[26]

K–12:

  • Attleboro School District
  • Bridgewater-Raynham School District
  • Dartmouth School District
  • Dighton-Rehoboth School District
  • Easton School District
  • Fairhaven School District - Takes Acushnet for secondary school
  • Fall River School District
  • Freetown-Lakeville School District
  • Mansfield School District
  • New Bedford School District - Takes Acushnet for secondary school
  • North Attleborough School District
  • Norton School District
  • Seekonk School District
  • Swansea School District
  • Taunton School District
  • Westport School District

Secondary:

  • Somerset-Berkley School District

Elementary:

  • Acushnet School District
  • Berkley School District
  • Somerset School District

Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School is also in the county.

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is in the county.

See also

References
  1. "2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "RootsWeb.com Home Page". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
  4. History of Bristol County, Massachusetts with Biographical Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 1 edited by Duane Hamilton Hurd. J. W. Lewis and Co., 1883. . p. 1.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  10. "2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. Census 2000 Brief - Ancestry Archived 2004-09-20 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  15. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  16. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  17. "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  18. "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  19. "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  20. "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of August 27, 2022" (PDF). Massachusetts Elections Division. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - Sate Data". uselectionatlas.org.
  23. "Facilities." Bristol County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved on January 30, 2012. "400 Faunce Corner Road, Dartmouth, MA 0274" and "Bristol County House Of Correction and Jail 400 Faunce Corner Road North Dartmouth, MA 02747" and "Bristol County Sheriff's Office Women’s Center 400 Faunce Corner Road North Dartmouth, MA 02747" and "C. Carlos Carreiro Immigration Detention Center: 400 Faunce Corner Road North Dartmouth, MA 02747" and "Juvenile Secure Alternative Lock Up Program 323 Mill Street New Bedford, MA 02740 " and "Ash Street Jail and Regional Lock-Up 226 Ash Street New Bedford, MA 02740 "
  24. Câmara Municipal de Lagoa Archived 2014-05-23 at archive.today
  25. Silva, Lurdes C. da. "Azorean city of Lagoa to celebrate its 500 years with local Sister Cities, special exhibition to open May 13 in Dartmouth". Fall River Herald News. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  26. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bristol County, MA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list

Further reading
  • The Bristol County Directory, Boston, Mass.: Dean Dudley & Co. (published 1878), 1867
  • History of Bristol County, Massachusetts with Biographical Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 1 edited by Duane Hamilton Hurd. J.W. Lewis and Co., 1883.
  • The Bristol County Directory, Boston, Mass.: Briggs & Co. (published 1885), 1867, OCLC 8750817
  • A history of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 by Frank Walcott Hutt. Lewis Historical Pub. Co., Inc., 1924.
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