Editing Rochester, Massachusetts

{{Short description|Town in Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Rochester, Massachusetts
| nickname                        = 
| official_name                   = 
| motto                           = 
| image_skyline                   = Rochester MA Town Hall 1.jpg
| imagesize                       = 250px
| image_caption                   = Rochester Town Hall
| image_seal                      = Seal of Rochester, Massachusetts.png
| image_flag                      = Flag of Rochester, Massachusetts.jpg
| image_map                       = Plymouth County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Rochester highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = 
| subdivision_type                = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Massachusetts]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth]]
| established_title               = Settled
| established_date                = {{start date and age|1679}}
| established_title2              = Incorporated
| established_date2               = {{start date and age|1686}}
| established_title3              = 
| established_date3               = 
| government_type                 = [[Open town meeting]]
| leader_title                    = <!--[[Town Administrator|Town<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Administrator]]-->
| leader_name                     = 
| leader_title1                   = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
| leader_name1                    = 
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 94.2
| area_total_sq_mi                = 36.4
| area_land_km2                   = 87.9
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 33.9
| area_water_km2                  = 6.4
| area_water_sq_mi                = 2.5
| population_as_of                = 2020
| settlement_type                 = [[New England town|Town]]
| population_total                = 5717
| population_density_km2          = 65.0
| population_density_sq_mi        = 168.6
| elevation_m                     = 9
| elevation_ft                    = 29
| timezone                        = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset                      = −5
| timezone_DST                    = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST                  = −4
| coordinates                     = {{coord|41|43|54|N|70|49|14|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code                     = {{ubl|02770 (Rochester)|02576 ([[West Wareham, Massachusetts|West Wareham]])}}
| area_code                       = [[Area code 508|508]]/[[Area code 774|774]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 25-57600
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0618350
| footnotes                       = 
| website                         = {{URL|www.townofrochestermass.com}}
}}

'''Rochester''' is a town in [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States. The population was 5,717 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2502357600| title=Census - Geography Profile: Rochester town, Plymouth County, Massachusetts| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 10, 2021}}</ref>

Rochester is a part of the [[South Coast (Massachusetts)|South Coast]] region of Massachusetts which encompasses the cities and towns that surround [[Buzzards Bay]] (excluding the [[Elizabeth Islands]], [[Bourne, Massachusetts|Bourne]] and [[Falmouth, Massachusetts|Falmouth]]), [[Mount Hope Bay]] and the [[Sakonnet River]].

==History==
Rochester was settled in 1679 on the lands called "Sippican" by the local [[Wampanoags]], along the coast of [[Buzzards Bay]].  (''Sippican'' was the name of the local tribe.<ref>[http://www.townofmarion.org/history.html Marion Town History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114122625/http://www.townofmarion.org/history.html |date=January 14, 2007 }}</ref>)  It originally included the lands of [[Mattapoisett, Massachusetts|Mattapoisett]], [[Marion, Massachusetts|Marion]] and parts of [[Wareham, Massachusetts|Wareham]] (which was lost when Wareham was founded in 1739).  The town was officially incorporated on June 4, 1686, as Rochester, and was named for [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester, England]], from which early settlers to the town came.  The town originally thrived with the early shipbuilding and whaling trade in Mattapoisett Harbor.  However, in 1852 and 1857 the towns of Marion and Mattapoisett, respectively, were separated and incorporated as separate towns, thus landlocking Rochester.  Since that time, the town has become mostly rural-residential, with some farms located in town.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027050335/http://geocities.com/rochestertownclerk/ Town of Rochester history]</ref> Rochester is a "[[Right-to-farm laws|Right to Farm]]" community.<ref name=zoninglaw>{{cite web|title=Town of Rochester MA Zoning By-Laws|url=http://www.townofrochestermass.com/bylaws.htm|website=Town of Rochester, MA|access-date=March 19, 2015|quote=This By-Law encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and protects farmlands within the Town of Rochester by allowing agricultural uses and related activities to function with minimal conflict with abutters and Town agencies, when done in compliance with applicable state laws, Town By-Laws and regulations. This By-Law shall apply to all jurisdictional areas within the Town.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402164538/http://www.townofrochestermass.com/bylaws.htm|archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Rochester Old Road Sign.jpg|thumb|left|180px|An old road sign and water pump at the Town Common, on Route 105]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|36.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|33.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|2.5|sqmi|km2}}, or 6.76%, is water.  Rochester is located along the western border of Plymouth County, and is bordered by [[Lakeville, Massachusetts|Lakeville]] and [[Middleborough, Massachusetts|Middleborough]] to the north, [[Wareham, Massachusetts|Wareham]] and [[Marion, Massachusetts|Marion]] to the east, [[Mattapoisett, Massachusetts|Mattapoisett]] to the south, and [[Acushnet, Massachusetts|Acushnet]] and [[Freetown, Massachusetts|Freetown]] to the west.  The town's localities include Bisbee Corner, East Rochester, North Rochester and Varella Corner. The town is about {{convert|10|mi}} northeast of [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]], {{convert|40|mi}} east of [[Providence, Rhode Island]], and {{convert|60|mi}} south of [[Boston]].

The [[Mattapoisett River|Mattapoisett]] and [[Sippican River|Sippican]] rivers flow through the town, emptying into [[Buzzards Bay]].  Most of the town's brooks also flow into these two rivers.  The source of the Mattapoisett, [[Great Quittacas Pond]] and [[Little Quittacas Pond]], lie on the border between the town and Lakeville.  Other ponds include [[Snipatuit Pond]], [[Long Pond (Rochester, Massachusetts)|Long Pond]], Snow's Pond, Hartley's Mill Pond, [[Mary's Pond]], [[Leonards Pond (Rochester, Massachusetts)|Leonards Pond]], and Hathaway Pond, as well as several smaller bodies of water.  The town has two wildlife management areas and a fish hatchery, as well as a small recreation area along Mary's Pond and two parks near the town center. The town is also the site of the Sippican Rod & Gun Club, near the Haskell Swamp Wildlife Management Area.

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Rochester, Massachusetts (1991–2020)
<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =37.9
| Feb high F  =39.7
| Mar high F  =46.2
| Apr high F  =57.0
| May high F  =67.5
| Jun high F  =76.5
| Jul high F  =82.4
| Aug high F  =81.0
| Sep high F  =73.7
| Oct high F  =62.5
| Nov high F  =52.3
| Dec high F  =43.1
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =29.0
| Feb mean F  =30.6
| Mar mean F  =37.1
| Apr mean F  =47.1
| May mean F  =57.2
| Jun mean F  =66.3
| Jul mean F  =72.5
| Aug mean F  =71.1
| Sep mean F  =64.1
| Oct mean F  =53.1
| Nov mean F  =43.5
| Dec mean F  =34.7
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =20.1
| Feb low F  =21.6
| Mar low F  =28.1
| Apr low F  =37.3
| May low F  =46.8
| Jun low F  =56.1
| Jul low F  =62.5
| Aug low F  =61.2
| Sep low F  =54.5
| Oct low F  =43.7
| Nov low F  =34.7
| Dec low F  =26.4
<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =4.49
| Feb precipitation inch  =3.83
| Mar precipitation inch  =5.73
| Apr precipitation inch  =4.91
| May precipitation inch  =3.58
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.08
| Jul precipitation inch  =3.36
| Aug precipitation inch  =4.05
| Sep precipitation inch  =4.36
| Oct precipitation inch  =5.05
| Nov precipitation inch  =4.69
| Dec precipitation inch  =5.25
<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =10.7
| Feb snow inch  =9.0
| Mar snow inch  =4.5
| Apr snow inch  =0.6
| 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  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =0.1
| Dec snow inch  =5.9
<!-- Mandatory fields, source -->
| source = NOAA<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00196938 |title=NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access |publisher=NOAA |access-date=2025-04-01 }}</ref>
}}<!-- Infobox ends -->

==Transportation==
A small, quarter-mile stretch of [[Interstate 495 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 495]] passes through the northeastern corner of town, just before its exit on [[Massachusetts Route 58|Route 58]], which terminates along the town line at [[Massachusetts Route 28|Route 28]].  Along with those two roads, [[Massachusetts Route 105|Route 105]] travels through town, passing through the town center.  The town can also be accessed via Exits 31 (North Street, Mattapoisett) and 35 (Route 105, Marion) along [[Interstate 195 (Rhode Island–Massachusetts)|Interstate 195]].

The nearest regional bus and air service can be found in [[New Bedford, Massachusetts|New Bedford]].  The nearest national air service is at [[T. F. Green Airport]] in Rhode Island, and the nearest international airport is [[Logan International Airport]] in [[Boston]].  A freight rail line operated by the [[Massachusetts Coastal Railroad]] passes through the northeastern corner of town.  The nearest inter-city ([[Amtrak]]) passenger rail station is in [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]; however, the terminus of the Middleborough-Lakeville line of the [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority|MBTA's]] [[MBTA commuter rail|commuter rail]] is nearby, providing direct service to Boston.

==Demographics==
{{See also|List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income}}
{{Historical populations | type=USA | align=left
 | 1850|3808
 | 1860|1232
 | 1870|1024
 | 1880|1043
 | 1890|1012
 | 1900|986
 | 1910|1090
 | 1920|1047
 | 1930|1141
 | 1940|1269
 | 1950|1328
 | 1960|1559
 | 1970|1770
 | 1980|3205
 | 1990|3921
 | 2000|4581
 | 2010|5232
 | 2020|5717
 |2023*|5871
 | footnote=* = population estimate.  {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=May 19, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,581 people, 1,575 households, and 1,294 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|135.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,634 housing units at an average density of {{convert|48.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 96.64% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.63% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.35% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.16% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.03% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.37% of the population.

[[File:First Congregational.jpg|thumb|right|200px|First Congregational Church, located near Town Hall]]There were 1,575 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $63,289, and the median income for a family was $67,031. Males had a median income of $47,989 versus $31,196 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $24,630.  About 2.4% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
[[File:East Over Farms.jpg|thumb|right|200px|East Over Farms]]
[[File:Rochester is a Right to farm community.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Rochester is a "Right to Farm" community]]
Rochester is represented by state Senator [[Michael Rodrigues (politician)|Michael Rodrigues]] (D-Westport) as a part of the First Bristol and Plymouth District of the [[Massachusetts Senate]] and by state Representative Mark Sylvia (D-Fairhaven) as a part of the Tenth Bristol District of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov]</ref>  The town is patrolled by the Rochester Police Department and is also in the service area of the Seventh (Bourne) Barracks of Troop D of the [[Massachusetts State Police]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+D&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_d_msp_field_troop_d_station_d7&csid=Eeops Station D-7, SP Bourne]</ref>

On the national level, Rochester is a part of [[Massachusetts's 9th congressional district]], and is currently represented by [[William R. Keating]].  The state's senior member of the [[United States Senate]] is [[Elizabeth Warren]]. The junior senator is [[Ed Markey]].

The town uses the [[open town meeting]] form of government, led by a [[board of selectmen]].  The town hall is located at the Town Common along Route 105.  The town's police department, post office and the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library (a part of the [[SAILS Library Network]]) are located nearby.  The fire department is located closer to the geographic center of town.  The town's Highway Department is located near Varella Corner, and is responsible for snow removal and road upkeep.

In 2012, the town adopted a "[[Right-to-farm laws|Right-to-Farm]]" bylaw which "encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and protects farmlands within the Town of Rochester by allowing agricultural uses and related activities".<ref name=zoninglaw />

==Education==

Rochester is a member of the 2,700-student [[Old Rochester Regional School District]].  The town, along with Marion and Mattapoisett, operate as a single school system with each town having its own school subcommittee.  The town operates Rochester Memorial School for kindergarten through sixth-grade students.  Seventh- and eighth-grade students attend Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, and high school students attend [[Old Rochester Regional High School]].  Both regional schools are located on Route 6 in Mattapoisett, just over the Marion town line.  The high school, affectionately known as "O.R.R.,"  competes in the South Coast Conference for athletics.  Their mascot is the bulldog, and their colors are red and white.  The town's [[Thanksgiving Day]] football rival is Apponequet Regional High School, in Lakeville.

In addition to public schools, high school students may also choose to attend [[Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School]], located in North Rochester. Their mascot is the Cougar, and they compete in the Pilgrim Conference for athletics. The curriculum includes shops such as welding, cosmetics, auto, wood work, and many more. The nearest private school is [[Tabor Academy, Massachusetts|Tabor Academy]] in Marion.

==Notable people==
* [[Joseph Bates (Adventist)|Joseph Bates]], founder of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, born in Rochester<ref>{{cite web|title=Footsteps of the Pioneers- Joseph Bates|url=http://www.adventistheritage.org/article/101/historic-sites/joseph-bates-home-at-fairhaven/footsteps-of-the-pioneers-joseph-bates|website=Adventist Heritage|access-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107060328/http://www.adventistheritage.org/article/101/historic-sites/joseph-bates-home-at-fairhaven/footsteps-of-the-pioneers-joseph-bates|archive-date=November 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Tristam Burges]] (1770–1853), U.S. Congressman and professor at [[Brown University]], born in Rochester<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Martha |title=Burges, Tristam |url=https://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/Databases/Encyclopedia/search.php?serial=B0710 |website=Encyclopedia Brunoniana |publisher=Brown University Library |access-date=November 17, 2020 |date=1993}}</ref>
*[[Selene Gifford]] (1901–1979), Assistant Commissioner, [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]]
* [[David Wing Jr.]], [[Secretary of State of Vermont]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Daniel P. |date=1860 |title=History of the Town of Montpelier |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XjrM-mA4Uo8C |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=E. P. Walton |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XjrM-mA4Uo8C/page/n71 68], 105, 290–291}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Rochester, Kent|Rochester, England]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.townofrochestermass.com Town of Rochester official website]
* [http://www.plumblibrary.com/ Plumb Memorial Library] (public library)
* Answer Book/Rochester: [http://www.enterprisenews.com/rochester/ "Everything you need to know"]

{{Plymouth County, Massachusetts}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rochester, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Plymouth County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]