Brockton, Massachusetts

City in Massachusetts, United States

City in Massachusetts

Brockton, Massachusetts

City

City Hall

Seal

Nickname:

The City of Champions

Motto(s):

"Education, Industry, Progress"

Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts

Brockton

Location within Massachusetts

Show map of Massachusetts

Brockton

Location within the United States

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Brockton

Location within North America

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Coordinates: 42°05′00″N 71°01′08″W﻿ / ﻿42.08333°N 71.01889°W﻿ / 42.08333; -71.01889
Country|  United States
State|  Massachusetts
County| Plymouth
Settled| 1700
Incorporated (town)| 1821
Incorporated (city)| 1881
Government

• Type| Strong mayor/council
• Mayor| Robert F. Sullivan
Area

[1]

• Total| 21.52 sq mi (55.73 km2)
• Land| 21.33 sq mi (55.25 km2)
• Water| 0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2)
Elevation

| 112 ft (34 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total| 105,643
• Density| 4,952.09/sq mi (1,912.05/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes|

02301–02305

Area code| 508/774
FIPS code| 25-09000
GNIS feature ID| 0617571
Website| www.brockton.ma.us

Brockton is a city in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States; the population was 105,643 at the 2020 United States census. Along with Plymouth, it is one of the two county seats of Plymouth County.[2] It is the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts and is sometimes referred to as the "City of Champions", due to the success of native boxers Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler, as well as its successful Brockton High School sports programs. Two villages within it are Montello and Campello, both of which have MBTA Commuter Rail Stations and post offices. Campello is the smallest neighborhood, but also the most populous. Brockton hosts a baseball team, the Brockton Rox. It is the second-windiest city in the United States, with an average wind speed of 14.3 mph (23.0 km/h).[3]

## History[edit]

In 1649, Ousamequin (Massasoit) sold the surrounding Wampanoag land—then known as Saughtucket—to Myles Standish as an addition to Duxbury.[4] Brockton was part of this area, which the English renamed Bridgewater. On June 15, 1821, a portion of the then Bridgewater Township was established as North Bridgewater.[5] Brockton is named after Isaac Brock. He was the British commanding general at Queenston Heights—the first major battle of the War of 1812—where invading American troops retreated in defeat. Because Brock was a loyalist, naming the town after him was a subject of contention among its colonial residents. Ultimately, it was given the name Brockton in 1874, and officially became a city on April 9, 1881.

Brockton was a stop on the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North and Canada.[6] Famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass, spoke to a crowd at the Liberty Tree in Brockton during the pre-Civil War period.[7] During the American Civil War, Brockton was America's largest producer of shoes, and until the latter parts of the 20th century, Brockton had a large shoe and leather products industry.[8]

Since the company's 1898 founding, Brockton has been the headquarters city of office supplies retailer W.B. Mason, itself founded to provide those supplies to the city's shoe industry. The city's economy was once based on the shoe industry, but it has since diversified to include other industries such as healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Brockton has faced a number of challenges, including poverty, crime, and regional and local racial segregation.[9] Despite these challenges, the city has made progress in recent years,[9] particularly in the development of its downtown area, by highlighting its diversity and rich history, and working toward a more welcoming atmosphere for businesses and residents.[10]

* Brockton station on a 1906 postcard

* Oldest house in 1910

* Main Street c. 1910

* Shoe factory in 1910

### Historical firsts[edit]

#### World firsts[edit]

* On October 1, 1883, Brockton became the first place in the world to have a three-wire underground electrical system when Thomas Edison threw a switch to activate it.[11]
* The City Theater opened on October 24, 1894, the first theater in the world to be tied into the three-wire electrical system.

#### US firsts[edit]

* On December 30, 1884, the first electrically operated fire station in the United States opened in Brockton.
* The department store Santa Claus appeared in Brockton in December 1890, when James Edgar, of Edgar's Department Store, suited up for the first time.[12]
* Brockton became the first city in the country to abolish grade crossings in 1896.
* In 2020, Brockton became the first city in New England with a majority-Black population. Brockton's new majority-Black population is expected to have a positive impact on the city's culture, economy, and politics.[13]

#### World Records[edit]

* On November 23, 2010, Brockton set the world record for the most Santa Hat wearers in one place at one time, with 872 people participating in the event.[14]
* On November 20, 2011, Brockton doubled the city's Santa Claus hat-wearing record with 1792 people in downtown Brockton wearing Santa hats.[15]

## Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.6 square miles (56 km2), of which 21.5 square miles (56 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.56%) is water. Brockton is the 162nd largest city by land area in the Commonwealth, and the twelfth largest of the twenty-seven towns in Plymouth County. Brockton is bordered by Stoughton to the northwest, Avon to the north, Holbrook to the northeast, Abington to the northeast, Whitman and East Bridgewater to the southeast, West Bridgewater to the south, and Easton to the west. Brockton is approximately 25 miles south of Boston, and 30 miles northeast of Providence, Rhode Island.

Brockton is mostly an urban setting, lying along the Salisbury Plain River, which once powered the many shoe factories of the city. To the northeast lies the Beaver Brook Conservation Land, attached to the southern end of the Ames Nowell State Park in Abington. There are several parks throughout the city, but the largest is D.W. Field Park, an Olmsted-inspired park which includes ponds, Waldo Lake and Brockton Reservoir in Avon, as well as a golf course.

### Climate[edit]

According to the Köppen climate classification, Brockton has either a hot-summer humid continental climate (abbreviated Dfa), or a hot-summer humid sub-tropical climate (abbreviated Cfa), depending on the isotherm used.

Climate data for Brockton, Massachusetts, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 71
(22)  | 72
(22)  | 88
(31)  | 95
(35)  | 97
(36)  | 101
(38)  | 103
(39)  | 104
(40)  | 100
(38)  | 89
(32)  | 82
(28)  | 78
(26)  | 104
(40)
Mean maximum °F (°C)  | 59.7
(15.4)  | 59.3
(15.2)  | 67.8
(19.9)  | 79.9
(26.6)  | 88.7
(31.5)  | 92.4
(33.6)  | 95.1
(35.1)  | 93.4
(34.1)  | 88.7
(31.5)  | 79.9
(26.6)  | 70.6
(21.4)  | 62.4
(16.9)  | 97.0
(36.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 38.7
(3.7)  | 40.8
(4.9)  | 48.0
(8.9)  | 59.0
(15.0)  | 69.7
(20.9)  | 78.3
(25.7)  | 84.2
(29.0)  | 82.9
(28.3)  | 75.3
(24.1)  | 64.0
(17.8)  | 53.5
(11.9)  | 43.7
(6.5)  | 61.5
(16.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 29.6
(−1.3)  | 31.4
(−0.3)  | 38.3
(3.5)  | 48.5
(9.2)  | 58.5
(14.7)  | 67.7
(19.8)  | 73.8
(23.2)  | 72.4
(22.4)  | 64.8
(18.2)  | 53.5
(11.9)  | 43.8
(6.6)  | 35.0
(1.7)  | 51.4
(10.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 20.6
(−6.3)  | 22.0
(−5.6)  | 28.7
(−1.8)  | 38.0
(3.3)  | 47.4
(8.6)  | 57.1
(13.9)  | 63.4
(17.4)  | 62.0
(16.7)  | 54.2
(12.3)  | 43.0
(6.1)  | 34.2
(1.2)  | 26.4
(−3.1)  | 41.4
(5.2)
Mean minimum °F (°C)  | 0.2
(−17.7)  | 3.8
(−15.7)  | 11.2
(−11.6)  | 25.2
(−3.8)  | 33.7
(0.9)  | 43.5
(6.4)  | 51.4
(10.8)  | 49.2
(9.6)  | 38.1
(3.4)  | 27.6
(−2.4)  | 18.7
(−7.4)  | 8.9
(−12.8)  | −1.8
(−18.8)
Record low °F (°C)  | −18
(−28)  | −19
(−28)  | −5
(−21)  | 13
(−11)  | 25
(−4)  | 35
(2)  | 40
(4)  | 37
(3)  | 27
(−3)  | 13
(−11)  | 3
(−16)  | −16
(−27)  | −19
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 4.02
(102)  | 3.62
(92)  | 5.23
(133)  | 4.53
(115)  | 3.44
(87)  | 4.13
(105)  | 3.17
(81)  | 3.60
(91)  | 4.08
(104)  | 4.96
(126)  | 4.39
(112)  | 5.06
(129)  | 50.23
(1,277)
Average snowfall inches (cm)  | 9.1
(23)  | 12.8
(33)  | 6.9
(18)  | 0.7
(1.8)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.0
(0.0)  | 0.1
(0.25)  | 0.2
(0.51)  | 4.5
(11)  | 34.3
(87.56)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.0  | 10.7  | 12.0  | 12.3  | 12.8  | 11.4  | 9.7  | 9.3  | 9.4  | 11.4  | 11.0  | 12.3  | 133.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.2  | 2.3  | 1.5  | 0.2  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.0  | 0.1  | 1.4  | 7.7
Source 1: NOAA[16]
Source 2: National Weather Service[17]

## Demographics[edit]

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±%

|
|

1830| 1,953| —
1840| 2,616| +33.9%
1850| 3,939| +50.6%
1860| 6,584| +67.1%
1870| 8,007| +21.6%
1880| 13,608| +70.0%
1890| 27,294| +100.6%
1900| 40,063| +46.8%
1910| 56,878| +42.0%
1920| 66,254| +16.5%
1930| 63,797| −3.7%
1940| 62,343| −2.3%
1950| 62,860| +0.8%
1960| 72,813| +15.8%
1970| 89,040| +22.3%
1980| 95,172| +6.9%
1990| 92,788| −2.5%
2000| 94,304| +1.6%
2010| 93,810| −0.5%
2020| 105,643| +12.6%
2022*| 104,826| −0.8%
* = population estimate.
Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data.[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]
Source:

U.S. Decennial Census[30]

Map of racial distribution in Brockton, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: ⬤ White ⬤ Black ⬤ Asian ⬤ Hispanic ⬤ Multiracial ⬤ Native American/Other

As of the census[31] of 2020, there were 105,673 people, 31,440 households, and about 3.04 people living in each household, and about an average family size of 3.59. The population density was 4,486.3 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 27.3% White, 50.9% African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.9% of the population. The African-American population in Brockton has grown significantly since the beginning of the early 2000s.

Brockton has one of the largest population of Cape Verdean ancestry in the United States, with about 9% of its population.[32] Brockton also has a significant Angolan American community.[33]

Statistically, Brockton is the most populous and most densely populated community in Plymouth County. It is the sixth largest community in the commonwealth. However, it is only the twenty-seventh most densely populated community in the Commonwealth. [citation needed]

As of 2010, there were 33,675 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 19.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

As of 2018, the median income for a household in Brockton is $55,140. Males have an average income of $41,093 versus $35,145 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,163. The poverty rate in Brockton is 15.61% of the population. Notably by race, 23.55% of Hispanics were in poverty, while the Black population of Brockton had about 18.61% of its population living in poverty.

### Income[edit]

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

Data is from the 2009–2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.[34][35][36]

Rank  | ZIP Code (ZCTA)  | Per capita
income  | Median
household
income  | Median
family
income  | Population  | Number of
households

|
|
|
|
|
|

| Massachusetts | $35,763  | $66,866  | $84,900  | 6,605,058  | 2,530,147
| Plymouth County | $35,220  | $75,092  | $90,431  | 497,386  | 179,617
| United States | $28,155  | $53,046  | $64,719  | 311,536,594  | 115,610,216
1  | 02301 (West Brockton)  | $22,728  | $61,060  | $65,914  | 34,929  | 11,516
| Brockton | $21,942  | $49,025  | $57,773  | 93,911  | 32,856
2  | 02302 (East Brockton)  | $21,477  | $44,144  | $53,080  | 58,982  | 21,340

## Arts and culture[edit]

### Music[edit]

Brockton is home to the Brockton Symphony Orchestra, a community orchestra founded in 1948.[37][38] The orchestra performs five or six concerts per season at local venues such as Brockton's West Middle School Auditorium and the Oliver Ames Auditorium in the neighboring town of Easton. The orchestra comprises 65 musicians from the greater Brockton area and its musical director since 2007 is James Orent, a guest conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops.[39][40]

### Festivals[edit]

* Brockton Summer Concert Series[41]
* Downtown Brockton Arts and Music Festival – End of August annually[42][43]
* Towerfest – Columbus Day Weekend annually [44]
* Greek Festival – Third week of September
* Veterans Day Parade annually
* Holiday Parade – Late November annually
* The Cape Verdean Festival – Last Sunday in July[45]

Headlines posted in street-corner window of newspaper office (Brockton Enterprise), 60 Main Street, Brockton, Massachusetts, December 1940. Additionally upstairs, the first main offices of W.B. Mason.

### Library[edit]

The city supports three buildings within the Brockton Public Library system. The main library is a Carnegie building.[46]

### Notable sites[edit]

* Brockton Airport – formerly, now the South Side Shopping Center
* Fuller Craft Museum
* Westgate Mall

#### Sites listed on National Register of Historic Places[edit]

* Brockton City Hall
* Brockton Edison Electric Illuminating Company Power Station
* Central Fire Station
* Curtis Building
* Dr. Edgar Everett Dean House
* D.W. Field Park
* Forest Avenue School
* Franklin Block
* Gardner J. Kingman House
* Goldthwaite Block
* Howard Block
* Lyman Block
* Moses Packard House
* Old Post Office Building
* Snow Fountain and Clock
* South Street Historic District

## Sports[edit]

Based at Campanelli Stadium, the Brockton Rox play in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL). From 2003 through 2011, the team was a member of the independent professional Can-Am League, then in 2012 joined the amateur FCBL.[47] Collegiate players on FCBL teams, who are looking for more experience and scouting exposure, are offered non-paid playing opportunities. The New England Knockouts, a professional baseball team of the Frontier League, begin play in 2024, also using Campanelli Stadium.[48]

## Government[edit]

See also: List of mayors of Brockton, Massachusetts

On the national level, Brockton is a part of Massachusetts's 8th congressional district, and has been represented since January 2013 by Stephen Lynch.

On the state level, Brockton is represented in three districts in the Massachusetts House of Representatives: the Ninth Plymouth, Tenth Plymouth (which includes West Bridgewater and Precinct 1 of East Bridgewater), and the Eleventh Plymouth (which includes most of Easton). The city is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Second Plymouth and Bristol district, which includes Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Whitman and portions of East Bridgewater and Easton[49]

Brockton has a city government led by a mayor and city council. The city elects a mayor for two-year terms. Previous mayors include Winthrop H. Farwell Jr., John T. Yunits Jr., David Crosby, Carl Pitaro, Richard L. Wainwright, John E. Sullivan, Alvin Jack Sims, Joseph H. Downey and Paul Studenski. James Harrington was elected mayor in 2005 and began his term in January 2006. He was re-elected on November 6, 2007, for another two-year term. He had previously served 16 years as a City Councilor. In the fall of 2009, City Councilor Linda Balzotti defeated Harrington to become the city's first female mayor. Balzotti was defeated in 2013 by Bill Carpenter, who won the election by only 44 votes. After the unexpected death of Bill Carpenter on July 3, 2019, City Councillor President Moises Rodrigues become the acting Mayor. On July 15, 2019 Rodrigues was unanimously elected by the 11-person City Council to become the Mayor of Brockton.[50] Rodrigues became the first person of color to become Mayor of Brockton after serving six years on the Brockton city council. In 2009, community activist Jass Stewart was elected to councilor-at-large becoming the first African American to serve in Brockton's city council.[51] The city council consists of four Councilors-at-Large and seven ward Councilors, one for every ward in the city. As of January 2020, the mayor of Brockton is Robert F. Sullivan.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2018[52]

Party  | Number of Voters  | Percentage
| Democratic | 27,843  | 49.63%
| Republican | 3,612  | 6.44%
| Libertarian | 211  | 0.38%
| Minor Parties  | 787  | 1.40%
| Unenrolled  | 23,644  | 42.15%
Total  | 56,097  | 100%

## Education[edit]

### Public schools[edit]

Brockton operates its own school system for the city's approximately 17,000 students. There is an early education school (Barrett Russell), ten elementary schools (Angelo, Arnone, Baker, Brookfield, Downey, George, Gilmore, Hancock, John F. Kennedy and Raymond), the Davis K–8 school, six middle/junior high schools (North, East, West, South, Ashfield and the Plouffe Academy), Brockton High School and four alternative schools (Huntington, Edison, Champion and B.B. Russell). Brockton High School's athletics teams are called the Boxers (after the city's undefeated heavyweight boxing champion, Rocky Marciano[53]). In February of 2024, Brockton High School entered the national spotlight following four district committee members requesting National Guard assistance via letter to the state’s Governor to deal with increasing levels of violence between students and security staffing shortages at the school, a request opposed by the Mayor of Brockton at the time.[1]

### Private schools[edit]

Brockton was home to three parochial schools (Sacred Heart, Saint Casimir and Saint Edward) which merged in 2007 to form two schools. Trinity Lower Campus at the former Saint Edwards school site, and Trinity Upper Campus located on the former site of the Saint Colman's school, one Christian school (South Shore Christian and the Brockton Christian School closed in 2010), and Cardinal Spellman High School, a Catholic high school named for Francis Cardinal Spellman, Brockton area native and former Archbishop of New York. Students may also choose to attend tuition-free Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School (in South Easton). [citation needed]

### Higher education[edit]

Brockton is the site of Massasoit Community College and offers Adult Studies/LEAD classes in Brockton.[54] Fisher College also has a campus in Brockton. The Brockton VA Hospital offers classes and apprenticeships to medical students from Fisher College, Harvard University, Boston University, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Boston, and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Additionally, the city also has a campus for the National College of Technical Instruction. Porter and Chester Institute also has a campus in Brockton. Brockton is also home to the Brockton Hospital School of Nursing as well as the Monna Bari Medical School.

## Infrastructure[edit]

### Transportation[edit]

#### Major highways[edit]

Massachusetts Route 24, a six-lane divided motorway, passes through the west side of the city, with exits at Route 27 to the north and Route 123 to the south. The two routes pass through the center of the city, crossing at that point. Massachusetts Route 28 passes from north to south through the center of the city, The western end of Route 14 (at its intersection with Route 27) and the southern end of Route 37 (at its intersection with Route 28) both are in the city.

#### Bus[edit]

Brockton has its own bus services, operated by the Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT). Each bus has a designated route running through a section of Brockton, i.e. Montello, Campello, Cary Hill, etc. There are also buses that have routes outside the city, i.e., Bridgewater Industrial Park, Ashmont Station (MBTA subway end-of-line), Stoughton and a connecting bus stop in Montello to the Braintree Station (MBTA subway end-of-line).

#### Rail[edit]

The Middleborough/Lakeville Line of the MBTA's commuter rail system bisects the city running north-south, with stops in the Montello and Campello neighborhoods, as well as in the city center, providing service to points south and South Station in Boston north of the city.

### Healthcare[edit]

Brockton has three hospitals: Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital on the east side, Good Samaritan Medical Center—a Steward Family Hospital (formerly Caritas Good Samaritan, and before that Cardinal Cushing) Hospital to the northwest, and the Brockton Veterans Administration Hospital to the southwest. The VA Hospital is the sponsoring institution for the Harvard South Shore Psychiatry program. It serves as a teaching facility for students of various medical specialties from Boston University, physician assistant students from Northeastern University, nursing students from the University of Massachusetts Boston and physician assistant and pharmacy students from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. [citation needed]

Brockton has a community health center that serves individuals with low income and poor access to health care at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center.[55]

### Fire department[edit]

Central Fire Station

The city of Brockton is protected around the clock by 174 paid, professional firefighters of the city of Brockton Fire Department. The Brockton Fire Department currently operates out of six fire stations, located throughout the city, and maintains a fire apparatus fleet of five engines, three ladders, one squad, one tactical rescue unit and several other special, support, and reserve units. The fire department does not provide EMS services; ambulance coverage is currently contracted to Brewster Ambulance Service.[56]

In 1905, local newspapers recounted many heroic acts by Brockton firefighters during the Grover Shoe Factory disaster.[57] On March 10, 1941, thirteen Brockton firefighters died when the roof collapsed as they were fighting a fire at the Strand Theatre.[58] That fire resulted in one of the worst firefighting tragedies in American history.

### Law enforcement[edit]

The City of Brockton Police Department has roughly 181 sworn members and 31 non-sworn employees. The officers are assigned to the Patrol Division, and Operations Division which includes; Detectives, Narcotics, Gang Unit, Special Weapons And Tactics, K-9, Quality of Life, GREAT Program, Elderly Affairs, and Community Education Units.[59] In addition, the city is patrolled by the Fourth (Middleborough) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.[60] Brockton also has several citizen anti-crime groups, including the Guardian Angels and Operation Archangel.

## Notable people[edit]

* Kristian Alfonso, actress
* Jo Baker, singer and songwriter; niece of Mary E. Baker
* Mary E. Baker, first African-American to work at Brockton City Hall; civic leader[61]
* Steve Balboni, professional baseball player
* Ronnie Bardah, professional poker player and Survivor: Island of the Idols contestant
* Darius Bazley, Professional NBA Basketball
* Chris Bender, R&B singer
* Alfred Campanelli, businessman
* Andrew Card, politician
* John Cariani, actor, playwright
* Patrick Condon, author and professor of urban design
* Robert Cottle, television personality
* Jim Corbett, NFL player
* William Damon, psychologist and author
* Al Davis, owned Oakland Raiders
* John Doucette, actor
* Levi Lewis Dorr, American Civil War veteran and physician
* John M. Dowd, lawyer
* Bonnie Dumanis, District Attorney of San Diego County
* AJ Dybantsa, basketball player
* James Edgar, first department store Santa
* Shawn Fanning, creator of Napster
* Kenneth Feinberg, attorney
* George Wilton Field, marine biologist
* Keith Gill, stock investor
* Edward Gilmore, first Democrat elected to US Congress from Plymouth County
* Brian Gordon, cartoonist known for Fowl Language
* Scott Gordon, professional hockey player, head coach of New York Islanders
* Noel Gourdin, singer
* Marvin Hagler, professional middleweight boxing champion
* Pooch Hall, actor
* Rudy Harris, professional football player
* Josephine Hasham, women's professional baseball player
* Josh Hennessy, professional hockey player
* George V. Higgins, author
* Pete Hughes, college baseball coach
* David Hungerford (1927–1993), geneticist, co-discoverer of Philadelphia chromosome
* George Hurley, musician
* Megan Khang, professional golfer[62]
* Al Louis-Jean, NFL player
* Joe Lauzon, professional MMA fighter
* George N. Leighton, United States court judge
* Jimmy Luxury, musician
* Ken MacAfee, professional football player
* Jim Mann, professional baseball player
* Rocky Marciano, undefeated heavyweight boxing champion
* Bill McGunnigle, inventor of the baseball glove
* Greg McMurtry, professional football player
* Arthur Mercante, boxing referee
* Christy Mihos, entrepreneur, politician
* Ed Nelson, professional basketball player
* Sean Newcomb, professional baseball player
* Aaron O'Brien, five time champion softball player
* Leo Paquin, football player at Fordham University
* Goody Petronelli, boxing trainer
* Cory Quirk, professional hockey player
* Jodie Rivera, online personality
* Evelyn Scott, actress
* Robbie Sims, middleweight boxer
* Kevin Stevens, professional hockey player
* Jason Vega, professional football player
* Wyatt Tee Walker, civil rights leader
* Dave Wedge, author, journalist
* Art Whitney, professional baseball player
* Herbert Warren Wind, writer

## Awards[edit]

Brockton was named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in the United States in 2005, 2008, 2010, and 2011 by the America's Promise Alliance.[63]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "Top 101 cities with the highest average wind speeds (population 50,000+)". www.city-data.com.
4. ^ Cline, Sara. "Massasoit and Myles Standish signed it -- Bridgewater saved it". Enterprise News. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
5. ^ Scott, Henry Edwards, ed. (1916). Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to the year 1850. Vol. 1 - Births. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society. p. 3. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
6. ^ "Black history comes alive in the hands and voices of prominent Brocktonians". Enterprise News. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
7. ^ Saint-Ciel, Alisha. "5 influential African Americans with ties to Brockton area". Enterprise News. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
8. ^ Allegrini, Elaine. "Once known as 'Shoe City,' Brockton loses its last factory".
9. ^ a b Boston Indicators Project, 2018, pp. 37-40
10. ^ CityBrockton (November 9, 2022), Brockton: Where Better Begins, retrieved April 15, 2023
11. ^ Edison's Fabulous Breakthrough in Brockton, Massachusetts, thomasedison.com; accessed April 16, 2014.
12. ^ Department Store Santa Tradition Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved April 19, 2011
13. ^ Berke, Ben. "Brockton is now majority Black, for first time in city's history". Enterprise News. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
14. ^ World Records Academy Archived 2012-05-15 at the Wayback Machine; accessed April 16, 2014.
15. ^ "Brockton dons Santa hats, shatters its own record - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
16. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Brockton, MA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
17. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boston". National Weather Service. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
18. ^ "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
19. ^ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
20. ^ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
21. ^ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
22. ^ "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
23. ^ "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
24. ^ "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
25. ^ "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
26. ^ "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
27. ^ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
28. ^ "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). 1: Number of Inhabitants. Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, pp. 21-7 through 21-09, Massachusetts Table 4. Population of Urban Places of 10,000 or more from Earliest Census to 1920. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2011. `{{cite journal}}`: Cite journal requires `|journal=` (help)
29. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
30. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
31. ^ Jones, Jarred (October 21, 2020). "U.S. Census website". U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
32. ^ Cape Verdean ancestry by city Archived 2015-02-01 at the Wayback Machine, epodunk.com; accessed April 16, 2014.
33. ^ Latour, Francie (June 25, 2000). "Trouble's Temptations: Angolan-American activists worry that young immigrants from their homeland will be drawn into the cycle of violence that plagues Cape Verdeans". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
34. ^ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
35. ^ "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
36. ^ "HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES 2009-2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2015.
37. ^ Pfeifer, Ellen (10 April 1998). "Handel rarity is a royal tragedy; Brockton Symphony celebrates 50 years". Boston Herald
38. ^ Webmaster, BrSO. "The Brockton Symphony Orchestra". www.brocktonsymphony.org.
39. ^ Mccready, Daniel (February 25, 2012)."Orchestra to bring 'Life' to Brockton" Archived August 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. The Enterprise; retrieved December 3, 2012.
40. ^ Knox, Robert (September 9, 2007). "Brockton Symphony's pilot - New director plans both rare, popular works". Boston Globe
41. ^ Primavera, Jessica. "Free summer concerts return to Brockton".
42. ^ Downtown Brockton Arts and Music Festival
43. ^ "About Us". Brockton Arts. August 29, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
44. ^ "Photos: Brockton's Towerfest offers a bird's-eye view of D.W. Field Park". The Enterprise, Brockton, MA. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
45. ^ Larocque, Marc (July 28, 2019). "Brockton Cape Verdeans celebrate 25th annual CV Day in style". The Enterprise.
46. ^ "Brockton Public Library". Brockton Public Library. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
47. ^ "Brockton Rox Join FCBL". pointstreaksites.com. February 29, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
48. ^ "Knockouts Unveil Logos, Paying Homage to Brockton & its Boxing History". frontierleague.com (Press release). February 27, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
49. ^ Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, mass.gov; accessed April 16, 2014.
50. ^ Larocque, Marc (July 15, 2019). "Moises Rodrigues becomes Brockton's first Cape Verdean mayor". The Enterprise. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
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## External links[edit]

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Cities and towns
10k-25k|

* Abington
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Sub-regions|

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See also|

* Northeast megalopolis

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Northeast megalopolis major urban regions

Core cities are metropolitan core cities of at least a million people. The other areas are urban areas of cities that have an urban area of 150,000+ or of a metropolitan area of at least 250,000+. Satellite cities are in italics.

Mid-Atlantic|

| Core cities|

* Baltimore
* city
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* Camden
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* Newport News
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* city
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* Paterson
* Elizabeth
* Richmond
* city
* Washington
* city
* Arlington
* Alexandria

|

Other areas|

* Atlantic City
* Hagerstown
* city
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* Lancaster
* Lehigh Valley
* Allentown–Bethlehem-Easton
* Northeastern Pennsylvania
* Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
* Poughkeepsie–Newburgh
* city 1
* city 2
* Reading
* Salisbury
* city
* Trenton
* York

Combined areas|

* Washington–Baltimore

New England|

| Core cities|

* Boston
* city
* Cambridge
* Hartford
* city
* Providence
* city

|

Other areas|

* Barnstable
* Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk
* city 1
* city 2
* city 3
* Danbury
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* Manchester
* Nashua
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* city
* Norwich–New London
* Portland
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* city
* Waterbury
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Combined areas|

* Boston–Providence
* Bridgeport–Stamford–New Haven
* Hartford–Springfield

Other megaregions

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County seats of Massachusetts

* Barnstable
* Boston
* Brockton
* Cambridge
* Dedham
* Edgartown
* Greenfield
* Lawrence
* Lowell
* Nantucket
* Northampton
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* Plymouth
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* Springfield
* Taunton
* Worcester

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel
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Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* NARA

*[c.]: circa
*[Pop.]: Population
*[±%]: Percent change
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