Tewksbury

Tewksbury, Massachusetts
—  Town  —
Seal
Nickname(s): "Swamptown"
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°36′38″N 71°14′05″W / 42.61056°N 71.23472°W / 42.61056; -71.23472
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Middlesex
Settled	1637
Incorporated	1734
Government
- Type	Open town meeting
Area
- Total	21.1 sq mi (54.5 km2)
- Land	20.7 sq mi (53.7 km2)
- Water	0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2)
Elevation	126 ft (38 m)
Population (2007)
- Total	29,607
- Density	1,430.3/sq mi (551.3/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	01876
Area code(s)	978 / 351
FIPS code	25-69415
GNIS feature ID	0618238
Website	http://www.tewksbury.net/

Tewksbury (pronounced /ˈtʊksbɛriː/, /ˈtʊksbriː/) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,851 at the 2000 census.

History

Tewksbury was first settled in 1637 and was officially incorporated in 1734 from Billerica. Like Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, it is named after the town of Tewkesbury, England. One of the oldest sections of town is the area around the Shawsheen River. This is where the Shawshin tribe settled, allowing them access to a great food source. Tewksbury was also known for a historic visit by President Andrew Jackson, stopping off at local watering hole, Brown's Tavern.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.1 square miles (54.5 km²), of which, 20.7 square miles (53.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (1.61%) is water.

The Merrimack River forms part of the northern boundary of Tewksbury, and the Shawsheen River runs through the southern end of town as well.

Tewksbury is in Greater Lowell - The town is located about 25 miles (40 km) north northwest of Boston along I-93 and I-495 (Boston's outer beltway). Tewksbury borders the city of Lowell to the northwest, Dracut to the north (unreachable across the Merrimack), Andover to the east, Wilmington to the southeast, and Billerica to the southwest. Tewksbury also meets the town of Chelmsford at a point in the middle of the Concord River along with Lowell and Billerica.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 28,851 people, 9,964 households, and 7,692 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,392.3 people per square mile (537.6/km²). There were 10,158 housing units at an average density of 490.2/sq mi (189.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.44% White, 0.67% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.59% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 9,964 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $68,800, and the median income for a family was $76,443. Males had a median income of $50,296 versus $33,918 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,031. About 1.9% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Hospital

Tewksbury Hospital, a state-owned facility is located here. Originally built as an almshouse in the mid-19th Century, it includes over 900 acres (3.6 km²) of open space. Tewksbury Hospital is the home to both the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Public Health, and has many different programs for addictive behavior and other health concerns. Anne Sullivan (Helen Keller's teacher) spent time at Tewksbury Hospital.

Noteworthy residents

Mico Kaufman, world-class sculptor, whose credits include four Presidential inaugural medals. His most notable work, in the context of Tewkesbury UK/USA, is his bronze sculpture entitled "Touching Souls" — four children, native-American, European-American, African-America and Asian-American, sitting on the ground, arms leaning back, legs outstretched and apart, with the soles of their shoes/boots touching. The original is in Tewksbury, Massachusetts and the replica in the grounds of Tewkesbury Abbey, England. Other local works include a Wamesit Indian and a sculpture of Helen Keller and Anne Sullvian, entitiled "Water".

Gen. Adelbert Ames, GAR, founded the 20th Maine, which fought valiantly at Little Roundtop in Gettysburg under Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain; last surviving general of the Civil War (d. 1933).

Anne Sullivan, tutor and companion of Helen Keller.

David Wade, local news anchorman.

Paul Sullivan (d. 2007) former selectman, talk show host on WBZ radio, Boston.

High School

Part of the town's tradition, involves Thanksgiving Day Football vs. the Wilmington Wildcats. Tewksbury is undefeated in the match-up for the past 14 years.

The Tewksbury Memorial High School is currently on a warning status of Standards of Accreditation on Curriculum, School Resources for Learning, and Community resources for learning.^[2]

Tewksbury is also home to two junior high schools and four elementary schools. The elementary schools include the Heath Brook, The Trahan, The North Street, and the Dewing. The Heath Brook School was built in the 1950's and houses grades k-4. It took its name from the nearby Heath Brook which runs off the Shawsheen River. It had housed grades K-5 until 2000 when the new middle school was built near the high school.

References

1. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ http://www.tewksbury.mec.edu/TMHS/pdf/neascmarchletter08.pd

External links

• Tewksbury Citizen Activist website
• Tewksbury Historical Society
• Tewksbury official website
• Tewksbury Community Website

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