Mansfield
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The town of Mansfield was
chosen as the other town with the fastest rate of population growth.
Located in Southeastern Massachusetts along the 495 Corridor, the Town
of Mansfield's history begins in 1775. Created by a General Act of the
Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, the Town was named in honor of
William Murray, Earl of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire England. Before its
incorporation in 1775, Mansfield was once a part of the neighboring
towns of Taunton and Norton. Throughout its history, Mansfield has been
an important hub for manufacturing and the transportation which served
it.
The town became known as
a railroad town, serving as a major hub for the Boston and Providence
Railroads.
Population:
22,000
Land
Area:
20.72 square miles
Growth
rate:
35.5 %
Annual
increase in enrollment:
6.61 %, state average 2.49 %
Holders
of Bachelor Degree:
37.9 %, state average 25 %
Affordable
Housing Stock: 7.5 %
Mansfield's manufacturing
industry was varied, from chemical production to chocolate. At one time,
there existed 20 acres of cucumbers, producing 20,000 bushels annually.
However, Mansfield adapted to the changing times of manufacturing, and
in the 1970s, the Town boasted one of Southern
New England's best industrial parks.
Today, Mansfield has a
population of about 22,000. Located in Bristol County, it is 28 miles
south of the City of Boston. Its land area measures 20.72 square miles.
Between the years of 1950
and 1990, the state growth rate was 28%, compared
to Mansfield's rate of almost 300%. And since the year 1992,
Mansfield has grown at a steady rate of 35.5%.
As a result of the increased growth, Mansfield public schools have shown
a 6.61% annual increase in enrollment compared to the state average
of 2.49%. With regard to educational standards, Mansfield students have
performed above the state average on the MCAS exams. In 2000, 57% of
Mansfield 10th graders scored as advanced or proficient in Language
Arts, compared to the state average of 45%, while 56% of Mansfield 10th
graders scored as advanced or proficient in Mathematics, compared to
the state average of 51%. The town also boasts that 37.9% of its citizens
are recipients of Bachelor Degrees.
Mansfield has consistently
practiced proactive planning for their future growth. Considering long-term
perspectives, Mansfield has enacted building permit caps. This
building permit cap, at 115 units per year, will continue to allow growth
within the town while ensuring that it does not reach unmanageable
levels. However, the cap will not affect affordable housing developments.
Mansfield has a high 7.5% affordable housing stock when compared with
the 4% average of other fast growth communities.
Mansfield has a vibrant
downtown with a good mix of density and local businesses. The town encourages
citizen participation, seeking out community opinion and response regarding
planned initiatives. Their Capital Improvements
Committee meets to review, prioritize, and recommend to the Town
amendments to the Capital Improvements Plan as part of the annual budget.
The Committee has discussed and requested funding for some of the projects
such as the Kingman Pond Dam Engineering Project, document-imaging system
for Town Clerk, an affordable housing start-up program, and the addition
of sidewalk plows.
In addition to being a
member of the regional bus system, they are now constructing
a bicycle path with neighboring communities. Upon entering into a commitment
with these communities, the neighboring town of Norton later refused
the linkage. However, Mansfield maintained optimism and continued to
work with the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District
towards its completion. This highlights Mansfield's desire to incorporate
adjacent communities and its commitment to success in the face of adversity.
The town has a fairly large portion of conservation land as well. One
such example is the Great Woods Conservation Area.
Encompassing 2,300 acres, it is believed to be one of the largest
tracts of woodland unbroken by public roads in Southeastern Massachusetts.
In addition, the town has recently placed the Community Preservation
Act on the ballot for late 2002.
Recent advances in engineering
have aided in proposed environmental projects such as the
installation of a video camera monitoring sewer systems and updating
the sewer system inventory and map. These programs indicate that
the community is concerned about its environmental integrity and seeks
to maintain it, which is one of the reasons Mansfield was chosen to
represent the fastest growing towns.
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