Stoughton, Massachusetts

File:Stoughton town, Norfolk County, Massachusetts

Stoughton, Massachusetts is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is located approximately 17 miles south of Boston, Massachusetts and is part of the Greater Boston area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Stoughton was 29,281.

History

Stoughton was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1726. The town was named after William Stoughton, who was the first chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and the chief magistrate of the Salem witch trials. Stoughton played a significant role in the early industrial history of the United States, particularly in the shoe and rubber industries.

Geography

Stoughton is bordered by Canton, Massachusetts to the north, Randolph, Massachusetts to the east, Avon, Massachusetts to the southeast, Brockton, Massachusetts to the south, and Easton, Massachusetts and Sharon, Massachusetts to the west. The town covers a total area of 16.3 square miles, of which 16.0 square miles is land and 0.3 square miles is water.

Demographics

According to the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the town was 68.5% White, 18.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 4.2% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.5% from other races, and 5.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.8% of the population.

Government

Stoughton operates under a representative town meeting form of government. The town has a Board of Selectmen, which is responsible for the executive functions of the town, and a Town Manager, who oversees the day-to-day operations.

Education

Stoughton Public Schools serves the town and includes Stoughton High School, O'Donnell Middle School, and several elementary schools. The town is also home to the private school, Gibbons Elementary School.

Transportation

Stoughton is served by the Stoughton Branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, providing access to Boston's South Station. Major highways in the town include Massachusetts Route 24, Massachusetts Route 27, and Massachusetts Route 138.

Notable People

• William Stoughton (Massachusetts) - First chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
• Eddie Andelman - Sports radio talk show host.
• Michael Bivins - Member of the R&B group New Edition and hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe.

Points of Interest

• Stoughton Public Library
• Stoughton Historical Society
• Ames Long Pond