Plainville, Massachusetts

Plainville is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,945 at the time of the 2020 census. Plainville is part of the Boston and Providence metropolitan areas.

History
Originally included in a 1635 grant of land for Dedham, Massachusetts, the area was later deemed the Plantation of Wollomonuppoag and then later becoming Wrentham, Massachusetts before Plainville branched out as a separate community. Plainville became an officially recognized town on April 4, 1905, making it the third youngest town in the state, behind Millville (1916) and East Brookfield (1920).

One of the earliest documentations of Plainville being settled is from 1674, when a Wampanoag man by the name of Matchinamook petitioned and received a few acres of land at the head of the Ten Mile River, at present day Fuller's Dam. As Matchinamook was a native warrior under Wampanoag chieftain Metacomet, or more commonly known in the area as King Philip, he most likely fought during King Philip's War. In its early days, Plainville was nicknamed Slackville after Benjamin Slack, an affluent landowner at the time. After the establishment of a post office in 1856, Plainville became the town name after the abundance of geographical plains in the area. In 1905, Plainville officially separated from Wrentham and became its own town.

Along with bordering North Attleboro, Massachusetts, Plainville shares the Angle Tree Stone, a historic marker dividing the boundaries between the old Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Bay Colony. This is why the Angle Tree Stone is in the official town seal. Along with many notable veterans, Plainville was the home to George Robert Twelves Hewes, a Revolutionary War veteran who also partook in the Boston Tea Party as well as the Battle of Rhode Island.

Municipal Complex
In 2019, Plainville opened a new $34 million Municipal Complex, which included new space for the Town Hall, Fire Department, and Police. These were sited adjacent to a pre-existing public library on South Street. The new Town Hall replaced one that had been originally built in 1938 as a fire station. The Municipal Complex was funded by tax revenue from a local casino.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 11.6 sqmi, of which 11.1 sqmi is land and 0.5 sqmi (4.24%) is water.

Plainville borders the towns of Wrentham, Foxboro, Mansfield, North Attleboro, and Cumberland, Rhode Island.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,683 people, 3,009 households, and 2,040 families residing in the town. The population density was 694.6 PD/sqmi. There were 3,111 housing units at an average density of 281.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.77% White, 0.70% African American, 1.63% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 3,009 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. Of all households 26.2% were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there are 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,155, and the median income for a family was $68,640. Males had a median income of $50,708 versus $32,377 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,816. About 2.4% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Children and teens living in Plainville attend the A. W. Jackson Elementary School for kindergarten through second grade, then the B. H. Wood School for grades 3–6. Children then attend King Philip Middle School and King Philip Regional High School. Other high school options include the Foxborough Regional Charter School, Norfolk Aggie, and Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School all in neighboring towns.

Elementary Schools:
 * Anna Ware Jackson School (K–3)
 * Beatrice H. Wood School (4–6)

For secondary education Plainville is in the King Philip Regional School District. which operates the public middle school and the comprehensive high school for Plainville. Plainville is also a member of the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School.
 * King Philip Regional Middle School|King Philip Middle School (7–8) - Norfolk
 * King Philip Regional High School (9–12) - Wrentham

Local
Plainville built a new Municipal Complex in 2019, financed with revenue provided by a local casino.

Plainville has a board of selectmen style government. The town has a three-member select board, the current members, Maggie Clarke, Jeff Johnson, and Brian Kelly, were each elected to three year terms. The town also elects park commissioners, library trustees, members of the boards of health, assessors, planning, redevelopment, school committee members, and a housing authority. In total there exist 24 boards and committees in town.

The school committee is governed by: Justin Alexander, Michele Sharpe, Shannon Kerrigan, Jennifer Maloney Plante, and Steve Albert. Greg Wehmeyer, Bruce Cates, and Christopher Brenneis represent the town at the King Philip Regional School Committee.

After 15 years of service to the town, on April 3, 2023, town clerk Ellen Roberston retired; she was succeeded by Cynthia Bush.

State
The town is represented in the Massachusetts State Senate by Democrat Rebecca Rausch (Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district). She has served since 2019. Marcus Vaughn, a Republican, represents the town in the Massachusetts House of Representatives (9th Norfolk district).

Federal
Jake Auchincloss represents the town in the United States House of Representatives, and Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey represent Plainville in the United States Senate.

Notable people

 * Michelle Carter, known for her involvement in the death of Conrad Roy
 * Thomas John, psychic medium
 * Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
 * Jim Renner, PGA golfer
 * Emory Rounds, Ret. CMDR US NAVY Director of Ethics for the United States Trump and Biden White House
 * Lofa Tatupu, linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks