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Rockland, Massachusetts

Rockland, Massachusetts
Town
Union Street, Rockland
Union Street, Rockland
Official seal of Rockland, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°07′50″N 70°55′00″W / 42.13056°N 70.91667°W / 42.13056; -70.91667Coordinates: 42°07′50″N 70°55′00″W / 42.13056°N 70.91667°W / 42.13056; -70.91667
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Plymouth
Settled 1673
Incorporated 1874
Government
 • Type Open town meeting
Area
 • Total 10.1 sq mi (26.2 km2)
 • Land 10.0 sq mi (26.0 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation 140 ft (43 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 17,489
 • Density 1,748.9/sq mi (672.7/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02370
Area code(s) 339 / 781
FIPS code 25-57775
GNIS feature ID 0618351
Website www.rockland-ma.gov

Rockland is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,489 at the 2010 census. As of December 31, 2009, there were 11,809 registered voters in the community.

Rockland was settled by European settlers, as a northeastern region of neighboring Abington in 1673. The town separated and incorporated as Rockland on March 9, 1874. It is named for the town's rocky nature, which was better suited for mills and industry than for farming. During King Philip's War, the town was the site of an encampment during his raids on the town of Scituate.

During the twentieth century, the town was the site of a portion of the landing strips of the South Weymouth Naval Air Station. The airstrip closed in 1996 as a part of the fourth round of closures under the Base Realignment and Closure Act.

In recent years, a growing number of artists have moved into the community, attracted by former factory buildings as a place to work and meet.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26 km2), of which 10.0 square miles (26 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 0.79%, is water. Rockland ranks 307th out of 351 communities in the Commonwealth. Rockland is bordered by Weymouth to the northwest, Hingham to the northeast, Norwell to the northeast, Hanover to the east, Hanson to the south, Whitman to the southwest, and Abington to the west. Rockland is 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Brockton and 22 miles (35 km) south of Boston.


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