*** Welcome to piglix ***

Swansea, Massachusetts

Swansea, Massachusetts
Town
Swansea Town Hall
Swansea Town Hall
Official seal of Swansea, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
Location in Bristol County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 41°44′53″N 71°11′25″W / 41.74806°N 71.19028°W / 41.74806; -71.19028Coordinates: 41°44′53″N 71°11′25″W / 41.74806°N 71.19028°W / 41.74806; -71.19028
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Bristol
Settled 1667
Incorporated 1667
Government
 • Type Open town meeting
Area
 • Total 25.5 sq mi (66.1 km2)
 • Land 23.1 sq mi (59.7 km2)
 • Water 2.5 sq mi (6.4 km2)
Elevation 22 ft (7 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 15,865
 • Density 620/sq mi (240/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02777
Area code(s) 508 / 774
FIPS code 25-68750
GNIS feature ID 0619439
Website www.town.swansea.ma.us

Swansea is a town in Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts. It is located at the mouth of the Taunton River, just west of Fall River, 47 miles (76 km) south of Boston, and 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 15,865 at the 2010 census.

The villages of Hortonville, Barneyville and Ocean Grove are located in the town.

Swansea was named for the Welsh town of Swansea, which had been the hometown of some original settlers. John Miles, the founder of the first Baptist Church in Wales, moved to Swansea in 1662/3. William Brenton had purchased the land from Native Americans. Parts of its territory were originally part of Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

In 1667 the first Baptist church in Massachusetts relocated to Swansea from Rehoboth after experiencing religious intolerance there, and Swansea was incorporated as an independent town.

On June 20, 1675, the first Indian attack of King Philip's War had all 70 settlers confined to their . By June 25 the entire town had been burned, although a handful of the colonists escaped to Taunton. When the active war ended in 1676, the town was soon rebuilt.

After the war, many small industries, such as forges, ironworks and fisheries, opened up in the town. Many would later leave, and there remains a large agricultural sector.

What is now Barrington, Rhode Island (part of Massachusetts until 1747) was separated from the rest of Swansea in 1717, over religious differences.


...
Wikipedia

...