Page Contents for Whitman, Massachusetts

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Massachusetts state capital is Boston.
The population of Whitman is approximately 14,439 (2005).
The approximate number of families is 5,104 (2000).
The amount of land area in Whitman is 6.96 sq. miles.
The distance from Whitman to Washington DC is 395 miles.
The distance to the Massachusetts state capital is 22 miles. (as the crow flies)
Whitman is positioned 42.08 degrees north of the equator and 70.94 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Whitman elevation is 110 feet above sea level.
Whitman median income is $ 55,303 (2000).
The Whitman median home price is $ 156,500 (2000).
The average winter temperature is 27 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 71 degrees F.

Location

east of Brockton and 22 miles southeast of Boston in southeastern Massachusetts. Major roads that pass through Whitman include Mass. Route 14, Mass. Route 18, Mass. Route 27, and Mass. Route 58. Other nearby communities include Abington, East Bridgewater, Rockland, Hanson and West Bridgewater.
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Weather

seasonal. Average temperatures range from about 40 degrees in winter to about 72 degrees in the summer. Precipitation remains fairly constant throughout the year. Snow falls during the winter months
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History & History Related Items

At the time of its settlement, the area was known as the "Little Comfort" portion of Bridgewater. It was made part of the Town of Abington in 1712. Finally, in 1875, the township of South Abington was incorporated. In 1886, the name was formally changed to Whitman. It was named for local resident, Augustus Whitman. When the town was incorporated, there was no public water system. Private wells were the norm. It was arranged to have water from Silver Lake, but funding could not be obtained. Whitman decided to turn over the franchise for the water to nearby Brockton with the provision that Whitman could have a special rate for its water. Public water was finally received in Whitman on 2 January 1905.

Whitman supplied the timber for the frigate, U.S.S. Constitution, more commonly known as "Old Ironsides."

The Massachusetts state cookie is the chocolate chip cookie which was invented at the "Toll House Restaurant" in Whitman, Massachusetts in 1930. Nestle bought the recipe. The Toll House restaurant was on Route 18 through Whitman, which was the old toll road from Boston to Cape Cod. It burned down over 20 years ago.
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Attractions

The area is sometimes referred to as "Boston's Historic South Shore."

Located on Route 18 in Whitman is "Peaceful Meadows farm", which has been consecutively voted as the best ice cream in Massachusetts.

Harding Pond
Phone: (781)-447-5892
Adjacent to High Street Cemetery
Recreational Opportunities: Fishing, non-motor boating, ice-skating.

NOTED NOTABLES
Francis J. Spellman, Catholic Cardinal
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Whitman City Government

Town of Whitman
54 South Avenue
Whitman, MA 02382
Town Clerk: 781-447-7607

Whitman has a Selectmen/Town Administrator/Open Town Meeting form of government.

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Whitman Police Department
39 Whitman Ave.
Whitman, Massachusetts 02382
Phone: (781) 447-1212
Fax: (781) 447-7660
Emergency: 911

Whitman Chamber

Metro South Chamber of Commerce
Sixty School Street
Brockton, MA 02301
Phone: 508-586-0500
FAX 508-587-1340

Whitman Organizations

Metro South Chamber of Commerce
Sixty School Street
Brockton, MA 02301
Phone: 508-586-0500
FAX 508-587-1340

Whitman Libraries

Whitman Public Library
100 Webster Street
Whitman, Massachusetts 02382
Phone: 781-447-7613
Fax: 781-447-7678

Whitman Schools

Whitman-Hanson Regional Schools
600 Franklin Street
Whitman, MA 02382
Phone: 781-447-7000 Whitman

Miscellany

The population of Whitman was:
1990 - 13,208
2000 - 13,882
2005 - 14,439 (estimate)