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[[Magod:Scituate_ma_highlight.png|175px|thumb|right|Topam in tat: Massachusetts.]]
'''Scituate''' binon zif in komot: {InfoboxPlymouth, Cityin tat: [[Massachusetts]], in [[Lamerikän]].
|official_name = Scituate, Massachusetts
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = The River and Town,_Scituate,_MA.jpg
|image_caption = Scituate Harbor
|image_seal =
|image_flag =
|image_map = Scituate_ma_highlight.png
|map_caption = Location in Massachusetts
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth County]]
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 1630
|established_title2 = Incorporated
|established_date2 = 1636
|established_title3 =
|established_date3 =
|government_type = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title = <!--[[Town Administrator|Town<br> Administrator]]-->
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 = <!--Board of <br> Selectmen-->
|leader_name1 =
|area_total = 82.4
|TotalArea_sq_mi = 31.8
|area_land = 44.5
|LandArea_sq_mi = 17.2
|area_water = 37.8
|WaterArea_sq_mi = 14.6
|population_as_of = 2000
|settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total = 17863
|population_density = 401.4
|population_density_mi2 = 1039.6
|elevation = 9
|elevation_ft = 30
|timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|latd=42 |latm=11 |lats=45 |latNS=N
|longd=70 |longm=43 |longs=35 |longEW=W
|website = http://www.town.scituate.ma.us/
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 02066
|area_code = [[Area code 339|339]] / [[Area code 781|781]]
|footnotes =
}}
'''Scituate, Massachusetts''' is a small seacoast town located in [[Plymouth, [[Massachusetts]], on [[Cape Cod Bay]] midway between [[Boston]] and [[Plymouth, Massachusetts|Plymouth]]. The population was 17,863 at the 2000 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the village of North Scituate, which is a part of Scituate, please see the article [[North Scituate, Massachusetts]].
== History ==
Scituate was settled by a group of people from Plymouth about [[1627]], who were joined by immigrants from the County of [[Kent]] in England. They were initially governed by the General Court at Plymouth, but in [[1636]] the town incorporated as a separate entity. The name Scituate is derived from "satuit," the [[Wampanoag]] term for cold brook. It refers to a brook that runs to the inner harbor of Scituate. In 1710 several residents emigrated to Rhode Island and founded [[Scituate, Rhode Island]], naming it after their previous hometown.
In [[1717]] the western portion of the original grant was separated and incorporated as the town of [[Hanover, Massachusetts|Hanover]], and in [[1788]] a section of the town was ceded to [[Marshfield, Massachusetts|Marshfield]]. In [[1849]] another western section became the town of South Scituate, which later changed its name to [[Norwell, Massachusetts|Norwell]]. Since then, the borders have remained essentially unchanged.
[[Fishing]] was a significant part of the local economy in the past, as well as the [[irish moss|sea mossing]] industry. A small fishing fleet is still resident in Scituate Harbor, although today the town is mostly residential.
In 1810, a lighthouse was erected on the northern edge of Scituate Harbor. According to a historical marker at the light, during the [[War of 1812]] British naval ships were [[American Army of Two|warded off]] from landing in the harbor by the two daughters of the lighthouse keeper, Abigail and Rebecca Bates. According to the story, the two girls played a fife and drum loudly, making the British think there was an approaching army, causing them to leave. The lighthouse, however is not even the most famous light in the town; that honor belongs to [[Minot's Ledge Light]], off Scituate Neck in the north of town.
[[Samuel Woodworth]]'s Old Oaken Bucket house is located in Scituate. The town is also home to the Lawson Tower, a water tower surrounded by a wooden façade, with an observation deck with views of most of the South Shore from the top.
Scituate used to be the site of [[international broadcasting]] [[radio]] station [[WNYW]], which broadcast on the [[shortwave]] bands in the late 1960s.
== Geography ==
[[Image:Scituate Lighthouse.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Scituate Lighthouse, Scituate Harbor.]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 82.4 [[km²]] (31.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 44.5 km² (17.2 mi²) of it is land and 37.8 km² (14.6 mi²) of it (45.94%) is water. Scituate is bordered on the east by [[Massachusetts Bay]], on the south by [[Marshfield, Massachusetts|Marshfield]], on the west by [[Norwell, Massachusetts|Norwell]] and [[Hingham, Massachusetts|Hingham]], all of which are in Plymouth County, and on the northwest by [[Cohasset, Massachusetts|Cohasset]], in [[Norfolk County, Massachusetts|Norfolk County]]. The town is nineteen miles northeast of [[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]], and twenty-five miles southeast of [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]].
Scituate is considered a [[South Shore, Massachusetts|South Shore]] community, located just south of the mouth of greater [[Boston Harbor]]. The town is not contiguous; [[Humarock]] and Fourth Cliff are parts of Scituate which can only be reached from Marshfield. The latter was formerly connected to the town, but that connection was lost with a river shift as the result of the [[Portland Gale]] of 1898. The town's shore varies, with the south (along the mouth of the North River)being marshy, the middle (around Scituate Harbor) being more bucolic, to the rocky coast of Scituate Neck in the north. It is off these rocks that Minot's Ledge lies, home to the town's most famous lighthouse. The inland of the town is mostly wooded, with several brooks and rivers (including Cold Brook, for which the town is named) running through.
The town has no freeways running through it; [[Massachusetts Route 3|Route 3]] runs through neighboring Norwell. [[Route 3A (Massachusetts)|Route 3A]] runs through the town, and is known as Chief Justice Cushing Highway for this stretch, named for [[William Cushing]]. The only other state highway in town is [[Route 123 (Massachusetts)|Route 123]], which terminates at Route 3A, just 0.7 miles from the town line.
There is no air service in town; the closest regional airport is Marshfield Municipal Airport, and the closest national and international air service is at [[Logan International Airport]] in Boston. Currently, construction is in progress on the Greenbush line of the [[Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority|MBTA's]] commuter rail service. The line will have two stations in Scituate, one being just off of Route 3A in North Scituate, and the other just east of the intersection of Routes 3A and 123 in the Greenbush neighborhood, which will be the line's eastern terminus. The line will connect to an existing line in Braintree, providing service to [[South Station (Boston)|South Station]] in Boston.<ref>[http://www.cbbgreenbush.com/ MBTA CBB Greenbush Construction Project website]</ref>
== Demographics ==
[[Image:The Stanley House, Scituate, MA.jpg|thumb|left|''The Stanley House'' in c. [[1905]]]]
As of the [[census]][[Geographic references#2|<sup>2</sup>]] of 2000, there were 17,863 people, 6,694 households, and 4,920 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 401.5/km² (1,039.6/mi²). There were 7,685 housing units at an average density of 172.7/km² (447.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.49% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.03% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.45% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.01% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 6,694 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $70,868, and the median income for a family was $86,058. Males had a median income of $60,322 versus $40,200 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $33,940. About 1.4% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.
=== See also ===
* [[Scituate (CDP), Massachusetts]]
== Government ==
[[Image:Minot Ledge Light, Scituate, MA.jpg|thumb|right|''Minot Ledge Light'' in c. 1905]]
On the national level, Scituate is a part of [[Massachusetts's 10th congressional district]], and is currently represented by [[Bill Delahunt]]. The state's senior (Class I) member of the [[United States Senate]], re-elected in 2006, is [[Ted Kennedy]]. The junior (Class II) Senator, up for re-election in 2008, is [[John Kerry]].
On the state level, Scituate is mostly represented in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] as a part of the Fourth Plymouth district, which also includes the town of Marshfield. The third precinct is a part of the Third Plymouth district, which includes Hingham, Hull and Cohasset. The town is represented in the [[Massachusetts Senate]] as a part of the Plymouth and Norfolk district, which includes the towns of Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Hull, Marshfield Norwell and Weymouth.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov]</ref> The town is patrolled by the First (Norwell) Barracks of Troop D of the [[Massachusetts State Police]].<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+D&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_d_msp_field_troop_d_station_d1&csid=Eeops Station D-1, SP Norwell]</ref>
Scituate is governed on the local level by the [[open town meeting]] form of government, and is led by a town administrator and a [[board of selectmen]]. The town hall, police and fire headquarters are all located in a building along Route 3A, just down the street from the traditional center of town. There are also firehouses in Humarock, near Scituate Harbor and near Scituate Neck. Emergency services are also provided by the town, with the nearest hospitals being located in Pembroke, Braintree and Brockton. There are four post offices throughout the town, located in Humarock, near the harbor and the neck, and in North Scituate, just off of the right-of-way of the Greenbush line and adjacent to the site of the station. The Scituate Town Library is located near North Scituate, and is a member of the Old Colony Library Network (OCLN). The town also operates a highway department, as well as several parks, beaches and marinas. The [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] also has a station at Scituate Harbor, just opposite First Cliff.
==Education==
Scituate's public schools provide co-ed classes for grades K–12. Hatherly Elementary School, Cushing Elementary School, Wampatuck Elementary School and (the most recently opened) Jenkins Elementary School serve grades K–6, [[Gates Intermediate School|Lester J. Gates Intermediate School]], known just as "Gates" to most residents, serves grades seven and eight, and [[Scituate High School (Massachusetts)|Scituate High School]] serves 9–12. Scituate High's teams are known as the Sailors, and their colors are blue and white. The teams compete in the MIAA's Division 3, in the Patriot League. Their chief rival is Hingham, whom they play in their annual [[Thanksgiving Day]] football game.
High school students may also choose to attend South Shore Vocational Technical High School in Hanover free of charge. Also, many students, specifically in high school, commute to private schools in and around Boston, most commonly, [[Thayer Academy]] and [[Archbishop Williams]] in Braintree, [[Boston College High School]] (boys only) in Dorchester, and [[Notre Dame Academy (Hingham, Massachusetts)|Notre Dame Academy]] (girls only) in Hingham. B.C. High enrolled 61 young men from Scituate in the 2005–2006 school year.
== Notable residents ==
[[Image:Scituate - Lawson Tower.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Lawson Tower, Scituate Center.]]
* [[Rebecca and Abigail Bates]], fended off the British army near the scituate lighthouse with music during the revolutionary war
* [[George William Casey Jr.]], [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army]] (2007- )]
* [[William Cushing]], one of the original six justices on the [[US Supreme Court]].
* [[Ted Donato]], former Harvard hockey captain with a 13-year NHL career, who won an NCAA championship; played in the Olympics
* [[Nick Flynn]], a writer and poet whose autobiographical ''Another Bullshit Night in Suck City'' currently has director [[Paul Weitz (filmmaker)|Paul Weitz]] attached to adapt into a film
* [[Jacques Futrelle]], journalist, author, who died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912
* [[Mark Goddard]], actor known for his role as "Major Don West" in the series ''[[Lost in Space]]''
* [[Mike Hoffman]], NHL forward for the 2007 Stanley Cup Champions [[Anaheim Ducks]]
* [[Bruce Laird]], former NFL football player for [[Baltimore Colts]], 1972-1981 (Pro Bowl 1972), and [[San Diego Chargers]], 1982-1983
* [[Thomas W. Lawson (businessman)|Thomas W. Lawson]], stock promoter, financial reformer, built his Dreamwold estate nearby
* [[Jim Lonborg]], [[Cy Young Award]]-winning former Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Boston Redsox.
* [[Dave Silk]], former NHL [[ice hockey]] forward known for being a member of the [[Miracle On Ice]] [[1980]] U.S. Olympic hockey team that won the gold medal
* [[Billy Tibbetts]], former NHL player, [[New York Rangers]], [[Philadelphia Flyers]], [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], [[Boston Bruins]]<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2006/09/09/tibbetts_to_get_his_shot/ Boston Globe, "Tibbets to Get His Shot"]</ref>
* [[Peter Tolan]], writer, director <ref>[http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800020242/bio Yahoo Movies on Tolan]</ref>
* [[Ryan Whitney]], NHL defenseman for the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]
== References ==
<references/>
== External links ==
* [http://www.town.scituate.ma.us/ Town of Scituate, Massachusetts ''Official Website'']
* [http://www.scituatehistoricalsociety.org/ Scituate Historical Society]
* [http://www.scituatetownlibrary.org/ Scituate Town Library]
** [http://members.aol.com/wildwudy/pubpage.htm Page about early settler Walter Woodworth including a map of early Scituate]
* {{Geolinks-US-hoodscale|42.195|-70.725}}
{{Massachusetts}}
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Coastal towns of Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Plymouth County, Massachusetts]]
, in [[Lamerikän]].
Sürfat ela Scituate binon 82,4 km².
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