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Town Profiles
Rochester -
www.rochesterma.com
Rochester was once known as Sepecan or Sippican. The town
was settled about 1638. The town was named for Rochester,
England, from which some of the first settlers came. Before
1852, the town had a thriving coastal trade from its harbors
on Buzzards Bay. Its coastline was lost when Marion and
Mattapoisett, originally within the borders of Rochester,
were made separate towns in 1852 and 1857, respectively.
Parts of Rochester were also given to Fairhaven and Wareham.
The town has since reverted to agricultural pursuits.
Coupled with rustic surroundings, homes on acres of land,
and an absence of congestion, Rochester is a well-rounded
town offering the quiet city dwellers crave and the
laid-back pace and closeness residents covet. When Rochester
restructured with Marion and Mattapoisett, the town's
coastline was lost and focus shifted toward agriculture. The
landscape has remained much the same with the addition of
homes and buildings. Nestled in Rochester's Town Common are
historic buildings and landmarks, making up the town's
historic district. Every June, Civil War reenactors gather
in Rochester for one of the largest annual Civil War
reenactments in New England. But taking a drive along one of
the many winding roads gives a real sense of Rochester's
past. Ramshackle farmhouses still stand, testament to the
days when Rochester's commercial pursuits were solely
agriculture. The addition of New England's famous cranberry
bogs was a natural extension of the dairy and produce farms.
Today, Rochester is a major producer of cranberries,
supplying to such giants as Ocean Spray, and tending the
bogs constitutes a livelihood for many local residents.
Business is largely absent from this country town, with the
exception of a few mom and pop stores, a plaza or two and
independent service businesses. Rochester has decent highway
access, located between Providence and Cape Cod, but is a
bit closer to the Cape. Surrounding towns, such as Marion,
Fairhaven and Wareham, help provide residents with work and
their everyday needs. Pride is key to Rochester's success,
and many town events revolve around the Plumb Library.
Scrapbooking classes, a genealogy club, hayrides from the
library and merchandise sold through the library makes this
service a focal point for residents.
Rochester homes are typically set on expanses of land, many
back from the roads. It is not uncommon to have small brooks
and acres of forest flanking backyards. This open space is
one of the main reasons for buying in Rochester.
Population: 4,681 (2001)
Land Area: 33.93 square miles
Established: 1686
Density: 116 per square mile
Government: Open Town Meeting
Tax Rate: $9.88 per thousand
Public Schools:
Supt. of Schools: (508) 758-2772
1 Elementary School; 1 Regional Jr. High School; 1 Regional
High School; 1 Regional Vocational High School
Transportation: None
WSR thanks The Standard Times for regional data. |
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