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Whitman, MA

Frequently asked questions

Whitman, MA

Whitman is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 15,121 at the 2020 census. It is notable as being the place where the chocolate chip cookie was invented.

Little Comfort, then part of Bridgewater was first settled by Europeans beginning around 1675. Abington (including Little Comfort) separated from Bridgewater in 1712. South Abington was established as a separate parish in the 19th century. It was incorporated as a separate town on March 4, 1875. It was renamed Whitman by a town vote on May 3, 1886. The name was in honor of Jared Whitman, a local lawyer who served in the 1839 and 1840 state legislatures. Whitman's early industry included shoemaking.

In the late 1930s, Ruth Graves Wakefield invented chocolate chip cookies in Whitman at the Toll House Inn on Bedford Street. The Toll House burned completely on New Year's Eve 1984, in a fire that originated in the kitchen. The inn was not rebuilt. The site is marked with a historical marker, and that land is now home to a Wendy's restaurant and Walgreens pharmacy, with the Toll House sign still in existence.

The former Whitman Savings Bank was the first in the country to offer savings bank life insurance (SBLI). From 1968 to 1994, Whitman was also home to King's Castle Land, a children's amusement park owned by the Whitney family and located near the intersection of Routes 18 and 14. In the 1970s, Whitman was home to a then-secret National Security Agency classified materials disposal facility built on Essex Street by American Thermogen Inc. It was code-named "White Elephant No. 1" and it was to be the prototype for the government's premier "classified waste destructor". Reaching temperatures up to 3,400 degrees, the three-story incinerator did not work up to expectations—only operating a limited number of hours and not always fully destroying the material—and after spending $1.2 million to build the unit it was abandoned. It was one time used as a clubhouse by children in the area, and later dismantled. The office section, and some of the warehouse area, remain in use by new owners.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18 km2), of which 7.0 square miles (18 km2) is land and 0.14% is water. Statistically, the town is the 327th of 351 communities in the Commonwealth by land area and is the second smallest (above only Hull) in Plymouth County. Whitman is bordered by Abington to the north, Rockland to the northeast, Hanson to the southeast, East Bridgewater to the south, and the city of Brockton to the west. Whitman's town center is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) east of the center of Brockton and approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Boston.

The small town today is mostly residential, with a small town forest in the northeastern corner of town. The eastern half of the town is divided by the Shumatuscacant River, which is dammed near the town center at the site of the town's mills. The eastern half of town is also dominated by two meadows, the Hobart Meadow to the north and the Bear Meadow to the south, both along the banks of the river.

Whitman places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Whitman Hospital & Medical Clinics offers a top-notch medical staff and a full spectrum of high-quality, state-of-the-art healthcare services. Whitman Wellness Center offers a variety of heated and non-heated yoga classes, Yoga Teacher Certification, Pilates, Reiki, Acupuncture, Massage, Workshops, and more. For those looking for a more structured fitness routine, Anytime Fitness and Planet Fitness provide a convenient option with 24/7 access.  If you prefer a community atmosphere, the Old Colony YMCA - Brockton Branch offers various fitness programs and facilities. Additionally, CycleLife Studio is perfect for spin classes, and Shanti Grows Healing focuses on holistic wellness practices. 
 

Top Sites in Whitman, MA are Ridder Farm Golf Course, Whitman Town Park, and Hobart Pond.
 

ZIP Code: 02382. Age: About 148 years. Area code: 339/781. Elevation: 110 ft (34 m). Area: 7.0 square miles (18 km2). Population: 15,121 (2020).

FAQs

What is Whitman MA famous for?

Incorporated in 1875, Whitman is a small community that lies on 6.97 square miles. The town is the birthplace of the famous Toll House and Toll House Cookie. The first chocolate chip cookie was created in the 1930s when Ruth Wakefield (owner of the Toll House Inn in Whitman, MA) added pieces of chopped chocolate to her cookie dough. It is rumored that she expected them to melt and produce a chocolate cookie.

Is Whitman, MA a nice place to live?

Whitman is a suburb of Boston with a population of 15,146. Whitman is in Plymouth County. Living in Whitman offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Whitman, there are a lot of coffee shops and parks. The public schools in Whitman are above average.

What are the demographics of Whitman, MA?

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,882 people, 4,999 households, and 3,604 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,995.7 inhabitants per square mile (770.5/km2). There were 5,104 housing units at an average density of 733.8 per square mile (283.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.15% White, 0.65% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.

Sources

Wikipedia

Town of Whitman

Seeplymouth

Niche

Whitman Wellness Center

Ridder Farm Golf Course

Whitman Town Park

Hobart Pond

Whitman Hospital & Medical Clinics 

Whitman Wellness Center

Anytime Fitness

Planet Fitness

Old Colony YMCA

CycleLife Studio

Shanti Grows Healing

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