List of municipalities in Massachusetts

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Minor civil divisions or municipalities in the U.S. state of Massachusetts are classified as either towns or cities, distinguished by their form of government under state law. Towns have an open town meeting or representative town meeting form of government. Cities, on the other hand, use a mayor-council or council-manager form. Based on the form of government, there are 296 towns and 55 cities in Massachusetts. Some municipalities, however, still refer to themselves as "towns" even though they have a city form of government.

The main list includes actively functioning municipal governments. Former municipalities are listed in a separate section below the main list.

MA cities towns NW.png MA cities towns NE.png
MA cities towns.svg MA cities towns SE.png
Maps of Massachusetts cities and towns

List of municipalities

Boston, largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Brockton
Cambridge
Dudley
Gloucester
Haverhill
Lawrence
Lowell
Medford
New Bedford
Quincy
Springfield
Uxbridge
Winthrop
Worcester
Municipality Type[1] County[2] Form of government[1] Population
(2010)[2]		 Year
established[3]
Abington Town Plymouth Open town meeting 15,985 1712
Acton Town Middlesex Open town meeting 21,924 1735
Acushnet Town Bristol Open town meeting 10,303 1860
Adams Town Berkshire Representative town meeting 8,485 1778
Agawam City[4] Hampden Mayor-council 28,438 1855
Alford Town Berkshire Open town meeting 494 1773
Amesbury City Essex Mayor-council 16,283 1668
Amherst Town Hampshire Representative town meeting 37,819 1775
Andover Town Essex Open town meeting 33,201 1646
Aquinnah Town Dukes Open town meeting 311 1870
Arlington Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 42,844 1807
Ashburnham Town Worcester Open town meeting 6,081 1765
Ashby Town Middlesex Open town meeting 3,074 1767
Ashfield Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,737 1765
Ashland Town Middlesex Open town meeting 16,593 1846
Athol Town Worcester Open town meeting 11,584 1762
Attleboro City Bristol Mayor-council 43,593 1694
Auburn Town Worcester Representative town meeting 16,188 1778
Avon Town Norfolk Open town meeting 4,356 1888
Ayer Town Middlesex Open town meeting 7,427 1871
Barnstable City[4] Barnstable Council-manager 45,193 1639
Barre Town Worcester Open town meeting 5,398 1774
Becket Town Berkshire Open town meeting 1,779 1765
Bedford Town Middlesex Open town meeting 13,320 1729
Belchertown Town Hampshire Open town meeting 14,649 1761
Bellingham Town Norfolk Open town meeting 16,332 1719
Belmont Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 24,729 1859
Berkley Town Bristol Open town meeting 6,411 1735
Berlin Town Worcester Open town meeting 2,866 1812
Bernardston Town Franklin Open town meeting 2,129 1762
Beverly City Essex Mayor-council 39,502 1668
Billerica Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 40,243 1655
Blackstone Town Worcester Open town meeting 9,026 1845
Blandford Town Hampden Open town meeting 1,233 1741
Bolton Town Worcester Open town meeting 4,897 1738
Boston City Suffolk Mayor-council 617,660 1630
Bourne Town Barnstable Open town meeting 19,754 1884
Boxborough Town Middlesex Open town meeting 4,996 1835
Boxford Town Essex Open town meeting 7,965 1685
Boylston Town Worcester Open town meeting 4,355 1785
Braintree City[4] Norfolk Mayor-council 35,744 1640
Brewster Town Barnstable Open town meeting 9,820 1803
Bridgewater City[4] Plymouth Council-manager 26,563 1656
Brimfield Town Hampden Open town meeting 3,609 1731
Brockton City Plymouth Mayor-council 93,810 1821
Brookfield Town Worcester Open town meeting 3,390 1718
Brookline Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 58,732 1705
Buckland Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,902 1779
Burlington Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 24,498 1799
Cambridge City Middlesex Mayor-manager-council 105,162 1636
Canton Town Norfolk Open town meeting 21,561 1797
Carlisle Town Middlesex Open town meeting 4,852 1780
Carver Town Plymouth Open town meeting 11,509 1790
Charlemont Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,266 1765
Charlton Town Worcester Open town meeting 12,981 1755[5]
Chatham Town Barnstable Open town meeting 6,125 1712
Chelmsford Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 33,802 1655
Chelsea City Suffolk Council-manager 35,177 1739
Cheshire Town Berkshire Open town meeting 3,235 1793
Chester Town Hampden Open town meeting 1,337 1765
Chesterfield Town Hampshire Open town meeting 1,222 1762
Chicopee City Hampden Mayor-aldermen 55,298 1848
Chilmark Town Dukes Open town meeting 866 1714
Clarksburg Town Berkshire Open town meeting 1,702 1798
Clinton Town Worcester Open town meeting 13,606 1850
Cohasset Town Norfolk Open town meeting 7,542 1775
Colrain Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,671 1761
Concord Town Middlesex Open town meeting 17,668 1635
Conway Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,897 1775
Cummington Town Hampshire Open town meeting 872 1779
Dalton Town Berkshire Open town meeting 6,756 1784
Danvers Town Essex Representative town meeting 26,493 1775
Dartmouth Town Bristol Representative town meeting 34,032 1664
Dedham Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 24,729 1636
Deerfield Town Franklin Open town meeting 5,125 1677
Dennis Town Barnstable Open town meeting 14,207 1793
Dighton Town Bristol Open town meeting 7,086 1712
Douglas Town Worcester Open town meeting 8,471 1775
Dover Town Norfolk Open town meeting 5,589 1836
Dracut Town Middlesex Open town meeting 29,457 1701
Dudley Town Worcester Open town meeting 11,390 1732
Dunstable Town Middlesex Open town meeting 3,179 1673
Duxbury Town Plymouth Open town meeting 15,059 1637
East Bridgewater Town Plymouth Open town meeting 13,794 1823
East Brookfield Town Worcester Open town meeting 2,183 1920
East Longmeadow Town Hampden Open town meeting 15,720 1894
Eastham Town Barnstable Open town meeting 4,956 1646
Easthampton City Hampshire Mayor-council 16,053 1809
Easton Town Bristol Open town meeting 23,112 1725
Edgartown Town Dukes Open town meeting 4,067 1671
Egremont Town Berkshire Open town meeting 1,225 1775
Erving Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,800 1838
Essex Town Essex Open town meeting 3,504 1819
Everett City Middlesex Mayor-council-aldermen 41,667 1870
Fairhaven Town Bristol Representative town meeting 15,873 1812
Fall River City Bristol Mayor-council 88,857 1803
Falmouth Town Barnstable Representative town meeting 31,531 1686
Fitchburg City Worcester Mayor-council 40,318 1764
Florida Town Berkshire Open town meeting 752 1805
Foxborough Town Norfolk Open town meeting 16,865 1778
Framingham Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 68,318 1700
Franklin City[4] Norfolk Council-administrator 31,635 1778
Freetown Town Bristol Open town meeting 8,870 1683
Gardner City Worcester Mayor-council 20,228 1785
Georgetown Town Essex Open town meeting 8,183 1838
Gill Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,500 1793
Gloucester City Essex Mayor-council 28,789 1623
Goshen Town Hampshire Open town meeting 1,054 1781
Gosnold Town Dukes Open town meeting 75 1864
Grafton Town Worcester Open town meeting 17,765 1735
Granby Town Hampshire Open town meeting 6,240 1768
Granville Town Hampden Open town meeting 1,566 1775
Great Barrington Town Berkshire Open town meeting 7,104 1761
Greenfield City[4] Franklin Mayor-council 17,456 1775
Groton Town Middlesex Open town meeting 10,646 1655
Groveland Town Essex Open town meeting 6,459 1850
Hadley Town Hampshire Open town meeting 5,250 1661
Halifax Town Plymouth Open town meeting 7,518 1734
Hamilton Town Essex Open town meeting 7,764 1793
Hampden Town Hampden Open town meeting 5,139 1878
Hancock Town Berkshire Open town meeting 717 1776
Hanover Town Plymouth Open town meeting 13,879 1727
Hanson Town Plymouth Open town meeting 10,209 1820
Hardwick Town Worcester Open town meeting 2,990 1739
Harvard Town Worcester Open town meeting 6,520 1732
Harwich Town Barnstable Open town meeting 12,243 1694
Hatfield Town Hampshire Open town meeting 3,279 1670
Haverhill City Essex Mayor-council 60,879 1641
Hawley Town Franklin Open town meeting 337 1792
Heath Town Franklin Open town meeting 706 1785
Hingham Town Plymouth Open town meeting 22,157 1635
Hinsdale Town Berkshire Open town meeting 2,032 1804
Holbrook Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 10,791 1872
Holden Town Worcester Open town meeting 17,346 1741
Holland Town Hampden Open town meeting 2,481 1835
Holliston Town Middlesex Open town meeting 13,547 1724
Holyoke City Hampden Mayor-council 39,880 1850
Hopedale Town Worcester Open town meeting 5,911 1886
Hopkinton Town Middlesex Open town meeting 14,925 1715
Hubbardston Town Worcester Open town meeting 4,382 1775
Hudson Town Middlesex Open town meeting 19,063 1866
Hull Town Plymouth Open town meeting 10,293 1644
Huntington Town Hampshire Open town meeting 2,180 1775
Ipswich Town Essex Open town meeting 13,175 1634
Kingston Town Plymouth Open town meeting 12,629 1726
Lakeville Town Plymouth Open town meeting 10,602 1853
Lancaster Town Worcester Open town meeting 8,055 1653
Lanesborough Town Berkshire Open town meeting 3,091 1765
Lawrence City Essex Mayor-council 76,377 1847
Lee Town Berkshire Representative town meeting 5,943 1777
Leicester Town Worcester Open town meeting 10,970 1714
Lenox Town Berkshire Open town meeting 5,025 1775
Leominster City Worcester Mayor-council 40,759 1740
Leverett Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,851 1774
Lexington Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 31,394 1713
Leyden Town Franklin Open town meeting 711 1809
Lincoln Town Middlesex Open town meeting 6,362 1754
Littleton Town Middlesex Open town meeting 8,924 1715
Longmeadow Town Hampden Open town meeting 15,784 1783
Lowell City Middlesex Mayor-manager-council 106,519 1826
Ludlow Town Hampden Representative town meeting 21,103 1775
Lunenburg Town Worcester Open town meeting 10,086 1728
Lynn City Essex Mayor-council 90,329 1629
Lynnfield Town Essex Open town meeting 11,596 1814
Malden City Middlesex Mayor-council 59,450 1649
Manchester-by-the-Sea Town Essex Open town meeting 5,136 1645
Mansfield Town Bristol Open town meeting 23,184 1775
Marblehead Town Essex Open town meeting 19,808 1649
Marion Town Plymouth Open town meeting 4,907 1852
Marlborough City Middlesex Mayor-council 38,499 1660
Marshfield Town Plymouth Open town meeting 25,132 1640
Mashpee Town Barnstable Open town meeting 14,006 1870
Mattapoisett Town Plymouth Open town meeting 6,045 1857
Maynard Town Middlesex Open town meeting 10,106 1871
Medfield Town Norfolk Open town meeting 12,024 1651
Medford City Middlesex Mayor-council 56,173 1630
Medway Town Norfolk Open town meeting 12,752 1713
Melrose City Middlesex Mayor-aldermen 26,983 1850
Mendon Town Worcester Open town meeting 5,839 1667
Merrimac Town Essex Open town meeting 6,338 1876
Methuen City[4] Essex Mayor-council 47,255 1725
Middleborough Town Plymouth Open town meeting 23,116 1669
Middlefield Town Hampshire Open town meeting 521 1783
Middleton Town Essex Open town meeting 8,987 1728
Milford Town Worcester Representative town meeting 27,999 1780
Millbury Town Worcester Open town meeting 13,261 1813
Millis Town Norfolk Open town meeting 7,891 1885
Millville Town Worcester Open town meeting 3,190 1916
Milton Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 27,003 1662
Monroe Town Franklin Open town meeting 121 1822
Monson Town Hampden Open town meeting 8,560 1775
Montague Town Franklin Representative town meeting 8,437 1775
Monterey Town Berkshire Open town meeting 961 1847
Montgomery Town Hampden Open town meeting 838 1780
Mount Washington Town Berkshire Open town meeting 167 1779
Nahant Town Essex Open town meeting 3,410 1853
Nantucket Town Nantucket Open town meeting 10,172 1671
Natick Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 33,006 1781
Needham Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 28,886 1711
New Ashford Town Berkshire Open town meeting 228 1835
New Bedford City Bristol Mayor-council 95,072 1787
New Braintree Town Worcester Open town meeting 999 1775
New Marlborough Town Berkshire Open town meeting 1,509 1775
New Salem Town Franklin Open town meeting 990 1775
Newbury Town Essex Open town meeting 6,666 1635
Newburyport City Essex Mayor-council 17,416 1764
Newton City Middlesex Mayor-aldermen 85,146 1688
Norfolk Town Norfolk Open town meeting 11,227 1870
North Adams City Berkshire Mayor-council 13,708 1878
North Andover Town Essex Open town meeting 28,352 1855
North Attleborough Town Bristol Representative town meeting 28,712 1887
North Brookfield Town Worcester Open town meeting 4,680 1812
North Reading Town Middlesex Open town meeting 14,892 1853
Northampton City Hampshire Mayor-council 28,549 1656
Northborough Town Worcester Open town meeting 14,155 1775
Northbridge Town Worcester Open town meeting 15,707 1775
Northfield Town Franklin Open town meeting 3,032 1723
Norton Town Bristol Open town meeting 19,031 1711
Norwell Town Plymouth Open town meeting 10,506 1849
Norwood Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 28,602 1872
Oak Bluffs Town Dukes Open town meeting 4,527 1880
Oakham Town Worcester Open town meeting 1,902 1775
Orange Town Franklin Open town meeting 7,839 1810
Orleans Town Barnstable Open town meeting 5,890 1797
Otis Town Berkshire Open town meeting 1,612 1773
Oxford Town Worcester Open town meeting 13,709 1713
Palmer City[4] Hampden Council-manager 12,140 1775
Paxton Town Worcester Open town meeting 4,806 1775
Peabody City Essex Mayor-council 51,251 1868
Pelham Town Hampshire Open town meeting 1,321 1743
Pembroke Town Plymouth Open town meeting 17,837 1712
Pepperell Town Middlesex Open town meeting 11,497 1775
Peru Town Berkshire Open town meeting 847 1771
Petersham Town Worcester Open town meeting 1,234 1754
Phillipston Town Worcester Open town meeting 1,682 1786
Pittsfield City Berkshire Mayor-council 44,737 1761
Plainfield Town Hampshire Open town meeting 648 1807
Plainville Town Norfolk Open town meeting 8,264 1905
Plymouth Town Plymouth Representative town meeting 56,468 1620
Plympton Town Plymouth Open town meeting 2,820 1707
Princeton Town Worcester Open town meeting 3,413 1771
Provincetown Town Barnstable Open town meeting 2,942 1727
Quincy City Norfolk Mayor-council 92,271 1792
Randolph City[4] Norfolk Council-manager 32,112 1793
Raynham Town Bristol Open town meeting 13,383 1731
Reading Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 24,747 1644
Rehoboth Town Bristol Open town meeting 11,608 1645
Revere City Suffolk Mayor-council 51,755 1846
Richmond Town Berkshire Open town meeting 1,475 1765
Rochester Town Plymouth Open town meeting 5,232 1686
Rockland Town Plymouth Open town meeting 17,489 1874
Rockport Town Essex Open town meeting 6,952 1840
Rowe Town Franklin Open town meeting 393 1785
Rowley Town Essex Open town meeting 5,856 1639
Royalston Town Worcester Open town meeting 1,258 1765
Russell Town Hampden Open town meeting 1,775 1792
Rutland Town Worcester Open town meeting 7,973 1713
Salem City Essex Mayor-council 41,340 1626
Salisbury Town Essex Open town meeting 8,283 1639
Sandisfield Town Berkshire Open town meeting 915 1762
Sandwich Town Barnstable Open town meeting 20,675 1638
Saugus Town Essex Representative town meeting 26,628 1815
Savoy Town Berkshire Open town meeting 692 1797
Scituate Town Plymouth Open town meeting 18,133 1636
Seekonk Town Bristol Open town meeting 13,722 1812
Sharon Town Norfolk Open town meeting 17,612 1775
Sheffield Town Berkshire Open town meeting 3,257 1733
Shelburne Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,893 1775
Sherborn Town Middlesex Open town meeting 4,119 1674
Shirley Town Middlesex Open town meeting 7,211 1775
Shrewsbury Town Worcester Representative town meeting 35,608 1727
Shutesbury Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,771 1761
Somerset Town Bristol Open town meeting 18,165 1790
Somerville City Middlesex Mayor-aldermen 75,754 1842
South Hadley Town Hampshire Representative town meeting 17,514 1775
Southampton Town Hampshire Open town meeting 5,792 1775
Southborough Town Worcester Open town meeting 9,767 1727
Southbridge City[4] Worcester Council-manager 16,719 1816
Southwick Town Hampden Open town meeting 9,502 1775
Spencer Town Worcester Open town meeting 11,688 1775
Springfield City Hampden Mayor-council 153,060 1636
Sterling Town Worcester Open town meeting 7,808 1781
Stockbridge Town Berkshire Open town meeting 1,947 1739
Stoneham Town Middlesex Open town meeting 21,437 1725
Stoughton Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 26,962 1726
Stow Town Middlesex Open town meeting 6,590 1683
Sturbridge Town Worcester Open town meeting 9,268 1738
Sudbury Town Middlesex Open town meeting 17,659 1639
Sunderland Town Franklin Open town meeting 3,684 1714
Sutton Town Worcester Open town meeting 8,963 1714
Swampscott Town Essex Representative town meeting 13,787 1852
Swansea Town Bristol Open town meeting 15,865 1667
Taunton City Bristol Mayor-council 55,874 1639
Templeton Town Worcester Open town meeting 8,013 1762
Tewksbury Town Middlesex Open town meeting 28,961 1734
Tisbury Town Dukes Open town meeting 3,949 1671
Tolland Town Hampden Open town meeting 485 1810
Topsfield Town Essex Open town meeting 6,085 1650
Townsend Town Middlesex Open town meeting 8,926 1732
Truro Town Barnstable Open town meeting 2,003 1709
Tyngsborough Town Middlesex Open town meeting 11,292 1809
Tyringham Town Berkshire Open town meeting 327 1762
Upton Town Worcester Open town meeting 7,542 1735
Uxbridge Town Worcester Open town meeting 13,457 1727
Wakefield Town Middlesex Open town meeting 24,932 1812
Wales Town Hampden Open town meeting 1,838 1762
Walpole Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 24,070 1724
Waltham City Middlesex Mayor-council 60,632 1738
Ware Town Hampshire Open town meeting 9,872 1775
Wareham Town Plymouth Open town meeting 21,822 1739
Warren Town Worcester Open town meeting 5,135 1742
Warwick Town Franklin Open town meeting 780 1763
Washington Town Berkshire Open town meeting 538 1777
Watertown City[4] Middlesex Council-manager 31,915 1630
Wayland Town Middlesex Open town meeting 12,994 1780
Webster Town Worcester Open town meeting 16,767 1832
Wellesley Town Norfolk Representative town meeting 27,982 1881
Wellfleet Town Barnstable Open town meeting 2,750 1775
Wendell Town Franklin Open town meeting 848 1781
Wenham Town Essex Open town meeting 4,875 1643
West Boylston Town Worcester Open town meeting 7,669 1808
West Bridgewater Town Plymouth Open town meeting 6,916 1822
West Brookfield Town Worcester Open town meeting 3,701 1848
West Newbury Town Essex Open town meeting 4,235 1819
West Springfield City[4] Hampden Mayor-council 28,391 1774
West Stockbridge Town Berkshire Open town meeting 1,306 1775
West Tisbury Town Dukes Open town meeting 2,740 1892
Westborough Town Worcester Open town meeting 18,272 1717
Westfield City Hampden Mayor-council 41,094 1669
Westford Town Middlesex Open town meeting 21,951 1729
Westhampton Town Hampshire Open town meeting 1,607 1778
Westminster Town Worcester Open town meeting 7,277 1770
Weston Town Middlesex Open town meeting 11,261 1713
Westport Town Bristol Open town meeting 15,532 1787
Westwood Town Norfolk Open town meeting 14,618 1897
Weymouth City[4] Norfolk Mayor-council 53,743 1635
Whately Town Franklin Open town meeting 1,496 1771
Whitman Town Plymouth Open town meeting 14,489 1875
Wilbraham Town Hampden Open town meeting 14,219 1763
Williamsburg Town Hampshire Open town meeting 2,482 1775
Williamstown Town Berkshire Open town meeting 7,754 1765
Wilmington Town Middlesex Open town meeting 22,325 1730
Winchendon Town Worcester Open town meeting 10,300 1764
Winchester Town Middlesex Representative town meeting 21,374 1850
Windsor Town Berkshire Open town meeting 899 1771
Winthrop City[4] Suffolk Council-manager 17,497 1852
Woburn City Middlesex Mayor-aldermen 38,120 1642
Worcester City Worcester Mayor-manager-council 181,045 1684
Worthington Town Hampshire Open town meeting 1,156 1768
Wrentham Town Norfolk Open town meeting 10,955 1673
Yarmouth Town Barnstable Open town meeting 23,793 1639

List of cities by official name

The following tabular list shows the 55 government divisions of the Commonwealth which have been officially granted the right to use the city form of government along with the official name in use by each municipality.[Note 1]

Municipality Official name Web reference
Agawam Town of Agawam http://www.agawam.ma.us/
Amesbury City of Amesbury http://www.amesburyma.gov/
Attleboro City of Attleboro http://www.cityofattleboro.us/
Barnstable Town of Barnstable http://www.town.barnstable.ma.us/
Beverly City of Beverly http://www.beverlyma.gov
Boston City of Boston http://www.cityofboston.gov/
Braintree Town of Braintree http://www.townofbraintreegov.org/
Bridgewater Town of Bridgewater http://www.bridgewaterma.org/
Brockton City of Brockton http://www.brockton.ma.us/
Cambridge City of Cambridge http://www.cambridgema.gov/
Chelsea City of Chelsea http://www.ci.chelsea.ma.us/
Chicopee City of Chicopee http://www.chicopeema.gov/
Easthampton City of Easthampton http://www.easthampton.org/
Everett City of Everett http://www.ci.everett.ma.us/
Fall River City of Fall River http://www.fallriverma.org/
Fitchburg City of Fitchburg http://www.ci.fitchburg.ma.us/
Franklin Town of Franklin http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/
Gardner City of Gardner http://www.gardner-ma.gov/
Gloucester City of Gloucester http://www.ci.gloucester.ma.us/
Greenfield Town of Greenfield http://www.cityofgreenfield.org/
Haverhill City of Haverhill http://www.ci.haverhill.ma.us/
Holyoke City of Holyoke http://www.holyoke.org/
Lawrence City of Lawrence http://www.cityoflawrence.com
Leominster City of Leominster http://www.leominster-ma.gov/
Lowell City of Lowell http://www.lowellma.gov/
Lynn City of Lynn http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/
Malden City of Malden http://www.ci.malden.ma.us/
Marlborough City of Marlborough http://www.marlborough-ma.gov/
Medford City of Medford http://www.medford.org/
Melrose City of Melrose http://www.cityofmelrose.org/
Methuen City of Methuen http://www.ci.methuen.ma.us/
New Bedford City of New Bedford http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/
Newburyport City of Newburyport http://www.cityofnewburyport.com/
Newton City of Newton http://www.newtonma.gov/
North Adams City of North Adams http://www.northadams-ma.gov/
Northampton City of Northampton http://www.northamptonma.gov/
Palmer Town of Palmer http://www.townofpalmer.com
Peabody City of Peabody http://www.peabody-ma.gov/
Pittsfield City of Pittsfield http://www.pittsfield-ma.org/
Quincy City of Quincy http://www.quincyma.gov/
Randolph[6] Town of Randolph http://www.townofrandolph.com/
Revere City of Revere http://www.revere.org/
Salem City of Salem http://www.salem.com
Somerville City of Somerville http://www.somervillema.gov
Southbridge Town of Southbridge http://www.ci.southbridge.ma.us
Springfield City of Springfield http://www.springfieldcityhall.com
Taunton City of Taunton http://www.taunton-ma.gov
Waltham City of Waltham http://www.city.waltham.ma.us/
Watertown Town of Watertown http://www.watertown-ma.gov
Westfield City of Westfield http://www.cityofwestfield.org
West Springfield Town of West Springfield http://www.west-springfield.ma.us
Weymouth Town of Weymouth http://www.weymouth.ma.us/
Winthrop Town of Winthrop http://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/
Woburn City of Woburn http://www.cityofwoburn.com/
Worcester City of Worcester http://www.ci.worcester.ma.us/

Geography of towns at formation

Formation of Massachusetts cities and towns, 1620–1870

This map shows towns colored by the date they were incorporated in Massachusetts since the founding of Plimoth Plantation in 1620. Many of the towns and future cities shown covering the area of their original incorporation have since been divided into two, three or in some cases several smaller municipalities. For example, Dorchester was incorporated in 1630 and originally included all of the current Dorchester, now the largest neighborhood of Boston, plus the Boston neighborhood of Mattapan, and all of present-day Quincy, Milton, Braintree, Randolph, Holbrook, Canton, Sharon, Stoughton, Avon and the northeast portion of Foxboro. Nearly all of Massachusetts territory had been incorporated by 1815, with the final three areas of Erving (1838), Gay Head (now Aquinnah) and Mashpee (both 1870) being incorporated from previously Native American land.

Former municipalities

Some towns and cities were annexed to others; disincorporated; or ceded to another state in their entirety. This list does not include territory changes affecting only part of a municipality; see History of Massachusetts.

Annexations

The following formerly independent municipalities have been annexed to Boston:

The town of Bradford was annexed to Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1895.

Disincorporations

The following towns were disincorporated in 1938 due to the construction of the Quabbin Reservoir; all their territory was absorbed into surrounding towns:

Cessions

The following towns were ceded the Rhode Island colony in 1747 as part of a border dispute:

The following towns joined the Connecticut Colony in the late 1749 after separating from Springfield or just joining Connecticut.

Also all settlements in the District of Maine were ceded when the state of Maine gained its independence from Massachusetts in 1820 as part of the Missouri Compromise, and numerous towns were ceded to New Hampshire after the Northern boundary of Massachusetts was defined by royal decree.

Archaic names

Many municipalities have changed names.[7]

Old name Modern name County Notes
Acushena Dartmouth Bristol
Agawam Dartmouth Bristol Different from Agawam in Hampden County
Agawam Plantation Springfield Hampden An Agawam separated from Springfield via West Springfield
Andrewstown Chesterfield Hampshire
Apponegansett Dartmouth Bristol
Ashuelot Equivalent Dalton Berkshire
Attleborough Attleboro Bristol The -ugh was dropped when the city was re-incorporated in 1914
Barnardstone's Grant Florida Berkshire
Basse River Beverly Essex
Belcher’s Town Belchertown Hampshire
Berkshire Equivalent Florida Berkshire
Billirikey Billerica Middlesex
Blue Hill Lands Braintree Norfolk
Boggestow Sherborn Middlesex
Boston Township Number One Charlemont Franklin
Boston Township Number Two Colrain Franklin
Bullock's Grant Florida Berkshire
Bullocks Grant Clarksburg Berkshire
Cabotville Chicopee Hampden
Cambridge Farms Lexington Middlesex
Cambridge South Parish Brighton Suffolk
Cape Ann Gloucester Essex Different from the modern definition of Cape Ann, which includes Gloucester, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport
Chabakongomum Dudley Worcester
Chabanagungamug Dudley Worcester
Chappequiddick Edgartown Dukes
Charley Mount Charlemont Franklin
Charlton Charlestown Suffolk
Chebacco Essex Essex
Chequocket Barnstable Barnstable
Chuckomug Barnstable Barnstable
Coa Barnstable Barnstable
Cochickawick Andover Essex
Cochituit Andover Essex
Cokachoise Barnstable Barnstable
Cold Spring Belchertown Hampshire
Colechester Salisbury Essex
Conahasset Cohasset Norfolk
Concord Village Acton Middlesex
Contentment Dedham Norfolk
Cotachesett Barnstable Barnstable
Cottage City Oak Bluffs Dukes
Danforth's Farms Framingham Middlesex
District of Carlisle Carlisle Middlesex
Dorchester Village Canton Norfolk
Dorchester-Canada Plantation Ashburnham Worcester
Ducksburrow Duxbury Plymouth
Duxburrow Plantation Bridgewater Plymouth
East Hoosuck Plantation Adams Berkshire
East Sudbury Wayland Middlesex
Edgar Towne Edgartown Dukes
Emesbury Amesbury Essex
Erving's Grant Enfield Hampshire
Fair Haven Village Fairhaven Bristol
Falls Fight Bernardston Franklin
Falltown Plantation Bernardston Franklin
Five Pound Island Gloucester Essex
Foords Farm Bridgewater Plymouth
Fort Massachusetts Adams Berkshire
Freeman's Purchase Fall River Bristol
Freemens Land Freetown Bristol
Gageborough Windsor Berkshire
Gay Head Aquinnah Dukes
Gay Head Indian District Aquinnah Dukes
Gerry Phillipston Worcester
Glasgow Blandford Hampden
Gloscester Gloucester Essex
Great Harbour Edgartown Dukes
Green Harbor Duxbury Plymouth
Greenwich Enfield Hampshire
Grundleborough North Andover Essex
Hack's Grant Enfield Hampshire
Hawthorn Danvers Essex
Hadley Third Precinct Amherst Hampshire
Hockamock Easton Bristol
Hockomock Bridgewater Plymouth
Housatonic Township Number Four Becket Berkshire
Huntstown Plantation Ashfield Franklin
Hutchinson Barre Worcester
Ipswich Eighth Parish Essex Essex
Ireland Holyoke Hampden
Iron Work Farm Acton Middlesex
Ketiticut Bridgewater Plymouth
Kokachoise Barnstable Barnstable
Litchfield Dunstable Middlesex
Little Cambridge Brighton Suffolk
Little Salisbury Amesbury Essex
Lyttleton Littleton Middlesex
Manamoiet Chatham Barnstable
Manamoit Village Chatham Barnstable
Manamooskeagin Abington Plymouth
Manchaug Sutton Worcester
Manor of Tisbury Chilmark Dukes
Mattakeeset Barnstable Barnstable
Mattakeeset Duxbury Plymouth
Mattapan Dorchester Suffolk Section of Boston
Mennems Moone Dorchester Suffolk
Menotomy Arlington Middlesex
Merry Mount Merrymount Norfolk Neighborhood of Quincy
Middlesex Gore Dudley Worcester
Mile & Half of Land Attleboro Bristol
Minnechaug Hampden Hampden
Minot's Grant Cummington Hampshire
Mishawum Charlestown Suffolk
Mistic Barnstable Barnstable
Mohootset Carver Plymouth
Monatiquot Braintree Norfolk
Monomoy Chatham Barnstable
Monument Village Bourne Barnstable
Moskeehtucketqut Barnstable Barnstable
Mount Dagan Braintree Norfolk
Mount Wollaston Merrymount Norfolk Neighborhood of Quincy
Muddy River Brookline Norfolk
Murrayfield Chester Hampden
Murrayfield Grant Cummington Hampshire
Musketequid Concord Middlesex
Namassakeesett Duxbury Plymouth
Nashowakemmuck Chilmark Dukes
Nawsett Eastham Barnstable
New Glasgow Blandford Hampden
New Grant Acton Middlesex
New Hingham Plantation Chesterfield Hampshire
New Providence Cheshire Berkshire
New Providence Hill Cheshire Berkshire
New Providence Plantation Adams Berkshire
New Providence Purchase Cheshire Berkshire
New Rowley Georgetown Essex
New Sherburn Douglas Worcester
Newe Towne Cambridge Middlesex Included modern Newton
Newtown Cambridge Middlesex Included modern Newton
No Town Plantation Buckland Franklin
Nobscusset Dennis Barnstable
Noman's Land Chilmark Dukes
Noddle's Island Boston Suffolk
North Bridgewater Brockton Plymouth
North Purchase Attleboro Bristol
North Sandwich Bourne Barnstable
North Wrentham Norfolk Norfolk
Nossett Eastham Barnstable
Noticock Dunstable Middlesex
Nottingham Dunstable Middlesex
Number Thirteen Chelsea Suffolk
Nunketest Bridgewater Plymouth
Nunnepog Edgartown Dukes
Passacomuck Easthampton Hampshire
Pawtucket Chelmsford Middlesex
Pawtucket Dracut Middlesex
Payquage Plantation Athol Worcester
Peymechit Barnstable Barnstable
Plantation Chickleystown Charlemont Franklin
Plantation Number Five (1762 Township) Cummington Hampshire
Plantation Number Four Becket Berkshire
Plantation Number Nine (1762 Township) Chester Hampden
Plantation Number One (Western Township of 1762) Chesterfield Hampshire
Plantation Number One Adams Berkshire
Pocomtuck Deerfield Franklin
Podunke Alford Berkshire
Podunkville Alford Berkshire
Poguaige Athol Worcester
Pompositicut Stow Middlesex
Provincetown on Mills River Athol Worcester
Pullen Poynte Chelsea Suffolk
Pullin Point Chelsea Suffolk
Punkapoag Canton Norfolk
Quabaug Territory Brookfield Worcester
Quabaug Territory East Brookfield Worcester
Quaboag Brookfield Worcester
Quequechan Region Fall River Bristol
Quichickichick Andover Essex
Quinsigamond Worcester Worcester
Quobauge Brookfield Worcester
Rowley Village Boxford Essex
Rumney Marsh Chelsea Suffolk
Rutland District Barre Worcester
Sacconeesett Falmouth Barnstable
Salem Farms Danvers Essex
Salem Middle Parish Danvers Essex
Salem Village Parish Danvers Essex
Salisbury-new-toune Amesbury Essex
Santuite Barnstable Barnstable
Satucket Brewster Barnstable
Satuite Barnstable Barnstable
Sawkatucket Brewster Barnstable
Scipuiszet Falmouth Barnstable
Sconticut Fairhaven Bristol
Seipuiszet Falmouth Barnstable
Sepoese Barnstable Barnstable
Sepuit Barnstable Barnstable
Sesuet Dennis Barnstable
Shawanon Egremont Berkshire
Shawanon Purchase Alford Berkshire
Shawmut Boston Suffolk
Shawshinnock Billerica Middlesex
Shawsin Billerica Middlesex
Sipnesset Barnstable Barnstable
Skonkonet Barnstable Barnstable
Skunkamug Barnstable Barnstable
Slacksville Plainville Norfolk
South Malden Everett Middlesex
South Parish Enfield Hampshire
South Purchase Dighton Bristol
South Reading Wakefield Middlesex
South Redding Wakefield Middlesex
South Wilbraham Hampden Hampden
Springfield Parish Dover Norfolk
Squantums Neck Quincy Norfolk Annexed to Dorchester 1641, annexed to Quincy 1792[8]
Suckanesset Falmouth Barnstable
Sudbury Wayland Middlesex
Suffield Equivalent Lands Blandford Hampden
Tamahappaseeacon Barnstable Barnstable
Taunton Dighton Bristol Different from modern Taunton
Taunton North Purchase Easton Bristol
Tiverton Freetown Bristol Different from modern Tiverton, Rhode Island
Tragabigzanda Gloucester Essex
Tremont Boston Suffolk
Trimountaine Boston Suffolk
Troy Fall River Bristol
Turkey Hill Fitchburg Worcester
Vinson's Cove Gloucester Essex
Wameset Chelmsford Middlesex
Waqua Edgartown Dukes
Ward Auburn Worcester
Washqua Edgartown Dukes
Waskotussoo Barnstable Barnstable
Watatick Hill Ashburnham Worcester
Wattuppa Freetown Bristol
Weguasset Chatham Barnstable
Wellington Dighton Bristol
Wequaquet Barnstable Barnstable
Wessagusset Colony Weymouth Norfolk Founded by Thomas Weston in 1622, 2nd oldest European settlement in Massachusetts. Incorporated as Weymouth in 1635 by settlers from the Dorset, England town of the same name.
West Cambridge Arlington Middlesex
West Hoosuck Williamstown Berkshire
West Sandwich Bourne Barnstable
Weymouth Canada Ashfield Franklin
Willard’s Farm Acton Middlesex
Winnissimet Chelsea Suffolk
Wyngaersheek Gloucester Essex
Yanno's Land Barnstable Barnstable
York Egremont Berkshire

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The main source for the table is the Massachusetts Municipal Association 2009-2010 Municipal Directory. The MMA Directory is not an official state document, but is more up to date and specific than the official list from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth's office, which is dated 03-11-2008 and does not include Palmer, Randolph and Winthrop, which have since adopted the city form of government.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 One of 14 municipalities with a city form of government that refers to itself as "The Town of".Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Archaic Community, District, Neighborhood, Section and Village, Names in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Secretary of State Citizen Information Service. Retrieved 2008 Apr 13.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]

External links


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