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Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,093 square miles (2,832 km²), of which 661 square miles (1,712 km²) is land and 433 square miles (1,120 km²) (39.56%) is water.

Adjacent counties

right|250px|Jacob Thaxter House, Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Norfolk County, Massachusetts - north

Barnstable County, Massachusetts - southeast

Bristol County, Massachusetts - west

The towns of Hingham and Hull in Plymouth County extend north of Norfolk County and face onto Massachusetts Bay, sharing a northern water boundary with Suffolk County.

National protected area

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (part)

Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 472,822 people, 168,361 households, and 122,398 families residing in the county. The population density was 716 people per square mile (276/km²). There were 181,524 housing units at an average density of 275 per square mile (106/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.70% White, 4.56% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.06% from other races, and 2.52% from two or more races. 2.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.0% were of Irish, 12.8% Italian, 10.6% English and 5.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000. 90.1% spoke English, 2.5% Spanish, 2.3% Portuguese, 1.5% French Creole and 1.0% French as their first language.

There were 168,361 households out of which 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,615, and the median income for a family was $65,554 (these figures had risen to $70,335 and $82,560 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $45,535 versus $31,389 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,789. About 4.90% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

The leading ancestry group in Plymouth County is Irish, with 31%. Plymouth County, along with Norfolk County, Massachusetts, claims the highest percentage of people with Irish ancestry in the United States.

Government

The executive authority of the County government is vested in the County Commissioners. The current Commissioners are John Patrick Riordan, Jr. (D- Marshfield), Timothy J. McMullen (D- Pembroke), and Anthony O'Brien (D- Whitman). Register of Deeds John R. Buckley, Jr. (D- Brockton), County Treasurer Thomas J. O'Brien (D- Kingston) and Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald (R- Kingston), also serve as elected officials of the county of Plymouth.

County seal

The seal was adopted by the Plymouth County Commissioners on March 31, 1931 under the authority of the General Laws, Chapter 34, Section 14, and was designed by Frederic T. Bailey of North Scituate who was, at that time and for many years, Chairman of the county commissioners.