Hanson is a rural suburban community marked by an abundance of unspoiled open-space. The town was named for Alexander Conte Hanson, a Maryland newspaper publisher who upheld the rights of a free press in the early 1800s when he defended his right to condemn the War of 1812. Residents of this tranquil town on the South Shore, just 22...
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Hanson is a rural suburban community marked by an abundance of unspoiled open-space. The town was named for Alexander Conte Hanson, a Maryland newspaper publisher who upheld the rights of a free press in the early 1800s when he defended his right to condemn the War of 1812. Residents of this tranquil town on the South Shore, just 22 miles southeast of Boston, observe that the town is much quieter and more peaceful than its namesake was and that is how they like it. What is now Hanson was first settled in 1662. Early residents set aside a 100 acre parcel within the town to house the native population.
Economic activity in the beginning focused on farming and lumbering the rich supply of virgin forests. The first saw mill in the area was built in 1695 on the Indian Head Brook near the present site of town hall. In the 19th century and after the town incorporated in 1820, there were some textile mills in Hanson, as well as shoemakers and lumber mills. Lumbering and making shingles dominated the towns economy. However, one significant crop in the area, cranberries that grew abundantly in local bogs, led to the development of important industry.
In 1912, a huge cranberry packing house was built in Hanson. With many later additions, this facility eventually became the national Ocean Spray Corporation. By 1915 there were twenty-one cranberry growers and twenty poultry farms in a community which has to this day remained significantly agricultural.
Today what remains is a peaceful, family-oriented community surrounded by similar residential rural and suburban towns. Neighboring towns include Pembroke on the east, Halifax on the south, East Bridgewater and Whitman on the west, Whitman on the northwest, and Rockland and Hanover on the north. Within Hanson is a community active in outdoor and sports recreation made possible by its resource of natural land. The town recreation department oversees a variety of sports organizations for youth and adults of Hanson.
Additionally, the department runs the Camp Kiwanee picnic area, with a timber constructed events space. The "Needles Lodge" has a capacity of 200 people. This facility and other points in Hanson offer a country atmosphere and picturesque views of the landscape.
Homes in Hanson range in styles from contemporary to traditional and many feature large lots exceeding three-quarters of an acre. In February 2010, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Hanson, MA was $346,375. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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