Swansea is a rural suburban community in southeastern Massachusetts located at the mouth of the Taunton River. Surrounding towns include: Barrington and Warren, Rhode Island, Somerset, Dighton, Rehoboth, and Seekonk. Swansea is conveniently situated by Interstate 195 and Route 118. Additionally Swansea is along Route 6, the major...
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Swansea is a rural suburban community in southeastern Massachusetts located at the mouth of the Taunton River. Surrounding towns include: Barrington and Warren, Rhode Island, Somerset, Dighton, Rehoboth, and Seekonk. Swansea is conveniently situated by Interstate 195 and Route 118. Additionally Swansea is along Route 6, the major highway that leads to the popular destinations of Cape Cod.
What is now Swansea was the starting place of King Philips war in 1675 and the site of the first bloodshed. Before that war, there were several historic Indian settlement sites and trails in the area. The English arrived in 1663 and the town took its name from the ministers home village in Wales. During the war, seventy members of the community sought refuge in the garrison fortified house in town and several occupied houses on the Neck. By the war's end, attacks by natives had destroyed every house in town including the garrison.
After the war, the community rebuilt and constructed their local economy around forges, ironworks and fishing on the towns rivers. Swansea's village center consisted of stores, cotton mills, grist and yarn mills. Later, the economy shifted to agriculture when large industrial towns of the area like Fall River, Taunton and Providence absorbed Swansea's industry. Additionally, trolley access to larger towns in the area spurred Swansea's development as a suburban and seasonal vacation community late in the 19th century. A picnic grove called Shady Isles was established by the streetcar company and brought city people out to the country on day trips.
Today, Swansea is a well-established suburban community that still retains much of its long-standing agricultural land. Other links to its traditions are a number of well-preserved colonial era homes that convey a sense of the town's long history. Swansea's public school system consists of four elementary schools, a junior high and high school. These facilities are located within the town. There is also an array of additional municipal services in this community of 15,000 residents.
Homes in Swansea come in a variety of styles, but one popular construction is ranch and split level ranch. In August 2008, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Swansea, MA was $224,790. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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