Town of Lakeville

Lakeville is a historic town located in Southeastern, Massachusetts. In 1717, Lakeville settled as a western parish of Middleborough, Massachusetts. Named after a chain of beautiful lakes: Assawompsett Pond, Little Quittacas Pond, Great Quittacas Pond, Pocksha Pond, and Long Pond; Lakeville was incorporated as a separate town in 1853. These lakes occupy about 6 square miles of the township while Lakeville's entire town area is approximately 36 square miles of Plymouth County. Bordering Lakeville are the townships of Middleborough to the northeast, Rochester to the southeast, Freetown to the southwest, and Berkeley and Taunton to the west. While being the central location of Southeastern, Massachusetts it is also in close proximity to New Bedford, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; and Boston, Massachusetts. As of the most recent census, 9,821 people, 3,929 households, and 2,650 families are residing in this beautiful town.

In addition to the lakes, there are several smaller ponds, rivers, swamps, and brooks protected by the Assonet Cedar Swamp Wildlife Management Area. Several conservation areas, country clubs, and parks provide the township with places for conservation and recreation. Ted Williams Camp, the site for the summer baseball camp run by Ted Williams, is the largest of the parks in Lakeville. This park includes six athletic diamonds, three tennis courts, three volleyball courts, hiking trails, a function hall, two basketball courts, three soccer fields, and gazebo. Other parks include Clear Pond Park, John Paun Park, and Dickran Diran Square. The Conservation Committee operates: Stephen D. Kelley Conservation Area, Tamarack Park and Bedford Street Conservation Areas, Vaughan Street Canoe Launch, Assawompsett Pond Complex, and Vigers Conservation Area. At these areas, residents relax, enjoy nature, and have the proper facilities for sports, hobbies, and other various activities. Lakeville has a new public town library close to the town hall and several committees such as the Historical Commission.

Lakeville is governed with the Open Town Meeting form of government, led by an executive secretary and a board of selectman. The town has its own police department and a single fire station located directly next to the town hall. Nationally, Lakeville is part of the fourth congressional district in Massachusetts and is currently represented by Barney Frank. John Kerry, re-elected in 2008, is the state's senior member of the United States Senate while newly elected Senator Scott Brown is the interim Senator.

Since 1959, Lakeville has shared its school department with Freetown, Massachusetts creating the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District. There are several schools in operation for its school aged population. Assawompsett Elementary School is operated by the town for grades K-4. The George R. Austin Intermediate School is operated jointly with Freetown for grade 5. For grades 6-8, Freetown-Lakeville Middle School is operated for both towns. And lastly, Apponequet Regional High School is jointly operated with Freetown for grades 9-12. Regarding higher education several colleges/universities are in close proximity to Lakeville including: Bridgewater State College, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Stonehill College, Roger Williams University, Brown University, Bristol Community College, and Massasoit Community College.

The transportation in Lakeville, Massachusetts is convenient for a commute in any direction. Route 140, a four lane divided highway, passes through the town, on a trip to Taunton or to Interstate 195 through New Bedford and continuing on to Providence Rhode Island. The town is also crossed by Route 18, Route 79, Route 105. It is also close to U.S. Route 44. In addition to the highways, the terminus of the Middleborough-Lakeville Line of the MBTA's commuter rail is along the town's border. The commuter rail proceeds to Boston, Massachusetts in a forty minute trip. The terminus also has a spur towards Cape Cod or New Bedford run by CSX off of this line. The nearest private airfield is in Taunton, Massachusetts, the nearest regional airport is in New Bedford, and the nearest national and international airport is T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI or Logan International Airport in Boston, MA.

Services
Less than 5 percent town water, no sewer or trash pickup. Private haulers available, trash can be brought to the transfer station for a fee; $1.25 per bag cost for disposal.