Where is Swansea Massachusetts
It is located in southeastern Massachusetts, bordered by Barrington and Warren, Rhode Island, on the west and southwest; the mouth of the Taunton River on the south; Somerset on the east; and Dighton, Rehoboth, and Seekonk on the north. Swansea is about 4 miles west of Fall River; 47 miles south of Boston; 12 miles southeast of Providence, Rhode Island; and about 190 miles from New York City.
Swansea Town History
Swansea is a suburban/rural community founded on the premise of religious tolerance for all. Unfortunately, the town also turned out to be the starting place of King Philip's war in 1675 and the site of the first bloodshed of the war. Before that war there were several historic Indian settlement sites and trails in the town. Colonial settlement began in 1663 and the town was named after a minister's home village in Wales. In 1664, King Philip had conveyed the land in the community to William Brenton of Newport and by the start of the Indian war, there were 70 people staying in the garrison fortified house in town and several occupied houses on the Neck. During the war, Indian attacks destroyed every house in town including the garrison.
After the war, forges, ironworks and fishing on the town's rivers made up a substantial part of the community's economy. The small villages that made up the community were the sites of stores, cotton mills, grist and yarn mills and fishing boats. When the bigger industrial cities such as Fall River, Taunton and Providence absorbed the town's industries, Swansea's large agricultural capacity remained important. In the 1890's, the street trolley connected Swansea to Fall River and Providence and suburban and summer homes were developed. A picnic grove called Shady Isles was established by the streetcar company and brought city people out to the country on day trips.
Now a suburban community with much of its agricultural land still open, Swansea also retains impressive and significant examples of intact Colonial houses.
Narrative (taken from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development website)
Important Swansea Phone Numbers
Swansea Town Hall
Main Street
Swansea, MA 02777
Town Offices School Department
Assessor's 508-324-6702
Animal Control 508-679-6446
Board of Health 508-324-6704
Building Inspector 508-674-5731
Civil Defense 508-676-2981
Conservation Commission 508-673-6467
Council on Aging 508-676-1831
Emergency Management Agency 508-676-2981
Highway Department 508-678-5615
Housing Authority 508-679-5828
Main Library 508-674-9609
Park Commission 508-675-1962
Planning Department 508-324-6730
Public Access Coordinator (Kevin Reid at Case High School) 508- 889-7387 or via High School switchboard
Recreation Commission 508-673-4843
Sealer of Weights & Measures 508-678-6950
Selectmen's Office 508-678-2981
Shellfish Warden 508-678-2981
Tax Collector 508-674-5730
Town Accountant 508-679-6489
Town Clerk 508-678-9389
Town Nurse 508-679-6446
Town Treasurer 508-697-6489
Trash BFI @ 508-676-1091
Tree Warden 508-675-9002
Veteran's Agent 508-673-9814
Water District 508-672-9746
Zoning Board 508-674-5731
School Administration Office 508-675-1195
Brown School 508-675-7892
Case High School 508-675-7409
Case Jr. High School 508-675-0116
Gardner School 508-675-7899
Hoyle School 508-679-4049
Luther School 508-675-7499
Emergency Services Other Services
(all numbers are business only)
Ambulances 508-675-2399
Police Department 508-674-8464
Fire Department 508-672-4305 Fuel Assistance (CFC) 508-679-0041
Mini Bus for Seniors 508-674-6772
Cable (Comast) 1-888-633-4266
Gas (N.E. Gas) 508-689-1198
Electric (Mass. Electric) 1-800-322-3223
Phone (Verizon) 1-800-870-9999
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