Introduction to Brockton, Massachusetts
The Massachusetts city of Brockton is located in Plymouth County, about 25 miles south of the Massachusetts capital of Boston and 35 miles northeast of Rhode Island's capital city of Providence. Massachusetts State Highway 24 runs through the city, which is also located near Interstate Highways I-93, I-495, and I-195. The city is home to Massasoit Community College (MCC). Brockton is often called the "City of Champions", due to its status as the native city of both former undefeated heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano and former middleweight boxing champion Marvin Hagler.
Originally part of the neighboring town of Bridgewater, the city split off in 1821 to become North Bridgewater before changing its name to Brockton in 1874. Incorporated in 1881, Brockton enjoyed success as the nation's largest producer of shoes during the Civil War and for many decades afterward maintained a thriving shoe and leather industry. No longer dependent on manufacturing, Brockton today looks upon the service industry as the largest base of its economy.
Brockton Points of Interest
The Fuller Craft Museum heads the list of cultural and artistic offerings found in the Brockton area. As New England’s home for contemporary craft, the museum focuses on multicultural exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, and special events where a visitor can literally touch the materials and objects. Fun and entertainment are abundant at the Brockton Fair, one of the country's oldest country fairs located at the historic Brockton Fairgrounds. The Buckley Performing Arts Center on the campus of Massasoit Community College is the site of numerous concerts, plays, and musicals for fans of all ages.
More things to see and do can be found in the city of Boston, less than a half-hour away. A few of the long list of attractions this historic city has to offer are listed here:
- John F. Kennedy Library and Museum
- Bunker Hill Monument
- The Museum of Fine Arts
- Old North Church
- The Boston Children's Museum
- New England Aquarium
- Franklin Park Zoo
- The USS Constitution
- Prudential Center
- The Boston Science Museum
- Faneuil Hall
- The Freedom Trail
- John Hancock Tower
- Paul Revere House
- The Boston Symphony Orchestra
- The Boston Pops
- The Boston Common
Fans of professional sports will note that Brockton is home to the Brockton Rox, a minor league baseball team which competes in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball (not affiliated with Major League Baseball). The team's two retired numbers are associated with Brockton natives who did not play baseball but are the city's most notable athletes: Rocky Marciano (#49) and "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler (#62). The retired numbers represent the number of fights won by each of the two famous boxers. For football and soccer fans, the nearby town of Foxboro, 16 miles to the west, is home to the NFL's New England Patriots and Major League Soccer's New England Revolution. Further north, the city of Boston is a hotbed of major league sports, being the home town of the following teams:
- Major League Baseball: Boston Red Sox
- National Basketball Association: Boston Celtics
- National Hockey League: Boston Bruins
- Major League Lacrosse: Boston Cannons
- World Team Tennis: Boston Lobsters
