HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Commission - City Incorporation DatesDATES OF INCORPORATION and/or ESTABLISHING CITY FORM OF GOVERNMENT
CITY
Incorporation
Date of Adoption -
City Government Form Plan Adoption (if applicable)
1. Agawam +
1855
1971 Council -Manager (HRC) Mayor -Council (effective 1989)
2. Amesbury
1668
1996 Mayor -Council (HRC - effective 9/96)
3. Attleboro
1694
1914 Mayor -Council (HRC/1970)
4. Beverly
1668
1894 Mayor -Council (HRC/1995)
5. Boston *
1630
1822 Mayor -Council (SPC - last revised 1986)
6. Braintree
1640
2006 Mayor - Council (SPC) (effective 1/1/08)
7. Brockton
1821
1881 Mayor -Council PLAN B (1967) (formerly Plan D)
8. Chicopee
1848
1890 Mayor -Council
9. Easthampton
1809
1996 Mayor - Council (HRC - effective 9/96)
10. Everett
1870
1892 Mayor -Aldermen -Council **
11. Fall River
1803
1854 Mayor -Council PLAN A (1934)
12. Fitchburg
1764
1872 Mayor -Council PLAN B (1916)
13. Gardner
1785
1921 Mayor -Council
14. Gloucester
1639
1873 Mayor -Council (HRC/1975) (Plan E, 1951 - 1976)
15. Greenfield
1753
2002 Mayor - Council (HRC/2002) effective July 2003
16. Haverhill
1641
1869 Mayor -Council PLAN A (1967) (Plan D, 1959 - 1967)
17. Holyoke
1850
1873 Mayor -Council (SPC )
18. Lawrence
1847
1853 Mayor -Council (SPC/1983)
19. Leominster
1740
1915 Mayor -Council (HRC/1983)
20. Lynn
1635
1850 Mayor -Council (HRC/1979)
21. Malden
1649
1881 Mayor -Council (SPC)
22. Marlborough
1660
1890 Mayor -Council PLAN B (1922)
23. Medford
1630
1892 Mayor -Council (SPC/1986) (Plan E, 1947 - 1987)
24. Melrose
1850
1899 Mayor -Council (SPC - 2005) (replaced 1899 charter)
25. Methuen+
1725
1972 Council- Manager (HRC) Mayor -Council (effective 1993)
26. New Bedford
1787
1847 Mayor -Council PLAN B (1938)
27. Newburyport
1764
1851 Mayor -Council PLAN B (1919)
28. Newton
1691
1873 Mayor -Council (HRC/1971)
29. North Adams
1878
1895 Mayor -Council PLAN A
30. Northampton
1656
1883 Mayor -Council (SPC)
31. Peabody
1855
1916 Mayor -Council (SPC)
32 Pittsfield
1761
1889 Mayor -Council (SPC)
33 Quincy
1792
1888 Mayor -Council PLAN A (1958)
34. Revere
1846
1914 Mayor -Council PLAN B (1964) (Plan E, 1947 - 1965)
35. Salem
1630
1836 Mayor -Council PLAN B (1915)
36. Somerville
1842
1871 Mayor -Council (SPC)
37. Springfield
1641
1852 Mayor -Council PLAN A (1962)
38. Taunton
1639
1864 Mayor -Council (SPC)
39. Waltham
1738
1884 Mayor -Council (SPC/1986) (formerly Plan B)
40. W. Springfield
1774
2000 Mayor - Council (HRC)
41. Westfield
1669
1920 Mayor -Council (SPC)
42. Weymouth
1635
1999 Mayor -Council (HRC)
43. Woburn
1642
1888 Mayor -Council (SPC)
+ - had council-manager government by home rule charter; changed manager to mayor via special act process.
* - Boston today includes the following municipalities annexed to the city in the late 1880s to
1911 - Charlestown (1630; city - 1847), Dorchester (1630), Brighton (1807), Roxbury (1630;
city -1846), West Roxbury (1851), and Hyde Park (1868).
** - only city government in United States w/ Board of Aldermen (7) and Common Council (18)
HRC - Home Rule Charter
SPC - Special Act Charter
A, B, E - Plans of organization authorized by M.G.L., c. 43
COUNCIL- MANAGER GOVERNMENTS (a "city" form -- see MGL, c. 43)
CITY
Incorporation
Date of Adoption
City Government
How
Established/current govt
1. Barnstable*
1639
1989
HRC
2. Cambridge
1631
1846
Council - Manager PLAN E (1940)
3. Chelsea
1739
1857
SPA - 1994
4. Franklin*
1778
1978
HRC 1978, (revised 1995) Notel
5. Lowell
1826
1836
PLAN E (1942) (no pr)
6. Palmer *
1775
2004
HRC 2004
7. Southbridge*
1816
1973
HRC 1973 (revised 2003) Note 1
8. Watertown*
1630
1981
HRC 1981 (amended 2001)
9. Winthrop*
1852
2005
HRC 2005
10. Worcester
1684
1848
HRC 1985 (PLANE 1947 -1985)
Note 1: In revising their charters, both of these towns changed the legislative body from a combination of
at -large and district members to a legislative body composed solely of at -large members. Both elect 9
councillors..
* municipalities prefer to be known as towns
HRC - Home Rule Charter
SPC - Special Act Charter
A, B, E - Plans of organization authorized by M.G.L., c. 43
MAYOR -COUNCIL GOVERNMENT: 4 year term of office for mayor:
Summary:
By home rule charter adoption: 2 (Newton, Weymouth)
By special act charter adoption 5 (Boston, Braintree, Lawrence, Melrose, Waltham)
By MGL, c. 43 provisions 3 (Malden, Revere, Salem)
City How Established
Boston
Braintree
Lawrence
Malden
Melrose
Newton
Revere
Salem
Waltham
Weymouth
via special act adoption
via special act adoption
via special act adoption
via use of optional provision of c.
via special act adoption
via home rule charter adoption
via use of optional provision of c.
via use of optional provision of c.
via special act adoption
via home rule charter adoption
43/voter approval
43/voter approval
43/voter approval
Note: Greenfield's home rule charter provides that the mayor and council serve three year terms; this
community holds its elections in June.
MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
100 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114
617 — 573 — 1359