page_title: Bridgewater, Massachusetts
section_title: Local government
hierarchical_section_title: Bridgewater, Massachusetts / Government / Local government
caption_attribution_description: English: Bridgewater, Massachusetts public library
context_page_description: Bridgewater is a city located in Plymouth County, in the state of Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the town's population was 26,563. Bridgewater is located approximately 25 miles south of Boston and approximately 35 miles east of Providence, Rhode Island.
context_section_description: Bridgewater was formerly governed on the local level by the open town meeting form of government, led by a Board of Selectmen until January 2011. Bridgewater is now led by seven Precinct Councilors, 1 per precinct, and two "at-large councilors", with an appointed Town Manager, Assessor, Tax Collector, for a total of nine Councilors. Bridgewater is one of fourteen Massachusetts municipalities that have applied for, and been granted, city forms of government but wish to retain "The town of" in their official names. This is from the majority 'Yes' vote on Question #1 at the April 24, 2010 annual town election, to change from a five-person, elected Board of Selectmen to a nine-person, elected Town Council, and thus abolishing the Annual Town Meeting, which was held in 2010 after generations. Town facilities are located at the center of town, with the Police Department headquarters being just west of the Square along Mass. Route 104. There are two fire departments in town, one next to the College and the other in the eastern part of town, directly behind the Town Hall.  There is one U.S. Post Office branch, located just north of the town center along Mass. Route 18.
  The Bridgewater Public Library is just north of the town center, and is a part of the SAILS Library Network.
caption: Bridgewater public library
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