So, how would you like to live in a city of 70,000 with stores galore, a nationally-renowned zoo and easy access to all the best parts of New England?

Well, that would be the case if Attleboro and North Attleboro were to reunite.

Prompted by the passing of former Mayor Thomas Piggott, a longtime advocate of reuniting the two communities, I wrote in this space last week about how Attleborough and North Attleborough divided back in 1887.

Of course, there has been no serious talk about reuniting the two communities. Such a task - merging two governments, two school systems, two water and sewer systems, etc. - would be daunting. It took 32 years between the time the first committee to study the division was formed in 1855 and final voter approval in 1887. It would probably take at least that long to reunite Attleboro and North, given the speed of local government.

But what if the communities really were to reunite? Here are my thoughts on some of the pros and cons: PRO: Given the economies of scale and the push to regionalize local government functions, you would think there would be some savings to taxpayers. After all, you're paying for only one school superintendent, one police chief, one fire chief. One Attleboro would have greater purchasing power for things like health insurance and road salt.

CON: How often do you really see savings with economies of scale, especially in government?

PRO: With a combined population, the new Attleboro would become a powerhouse in state politics.

CON: Maybe, maybe not. Attleboro would jump up, but not enough to make a big difference. It would pass Taunton to become the third largest city in Bristol County, but so what? County government would still be dominated by the Fall River-New Bedford crew and Boston politicians will always have a stranglehold on Beacon Hill.

PRO: High school athletic rivalries would continue. While there might be one community, there would still be two high schools, just like many of Massachusetts' bigger cities.

CON: It wouldn't be as fun. Being from a different school AND a different community takes the rivalry and the tradition up another notch. When you win, there's a feeling of accomplishment not only for the school, but for the entire community. That wouldn't happen with just one city.

PRO: North Attleboro would finally get rid of its anachronistic selectmen/town meeting form of government. After all, a community with 70,000 people is a CITY, deserving of a mayor and city council.

CON: No doubt that would be an improvement. But having one government leads to a whole bunch of questions, like where would city hall be located. It certainly wouldn't be in either of the two buildings that now serve as the home to local government. But can you imagine the campaign to determine the first mayor of the combined community? THAT would be fun.

My bottom line is that it will never happen because, well, why should it? I've always felt that if North Attleboro leaders at the time of the division in 1887 had come up with a new name, nobody would ever think of merging the two communities. Attleboro and North Attleboro are different, especially after 121 years apart. You could more easily talk about merging the King Philip towns than Attleboro and North Attleboro.

The status quo is just fine with me. MIKE KIRBY is editor of The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached

at 508-236-0344 or at

mkirby@thesunchronicle.com.