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Ludlow, Massachusetts

Ludlow is a New England town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,002 as of the 2020 census, and it is considered part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located just northeast of Springfield across the Chicopee River, it is one of the city's suburbs. It has a sizable and visible Portuguese and Polish community.

History
The Indigenous people along the Chicopee River, including modern-day Ludlow, were Algonquian speaking peoples. Though records are incomplete, the first inhabitants were likely the Nipmuc or Pocomtuc tribes. During King Philip’s War (1675–1676), British settlers forced a band of Indigenous people, led by Roaring Thunder, to jump to the water of the Chicopee River to escape their attackers (this place has since been called Indian Leap).

Although plans were drawn up for settlement as early as 1685, within the original boundaries of Springfield, Massachusetts, the British first settled in Ludlow in 1751 as Stony Hill Parish. However, the town was later renamed Ludlow and incorporated as a separate entity in 1774, just before the breakout of the American Revolution. For much of its early history the town was agrarian and today many of Ludlow's street names are derived from the names of these farming families (e.g. Chapin Street, Miller Street, Alden Street, Fuller Street). Ludlow was home to many sawmills and gristmills, utilizing the power from several sources of water nearby, the Chicopee River, Broad Brook, Higher Brook, and Stony Brook. Before the Civil War, the town began to develop into a mill town. This included the manufacturing of glass bottles by the many glassware companies, including John Sikes. Then Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, Thomas Hutchinson renamed the town from the District of Stony Hill to Ludlow. The town of Ludlow was possibly named after Roger Ludlow, one of the founders of the Connecticut Colony or named after Ludlow, a town in England.

In 1868, the largest mill was opened and operated by the Ludlow Company (The Ludlow Clock Tower is depicted on the town seal), who produced jute yarns, twine, and webbing. This company helped shape the town by providing housing, a library, schools, playgrounds, and even a clubhouse for the increasingly diverse community. In the 20th century, this company moved to India and is now known as Ludlow Jute and Specialties of Mumbai.

In the early 20th century Ludlow developed from a mill town into a streetcar suburb of Springfield, Massachusetts, with a trolley line running over the bridge from Indian Orchard. Ludlow also had two railroads that traversed the town: the Springfield, Athol and North-eastern Railroad and the Hamden Railroad. The Hamden Railroad was closed and Interstate 90 was constructed over its former tracks. The Springfield, Athol, and Northeastern Railroad was reduced in length in the late 1930s as a result of the creation of Quabbin Reservoir. The train station for this line was at the corner of Winsor Street and Sewall Street and was the last station from Boston when the railroad closed in the 1950s. The train station was demolished in 1960. In 1981, the Stony Brook Power Plant was constructed in the town providing 517 Megawatts of electricity to 24 municipalities. In 1983, the plant became the first combined-cycle power plant in Massachusetts.

Ludlow's population boomed in the 1950s with the creation of Interstate 90, known in Massachusetts as the Massachusetts Turnpike. John F. Thompson, who was Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Massachusetts General Court at the time, was influential in gaining an exit on the Turnpike for Ludlow (now Exit 54, formerly 7) and subsequently the Turnpike influenced the growth of Ludlow as a suburb of Springfield. Since the 1950s, the development of numerous subdivisions has added to Ludlow's growth.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.2 sqmi, of which 27.1 sqmi are land and 1.1 sqmi (3.83%) is water. Ludlow is bordered by Chicopee on the west, Granby on the north, Belchertown on the northeast, Palmer on the east, Wilbraham on the south, and Springfield on the southwest.

Demographics
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 21,209 people living in the town. The population density was 752.1 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.78% White, 2.19% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, and 1.09% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.47% of the population.

Culture
Portuguese-Americans make up 21% of the population of the town. The Portuguese church Our Lady of Fatima puts on an annual Festa, which is one of the most significant cultural events for Portuguese-Americans in the country. Ludlow is also home to many who are of Polish and French Canadian descent. Soccer is an extremely popular sport in Ludlow. The town's high school soccer team is the most dominant in Western Mass and has been ranked in the top 20 high school programs nationally by the NSCAA and has won many state championships as well, including the most recent one in 2018. The town is also home to the amateur Gremio Lusitano, and the Western Mass Pioneers and Western Mass Lady Pioneers professional soccer teams. The Pioneers play in the USL Second Division while the Lady Pioneers compete in the USL W-League. Both teams play their home games at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow. In 1996, the National Soccer Hall of Fame added Ludlow to its soccer history display.

Government
Ludlow is governed by a representative town meeting, its legislative body, and an executive body made up of a five-person Board of Selectmen and a town administrator. Fifteen town meeting representatives are elected to three-year terms from each of the town's six precincts. An additional twenty representatives at-large come from the Board of Selectmen, moderator, town clerk, treasurer, collector, counsel, highway surveyor, and the chair of any board or commission established in the town. From incorporation until 1930, the town was governed by an open town meeting and Board of Selectmen.

Education
The town is served by two public elementary schools, East Street School and Harris Brook Elementary School. Previously students attended elementary school based on their residence, but starting with the 2009–2010 school year a reorganization plan took effect in which preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade attend East Street, and grades 2–5 attend Harris Brook. There is one public middle school, Paul R. Baird Middle School, and Ludlow High School is the town's only public high school.

The town also features St. John the Baptist, a private school serving grades K–8 affiliated with St. Elizabeth Parish. The nearest vocational high school is Pathfinder High School in Palmer.

The nearest community colleges are Springfield Technical Community College and Holyoke Community College. The nearest state universities are the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Westfield State University. The nearest private colleges from the center of Ludlow are Western New England University, American International College, and Springfield College, all in Springfield, as well as Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee.

Transportation
Ludlow is located at exit 54 on I-90, known as the Massachusetts Turnpike. State Highway 21 connects Ludlow to Springfield and Belchertown, and there are local bus routes to Springfield.

Bradley International Airport is 23 miles away and Logan International Airport is 77 miles away in Boston. There are bus stops along Center St., Winsor St. and East St. that connect Ludlow to Springfield.

The town once had a train station and almost featured two railroads. The first railroad was the Springfield, Athol and North-eastern Railroad which connected between Boston and New York. There was a spur of the railroad going to Athol but was cut off by the formation of the Quabbin Reservoir in the late 1930s. Ludlow was the last stop until 1960 when the train station shut down. The train later shut down shortly thereafter. The second railroad was an unopened bypass for the Springfield and Albany Railroad called the Hampden Bypass. It was built in the 1910s but the funding collapsed and never opened. The at grade was later used as the Massachusetts Turnpike from the Chicopee border to the Minnechaog Mountain curve about where Miller and East streets are today and continued onto Palmer. Several of the concrete structures still remain in the less populated areas of Ludlow.

Notable people

 * Chester W. Chapin (1798–1883), businessman and a Massachusetts state representative
 * Nicole Fiorentino (born 1979), bass guitarist for the band Smashing Pumpkins
 * Gabriel Gonzaga (born 1979), UFC fighter
 * Dean Lombardi (born 1958), former general manager of the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks of the NHL
 * Tom Matera (born 1981), World Wrestling Entertainment star, known as Antonio Thomas
 * William D. Mullins (1931–1986), member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and baseball player
 * Mike Mushok (born 1970), guitarist from the rock band Staind
 * Gretchen Palmer (born 1961), actress
 * Fred Pereira (born 1954), professional soccer player
 * Elisha K. Root (1808–1865), industrialist and inventor of the die-casting technique
 * John F. Thompson (1920–1965), Massachusetts state representative who served as House Speaker

title: Ludlow, Massachusetts


text:
Monson, Massachusetts

Monson is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,150 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The census-designated place of Monson Center lies at the center of the town.

History
The first colonist to settle in present-day Monson was Ian Farry, who in 1657 was granted 200 acre of land by the Massachusetts General Court. He built a tavern along the Bay Path, which was the primary route from Springfield to Boston, and which ran through the northern part of Monson. It was the first house built between Springfield and Brookfield, but the tavern was short-lived; within a year or two, Fellows abandoned it for fear of attacks from local Native Americans.

The first permanent settlers arrived in 1715, and in 1735 the town of Brimfield was incorporated, and included present-day Monson within its boundaries. The western part of the town later separated, and was incorporated as the town of Monson in 1775. The town was named after Sir John Monson, president of the British Board of Trade and a friend of Massachusetts governor Thomas Pownall.

In the 19th century and early 20th century, mills were built along the Chicopee Brook, which runs south to north through the center of the town. One of the most successful industries during this time was the woolen mills, which were operated by industrialists such as Joseph L. Reynolds, Dwight W. Ellis, C. W. Holmes, and S. F. Cushman. In addition, Heiman & Lichten operated a successful straw and felt goods factory on Main Street.

Monson was also known for its granite quarries; the first quarry was opened in 1809, east of present-day Margaret Street. It was used for a short time by the federal government to supply stone for the Springfield Armory, and was later sold to Rufus Flynt, who opened a commercial quarry on the site in 1825 with five employees. By 1900, the quarry was operating under the name of W.N. Flynt Granite Co., and had expanded to almost 500 employees. The quarry continued in operation until about 1935.

On June 1, 2011, an EF3 tornado crossed through the center of the town, causing $11.9 million in property damage, which included 238 damaged buildings, 77 of which were damaged beyond repair. Several town landmarks were damaged or destroyed: the First Church of Monson and the Unitarian Universalist Church buildings each lost their steeple, the historic 1900 Holmes Gymnasium, once part of Monson Academy, was destroyed, and the town office building, built in 1925 as the first Monson High School, was damaged beyond repair and demolished in 2013. The town was lucky that they were able to have help in rebuilding the town.

Geography
Monson is in eastern Hampden County, crossed by Massachusetts Route 32, which leads north from the center of town 4 mi to Palmer and south 5 mi to the Connecticut border. Springfield is 15 mi to the west, Worcester is 34 mi to the northeast, and Hartford, Connecticut, is 37 mi to the southwest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 116.0 km2, of which 114.3 km2 are land and 1.7 km2, or 1.45%, are water. The majority of the town (the center part) is drained to the north by Chicopee Brook, a tributary of the Quaboag River. Small areas of the northeastern part of town flow to Foskett Mill Stream, a tributary of the Quaboag. The Quaboag flows northwest to the Chicopee River, a west-flowing tributary of the Connecticut River. The northwestern portion of Monson drains to Twelvemile Brook, a tributary of the Chicopee River, and the southwest portion of town is drained by the Scantic River, which flows directly to the Connecticut in the state of Connecticut. The southernmost part of town is outside the Connecticut River watershed, draining south to the Middle River in Connecticut, which flows via the Willimantic and Shetucket rivers to the Thames River, reaching Long Island Sound at New London, Connecticut.

Monson is bordered on the north by Palmer, on the east by Brimfield and Wales, on the south by Stafford, Connecticut, and on the west by Hampden and Wilbraham. The Quaboag River forms the eastern half of the northern border of town, and U.S. Route 20 forms the western half of the northern border.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,359 people, 3,095 households, and 2,203 families residing in the town. The population density was 188.8 PD/sqmi. There were 3,213 housing units at an average density of 72.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White, 0.67% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.

There were 3,095 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,030, and the median income for a family was $58,607. Males had a median income of $41,373 versus $30,545 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,519. About 5.2% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The town of Monson has three public schools: Quarry Hill Community School for preschool and kindergarten; Granite Valley Middle School for grades one through six; and Monson High School for grades seven through twelve. As of the 2017–2018 school year, 929 students collectively are enrolled in the Monson Public Schools. They are a slightly below average school according to state MCAS test scores.`

The town of Monson was formerly the site of Monson Academy, a private school that was founded in 1804 and opened in 1806. In 1847, the academy became the first American school to enroll Chinese students. Among its graduates were abolitionist and suffragist Lucy Stone, and two United States Supreme Court justices: William Strong and Henry Billings Brown. Notable faculty members included US Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, and Louise Torrey Taft, the mother of President William Howard Taft. In 1971, the academy merged with Wilbraham Academy to form Wilbraham & Monson Academy.

Transportation
Two numbered highways pass through Monson: Massachusetts Route 32, which enters Monson from Connecticut, forms Main Street in the downtown area, and is the main north-south thoroughfare in the town. US Route 20 forms part of the northern border with Palmer, and also cuts across the extreme northeastern corner of the town.

The New England Central Railroad passes north-south through the town, roughly parallel to Route 32. No passenger service is available. The Boston & Albany Railroad line, now operated by CSX, travels across the northwestern part of the town.

Notable people

 * Allan Bérubé (1946–2007), historian, activist, and author
 * Samuel Robbins Brown (1810–1880), missionary
 * George Stewart Miller (1884–1971), educator
 * Effie Maud Aldrich Morrison, instigator for the plan of the first senior housing project
 * Arthur D. Norcross (1848–1916), musician and politician
 * Erasmus D. Peck (1808–1876), Congressman
 * Albert G. Riddle (1816–1902), Congressman
 * Sal Salvador (1928–1999), jazz musician
 * James Hayden Tufts (1862-1942), philosopher
 * Eliphalet Trask (1806-1890), Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
 * Henry Martin Tupper (1831–1893), minister and educator
 * William L. Utley (1814–1887), military officer and politician
 * Brian Burrows (1983-present), professional fisherman

Notable places and mills

 * Conant Brook Dam
 * First Church of Monson
 * W.N. Flynt Granite Co.
 * Memorial Town Hall
 * Monson High School
 * Peaked Mountain
 * William Norcross House
 * Omega Metal Processing
 * S. F. Cushman Woolen Mill
 * Monson Bellmen
 * Monson Developmental Center

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Monson, Massachusetts


text:
Monson Center, Massachusetts

Monson Center is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Monson in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,107 at the 2010 census, out of a total 8,560 people in the town. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Monson Center is in the east-central part of the town of Monson, located at 42.0975°N, -72.315°W (42.097633, -72.314865). The CDP includes the town center ("Monson"), the adjacent village of South Monson, and rural land to the east and west of the villages. The eastern limit of the CDP is King Street and East Hill Road; the southern limit is Munn Street, Maple Street, and Bliss Street; the western limit is Ely Road, High Street, and Margaret Street; and the northern limit is Thompson Street, Chestnut Street, and Brimfield Road. The two villages are in the valley of Chicopee Creek, a north-flowing tributary of the Quaboag River. Massachusetts Route 32 (Main Street) runs through the valley and the two villages, leading north 4 mi to Palmer and south 11 mi to Stafford Springs, Connecticut.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Monson Center CDP has a total area of 8.7 sqkm, of which 0.03 sqkm, or 0.33%, are water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,103 people, 884 households, and 524 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 238.8/km$2$ (618.6/mi$2$). There were 931 housing units at an average density of 105.7/km$2$ (273.8/mi$2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.43% White, 1.14% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.

There were 884 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $45,795. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $25,244 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,526. About 4.4% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Monson Center, Massachusetts


text:
Montgomery, Massachusetts

Montgomery is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 819 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Montgomery was first settled in 1767 and was officially incorporated in 1780. The town was named after General Richard Montgomery, who died in the Battle of Quebec. It took land from Westfield, Southampton, and unincorporated land that is now Huntington. A small town, it grew bigger when Interstate 90 was built in 1957 and has served as an outer commuter town to Springfield.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.2 sqmi, of which 15.1 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (0.86%) is water. Montgomery is bordered by Southampton to the northeast, Westfield to the southeast, Russell to the southwest, and Huntington to the northwest. Its border with the towns of Huntington and Southampton make up a portion of the Hampden-Hampshire county border. The center of Montgomery lies 17 mi west-northwest of Springfield and 101 mi west of Boston. Thus, like most of Western Massachusetts, it is closer to two other states' capitals—Hartford and Albany—than its own.

The town of Montgomery lies atop a high plain, reaching into neighboring Huntington, framed by Lizzie Mountain to the northeast and Tekoa and Shatterack Mountains to the south and west, respectively. The latter two mountains rise from the banks of the Westfield River, whose banks make up a portion of the town's border with Russell. Within the town, the Moose Meadow Brook runs from north to south, with the Westfield Reservoir atop the plain and the smaller Tekoa Reservoir near the bottom of the slope of its namesake mountain. Several other small brooks run through the town.

Other than a short stretch, less than 200 yd long, of Interstate 90, located at the southern tip of town between Westfield and Russell, the town has no state or federal roads crossing through it. There are only nine roads which enter or exit the town's borders, four of which dead-end either just inside or outside of town. Along the banks of the Westfield River lie railroad tracks, which carry CSX and Amtrak trains between Springfield and Pittsfield, on their way westward. There is no other public transportation within town. The nearest general aviation airport is Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield, the nearest national service can be found at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, and the nearest full-service international airport is Logan International Airport in Boston.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 654 people, 253 households, and 200 families residing in the town. The population density was 43.4 PD/sqmi. There were 257 housing units at an average density of 17.1 per square mile (6.6/km$2$). The racial makeup of the town was 98.01% White, 0.31% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 253 households, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 34.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $59,063, and the median income for a family was $66,250. Males had a median income of $46,406 versus $37,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,942. About 1.0% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Montgomery is a town without its own zip code and uses Huntington (01050) and Westfield (01085) for zip codes.

title: Montgomery, Massachusetts


text:
Russell, Massachusetts

Russell is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,643 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Russell was originally part of the Pocumtuc (also called Deerfield) nation, who spoke an Algonquian language. Like most native peoples, they were decimated by smallpox, then their participation in King Philip's War 1675–1676 proved their undoing as victory by colonial forces led to the dispersal of remnants of this tribe west into New York and north into Canada.

Although the way was open for settlement beyond the Pioneer Valley lowlands, the thin, rocky soil and hilly topography of uplands to the west delayed settlement until about 1725, when there was no more promising land left to settle in the valley. Because river valleys in the hilly areas were subject to cold air pockets and late frosts—especially during the Little Ice Age that persisted until the late 19th century—most early settlement was in uplands in and near South Quarter. Relatively unproductive soils and small fields were not conducive to growing cash crops, so farming was more of a subsistence nature. Most of what was consumed on these farms was homemade or bartered for.

The upland farm population peaked around 1800, when more productive farmland opened up beyond the Appalachian Mountains in western New York and the Northwest Territory—today's Great Lakes states. Employment opportunities became significant by about 1825 as the first (water power-dependent) Industrial Revolution unfolded in New England. The cash income gave farmsteads access to manufactured goods and imported food such as cane sugar from the West Indies in lieu of local maple products. Farming became more of a part-time occupation and a growing number of farms were abandoned, gradually reverting to forest until only stonewalls and cellar holes remain.

The Industrial Revolution led to development in the Westfield River valley, as the water power potential of the three cascades was developed for industrial use. Three villages developed around mills at the cascades, and the easy grades along the valley were utilized for a railroad route across the Berkshires' 1400 ft of relief.

A small upstream village near the Huntington border was called Crescent Mills. Originally a Chapin and Gould Paper Company mill, Texxon still operates a mill there that makes special fabrics for shoes. The middle settlement and the town's administrative center is called Russell Village. Westfield River Paper Company manufactured glassine and other specialty papers there until it was decommissioned and then bought for a proposed biomass electric plant utilizing local cordwood. Russell Village was a virtually self-sufficient community as late as the 1950s, with several stores, a barbershop, and several restaurants; then increasing automobile ownership brought the greater commercial offerings in Westfield and other Pioneer Valley cities within reach.

The lower industrial village was named Woronoco after a local tribe, and the local cascades were once called Salmon Falls, presumably because Atlantic salmon were observed and captured there. Strathmore Paper Company manufactured high-quality bond papers at this location until it was taken over by International Paper and then decommissioned. Strathmore was originally purchased by Horace A. Moses in 1904. Moses, later co-founder of Junior Achievement, was a visionary social engineer as well as an industrialist who developed Woronoco as a model company town with housing of a notably high standard and buildings accommodating a wide variety of community activities. The factory, and the town it created, were based upon his journey to the factory town of Strathmore, Scotland. Moses also developed a 1600 acre estate around Russell Pond in South Quarter, where he raised both award-winning apples and prized hunting dogs. He later sold off sections of the estate to the Hampden Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Today, the Horace A. Moses Scout Reservation contains many buildings original to Moses and his staff, including his summer home, which is known simply as "The Manor House". The property is thought to be one of the last homes of the rare Scottish thistle, which Moses imported from Scotland in the 1930s.

In 1965 Russell joined with neighboring towns to form Gateway Regional School District that now educates some 1,300 students at an annual cost to taxpayers of about $15,000 per student. With very little industrial and commercial property to share this tax burden, Russell has one of the highest tax rates per unit assessed value in the state.

Westfield River Paper Company shut down operations in 1994, while Strathmore Paper was purchased by International Paper Co. and ceased operations in 1999. This left the town with no industrial tax base other than the small Texxon plant in Crescent Mills. Retail operations are also very limited, with residents mostly commuting to Westfield and West Springfield to shop.

In the 1990s Mennonites moved from western Pennsylvania to Russell where they established a church, a furniture factory/showroom called "Country Woodcraft" and a bakery shop called "Bread Basket". On September 11 of every year since 2003 the Mennonite Youth Chorus from Russell has offered songs of remembrance for victims of the terrorist attack at the Ground Zero site of the World Trade Center in New York City.

In 2004 a biomass generating plant was proposed to take advantage of the former Westfield River Paper Co. site along the Westfield River with access to water, the former Boston and Albany Railroad line, and supplies of waste wood as a byproduct of real estate development, logging and forestry work. The proposal proved highly controversial. While it would have created a number of jobs and lightened the tax burden, opponents raised concerns of truck traffic through town, air pollution, water withdrawals and thermal pollution of water returned to the river after use for cooling purposes.

As of 2010, political issues in Russell largely revolve around the tax base and economy.

Geography
Russell is in western Hampden County, bordered by Granville to the south, Blandford to the west, Huntington to the north, Montgomery to the northeast and Westfield to the southeast. The main village, Russell, is in the northwestern part of town and is a census-designated place. The village of Woronoco is in the eastern part of town. Both villages are along the Westfield River and are connected by U.S. Route 20, which leads southeast 8 mi to Westfield and northwest 27 mi to Lee. Interstate 90, the Massachusetts Turnpike, crosses the center of Russell, but has no exits in the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Russell has a total area of 46.0 km2, of which 44.9 km2 are land and 1.1 km2, or 2.39%, are water.

The town features two very different topographical sections: South Quarter is mainly uplands at elevations from 1000 to 1400 ft along the rim of a plateau west of the Connecticut River Valley, while the rest of the town is a deep valley along the swift Westfield River.

The South Quarter uplands end at an escarpment near the southeastern border of the town, the edge of a rift valley originating in the Mesozoic Era when Europe and North America separated. The Connecticut River still follows this rift valley, known as the Pioneer Valley for its early settlement by English Puritans. The escarpment between the South Quarter uplands and the valley is forested—too steep to farm—and dissected by streams that have eroded ravines back into the uplands.

Along the Westfield River valley, during the Pleistocene epoch, continental glaciers scraped away soil and steepened cliffs on hills around the valley, particularly on Mounts Tekoa and Shatterack east of the river, and on Turtle Bend Mountain standing in the middle of the valley. Although none of these peaks actually rises much above the surrounding plateau, their precipitous slopes make them appear impressively high from the valley.

As continental glaciers receded northward, a glacial moraine dammed the Connecticut River below Hartford, producing 200 mi Lake Hitchcock, with an arm extending northwest along the Westfield River. Gravel banks large enough to be commercially valuable were deposited in Russell where the river entered the erstwhile lake.

The river has three widely separated cascades within the town, dropping about 90 ft in total that figured in the township's industrial development, above.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,775 people, 656 households, and 498 families residing in the town. The population density was 100.9 people per square mile (39/km$2$). There were 699 housing units at an average density of 39.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6% of the population.

There were 656 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.7 and the average family size was 3.0.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25% under the age of 18 and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. The town is 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,308 and the median income for a family was $58,498. About 7.1% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education
There are no schools in town. Students attend Littleville Elementary School, Gateway Regional Middle School, Gateway Regional Junior High School, and Gateway Regional High School in Huntington.

Politics
In the 2020 presidential election, the town provided Libertarian Party nominee Jo Jorgensen with her highest percentage of the vote statewide. Out of 919 votes cast in the town, Jorgensen received 28 (3.05 percent) votes. Former President Donald J. Trump won the town with 512 votes (55.71 percent) over then-former Vice President Joe Biden with 366 votes (39.83 percent). Green Party nominee Howie Hawkins obtained six votes (0.65 percent) and there were seven write-ins (0.76 percent).

Notable people

 * Clarissa Chapman Armstrong, missionary in Hawaii, born in Russell
 * Reuben Atwater Chapman, chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, born in Russell
 * Joel Doolittle, justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, born in Russell

title: Russell, Massachusetts


text:
Southwick, Massachusetts

Southwick is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,232 at the 2020 census, down from 9,502 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Southwick was originally inhabited by either the Matitacooke, Mayawaug, or Woronoake Native American tribes.

Early history
In the mid-17th century, pioneering English explorers moving up the Connecticut River Valley in search of fertile farmlands and game discovered the area and settled Southwick. It became a farming community, defined as the Southern (South-) village (-wick) part of the town of Westfield. Early on, it was nicknamed "Poverty Plains" because the land was thought to be infertile. Its first residential home was built by Samuel Fowler and his wife Naomi Noble on what is now College Highway (US 202 and MA 10), approximately one-quarter mile (0.4 km) north of the current town center.

In colonial times, church attendance was mandatory. The 800 Christian residents of Southwick in the 1760–1770s were required to travel to Westfield to congregate. Their envisioned parish could only be established by first building their church community. On November 7, 1770, Southwick was incorporated as a separate district of Westfield. The area of Southwick became somewhat smaller in 1770. The southernmost portion of Southwick joined Suffield, Connecticut, as the result of a simultaneous secession of citizens in that part of the village.

Independence
Southwick became a fully independent town in 1770. The town remained divided until 1793 when Massachusetts claimed the area (known as the "jog"). A border dispute continued until 1804 when the current boundary was established through a compromise between Connecticut and Massachusetts. As a result of this border resolution, Southwick is the southernmost town in western Massachusetts.

Early 1800s
In the early 19th century, the Farmington Canal and the Hampshire and Hampden Canal were built to link New Haven, Connecticut to Northampton through Southwick. Irish immigrants came to the area to labor on this project. Developers spoke of Southwick's potential, calling it the "Port of the World". Traces of the canal can still be found in the Great Brook and Congamond Lakes area. Due to winter freezing, summer drought, and wildlife impact (beaver dams, etc.), the canal was phased out in favor of a railroad.

Laflin-Phelps Homestead was built soon after the area was settled and remains the oldest standing structure in Southwick.

Completed in the late 1840s, the New Haven and Northampton Company's railroad was built alongside the canal. With the railroad came the ice industry and tourist resorts around the Congamond Lakes (which were named Wenekeiamaug by the previous native peoples). Along with the construction of a small amusement park, numerous elaborate hotels and dance halls were constructed. During the Industrial Era, summer vacationers and day-trippers would escape to Southwick from cities connected by the Northeast Railroad Corridor including New York City, Albany, Boston, Worcester, Hartford, and especially Springfield. There was a special stop near the lakes where visitors would disembark to swim and/or pile into canopied pleasure boats.

During WWI and WWII, trains loaded with soldiers would pass through town. It has been noted that local girls would gather letters thrown by the soldiers from the train and forward them to the intended recipients at the post office. The last train to pass along these tracks was circa 1976. As of 2022, the old railway was converted into a rail trail leading to Granby, Connecticut, known as the Farmington Canal Rail Trail.

All of Southwick's grand hotels and ornate train stations have since been torn down. Babb's Roller Skating Rink on the Suffield side of Congamond Lakes is all that remains of the amusement park.

Tobacco farming
The farmland of Southwick is well-suited to grow tobacco, which is widely grown as a cash crop.

Ice harvesting
Ice collected from the Congamond Lakes was once stored in large ice houses in blocks and delivered via railway for food storage from New York City to Boston, before electric refrigerators were widely available.

Geography

Southwick is the southernmost town in western Massachusetts, as a result of the "jog" in the Massachusetts-Connecticut border (see History of Massachusetts: Connecticut border). Southwick is bordered on the north by Westfield, on the east by Agawam, Massachusetts and Suffield, Connecticut, on the south by Suffield and Granby, Connecticut, and on the west by Granby and by Granville, Massachusetts.

U.S. Route 202 (College Highway) crosses the town, leading north from the town center 5 mi to Westfield and south 7 mi to Granby, Connecticut. Massachusetts Route 57 crosses Southwick east to west, leading east 12 mi to downtown Springfield and west into the Berkshires.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Southwick has a total area of 82.0 sqkm, of which 79.8 sqkm are land and 2.2 sqkm, or 2.63%, are water.

The 114 mi Metacomet-Monadnock Trail (a hiking trail) passes through wetlands near Harts Pond before ascending over Provin Mountain, a trap rock ridge and cliff line that forms the eastern border of Southwick. Provin Mountain is part of the Metacomet Ridge, a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to near the Vermont border.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,835 people, 3,318 households, and 2,418 families residing in the town. The population density was 285.4 PD/sqmi. There were 3,533 housing units at an average density of 114.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.41% White, 0.51% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.34% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.

There were 3,318 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. Of all households, 21.9% were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,296, and the median income for a family was $64,456. Males had a median income of $41,863 versus $30,889 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,756. About 3.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Southwick is part of the Southwick Regional School District, along with Granville and Tolland. Students attend Woodland School from grades K to 2, and Powder Mill School from grades 3 to 6. High school students attend Southwick Regional School from grades 7 to 12. A vote in May 2012 in Southwick approved a $62 million school renovation and construction project that was completed in 2015.

Select Board (formerly called Board of Selectmen)

 * Doug Moglin, Chairman
 * Jason Perron, Vice-Chairman
 * Diane Gale, Clerk.

Library
The Southwick Free Public Library was established in 1892. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Southwick spent 2.03% ($316,544) of its budget on its public library—approximately $33 per person, per year ($43.49 adjusted for inflation to 2022).

Notable people

 * Amasa Holcomb, (1787-1875) first telescope fabricator and manufacturer in the United States
 * Matthew Laflin, (1803–1897) American businessman, philanthropist, and a founder of Chicago
 * Rebecca Lobo, television basketball analyst and former player in the professional Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
 * Jerri Nielsen, a physician who self-treated her breast cancer while stationed at Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica.

title: Southwick, Massachusetts


text:
Rancho Calaveras, California

Rancho Calaveras is a census-designated place (CDP) in Calaveras County, California, United States. The population was 5,325 at the 2010 census, up from 4,182 at the 2000 census.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.4 sqmi, of which 99.65% of it is land, and 0.35% is water.

Climate
Rancho Calaveras has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) typical of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Winters are cool and wet with mild days, chilly nights, and substantial rainfall. Summers are hot and dry with very hot days, cool nights, and minimal rainfall. Due to the orographic effect, rainfall in all seasons is significantly greater than on the valley floor to the west.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Rancho Calaveras had a population of 5,325. The population density was 633.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Rancho Calaveras was 4,645 (87.2%) White, 48 (0.9%) African American, 102 (1.9%) Native American, 87 (1.6%) Asian, 13 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 195 (3.7%) from other races, and 235 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 670 persons (12.6%).

The Census reported that 5,316 people (99.8% of the population) lived in households, 9 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,937 households, out of which 680 (35.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,275 (65.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 162 (8.4%) had a female householder with no spouse present, 98 (5.1%) had a male householder with no spouse present. There were 110 (5.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 18 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 301 households (15.5%) were made up of individuals, and 107 (5.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74. There were 1,535 families (79.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.03.

The population was spread out, with 1,287 people (24.2%) under the age of 18, 337 people (6.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,148 people (21.6%) aged 25 to 44, 1,845 people (34.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 708 people (13.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.

There were 2,147 housing units at an average density of 255.4 /sqmi, of which 1,937 were occupied, of which 1,695 (87.5%) were owner-occupied, and 242 (12.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.2%. 4,519 people (84.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 797 people (15.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,182 people, 1,470 households, and 1,221 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 494.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,561 housing units at an average density of 184.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.02% White, 0.86% Black or African American, 1.24% Native American, 1.48% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 2.80% from other races, and 4.47% from two or more races. 10.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,470 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.4% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 16.9% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,247, and the median income for a family was $53,017. Males had a median income of $50,614 versus $31,280 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,444. About 3.5% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
In the state legislature, Rancho Calaveras is in, and , Federally, Rancho Calaveras is in.

Locally, Rancho Calaveras is represented by Calaveras County Supervisor Darren Spellman who won election November 2, 2010 with 60.1% of Rancho Calaveras voter approval.

title: Rancho Calaveras, California


text:
Three Rivers, Massachusetts

Three Rivers is a village and former census-designated place (CDP) in the city of Palmer in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is named for the confluence of the Ware and Quaboag rivers, which form the Chicopee River.

Geography
Three Rivers is located at 42.17917°N, -72.36389°W (42.179053, -72.363807).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 8.8 km2, of which 8.3 km2 is land and 0.5 km2 (5.60%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,939 people, 1,203 households, and 795 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 354.6 /km2. There were 1,309 housing units at an average density of 157.9 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.41% White, 0.34% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 1,203 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,528, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,582 versus $22,533 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,810. About 7.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Three Rivers, MA (01080) is known as "The Polka Capital of New England", featuring some of the region's top polka bands at the well-known Pulaski Park. Many Polish immigrants came to Three Rivers in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and their culture of food and music carries through today. Polish traditions are also continued at Three Rivers' Catholic parish, Divine Mercy Parish.

title: Three Rivers, Massachusetts


text:
Tolland, Massachusetts

Tolland is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 471 at the 2020 census, making it the smallest town in Hampden County by population.

History
Tolland was first settled in 1750 when it was part of neighboring Granville. Tolland was officially incorporated in 1810.

Geography
Tolland occupies the southwestern corner of Hampden County and is bordered on the north by Otis and Blandford, on the east by Granville, on the south by Hartland and Colebrook, Connecticut, and on the west by Sandisfield. Massachusetts Route 57 crosses the center of the town, leading east to Agawam and west New Marlborough. The West Branch of the Farmington River forms most of the western boundary of the town. The southern end of Otis Reservoir is in the northern part of town. The eastern part of town is drained by tributaries of the Hubbard River, which flows southeast to the East Branch of the Farmington River. The northeast corner of the town is drained by Ripley Brook, which flows east via the Little River to the Westfield River. The entire town is part of the Connecticut River watershed.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 84.9 km2, of which 81.7 km2 are land and 3.2 km2, or 3.77%, are water.

Tolland State Forest and Granville State Forest protect a part of the town's area.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 426 people, 169 households, and 114 families residing in the town. The population density was 13.5 people per square mile (5.2/km$2$). There were 478 housing units at an average density of 15.1 per square mile (5.8/km$2$). The racial makeup of the town was 97.42% White, 0.94% African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.23% Asian, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.

There were 169 households, out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 1.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households 28.4% were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,125, and the median income for a family was $65,417. Males had a median income of $41,094 versus $35,278 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,126. About 2.3% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Tolland is part of the Southwick Regional School District, along with Granville, and Southwick. Students attend Woodland School from K–2, and Powder Mill School from 3–6. High School students attend Southwick Regional School from 7–12.

Library
The Tolland Public Library was established in 1892. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Tolland spent 0.97% ($10,271) of its budget on its public library—approximately $22 per person, per year ($28.99 adjusted for inflation to 2022).

Notable person

 * John Easton Mills (1796–1847), fifth Mayor of Montréal, Canada (1846–1847)

title: Tolland, Massachusetts


text:
Wales, Massachusetts

Wales is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,838 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Wales was first settled by Europeans in 1726 and was officially incorporated on August 23, 1775, as "South Brimfield," a name it kept until February 20, 1828. The town was renamed after James Lawrence Wales, a local benefactor. Initial settlers included Anthony Needham, John Bullen, and Samuel and Dorothy Munger. The next generation of Mungers became prominent in the town. Samuel (Jr.) served as a selectman and was deacon of the Baptist Church for many years. Nathaniel was one of 12 men of the district appointed as a "court of Justice and Honor to determine all controversies that may hereafter arise in said District," and was also a deacon of the Baptist Church. The "Meadow District" of Wales was originally known as "Munger's Meadow" and includes graves of early pioneers.

Geography
By the 2010 census, the population had reached 1,838.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.3 km2, of which 40.7 km2 are land and 0.6 km2, or 1.46%, are water. Wales is in southeastern Hampden County and is bounded on the west by Monson; on the south by Stafford and Union, Connecticut; on the east by Holland; and on the north by Brimfield.

Massachusetts Route 19 crosses the town, leading north 4 mi to the center of Brimfield and south 10 mi (via Connecticut Route 19) to Stafford Springs, Connecticut.

Education
Wales Elementary School, serving grades K–6, has its own school committee, part of School Union 61. Wales students attend Tantasqua Regional Junior High School (grades 7–8) and Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge. Union 61 and the Tantasqua district share administrators, including the superintendent, and both include Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.

Library
The Wales Public Library opened in 1897. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Wales spent 1.28% ($45,480) of its budget on its public library—approximately $24 per person, per year ($31.63 adjusted for inflation to 2022).

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there had been 1,737 people, 660 households, and 481 families residing in the town. The population density was 110.3 PD/sqmi. There were 796 housing units at an average density of 50.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.75% White, 0.52% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 660 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, and 11.1% had a female head of household with no husband present.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,906, and the median income for a family was $51,629. Males had a median income of $39,766 versus $27,557 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,267. About 1.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

title: Wales, Massachusetts


text:
Westfield, Massachusetts

Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. Westfield was first settled by Europeans in 1660. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 40,834 at the 2020 census.

History
The area was originally inhabited by the Pocomtuc, and was called Woronoco (meaning "the winding land" ). Trading houses were built in 1639 to 1640 by European settlers from the Connecticut Colony. Massachusetts asserted jurisdiction, and prevailed after a boundary survey. In 1647, Massachusetts made Woronoco part of Springfield. Land was "incrementally purchased from the Native Americans and granted by the Springfield town meeting to English settlers, beginning in 1658." The area of Woronoco or "Streamfield" began to be permanently settled in the 1660s. In 1669, "Westfield" was incorporated as an independent town; in 1920, it would be re-incorporated as a city. The name Westfield would be named for being at the time the most westerly settlement. "Streamfield" was considered a name for the town for being settled in between two "streams" that flow downtown, the Westfield River and the Little River.

From its founding until 1725, Westfield was the westernmost settlement in the Massachusetts Colony, and portions of it fell within the Equivalent Lands. Town meetings were held in a church meeting house until 1839, when Town Hall was erected on Broad Street. This building also served as City Hall from 1920 to 1958. Due to its alluvial lands, the inhabitants of the Westfield area were entirely devoted to agricultural pursuits for about 150 years.

Early in the 19th century, the manufacture of bricks, whips, and cigars became economically important. At one point in the 19th century, Westfield was a prominent center of the buggy whip industry, and the city is still known as the "Whip City". Other firms produced bicycles, paper products, pipe organs, boilers and radiators, textile machinery, abrasives, wood products, and precision tools. Westfield transformed itself from an agricultural town into a thriving industrial city in the 19th century, but in the second half of the 20th century its manufacturing base was eroded by wage competition in the U.S. Southeast, then overseas.

Meanwhile, with cheap land and convenient access to east–west and north–south interstate highways, the north side developed into a warehousing center to C & S Wholesale, Home Depot, Lowes and other corporations. South of the river, the intersecting trends of growth of Westfield State University and declining manufacturing changed the city's character. Students comprise some 15% of Westfield's population, and the old downtown business district caters increasingly to them while mainstream shopping relocates to a commercial strip called East Main Street, part of U.S. Route 20.

Only four buildings exceed four stories in height. Until a major fire on January 6, 1952, the Westfield Professional Building covered half a downtown city block and was six stories tall. The entire building was consumed with extensive damage to neighboring buildings because the fire department's ladder and snorkel vehicles weren't tall enough and the building did not have a sprinkler system. Subsequent zoning prohibited virtually all new construction over three stories, even after improvements in fire suppression technologies and vehicles became available. No building is allowed to be taller than the town's firetruck ladders.

In the early 20th century, Westfield was at the center of the Pure Food movement, an effort to require stricter standards on the production of food. Louis B. Allyn, a Westfield resident and pure foods expert for McClure's Magazine, lived in Westfield until his murder. In 1906, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. In June 2017, the administration of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a $300,000 grant to the city for an industrial park expansion.

In 1939, Westfield became the first city in Massachusetts, as well as all of New England, to elect a female Mayor when Alice Burke defeated incumbent Raymond H. Cowing.

Geography

Westfield is located at 42.12944°N, -72.74611°W (42.129492, −72.745986). It is bordered on the north by Southampton, on the northeast by Holyoke, on the east by West Springfield, on the southeast by Agawam, on the south by Southwick, on the southwest by Granville, on the west by Russell, and on the northwest by Montgomery. Westfield is split into the "South Side" and the "North Side" by the Westfield River, and the northwestern section of town is known as Wyben.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 122.7 km2, of which 120.0 km2 are land and 2.8 km2, or 2.24%, are water.

Westfield is situated at the western edge of the downfaulted Connecticut River Valley where the Westfield River emerges from the Berkshire Hills and flows through the center of the city on its way to the Connecticut River some 10 mi downstream. Because of its large, steep and rocky upstream watershed, the river has a history of severe flood episodes, inundating adjacent parts of Westfield several times. In spite of a complicated system of pumps, dikes, waterways, and upstream dams, Westfield lies in a floodplain zone and is still considered flood-prone.

Westfield is bordered on the east by linear cliffs of volcanic trap rock known as East Mountain and Provin Mountain. They are part of the Metacomet Ridge, a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border. Both mountains are traversed by the 114 mi Metacomet-Monadnock Trail, that also crosses the Westfield River with an ill-advised fording or a safer road-walk across the bridge at the junction of Routes 187 and 20. The next road obstacle for hikers in Westfield is the Massachusetts Turnpike, beneath which hikers can safely walk.

Westfield is on the fringe of the greater Northeast megalopolis—the most densely populated region of the United States—and has experienced substantial land development for suburban residential and commercial uses for the past six decades. Yet it borders hilltowns to the west that were depopulated of subsistence farmers in the 19th century as land became readily available on the western frontier. With population dipping below ten per square kilometer in some upland townships, forests are reverting almost to pre-settlement conditions with wild turkey, bears, coyotes and even moose returning after absences perhaps measured in centuries. This transition over a few miles from the 21st century urbanization to population densities nearly as low as early colonial times is notable if not unique.

Westfield is located 10 mi west of Springfield, 39 mi southeast of Pittsfield, 95 mi west of Boston, 30 mi north of Hartford, Connecticut, 76 mi southeast of Albany, New York, and 145 mi northeast of New York City.

Climate

 * Notes:

Demographics
At the 2010 census, there were 41,094 people, 15,335 households and 10,041 families residing in the city. The population density was 860.3 PD/sqmi. There were 16,075 housing units at an average density of 331.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 92.8% White, 1.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.5% of the population.

There were 14,797 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. Of all households 25.9% were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.

Age distribution was 23.8% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median household income was $45,240, and the median family income was $55,327. Males had a median income of $38,316 versus $27,459 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,600. About 6.9% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics
Westfield is governed by a mayor and a city council, elected every two years. The office of the mayor is responsible for a variety of services throughout the city, and the mayor also serves as chairman of the School Committee. The City Council meets the first and third Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.

Westfield was involved in a mitigation action regarding water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

The current mayor of Westfield is Michael A. McCabe. In the Massachusetts General Court, the current senator, representing the Second Hampden and Hampshire district, is John Velis. The representative for the Fourth Hampden district is Kelly Pease. Westfield is located in the Eighth Massachusetts Governor's Council district and is represented by Tara Jacobs

The Westfield City Council is composed of the following members:

The current city council president is Brent Bean II.

Public safety
According to NeighborhoodScout in 2020 violent crime in Westfield such as armed robbery, aggravated assault, rape or murder occurs at a rate of 1 in every 375, or 3 in every 1000.

Points of interest

 * Amelia Park Ice Rink and Memorial Garden
 * Stanley Park of Westfield
 * The Metacomet-Monadnock Trail
 * East Mountain
 * United States Whip Company Complex
 * Columbia Greenway Rail Trail

Education
Westfield's public school system consists of one preschool, seven elementary schools, a middle school, and two high schools.

Preschools

 * Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center
 * Westfield Area Head Start. Head Start is no longer referenced on the Westfield schools' website.

Elementary schools

 * Abner Gibbs Elementary School
 * Franklin Avenue Elementary School
 * Highland Elementary School
 * Munger Hill Elementary School
 * Paper Mill Elementary School
 * Southampton Road Elementary School

Intermediate schools

 * Westfield Intermediate School (formerly North Middle School)

Middle schools

 * Westfield Middle School (formerly South Middle School)

High schools

 * Westfield High School
 * Westfield Technical Academy

Private schools

 * St. Mary Preschool and Pre-K
 * St. Mary Elementary School
 * St. Mary Middle School
 * St. Mary High School
 * The White Oak School

Higher education
The city is home to Westfield State University.

Library
The Westfield Athenaeum is a free library that is open to the public. It is located in Westfield, Massachusetts and is part of the CW MARS consortium. The library was incorporated by an act of the Massachusetts Legislature, Chapter 88, in 1864.

The Westfield Athenaeum opened at 26 Main Street on January 1, 1868, with an annual membership fee of $2. In 1895, it became free to Westfield residents. In 1899, the library was moved and a new building was dedicated at 6 Elm Street, the former home of James Fowler.

The Athenaeum is a non-profit organization, governed by a board of directors. Its mission is to "enrich the community of Westfield by providing open access to educational, cultural, recreational and informational resources and programs."

In fiscal year 2008, the city of Westfield spent 0.87% ($811,000) of its budget on its public library—approximately $19 per person, per year ($25.04 adjusted for inflation to 2022).

Media

 * The Westfield News Group LLC., publishers of The Westfield News, PennySaver, The Longmeadow News and The Enfield Press

Major highways
The Massachusetts Turnpike crosses Westfield just north of Westfield Center. The "Mass Pike" is part of Interstate 90 extending east to Boston and west to Albany and across the United States to Seattle. About 3 mi east of Westfield, the turnpike intersects Interstate 91 which generally follows the Connecticut River Valley south to Springfield, Hartford and New Haven or north to Canada (Quebec).

Westfield's main north–south thoroughfare is U.S. 202/Route 10, which includes parts of Southwick Road, S. Maple Street, W. Silver Street, Pleasant Street, Court Street, Broad Street, Elm Street, and Southampton Road. At the intersection of Southampton Road and North Road, Route 10 continues on Southampton Road toward Southampton while U.S. 202 follows North Road toward Holyoke.

Apart from limited-access I-90, the main east–west thoroughfare is U.S. 20, which includes parts of Russell Road, Franklin Street, Elm Street, Main Street, and Springfield Road. Route 187 also ends in Westfield. Other main roads include Western Avenue, Granville Road, Union Street, and Montgomery Road. East Mountain Road is the longest road in Westfield. In November 2016, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced a $1.93 million grant to the city for upgrades to its segment of U.S. Route 20.

Great River Bridge project

A notable choke point for north–south travel is the Great River Bridge, commonly known as the "Green Bridge", over the Westfield River. This is a three-lane through truss bridge. As of August 2007, there was an active project to create a second bridge just to the east (downstream). The new bridge is a similar through-truss bridge with two spans totaling 368 ft. After the second bridge was completed, the existing bridge was refurbished; each bridge now carries traffic in one direction. Blessed Sacrament Church on North Elm Street was torn down for this project to start. The church was reconstructed on Holyoke Road and was finished in October 2009. The new bridge opened for traffic and the old one was closed for renovations on August 18, 2009. The old bridge reopened in July 2011, with each bridge carrying traffic in one direction.

Rail
Westfield is at the junction of the former east–west Boston and Albany Railroad and a former north–south spur of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad (now a rail trail south of the junction). The town last had eastbound passenger service in 1954, local Albany, New York – Boston, Massachusetts service operated by the New York Central Railroad; and Westfield last had local westbound service in 1953. But Pioneer Valley Railroad, a short line, and CSX, provide freight service. More than 35 motor freight carriers with nearby terminals provide competitive freight service locally and to all distant points. CTrail's Hartford Line, as well as Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, Vermonter and Hartford Line continue to operate in Springfield, Massachusetts, 9.6 miles to the east.

The proposed East-West Passenger Rail service connecting Boston and Pittsfield via Worcester and Springfield would run through Westfield. As of May 2023, no formal plans exist to establish a station in the city, though local officials have expressed interest in doing so.

Bus
The city is presently served by multiple Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) bus routes:

 * R10: Westfield / Westfield State University / West Springfield via Route 20
 * Provides service between Westfield and Springfield via Route 20 and West Springfield.
 * Connects with many other public transit services at Springfield Union Station:
 * Most Springfield-area PVTA routes, for service within Springfield and nearby communities.
 * Amtrak Northeast Regional, Lake Shore Limited, Hartford Line, Valley Flyer, and Vermonter passenger rail service.
 * Peter Pan and Greyhound intercity bus service.
 * Hartford Line, a regional rail service to Hartford and New Haven, CT operated by CTrail.
 * B23: Holyoke / Westfield via Holyoke Community College
 * Provides service between Westfield Center and Holyoke Transportation Center via Holyoke Community College.
 * WSU Shuttle
 * Provides service between Westfield Center and Westfield State University when school is in session. Also provides service to the Horace Mann Center at 333 Western Ave.

Air
Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield has charter passenger services.

Bradley International Airport at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, 18 mi to the south, has scheduled flights by most airlines.

Notable people

 * Edward Bancroft (1744–1821), physician and double-agent spy during the American Revolution
 * Lou Barlow (born 1966), American alternative rock musician and songwriter
 * Kacey Bellamy (born 1987), Olympian, 2010 Winter Olympics, Women's Ice Hockey Silver Medalist
 * Sybil Moseley Bingham (1792–1848) teacher, missionary in Hawaiian Islands
 * Emma Helen Blair (1851–1911) historian, journalist and editor who attended high school in town
 * Asahel Bush (1824–1913), printer and publisher the Oregon Statesman newspaper; His estate is now preserved as Bush's Pasture Park and his home, Asahel Bush House, is on the National Register of Historic Places
 * Joseph Buell Ely (1881–1956), 52nd Governor of Massachusetts
 * Richard Falley Jr. (1740–1808) an ensign at the Battle of Bunker Hill and armorer during the American Revolutionary War
 * Ray Fitzgerald (1904–1977), Major League Baseball player who died in town
 * Frederick H. Gillett (1851–1935), U.S. Congressman, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
 * Manuel Gonzales (1913–1993), comics artist
 * James H. Gray Sr. (1916–1986), Georgia politician
 * Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden (1829–1887) pioneering geologist
 * Thomas Ingersoll (1749–1812), early settler of Ingersoll, Ontario, and for whom that town is named
 * Neil Jenney, artist
 * William Allen Johnson, organ builder; Johnson Organs
 * Jackie French Koller, author and painter
 * Walt Kowalczyk (born 1935), professional football player with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders
 * Jesse Leach, rock singer and musician
 * Grey Lock (1670–1750), Abenaki warrior chieftain
 * Jim Matheos (born 1962), guitarist, best known of Fates Warning
 * Mary L. Moreland (1859–1918), minister, evangelist, suffragist, author
 * Gilbert Clifford Noble (1860–1936), Founder of Barnes and Noble Book Stores
 * Ralph E. Van Norstrand, minority leader of the Connecticut General Assembly, 1979—1985; Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives, 1985—1987
 * Don Pardo, longtime Saturday Night Live announcer
 * Gorham Parks, U.S. Congressman from Maine and American Consul in Rio de Janeiro
 * Rufus Parks, Wisconsin politician
 * Dale Quarterley, part-time ARCA Menards Series West racecar driver
 * Frederic Rzewski, composer
 * William Shepard, Revolutionary War general
 * Nettie Stevens, early geneticist who discovered chromosomes determined one's sex
 * Walter Scott Story (1879–1955), author
 * Clara Harrison Stranahan (1831–1905), author; founder of Barnard College
 * Rick Sullivan, current Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the former Mayor of Westfield
 * Edward Taylor (c. 1642–1729) poet, physician, and pastor
 * Adonis Terry (1864–1915), former MLB pitcher for four teams
 * Alfred Topliff (1799–1879), Wisconsin State Assemblyman and surveyor
 * Mark Trafton, U.S. congressman
 * Daniel P. Trant, NBA player (Boston Celtics), killed on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center attack

Bands from Westfield

 * Killswitch Engage, metalcore band
 * Outpatients, hardcore/metal band
 * Sebadoh, indie rock band
 * Within the Ruins, deathcore band
 * Deep Wound, hardcore punk band
 * The Prozacs, pop punk band
 * Letters of Marque, screamo band

title: Westfield, Massachusetts


text:
Amherst Center, Massachusetts

Amherst Center is a census-designated place (CDP) in the City of Amherst in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The CDP covers the primary village in town. The population was 19,065 at the 2010 census, out of a total city population of 37,819. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Amherst Center is located in the west-central part of the town of Amherst at 42.38028°N, -72.51972°W (42.380392, -72.519821). It is bordered to the north by North Amherst, to the south by South Amherst, and to the west by the town of Hadley. The CDP extends north as far as Eastman Lane and Tilson Farm Road, east to the New England Central Railroad and East Street, and south to Mill Lane and East Hadley Road.

Amherst College is in the center of the CDP, south of College Street and east of Pleasant Street, while the University of Massachusetts Amherst is in the northwestern part of the CDP.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.8 sqkm, of which 0.05 sqkm, or 0.41%, are water. The Fort River, a westward-flowing tributary of the Connecticut River, flows through the southeastern part of the CDP.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,050 people, 3,055 households, and 1,209 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,346.2 /km2. There were 3,190 housing units at an average density of 251.9 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 81.00% White, 5.15% African American, 0.22% Native American, 8.02% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.48% from other races, and 3.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.37% of the population.

There were 3,055 households, out of which 19.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 60.4% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 6.2% under the age of 18, 68.0% from 18 to 24, 12.3% from 25 to 44, 7.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,754, and the median income for a family was $57,050. Males had a median income of $38,547 versus $32,219 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,791. About 6.2% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over. This makes Amherst Center the poorest community in Massachusetts.

title: Amherst Center, Massachusetts


text:
Chesterfield, Massachusetts

Chesterfield is a rural hill town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, 26 mi east of Pittsfield and 90 mi west of Boston. The population was 1,186 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Chesterfield was first settled in 1760 and was officially incorporated in 1762. It was named after the Earl of Chesterfield. The town center, established after the Revolution, has well-preserved Federal period houses along Main Road. In its early days, the town supported a largely agricultural economy, with wool from Merino sheep as a major product. However, there were sawmills and tanneries in operation as well as cloth dressing mills, and in the early 19th century these superseded farming and brought in a small immigrant population that was mostly Irish. Progress wiped out most of the industry in Chesterfield, and by the start of the 20th century a re-emerging agricultural economy developed alongside the growing trade from summer residents.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 80.9 km2, of which 79.9 km2 are land and 1.0 km2, or 1.27%, are water. Chesterfield's location is nearly equidistant from the northern, southern and western state lines of Massachusetts.

Chesterfield is located in the Hilltowns region of Massachusetts, 52 mi north of Hartford, Connecticut, 108 mi west of Boston, 30 mi northwest of Springfield, 64 mi southeast of Albany, New York, 26 mi east of Pittsfield, and 160 mi northeast of New York City.

Education
Chesterfield is part of the Hampshire Regional School District along with Goshen, Southampton, Westhampton, and Williamsburg. Students attend K–6 at New Hingham Regional Elementary School along with Goshen, and 7–12 students attend Hampshire Regional High School.

Points of interest

 * Chesterfield Gorge along the Westfield River, a property of the Trustees of Reservations
 * Indian Hollow (Massachusetts)

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 1,201 people, 447 households and 324 families residing in the town. The population density was 38.6 PD/sqmi. There were 524 housing units at an average density of 16.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.67% White, 0.25% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.08% of the population.

There were 447 households, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. Of all households, 18.8% were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.09.

Of the population 25.7% were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median household income was $49,063 and the median family income was $57,361. Males had a median income of $35,417 versus $27,788 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,220. About 3.4% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

title: Chesterfield, Massachusetts


text:
Cummington, Massachusetts

Cummington is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 829 at the 2020 census, a decline from the figure of 872 tabulated in 2010. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Cummington was first settled in 1762 and was officially incorporated in 1779. It was named after Colonel John Cumings, the original landholder.

The first Congregational Church minister was Rev. James Briggs (1743–1825) of Norton, Massachusetts, and a graduate of Yale College around 1775. Briggs was the son of Deacon James and Damaris (White) Briggs, and the husband of Anna Wiswall.

Although a small town, several Revolutionary War patriots are buried there, including Nathaniel Holbrook, Seth Wilder Sr., and Seth Wilder Jr.

Noted poet and newspaper editor William Cullen Bryant was born in Cummington, and returned for many years to summer in the town. His house is now preserved and open to the public as the William Cullen Bryant Homestead. The town hosts the Cummington Fair every August on the town's fairgrounds. The fair features many events, including adult and 4-H exhibition halls, a craft barn, vaudeville stage, antique car parade, oxen pull, and an assortment of fair rides, games, and food stands.

The town was the subject of a 1945 documentary film, The Cummington Story, about the welcome given to a group of European refugees.

Geography
Cummington is in northwestern Hampshire County. It is bordered to the west by the towns of Peru and Windsor in Berkshire County, to the north by Plainfield in Hampshire County, and to the northeast by Ashfield in Franklin County. To the east is the town of Goshen, to the southeast is Chesterfield, and to the south is Worthington, all in Hampshire County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 59.7 km2, of which 59.3 sqkm are land and 0.3 sqkm, or 0.56%, are water. The Westfield River (sometimes referred to as the East Branch) flows through Cummington. Massachusetts Route 9 runs through the town, following the Westfield River for most of its way. Route 9 leads southeast 20 mi to Northampton and west 22 mi to Pittsfield. Massachusetts Route 112 leads west, then south, 21 mi to Huntington.

The mineral cummingtonite was first found in this town and was named after it.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 978 people, 382 households, and 239 families residing in the town. The population density was 42.4 PD/sqmi. There were 452 housing units at an average density of 19.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.42% White, 0.61% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.27% of the population.

There were 382 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,250, and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $31,765 versus $27,279 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,553. About 4.2% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education
Cummington is part of the Central Berkshire Regional School District, along with Becket, Dalton, Hinsdale, Peru, Washington, and Windsor. Elementary school students attend Craneville School, middle school students attend Nessacus Regional Middle School, and high school students attend Wahconah Regional High School.

Government
The town is part of the First Hampshire District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and the Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire Senate district.

Points of interest

 * William Cullen Bryant Homestead
 * Greenwood Music Camp

Notable people

 * William Cullen Bryant, poet
 * Katherine Frazier, musician and arts administrator
 * Sergei Isupov, artist
 * Rachel Maddow, MSNBC host
 * Zalmon Richards, educator
 * William Jay Smith, poet
 * Worcester Reed Warner, engineer
 * Alan Weisman, author
 * Richard Wilbur, poet

title: Cummington, Massachusetts