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Athol, Massachusetts

Athol is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,945 at the 2020 census.

History
Originally called Pequoiag when settled by Native Americans, the area was subsequently settled by five families in September 1735. When the township was incorporated in 1762, the name was changed to Athol. John Murray, one of the proprietors of the land, chose the name which traditionally was believed to mean "new Ireland" although some, including historian James E. Fraser, dispute this definition.

Early residents subsisted on agriculture and hunting. By 1791, Athol had four gristmills, six sawmills, a fulling mill, and a shop with a trip hammer, all of which were operated by water power. The Athol Cotton Factory, built in 1811, was one of the first industries to serve a market beyond the local one. Through the 1800s, textile, leather, wood, and metal industries further expanded the market for goods produced in Athol. The construction of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad in the 1840s fostered so much industrial growth that a second line connecting Athol and Springfield was constructed in 1870. Construction of the Fitchburg Railroad, an east-west line, came through Athol in 1879, on its way to the Hoosac Tunnel and the Berkshires.

The Athol Machine Company was established in 1868 in order to manufacture a chopping machine invented by Laroy S. Starrett. In 1881, Mr. Starrett established the L. S. Starrett Company, known for making quality precision tools. The company remains the town's largest employer to this day, and thus does Athol live up to the nickname "Tool Town".

As industries developed along the river valley, homes and stores grew up around the common located on the hill southeast of the factories. This area, today called Uptown, was the location of the first bank. The first trolley lines, established in 1894, ran from Athol to Orange, and additional lines soon provided efficient transportation to surrounding areas. Because of its development of industry, commerce, and transportation, Athol was the center of activity for the entire area at the start of the 20th century.

During the 1930s, the trolley lines closed due to the increased use of private automobiles, bus service, and the generally difficult economic times. When four Swift River Valley towns were flooded to create the Quabbin Reservoir, the Springfield railroad route had to be abandoned. Consequently, Athol's growth leveled off as commerce became increasingly dependent on the Interstate Highway System. Population reached a peak of 12,186 in 1955.

The Route 2 bypass of Athol was constructed in the 1950s, further limiting direct access to the downtown business district. The following years showed population decline, falling to a low of 10,634 in 1980. However, Athol's population has risen gradually since that time.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.4 sqmi, of which 32.6 sqmi is land and 0.8 sqmi (2.46%) is water. The town is drained mostly by the Millers River, which flows through the downtown area from northeast to west, towards the Connecticut River. The Tully River flows into the Millers within town, and many other streams cross the town. Parts of Tully Lake and Lake Rohunta lie within town, as does Lake Ellis and several other small ponds. The soil of Athol is rough and stony, and the terrain is wooded and hilly, with elevations ranging from 500 ft above sea level at the edge of the Millers River to 1282 ft at the top of Pratt Hill near the Bearsden Forest. A large portion of the Millers River Wildlife Management Area lies within town, as does a small portion of Petersham State Forest.

Athol lies along the western edge of Worcester County, with Franklin County to the west. It is bordered by Royalston to the north, Phillipston to the east, Petersham to the south, New Salem to the southwest, and Orange to the west. From its town center, Athol lies 23 mi east of Greenfield, 25 mi west of Fitchburg, 35 mi northwest of Worcester, and 67 mi west-northwest of Boston. The vast majority of population is settled around the downtown area, with the rest of the town being relatively sparsely populated.

Economy
Since the Civil War, Athol's economy has been primarily industrial. During the early part of the 20th century, local water power and rail service attracted manufacturers such as Union Twist Drill and the L. S. Starrett Company to the area, leading to Athol's nickname "Tool Town". In the 1950s, when the Route 2 bypass, Interstate 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike diverted traffic to other parts of Massachusetts, Athol and other towns in central Massachusetts began a long economic decline. By 1998, the commercial vacancy rate in Athol had risen to 18 percent.

Despite downsizing, the L. S. Starrett Company continues to be the largest employer in town, followed by the Athol Memorial Hospital. Most of the remaining jobs in Athol are in the retail and food service industries.

In the 1960s, Athol and Orange formed the Orange-Athol Industrial Development Commission to bring businesses to the area near the Orange Municipal Airport. The Millers River Community Development Corporation, North Quabbin Housing Partnership, and a banking alliance also grew out of collaborative efforts. These groups succeeded in financing housing for middle-income residents, natives, and others who were not accepted by traditional lending programs.

In the early 1980s, The state targeted the North Quabbin region (and principal towns Athol and Orange) for funding to promote economic development, as the area had the highest unemployment rate in the state. Small cities grants and other government funding provided a promising start of economic growth until a recession hit

In the 1990s, a Walmart opened in Orange close to the town line of Athol. At that time, several businesses on Athol's Main Street closed.

In the 2010s, Athol saw the development of a new shopping plaza. The plaza is anchored by a Market Basket and includes a movie theatre as well as several retail and dining establishments. There was also industrial development, with a portion of the former Union Twist Drill mill undergoing conversion for use by Massgrow as a marijuana-growing facility.

In the 2020s, The town has seen two dispensaries open, as well as several new restaurants. Main Street has also seen several new business open, leading to a lower storefront vacancy rate than in the past decade.

As of 2022, groups working on Athol's economy include the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation, a quasi-public entity, and the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce, located on Main Street in Athol.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,299 people, 4,487 households, and 2,970 families residing in the town. The population density was 346.9 PD/sqmi. There were 4,824 housing units at an average density of 148.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.33% White, 0.65% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population. 17.7% were of French, 14.1% French Canadian, 13.3% English, 10.9% Irish, 10.4% Italian and 5.3% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 4,487 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,221, and the median income for a family was $49,440. Males had a median income of $34,414 versus $23,156 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,267. About 8.3% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

 * Municipal Government
 * Town Manager: Shaun Suhoski
 * Selectboard: Andrew Sudjak, Rebecca Bialecki, Kala Fisher, Stephen Raymond, Brian Dodge

Municipal government is by open town meeting. Athol is divided into three precincts. The first Monday in April is the date for the annual town election. The annual town meeting is held in May, and a fall town meeting occurs in October. Additional town meetings are held as needed. Administration of the town's business is carried out by a five-member elected board of selectmen and a town manager following the Town Charter, which was passed in 2000. Other important town boards are the Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission, Capital Program Committee, Cable Advisory Board, Council on Aging, Economic Development and Industrial Corporation, Housing Authority, Open Space and Recreation Review Committee, Library Trustees, and Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Athol-Royalston Regional School Committee is jointly elected by the communities of Athol and Royalston. Ten members serve on this vital committee, seven from Athol and three from Royalston based upon the regional agreement.

The Athol Fire Department and Athol Police Department provide fire protection and law enforcement respectively. In addition, a Massachusetts State Police barracks is located in Athol near the high school. The Department of Public Works takes care of roadways, water works, sewage treatment, parks, and cemeteries.

The towns of Athol and Orange cooperate with each other as neighbors, in spite of the county line that divides them. Some service providers for Athol are based in Franklin County, even though Athol sits in Worcester County.

Communications
Athol has a daily newspaper, The Athol Daily News. In addition, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the Greenfield Recorder, and The Gardner News cover Athol events and news. Newspapers from Boston, Springfield, and Fitchburg are also sold in local stores.

Time Warner Cable provides service to 6,646 subscribers in the Athol-Orange area. 4,044 live in Athol. The two-town area also benefits from the work of the Athol-Orange Community Television, Inc. (AOTV), which is a nonprofit Public-access television cablecasting corporation. AOTV trains people to produce their own local Public-access television programs, and it records and airs Government-access television (GATV) public meetings and events through the Time Warner system. AOTV also operates Athol licensed radio station WVAO-LP 105.9 FM.

In addition to WVAO-LP, WKMY 99.9 FM, and WQVD 700 AM are also local radio stations in Athol and Orange (Although WKMY is only a satellite signal of the national Educational Media Foundation K-Love radio network, and has no local programming). Additional broadcast stations from Gardner, Greenfield, Keene, New Hampshire, Springfield, Worcester, and Boston can be heard. WJDF 97.3 used to also serve the area, but their license was revoked in 2019 for failing to pay FCC regulatory fees.

A number of Internet service providers have dial-up access numbers based in Petersham, which is a local telephone call from Athol. High speed Internet is available in selected areas of town through Road Runner (Time Warner), Verizon and other vendors.

Transportation
Though residents can often walk to businesses in the downtown and uptown districts, Athol is primarily dependent on the automobile for out-of-town transportation. Athol lies along Route 2, the major east-west route through northern Massachusetts. It passes concurrently with U.S. Route 202 as a limited access highway through town, with its old route, now Route 2A, passing through downtown Athol. Route 2A provides access to Orange to the west and Gardner to the east. Route 2 provides access to Greenfield (20 miles to the west), Gardner (11 miles east), Fitchburg (25 miles east), and Boston (71 miles east). Worcester is 34 mi from Athol via Routes 32 and 122 in Petersham. Keene, New Hampshire, is 25 mi north via Route 32. For 1.4 mi, Route 32 runs concurrently with Route 2A, coming north from Petersham east of downtown before continuing north along the eastern edge of downtown towards Royalston.

Athol is served by several bus lines. The Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA), based in Greenfield, has daily runs from Athol to points west. The Montachusett Area Regional Transit (MART), based in Fitchburg, can take residents to points east of town. Community Transit Service buses provide dial-a-ride service for those people in Athol, Orange, and Winchendon, who are in need of transportation to work, medical appointments, shopping, or other errands. Intercity bus service run by Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines is available at Amherst, Greenfield, Leominster, Northampton, Springfield, Worcester, and Keene.

The nearest general aviation airport to Athol is the Orange Municipal Airport, with the nearest national air service airports being Bradley International Airport to the southwest and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport to the north, both of which are an hour's drive away.

The town still has its old train station downtown (the depot), along the Pan Am Railways freight main, formerly a part of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad. Before the filling of the Quabbin Reservoir, Athol was the end of the Springfield, Athol and North-eastern Railroad, a spur line off the Boston and Albany Railroad. A proposal known as "Northern Tier Passenger Rail" is in the early stages of planning, and would extend MBTA's Fitchburg Line westward through Athol and Greenfield, terminating at North Adams. This service would restore passenger rail to the region for the first time since the 1950s.

Education
The Athol-Royalston Regional School District educates young people from grades Pre-K to 12. Two elementary schools educate students: the Athol Community Elementary School (Pre-K to 4) and the Royalston Community School (K–6). The Athol-Royalston Middle School consists of grades 5 to 8, and Athol High School is made up of students in grades 9 through 12. District enrollment for the 2004–2005 school year was 2,140 students. Interested individuals may attend the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School in Fitchburg on a tuition basis, subject to the approval of school authorities. Athol High School had been threatened with loss of accreditation; the school district and community members rallied around initiatives to restore a full accreditation for the school.

The closest community colleges are Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner and Greenfield Community College in Greenfield. Programs leading to bachelor's degrees and higher courses of study can be found in Amherst, Fitchburg, Worcester, and Keene. A few students choose to further their education at institutions elsewhere in New England, around the country, or online.

Private day care centers and nursery schools provide stimulation and social learning opportunities for the young child. Each week, the Athol Public Library holds several preschool activities which invite caretakers and small children to visit the library, play with educational toys, read or hear stories, do crafts, and interact with others. The Athol Area YMCA also schedules activities appropriate for children ages 6 months through kindergarten, and has a preschool and nursery school, as well as after-school daycare.

The Athol Public Library was established in 1882 with 1,063 books and $300. The library was rebuilt in 1918 with private donations. It was the first building in Athol to have air conditioning as of 1969.

Culture
Athol is geographically isolated from the major cultural centers of Massachusetts; consequently, its residents tend to create their own entertainment. The town is known for producing many skilled musicians of all genres. Productions and programs are initiated by such organizations as the Athol Area YMCA, the Athol Historical Society, the Athol-Orange Rotary, the schools, and the Athol Public Library. The Athol Cultural Council provides funds for some of these programs.

Since the Athol Public Library has inadequate facilities for large group seating, its largest annual program is presented in conjunction with and at the home of the Athol Historical Society. The Friends of the Athol Public Library also provide funds for smaller programs held at the library, like young adult craft workshops and author visits and book-signings. The library has a Teen Advisory Council called ATAC who work with the young-adult librarian to provide weekly programs for young adults. The children's library provides several programs a week for preschool, toddler and preteens.

Several community groups such as the Athol Lions Club provide annual entertainment for the community such as the Summerfest and River Rat Race. On the second week of April each year, the town's largest event is a local canoe race named "The River Rat Race". Thousands of spectators line the banks of the Millers River to watch 300 plus canoes race from Athol to Orange. A parade is held in the morning the day of the race, and a carnival is held at the Lord Pond Plaza. Local musician Ethan Stone arranges numerous events in a Tool Town Live series at the Town Hall, uptown common and Fish Park which provide both venues for area musicians to showcase their talents and family concerts for the community. Joshua Lamarche, director of Osprey Entertainment, also manages concerts called Rockathons for the metal/death metal crowd, which are well received. Other popular town activities are listed below in the Culture section and are available through the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce.

In the summer and early fall, "Tool Town Live!" weekend concerts are held in the Uptown Common and at Fish Park in the western part of town. Begun in 2004, this popular series features talented groups from around New England who represent a variety of musical genres. The concerts are offered free of charge, supported by car washes and other fund-raisers held earlier in the year.

The Athol Historical Society, a group of private citizens, occupies the old town hall in the uptown area. The building houses a museum exhibiting articles from Athol's storied past. Additionally, the society sponsors talks about local history, provides guided tours of historic sites, and holds special events. The L.S. Starrett Tool Museum, located at the company office, has on display machine tools of the past. Visitors are admitted by appointment only, made with the personnel department of the company. Impressive restoration was done recently utilizing grant funding with private donations.

The Millers River Environmental Center on Main Street, housed in the old Main Street School, provides many programs to the public and is home to the Athol Bird and Nature Club.

Recreation and entertainment
Athol and its surroundings offer many opportunities for enjoying the outdoors. Clubs like the Woodsman Rifle and Pistol Club and the Athol Bird and Nature Club focus on specific outdoor interests.

Some of those activities center around the Millers River. The River Rat Race, an annual canoe race held each spring, draws participants from all parts of New England. The 6 mi race begins at Cass Meadow in Athol and ends at Hachey's Landing in Orange.

Athol's location on the Millers River enabled it to qualify in 2002 for the UrbanRiver Visions project, an initiative designed to capitalize on the potential of the river as a focal point for revitalization of downtowns in Massachusetts.

Six historic public nature areas are administered by the Athol Conservation Commission. The largest of these is Bearsden Forest in the northeastern part of Athol. It contains hiking trails, camping areas, bridges, paths, old quarries, ponds and brooks.

Eco-tourism and supporting environmental interests are popular throughout the North Quabbin region. The Millers River Environmental Center is located in a former elementary school building on Main Street. It offers exhibits and events and is also the home of the Athol Bird and Nature Club. The Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, based in Athol, protects significant natural, agricultural, and scenic areas and encourages land stewardship in North Central and Western Massachusetts for the benefit of the environment, the economy and future generations. Organizations such as these help to preserve the beauty and natural resources that bring people to the Athol area. The Alan E. Rich Environmental Park, dedicated to a beloved deceased Selectman, sits proudly near the Millers River bridge on Main Street and provides habitat for native plants. It provides parking along with canoe, kayak and small boat access to the Millers River. It is adjacent to Cass Meadow which has 14 acre of trails featuring opportunities to view birds, butterflies and dragonflies.

The southern part of Athol, bordered by the Harvard Forest and the Quabbin Reservoir, offers some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the area. The town owns Fish Park, Silver Lake, and Lake Ellis, where people can swim, skate, play tennis, or play ball.

Athol has additional recreational facilities. The Ellinwood Country Club offers an 18-hole golf course, banquet facilities, and a clubhouse for its members. The downtown Athol Area YMCA includes a 4-lane 25 yard pool, full size gym, workout equipment and group exercise program. Courses are offered in sports skills and practical arts. The Y also hold recreation leagues for youth soccer and basketball. A Y-sponsored camp for local children, Camp Wiyaka, is located just across the border in New Hampshire. Fresh Air Camps, organized by Boston's Goodwill Industries, operate a multi-acre facility south of the town, in South Athol.

Recreational activities for children and young adults are provided by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Campfire Girls. The Athol Recreation Department sponsors summer programs for youths at local school playgrounds. Social and fraternal organizations such as the Athol Women's Club, the Elks, Lions and Rotary clubs, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Masonic Lodge, offer a wide range of activities for families and individuals. Chuck Stone Little League, one of the oldest Little League programs in the state, offers baseball and softball programs for Athol and Royalston youth.

The Silver Lake Wiffleball League plays on Tuesday and Thursday nights between April and September at Silver Lake Park. The league is open to all adults and is free of charge.

Notable people

 * Dave Bargeron, musician, trombonist and tuba player for Blood, Sweat, and Tears
 * Jimmy Barrett, baseball center fielder for three teams
 * Philip Bezanson, composer and educator
 * Asa Drury, educator and Baptist minister
 * Daniel Francis Feehan, bishop
 * Isaac Fitzgerald, writer
 * Gregory Gibson, author
 * George Henry Hoyt, attorney, politician, and Union officer
 * Ellen Cheney Johnson, prison reformer
 * John Murray, early proprietor
 * Shawn Patterson, composer and writer of the song "Everything Is Awesome"
 * Kenny Roberts, country music singer, champion yodeler
 * Lysander Spooner, philosopher, abolitionist and writer
 * Charles Starrett, actor
 * Laroy S. Starrett, industrialist
 * Charles H. Sweetser, author, journalist and editor
 * Ginery Twichell, railroad president and congressman
 * Donald Goddard Wing, Yale librarian

title: Athol, Massachusetts


text:
Barre (CDP), Massachusetts

Barre is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Barre in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,009 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Barre /ˈbæri/ is located at 42.42222°N, -72.105°W (42.422456, -72.105011).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.2 km$2$ (1.6 mi²), all land.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 1,150 people, 463 households, and 285 families in the CDP. The population density was 274.1/km$2$ (710.7/mi²). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 116.1/km$2$ (301.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.78% White, 0.52% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.70% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96%.

Of the 463 households 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 31.7% of households were one person and 15.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.18.

The age distribution was 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median household income was $49,028 and the median family income was $65,192. Males had a median income of $42,098 versus $28,375 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,972. None of the families and 1.9% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

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

title: Barre (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Barre, Massachusetts

Barre is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,530 at the 2020 census.

History
Located on the ancestral homeland of the Nipmuc, the area was first settled by Europeans in 1720 and referred to as the Northwest District of Rutland. The town was incorporated as Hutchinson on June 17, 1774, after Thomas Hutchinson, colonial governor of Massachusetts. The town was incorporated on August 23, 1775, along with 41 other districts in the state, by the Massachusetts Court. The next year on November 7, 1776, it was renamed Barre in honor of Colonel Isaac Barré, an Irish-born MP who was a champion of American Independence. "This township was originally known as Rutland, West District; but prior to 1770 its name was changed to "Hutchinson", in honor of the Hon. Thomas Hutchinson who was Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1765, became acting Governor in 1769, and Governor in 1770. When, in 1774, on account of his Tory proclivities, Governor Hutchinson resigned his office and went to England, his name and memory were so execrated by the patriots of the township of Hutchinson that, in 1776, the General Assembly of Massachusetts changed the name of the township to "Barré."

In 1849 the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad was founded to build a railroad from Worcester to Barre, but it failed to raise enough capital to start construction. The project was revived in 1869, but it was re-routed to run between Worcester and Gardner, bypassing Barre. When the line opened in 1871 it was still called the Boston, Barre and Gardner RR, although it never reached Barre. The line's nearest depot to Barre was at Hubbardston, 7 mi away.

On April 11, 1943, Barre held a civic welcome for Basil Izzi, a local man who was a United States Navy Armed Guard and had recently survived 83 days in the Atlantic Ocean on a life raft after his ship, the MV Zaandam, was torpedoed. In 1988 the Barre Gazette claimed that the welcoming parade in his honor was "still the longest parade on record in the Commonwealth". Izzi died in 1979. On May 28, 2015, a road bridge near South Barre was renamed the "Seaman 2nd Class Basil D. Izzi Memorial Bridge" in his honor. The bridge carries Massachusetts Route 32 over the Ware River.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.6 sqmi, of which 44.3 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi, or 0.63%, is water. Barre is drained by the Ware River.

Barre is bordered by Hubbardston to the northeast, Rutland and Oakham to the southeast, New Braintree to the south, Hardwick to the southwest, Petersham to the northwest, and a small portion of Phillipston to the north.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,113 people, 1,889 households, and 1,377 families residing in the town. The population density was 115.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,988 housing units at an average density of 44.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.63% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Of the population, 0.80% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,889 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. Of all households, 22.8% were made up of individuals, and 10.3% 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 3.17.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,553, and the median income for a family was $56,069. Males had a median income of $40,284 versus $29,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,476. 3.4% of the population and 1.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.5% of those under the age of 18 and 2.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education
Barre is part of the Quabbin Regional School District along with, Hardwick, Hubbardston, New Braintree, and Oakham. Elementary School Students attend Ruggles Lane Elementary School, from grades K–6, middle school students attend Quabbin Regional Middle School from grades 7–8, and high school students attend Quabbin Regional High School from grades 9–12. It is also home to the administrative offices (including the office of the superintendent) of the Quabbin Regional School District.

From 1840 into the twentieth century, it was home to the Elm Hill Private School and Home for the Education of Feeble-Minded Youth.

Barre is home to Stetson School.

Sites of interest

 * Barre Historical Society & Museum
 * Barre Players Theater
 * Insight Meditation Society
 * Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
 * Russell's Fossil Museum

Notable people

 * David Oliver Allen, missionary and author
 * Quock Walker, an American slave who won his freedom from Massachusetts Supreme Court in 1781; his case helped to abolish slavery in Massachusetts
 * Stephen Brewer, state senator
 * Ebenezer Childs, pioneer and legislator
 * Timothy Jenkins, congressman
 * Walker Lewis, black abolitionist, Masonic Grand Master of African Grand Lodge #1, and Mormon Elder
 * John Murray, Representative to the Great and General Court of the Province of Massachusetts Bay for Rutland's Northwest District
 * Joseph B. Plummer, general
 * Jacob Riis, journalist, author of How the Other Half Lives
 * Daniel Ruggles, Confederate general

title: Barre, Massachusetts


text:
Clinton (CDP), Massachusetts

Clinton is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Clinton in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,389 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Clinton is located at 42.42083°N, -71.68611°W (42.420935, -71.686149).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.9 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,884 people, 3,360 households, and 1,942 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,029.4 /km2. There were 3,529 housing units at an average density of 908.4 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.62% White, 2.32% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.90% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.07% of the population.

There were 3,360 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.3% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $43,570, and the median income for a family was $52,686. Males had a median income of $36,920 versus $27,039 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,857. About 5.3% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

title: Clinton (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Clinton, Massachusetts

Clinton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 15,428 at the 2020 census.

For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Clinton, please see the article Clinton (CDP), Massachusetts.

History
Clinton was first settled in 1654 as a part of Lancaster after the land was deeded by Sachem Sholan of the Nashaway in 1643. It was officially incorporated as a separate town on March 14, 1850, and named after the DeWitt Clinton Hotel in New York, a favorite place of the town's founders, Erastus Brigham Bigelow and his brother Horatio.

Clinton became an industrialized mill town, using the Nashua River as a source for water power. In 1897, construction began on the Wachusett Dam, culminating in the filling of the Wachusett Reservoir in 1908. This flooded a substantial portion of Clinton and neighboring towns, which had to be relocated. A noteworthy feature of the Boston metropolitan public water service was begun in 1896 in the Wachusett lake reservoir at Clinton. The basin excavated there by ten years of labor, lying 385 ft. above high-tide level of Boston Harbor, had a capacity of 63,068,000,000 gallons of water and was the largest municipal reservoir in the world in 1911, yet was only part of a system planned for the service of the greater metropolitan area.

Part of the Central Massachusetts Railroad line abandoned in 1958 includes a tunnel near Clamshell Road. Railroads came to the town to serve this industry, including the Boston, Clinton, Fitchburg and New Bedford Railroad (Fitchburg Branch of the Old Colony Railroad), the Central Massachusetts Railroad, and the Worcester, Nashua and Rochester Railroad (the last two later merged into the Boston and Maine Railroad). By 1890, Clinton was noted for its manufacturing of carpets and woven wire.

Clinton claims to have the oldest continuously-used baseball field in the world, Fuller Field, created in 1878. This challenges the claim by London, Ontario, which argues for Labatt Memorial Park, established as Tecumseh Park in 1877. This is disputed by Clinton because the London field has been flooded and rebuilt twice, including a reorientation of the bases, and there is doubt Tecumseh Field was in continuous use after the 1883 flood. Fuller Field has been the home of the Clinton 76ers, a men's semi-professional baseball team as part of the CNEBA. The Sixers have called Clinton, MA their home for more than two decades and continue to be one of the most dominant teams in the area most recently capturing the 2017 CNEBA title.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.3 sqmi, of which 5.7 sqmi is land and 1.6 sqmi, or 21.78%, is water. The Nashua River runs through the town, and the large Wachusett Reservoir lies to the south of the town center.

Clinton is bordered by Lancaster to the north, Bolton to the northeast, Berlin to the east, Boylston to the south, and Sterling to the west.

Demographics
The racial makeup of Clinton, Massachusetts is:

71.9% White alone

21.2% Hispanic

3.0% Two or more races

1.7% Other race alone

1.6% Black alone

0.9% Asian alone

0.1% American Indian alone

As of the 2010 census the racial makeup of the town was:

73.7% White alone

19.8% Hispanic

2.5% Two or more races

2.1% Other race alone

1.2% Black alone

1.2% Asian alone

0.2% American Indian alone

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,435 people, 5,597 households, and 3,397 families residing in the town. The population density was 2387 PD/sqmi. There were 5,844 housing units at an average density of 1024.7 /sqmi.

The racial makeup of the town was 88.20% White, 2.58% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.95% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 11.60% of the population. Ethnic heritages include Irish, Brazilian, Scottish, German, Québécois, Acadian, Swedish, Italian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Greek, and Polish. Many emigrants from the Louisburgh area of County Mayo settled in the small town in the early 1900s, giving Clinton a large Irish population till this day.

There were 5,597 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. Of all households, 33.1% were made up of individuals, and 12.4% 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 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,740, and the median income for a family was $53,308. Males had a median income of $37,263 versus $30,035 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,764. About 4.9% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those ages 65 or over.

Library
The public library in Clinton opened in 1873. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Clinton spent 0.99% ($325,383) of its budget on its public library—approximately $23 per person.

Clinton Public Schools
Clinton Elementary School (K–4)

Clinton Middle School (5–8)

Clinton High School (9–12)

Notable people

 * Mike Bonin, Los Angeles City Councilor
 * Clarence Brown, film director
 * Joseph E. Casey, lawyer and former US Representative
 * Fred J. Douglas, former US Congressman
 * Tim Fortugno, former Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Carroll Gibbons, musician
 * Joseph L. Gormley, chief of chemistry and toxicology for the FBI
 * Sliding Billy Hamilton, member of Baseball Hall of Fame
 * Mal Kittridge, baseball player
 * Gordon Lankton, Chairman of Nypro, Member of the Plastics hall of fame and founder of the Museum of Russian Icons
 * Agnes Moorehead, actress
 * Frank O'Malley, English professor
 * Philip J. Philbin, former US Congressman
 * Jimmy Ryan, major league baseball player
 * Sydney Schanberg, Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter
 * David Walsh, former Massachusetts governor
 * Scott Young, former professional ice hockey player

Sites of interest

 * Central Park
 * Clinton Business District
 * Fuller Field
 * Museum of Russian Icons
 * South Meadow and Mossy Ponds
 * Wachusett Reservoir Clinton Dam

title: Clinton, Massachusetts


text:
East Brookfield (CDP), Massachusetts

East Brookfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of East Brookfield in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,323 at the 2010 census.

Geography
East Brookfield is located at 42.22889°N, -72.05056°W (42.228952, -72.050795).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.6 km2, of which 4.2 km2 is land and 0.4 km2  (8.43%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,410 people, 527 households, and 394 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 332.0 /km2. There were 563 housing units at an average density of 132.5 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.87% White, 0.21% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 527 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.0% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,774, and the median income for a family was $60,000. Males had a median income of $42,305 versus $26,563 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,161. About 3.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.

title: East Brookfield (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
East Brookfield, Massachusetts

East Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,224 at the 2020 United States Census. The census-designated place of East Brookfield (CDP) is located in the town. The village of Union Chapel is also located in the town.

History
East Brookfield was first settled by Europeans in 1664 as part of the Quaboag Plantation lands. It became part of the new town of Brookfield in 1673, and was officially incorporated as a separate town in on March 24, 1920, making it the newest town (by date of incorporation) in Massachusetts.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.4 sqmi, of which 9.8 sqmi is land and 0.5 sqmi, or 5.11%, is water. East Brookfield is bordered on the north by North Brookfield, on the west by Brookfield, on the south by Sturbridge and Charlton, and on the east by Spencer.

Most community life in East Brookfield centers around Route 9, particularly the stretch closest to Lake Lashaway, on the road from Spencer to North Brookfield. Within a block of this stretch are found all of the town's churches, its school and former schools, most of its retail businesses and its current and former municipal office buildings. The latter is on Depot Square, a triangular crossroads near the post office and Redmans Hall, the site of the Senior Center and some town meetings.

West of the town center is the Quaboag River plains, known locally as "the Flats". The CSX Boston-to-Selkirk rail line runs parallel to Main Street through this section. North of Main Street is the town's main water body, Lake Lashaway. Southwest of the town center are the Quaboag and Quacumquasit Ponds (also known as North and South ponds). On Quacumquasit Pond is a YMCA residential summer camp, Camp Frank A. Day. Bordering the ponds, in the geographic center of town, is a sparsely populated marshland.

South of the marshes is sparsely populated woodland, formerly a village called Podunk—today marked only by a small cemetery along Podunk Road near the Sturbridge town line—and a hilly area called High Rocks. During his youth, the vaudeville entertainer George M. Cohan spent his summers with his relatives in Podunk. He loved East Brookfield, and made the term "Podunk" famous, describing it in his comedy acts. Other entertainers started mentioning Podunk, and the word entered the language, standing for any archetypal "backwater" town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,097 people, 778 households, and 599 families residing in the town. The population density was 213.0 PD/sqmi. There were 849 housing units at an average density of 86.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.52% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76% of the population.

There were 778 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,860, and the median income for a family was $57,500. Males had a median income of $41,739 versus $28,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,629. About 2.8% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Library
The East Brookfield public library was established in 1921. In fiscal year 2008, the town of East Brookfield spent 1.78% ($64,839) of its budget on its public library—approximately $31 per person.

Education
There is one active school in town. It is East Brookfield Elementary School. In 2002, they closed down two older schools, Lashaway Junior High School (built in 1882, also known as the Hodgkins School), which at the time of closing served grades 3–6, and the Memorial School, built in 1952. East Brookfield is regionalized K–12 with Spencer, and East Brookfield students also attend Knox Trail Junior High School (grades 7–8) and David Prouty High School (grades 9–12) in Spencer.

Points of interest
The Hodgkins School, also known as the Lashaway Junior High, was at the time of its closing in 2002 the oldest operating original, wooden school building in the nation. It is now the home of the East Brookfield Historical Museum, the Quaboag Valley Railroaders Club, and the Massasoit Art Guild. It is also the meeting place for Boy Scout Troop 238.

Notable people

 * Anna Brackett, philosopher and educator, who taught school in East Brookfield
 * Connie Mack, baseball player, manager and long time owner of Philadelphia A's
 * Charles Thurber, inventor

title: East Brookfield, Massachusetts


text:
Hopedale (CDP), Massachusetts

Hopedale is a census-designated place (CDP) comprising the main village in the town of Hopedale, Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 3,753, out of 5,911 in the entire town of Hopedale.

Hopedale is bordered to the northeast by the town of Milford and to the southwest by the town of Mendon. It is 33 mi southwest of Boston and 18 mi southeast of Worcester, and 25 mi north of Providence, Rhode Island. Massachusetts Route 16 passes through the community, leading northeast 1.5 mi to the center of Milford and southwest 6 mi to Uxbridge.

title: Hopedale (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Hopedale, Massachusetts

Hopedale is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located 25 miles southwest of Boston, in eastern Massachusetts. With origins as a Christian utopian community, the town was later home to Draper Corporation, a large loom manufacturer throughout the 20th century until its closure in 1980. Today, Hopedale has become a bedroom community for professionals working in Greater Boston and is home to highly ranked public schools. The population was 6,017 as of the 2020 census.

History
Hopedale was first settled by Europeans in 1660. Benjamin Albee built a mill on what is now the south end of Hopedale in 1664. A 64 sqmi area of the Blackstone Valley was incorporated as the town of Mendon. In 1780, Milford separated from Mendon. On August 26, 1841, Adin Ballou, along with the Practical Christians, gave Hopedale its name, within the town of Milford. Ballou and the Practical Christians established the Hopedale Community based on Christian and socialist ideologies in 1842. The utopian commune went bankrupt in 1856, and its assets were purchased by Ebenezer and George Draper, manufacturers of looms. Various industries developed under the direction of the Draper brothers, including the Hopedale Machine Company and Hopedale Furnace Company. The town was officially incorporated in 1886 when it separated from Milford. George Draper designed, paid for, and constructed the town hall, which is constructed of granite from Milford and sandstone, and was dedicated in 1887. The Unitarian church was another gift from the Drapers, and the Bancroft Memorial Library was a gift from a superintendent at the plant. The marble sculpture outside the library was paid for by the Drapers and shipped from Rome in 1904. In 1905, women were granted permission to swim at the town beach.

The family loom business continued to develop with subsequent generations, and at its peak, the Draper Corporation was the largest maker of textile looms in the United States. The company was acquired by Rockwell International in 1967. The Draper factory in Hopedale closed on August 29, 1980. There have been several attempts at redeveloping the facility and its surrounding property, most recently in 2007, 2018, and finally, 2020, when it was announced that it would be fully demolished. The Draper factory was slated to be demolished beginning in July 2020, and as of October 2020, demolition has begun. To many of the citizens’ surprise, the latter attempt was successful, and the land where the factory once sat has been completely leveled and cleaned. To this day, only a few of the external satellite buildings remain scattered throughout downtown. It is not yet known what the land will be used for.

Hopedale is included in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, although much of the town lies within the Charles River watershed.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.3 sqmi, of which 5.2 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi, or 3.20%, is water. The largest body of water is Hopedale Pond, located not far from the town center. Hopedale Pond is surrounded by the Parklands, a 275-acre public nature reserve with walking trails, designed in 1899 by a firm operated by Frederick Law Olmsted.

The central business district, known by Census Bureau as the Hopedale Census Designated Place (CDP) is located at 42.12987°N, -71.53959°W (42.129872, −71.539594).

According to the Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.5 km2. 4.5 km2 of it is land and 0.1 km2 of it (1.15%) is water.

Hopedale is located in the Blackstone Valley.

Town
At the 2010 census there were 5,911 people, 2,263 households, and 1,572 families in the town. The population density was 1,143.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,289 housing units at an average density of 444.0 /mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 96.1% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2%.

Of the 2,240 households 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 25.9% of households were one person and 12.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.13.

The age distribution was 23.9% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median household income was $107,550 and the per capita income was $42,756. Males had a median income of $47,380 versus $31,144 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,791. About 2.9% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

CDP

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,158 people, 1,616 households, and 1,082 families in the Hopedale CDP, comprising the main village in the town. The population density was 933.4 /km2. There were 1,657 housing units at an average density of 372.0 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.43% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.

Of the 1,616 households 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.0% of households were one person and 14.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.15.

The age distribution was 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median household income was $58,750 and the median family income was $67,417. Males had a median income of $45,694 versus $29,740 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,088. About 3.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The state representative is Brian W. Murray (D). The state senator is Ryan Fattman (R). The government councilor is Paul DePalo (D). The federal representative is Jake Auchincloss (D-4th District).

Education
Students in grades K–6 go to the Memorial School. Hopedale Junior Senior High School is for grades 7–12. Hopedale's public schools consistently rank among the top 5% of high schools within the United States, and its high school was ranked 54 out of 650 public high schools in Massachusetts in 2020.

Following the Great Recession, Hopedale explored the possibility of joining Nipmuc Regional High School, however strong community dissent and concerns over a lack of educational benefit led to a rejection of the proposal in late 2010.

Notable people

 * Adin Ballou, noted 19th-century pacifist, socialist, and abolitionist
 * Dick Bresciani, Boston Red Sox executive
 * Brendan Burke, Major League Soccer coach
 * Eben Sumner Draper, 44th Governor of Massachusetts
 * Eben S. Draper Jr., Massachusetts state representative
 * Dana Gould, comedian
 * Kevin Nee, professional strongman athlete
 * Joe Perry, lead guitarist Aerosmith

title: Hopedale, Massachusetts


text:
Lunenburg (CDP), Massachusetts

Lunenburg is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Lunenburg in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,760 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Lunenburg is located at 42.595°N, -71.72444°W (42.595056, -71.724654).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.9 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,695 people, 632 households, and 489 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 171.3 /km2. There were 644 housing units at an average density of 65.1 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.81% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.06% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.

There were 632 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,429, and the median income for a family was $58,203. Males had a median income of $52,026 versus $32,139 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $31,759. About 1.9% of families and 0.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

title: Lunenburg (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Lunenburg, Massachusetts

Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,782 at the 2020 census.

History
Lunenburg was first settled by Europeans in 1718 and was officially incorporated in 1728. The name stems from one of the titles of King George II of Great Britain, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. During King George's War (1744–1748), French-allied First Nations, such as warriors of the M'iq Maq or Abenaki Confederacy, raided the village and took settlers captive to Quebec.

Areas of neighboring Fitchburg were once part of Lunenburg, but broke away around 1764. The settlers found the walking distance to church and town meetings too great and needed their own town center.

Whalom Park on Whalom Lake had long been a noted amusement park in Lunenburg during the 20th century. It was home of the famous Flyer Comet, now demolished. The park closed in 2000, unable to survive the competition with the newer and increasingly popular Six Flags New England in Agawam.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.7 sqmi, of which 26.4 sqmi is land and 1.3 sqmi, or 4.59%, is water.

Lunenburg is bordered by Townsend to the north, Shirley to the east, Lancaster to the southeast, Leominster to the south, Fitchburg to the west, and Ashby to the northwest. Three state highways pass through Lunenburg. Route 2A follows Mass Ave from the Shirley line to the Fitchburg line. Rt 13 follows Electric Ave from the Leominster line to Mass Ave. Rt 13 then follows Mass Ave/Rt 2a for 0.3 miles. Rt 13 then follows Chase Rd to the Townsend Line. Rt 225 begins in Lunenburg, at an intersection with Rt 2a/Mass Ave near the Shirley line. Rt 225 follows West Groton Rd from Rt 2a to the Shirley line.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,401 people, 3,535 households, and 2,668 families residing in the town. The population density was 355.8 PD/sqmi. There were 3,668 housing units at an average density of 138.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.01% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.

There were 3,535 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% 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 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $56,813, and the median income for a family was $63,981. Males had a median income of $47,451 versus $31,934 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,986. About 3.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Lunenburg public library began in 1853.

Education
The public schools in town are the Lunenburg Primary School, Turkey Hill Elementary School, and Lunenburg Middle-High School. The high and middle schools are in the same building, beside the Turkey Hill building.

Private schools include Applewild School, an independent coeducational day school for pre-schoolers to eighth graders, established in 1957 in Fitchburg.

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School serves Lunenburg and Fitchburg.

Transportation
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority supplies Councils-On-Aging service for elderly and disabled residents. Portions of Lunenburg are also on its regular bus routes. The nearest rail stations are Shirley, Fitchburg and North Leominster on the MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line.

Notable people

 * Zabdiel Adams, minister
 * William Austin, author
 * George S. Boutwell, Governor of Massachusetts (1851–1853), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1869–1873)
 * Asa Brigham, politician in the Texas Revolution
 * Earle Brown, composer
 * Luther Burbank, botanist and agricultural scientist
 * Frederick Cushing Cross, Jr., naval officer
 * Dominik Dijakovic, professional wrestler
 * Gordon Edes, ESPN baseball writer
 * Derek Kerswill, musician
 * Dorothea Leighton, psychiatrist
 * Josiah Litch, preacher
 * David Pelletier, figure skater
 * James Reed, soldier
 * Abel Stearns, trader and cattle rancher
 * Asahel Stearns, congressman
 * Eleazer D. Wood, army officer
 * Dijak, professional wrestler

title: Lunenburg, Massachusetts


text:
Milford (CDP), Massachusetts

Milford is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Milford in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,055 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Milford is located at 42.14556°N, -71.51889°W (42.145828, -71.518975).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 26.5 km2, of which 25.8 km2 is land and 0.6 km2  (2.35%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,230 people, 9,566 households, and 6,447 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 937.4 /km2. There were 9,834 housing units at an average density of 380.5 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.53% White, 1.42% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.82% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.13% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.66% of the population.

There were 9,566 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 27.0% 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 2.50 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $47,090, and the median income for a family was $58,321. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $30,541 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $22,813. About 6.1% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

title: Milford (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Milford, Massachusetts

Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 30,379 according to the 2020 census. First settled in 1662 and incorporated in 1780, Milford became a booming industrial and quarrying community in the 19th century due to its unique location which includes the nearby source of the Charles River, the Mill River, the Blackstone River watershed, and large quantities of Milford pink granite.

History
Milford was first settled in 1662 as a part of Mendon after Native Americans, including the Sachem, Quashaamit, granted land to the early settlers. King Philip's War destroyed the town in 1676, but settlers returned in 1680. The Mill River flows through Milford and had several conspicuous fords that were familiar to the Native Americans, and used by the early white settlers. These "mill (river) fords" are said to have given Milford its name. Milford was incorporated April 11, 1780, and the first town hall built in 1819; a brick structure later named the Town House School. The current town hall was built in 1854 by architect Thomas Silloway.

Milford is renowned for its Milford pink granite, discovered in 1870. Milford quarries fueled the local economy until about 1940. The granite has been used for local buildings such as Memorial Hall; the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale; Worcester City Hall; and the Boston Public Library. Other notable buildings include the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City; the main post office in New York City; and more recently the Singapore Changi Airport in 2002.

The Milford Hospital was donated in 1903 by Governor Eben Sumner Draper. Today, the health care facility exists as the Milford Regional Medical Center. In January 2008, the Center opened a cancer treatment facility with the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute. The center is affiliated with UMass Medical Center as a teaching hospital. In 2015 the hospital completed a $54-million expansion project that created a new emergency department and updated the intensive care unit, as well as patient rooms.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.9 sqmi, of which 14.6 sqmi is land, and 0.3 sqmi, or 1.82%, is water. Milford is drained by the Charles River.

The town is crossed by Interstate 495 and state routes 16, 85, 109, and 140.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,799 people, 10,420 households, and 7,200 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,835.6 PD/sqmi. There were 10,713 housing units at an average density of 733.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 92.95% White; 1.35% Black or African American; 0.11% Native American; 1.76% Asian; 0.06% Pacific Islander; 1.99% from other races; and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.36% of the population.

There were 10,420 households, out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 54.0% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present; and 30.9% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% 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 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18; 6.5% from 18 to 24; 33.2% from 25 to 44; 22.6% from 45 to 64; and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,856, and the median income for a family was $61,029. Males had a median income of $42,173 versus $30,989 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,742. About 5.8% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Milford has been growing at a fast rate since the introduction of Interstate 495, which opened in the area with dual exits at Route 85 and Route 109 in 1969. Since then many major retailers have opened in town.

The Waters Corporation is based in Milford.

Government
The core of Milford's governing system is the representative town meeting, where elected citizens can voice their opinions, but more importantly, directly effect changes in the community. Along with a Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, Planning Board, Finance Committee, etc., the citizens of Milford have input into how the town is run.

The Massachusetts Department of Correction is headquartered in Milford.

Library
The Milford Town Library was established in 1858. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Milford spent 1.5% ($966,758) of its budget on its public library—approximately $35 per person, per year ($42.87 adjusted for inflation to 2021).

Education
Milford Public Schools operates six public schools and is an eligible town for a vocational school, Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School. The current superintendent of schools in Milford is Kevin McIntyre.

Annual events

 * Independence Day fireworks, held on Plains Park within a day of July 4. There is also an annual parade.
 * Portuguese Picnic, a two-night festival held at the Portuguese Club

Sites of interest

 * Memorial Hall, home and museum of the Milford Historical Commission
 * Ted's Diner, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, was the oldest diner built by the Tierney Diner Company. Ted's was left abandoned by the town and vandalized, eventually moved to make way for a new fire station.
 * St. Mary's Cemetery holds the only Irish round tower in the United States, built from local granite.

Media

 * The Milford Daily News is a daily newspaper covering Milford and several nearby towns in Norfolk and Worcester counties.
 * WMRC 1490-AM and simulcasted as MyFM 101.3 on FM is the radio station licensed to serve Milford. Local news every morning with school cancellations and general information also. Local sports broadcasts of the local school teams or the major Boston sports teams can be heard on many nights. A Classic Hits format is the music that is playing when the station is playing music.
 * Two non-profit public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable TV stations serve Milford-area subscribers on Channels 8 and 11. Channel 8 is the Milford town public-access television station that produces and runs a variety of local shows. Channel 11 is the Milford educational-access television station, and runs school committee meetings as well as projects made by students in the high school's video production classes.
 * This area also receives the major television stations that serve the Boston area, which can be received over the air or through a cable or satellite provider.

In popular culture
Milford was fictitiously featured in a 2008 episode of the Fox television series Fringe.

Notable people

 * Norm Abram, carpenter and co-host of This Old House; host of the New Yankee Workshop
 * Adin Ballou, author, religious leader and prominent 19th-century proponent of pacifism, socialism and abolitionism; wrote The History of Milford, Massachusetts, 1882
 * Nathan Barnatt, actor and comedian
 * Michael Bavaro, producer of Rex Trailer's Boomtown
 * Albert Fitch Bellows, artist
 * Robert Cenedella, artist
 * Al Cass, musician and inventor
 * Horace Brigham Claflin, merchant
 * William Claflin, industrialist, philanthropist and governor
 * Chris Colabello, Major League Baseball player
 * Vincent Connare, designer of the Comic Sans and Trebuchet fonts
 * Ezekiel Cornell, member of Continental Congress, 1780–1782
 * Catherine Coyne, first woman to be elected into town office as Town Clerk in 1938
 * Paul Coyne, award-winning producer of numerous television series
 * John Davoren, politician
 * Greg Dickerson, sports broadcaster
 * William F. Draper, U.S. Representative, U.S. Ambassador to Italy
 * Brian Fair, lead singer of the metal band Shadows Fall
 * Rich Gotham, president of the Boston Celtics
 * George F. Johnson, businessman
 * Art Kenney, pitcher for the Boston Bees (later renamed the Boston Braves) in 1938
 * Charles Laquidara, radio disc jockey
 * Howie Long, NFL Hall of Famer, TV broadcaster and actor
 * Ralph Lumenti, Major League Baseball player
 * Leonard Chapin Mead, college president
 * Richard T. Moore, politician
 * Joseph E. Murray, pioneer in the area of organ transplants; 1990 recipient of the Nobel Prize for medicine
 * Henry "Boots" Mussulli, jazz saxophonist
 * Marie J. Parente, the only woman to serve on Milford's Select Board. Elected in 1972, she served until 1981.
 * John Ritto Penniman, decorative painter, portraitist and decorator; his works are currently displayed in several notable museums, such as the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago
 * Gerard Phelan, football player who caught the famous 63-yard, game-winning touchdown pass (thrown by Doug Flutie) for the Boston College Eagles in an NCAA game against the Miami Hurricanes
 * Ruth Pointer, singer and member of The Pointer Sisters
 * George Pyne III, football player
 * George Pyne, businessman
 * Jim Pyne, former NFL player
 * Jorge Rivera, mixed martial artist, UFC middleweight contender
 * Brian Skerry, underwater photo-journalist
 * Nikola Sacco, with Bartolomeo Vanzetti (AKA Sacco and Vanzetti) were Italian immigrants and anarchists who were controversially convicted of murder. Sacco lived in Milford for about seven years.
 * Erik Per Sullivan, actor from Malcolm in the Middle, The Cider House Rules, and Christmas with the Kranks
 * Michael Videira, midfielder for the Chicago Fire Soccer Club
 * Jarvis White, Wisconsin State Assemblyman

title: Milford, Massachusetts


text:
North Brookfield (CDP), Massachusetts

North Brookfield is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of North Brookfield in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,265 at the 2010 census.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.8 km$2$ (1.5 mi$2$), all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,527 people, 1,054 households, and 643 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 668.3/km$2$ (1,733.3/mi$2$). There were 1,113 housing units at an average density of 294.3/km$2$ (763.4/mi$2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.59% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.51% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 1,054 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,267, and the median income for a family was $46,563. Males had a median income of $39,911 versus $29,850 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,841. About 7.7% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: North Brookfield (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Northborough (CDP), Massachusetts

Northborough is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Northborough in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,474 at the 2020 United States census.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.6 km$2$ (3.3 mi$2$), of which 8.6 km$2$ (3.3 mi$2$)  is land and 0.30% is water. Its population per square mile was 1,970.8 as of 2020.

Demographics
At the 2020 census, there were 6,474 people and 2,514 households in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.1% White, 1.5% Black or African American, 0.0% Native American, 7.5% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.5%.

The age distribution was 4.2% people under the age of 5, 21.5% under 18, 15.7% aged 65 and over, and 54% females.

The median household income in 2021 was $140, 482. The per capita income for the CDP was $74,924. About 2.4% of the people were in poverty.

title: Northborough (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Oxford (CDP), Massachusetts

Oxford is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Oxford in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,103 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Oxford is located at 42.11167°N, -71.86889°W (42.111855, -71.868916).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.6 km$2$ (3.7 mi$2$), of which 9.1 km$2$ (3.5 mi$2$) is land and 0.6 km$2$ (0.2 mi$2$)  (5.91%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,899 people, 2,282 households, and 1,567 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 650.7/km$2$ (1,683.9/mi$2$). There were 2,370 housing units at an average density of 261.4/km$2$ (676.5/mi$2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.36% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 2,282 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,866, and the median income for a family was $58,030. Males had a median income of $42,306 versus $28,611 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,149. About 5.8% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

title: Oxford (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Oxford, Massachusetts

Oxford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,347 as of the 2020 United States Census.

Pre-Colonial Era
Present day Oxford and the areas surrounding it were inhabited for thousands of years before European colonization. Although archaeological sites exist in Central Massachusetts dating back to the Paleoindian period (12,000-9000 years before present) there are much more abundant archaeological remains starting in the period from 6500 to 3000 years before present, including an arrowhead identified in Oxford Massachusetts. An arrowhead collected at an archaeological site in Oxford has been radiocarbon dated to 2990 ± 155 years before present.

Contact Era
At the time of English colonization in the early and mid-1600s, the area was inhabited by the Pegan subgroup of the Nipmuc people, whom the English attempted to convert to Christianity. To this end, out of unceded Nipmuc lands, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England created the praying town of Manchaug in the early 1670s, which included present day Oxford in its bounds. In 1674 around 60 native people lived in Manchaug, however residents fled the town during King Phillip's War when praying towns were targeted by both colonial and Wampanoag war parties: for example, despite their neutrality in the conflict, in 1676 the neighboring Nipmuc praying town of Chaubunagungamaug was attacked by the colonial militia and 52 people were killed or captured.

After King Philip's War, neighboring Chaubunagungamaug was the only inhabited Nipmuc praying town, and in 1681-1682 the constable of Chaubunagungamaug, known as Black James, acting on behalf of the Nipmuc Praying Indians (though not their non-Christianized counterparts), signed a deed selling large tracts of land in the Chaubunagungamaug and Manchaug to investors including Joseph Dudley in Roxbury and Robert Thompson in London. This sale included the present day town of Oxford.

Colonial Era
Oxford was first colonized intermittently by Europeans in 1687, with several breaks during the French and Indian Wars, and was officially incorporated in 1713.

In 1687, Robert Thompson arranged for a group of 52 French Huguenots he had connected with in London to colonize the land recently purchased from Black James. During this early period the Huguenot settlement grew to about 70 individuals, while Native settlements remained in the area numbering around 40 families.

In 1694, the Huguenot colonists built the Huguenot Fort out of concern for conflict with local Native Americans after the outbreak of hostilities between the Massachusetts colony and the Wabanaki Confederacy in King William's War. The original settlement was abandoned after four residents (John Johnson and his three children, Peter, Andrew and Mary) were killed in a violent confrontation with local Native Americans. This event, the "Johnson Massacre," is commemorated near the south end of town on Main Street. The remains of the Huguenot Fort still exist near Huguenot Road.

From 1699 to 1704 the Huguenot settlers attempted to return to the settlement but it was abandoned again during Queen Anne's War.

The English investors who received the deed from Black James in 1682 continued to try to recruit settlers to the Oxford area, and by 1720, a group of around 30 English families had founded a new church there with a new minister.

The first town clerk of Oxford was John Town, who also served as selectman and as a church deacon.

Oxford was the birthplace of Clara Barton, the first president and founder of the American Red Cross.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.5 sqmi, of which 26.6 sqmi is land and 0.9 sqmi, or 3.20%, is water. The town sits in a valley, and much of its area lies in the flood plain of the French River, which runs through the town. A substantial parcel north and west of Oxford Center is held, for flood control purposes, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The land, known as Greenbriar, also serves as a nature preserve.

It also serves to cut off east–west travel on former roads through the site. Route 20 runs east–west through North Oxford, running north–south Route 12, locally called Main Street; less than a mile from Route 56, connecting North Oxford with points north; and Interstate 395, linking Oxford to Worcester and eastern Connecticut with three local exits: Depot Road in North Oxford; Sutton Avenue, the main east–west street in Oxford Center; and Cudworth Road, near the Webster town line.

The town used to include much of what is now Webster, on its southern border, but Oxford and neighboring Dudley both gave portions of their land to allow the creation of that town. Other towns bordering Oxford are Charlton to the west, Leicester and Auburn to the north, Millbury and Sutton to the east, and Douglas to the southeast.

Demographics
As of the 2000 census there were 13,352 people, 5,058 households, and 3,596 families residing in the town. The population density was 501.5 PD/sqmi. There were 5,228 housing units at an average density of 196.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.62% White, 0.87% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Of the population, 1.97% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,058 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. Of all households, 23.6% were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,233, and the median income for a family was $58,973. Males had a median income of $41,727 versus $30,828 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,828. Of the population, 7.8% and 5.5% of families were below the poverty line. Of those, 12.5% under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

The population was 13,709 at the 2010 census.

For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Oxford, please see the article Oxford (CDP), Massachusetts.

Library
The Oxford public library was established in 1869. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Oxford spent 1.5% ($468,609) of its budget on its public library—approximately $34 per person, per year ($41.64 adjusted for inflation to 2021).

Education
Oxford has a public school system with two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

The first elementary school is the Alfred M. Chaffee School, which offers kindergarten- 2nd grade education. The second elementary school is the Clara Barton School, which offers 3rd–5th grade education. The Oxford Middle School offers 6th–8th grade courses, and Oxford High School offers grades 9th –12th with preschool in the basement.

Oxford High School has a number of sports activities throughout the fall, winter and spring seasons. Some of these sports include, field hockey, cross country, football, soccer, indoor track, basketball, outdoor track, baseball, softball, golf, and ultimate frisbee.

Points of interest

 * Bartlett's Bridge
 * Barton Center for Diabetes Education, site of the Clara Barton Camp for Diabetic Children and the Clara Barton National Historic Site
 * Hodges Village Dam
 * Hudson House
 * Huguenot Fort
 * Oxford High School
 * Oxford Public Library
 * North Oxford Mills

Notable people

 * Agnes Ballard, educator, early woman architect and first woman elected to office in Florida was born here
 * Clara Barton, teacher, nurse, humanitarian best remembered for organizing American Red Cross during the Civil War
 * Carla Berube, college basketball player and coach
 * Nelson H. Davis, brigadier general during American Civil War
 * Tom Herrion, college basketball coach
 * Elliott P. Joslin, doctor, pioneer in diabetes research
 * Ebenezer Learned, general in American Revolution
 * Tony Reno, college football coach
 * Matthew Sands, educator
 * Aron Stevens, wrestler and actor
 * Elvira Stone, postmaster and genealogist

title: Oxford, Massachusetts


text:
Rutland (CDP), Massachusetts

Rutland is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Rutland in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,111 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Rutland is located at 42.36556°N, -71.95139°W (42.365707, -71.951552).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.3 km$2$ (3.2 mi$2$), of which 7.7 km$2$ (3.0 mi$2$) is land and 0.6 km$2$ (0.2 mi$2$)  (7.21%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,205 people, 785 households, and 579 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 287.6/km$2$ (745.7/mi$2$). There were 846 housing units at an average density of 110.4/km$2$ (286.1/mi$2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.14% White, 1.32% Black or African American, 0.09% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 785 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% 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 CDP, the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $62,287, and the median income for a family was $66,950. Males had a median income of $44,559 versus $35,319 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,792. About 0.9% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

title: Rutland (CDP), Massachusetts


text:
Spencer (CDP), Massachusetts

Spencer is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Spencer in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,700 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Spencer is located at 42.24306°N, -71.99417°W (42.243276, -71.99437).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.7 km2, of which 5.5 km2 is land and 0.2 km2 (2.74%) is water.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 6,032 people, 2,554 households and 1,527 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,093.4 /km2. There were 2,722 housing units at an average density of 493.4 /km2. The racial make-up was 97.58% White, 0.61% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.

There were 2,554 households, of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.2% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.

24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64 and 14.1% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median household income was $35,206 and the median family income was $46,333. Males had a median income of $36,563 and females $25,738. The per capita income was $18,975. About 9.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

title: Spencer (CDP), Massachusetts