| Wales, Massachusetts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Town | ||
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 Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates: 42°04′10″N 72°13′22″W / 42.06944°N 72.22278°WCoordinates: 42°04′10″N 72°13′22″W / 42.06944°N 72.22278°W | ||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Hampden | |
| Settled | 1726 | |
| Incorporated | 1775 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 16.0 sq mi (41.3 km2) | |
| • Land | 15.8 sq mi (40.8 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2) | |
| Elevation | 949 ft (289 m) | |
| Population (2000) | ||
| • Total | 1,737 | |
| • Density | 110.3/sq mi (42.6/km2) | |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP code | 01081 | |
| Area code(s) | 413 | |
| FIPS code | 25-72390 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619389 | |
Wales is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,838 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History[edit]
Wales was first settled in 1726 and was officially incorporated on August 23, 1775, as South Brimfield, a name it kept until February 20, 1828. The town was renamed after James Lawrence Wales, a local benefactor.[1] Initial settlers included John Bullen, and Samuel and Dorothy Munger. The next generation of Mungers became prominent in the town. Samuel (Jr.) served as a selectman and was deacon of the Baptist Church for many years. Nathaniel was one of 12 men of the district appointed as a "court of Justice and Honor to determine all controversies that may hereafter arise in said District," and was also a deacon of the Baptist Church. The "Meadow District" of Wales was originally known as "Munger's Meadow" and includes graves of early pioneers.[2]
Geography[edit]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 16.0 square miles (41 km2), of which 15.8 square miles (41 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (1 km2) (1.32%) is water. Wales is bounded on the west by Monson; on the south by Stafford, Connecticut and Union, Connecticut; on the east by Holland; and on the north by Brimfield.
Education[edit]
Wales Elementary School, serving grades K-6, has its own school committee, part of School Union 61. Wales students attend Tantasqua Regional Junior High School (grades 7-8) and Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge. Union 61 and the Tantasqua district share administrators, including the superintendent, and both include Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.
Library[edit]
The Wales Public Library opened in 1897.[3][4] In fiscal year 2008, the town of Wales spent 1.28% ($45,480) of its budget on its public library—some $24 per person.[5]
Demographics[edit]
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 711 | — |
| 1860 | 677 | −4.8% |
| 1870 | 831 | +22.7% |
| 1880 | 1,030 | +23.9% |
| 1890 | 700 | −32.0% |
| 1900 | 773 | +10.4% |
| 1910 | 345 | −55.4% |
| 1920 | 419 | +21.4% |
| 1930 | 300 | −28.4% |
| 1940 | 367 | +22.3% |
| 1950 | 497 | +35.4% |
| 1960 | 659 | +32.6% |
| 1970 | 852 | +29.3% |
| 1980 | 1,177 | +38.1% |
| 1990 | 1,566 | +33.1% |
| 2000 | 1,737 | +10.9% |
| 2010 | 1,838 | +5.8% |
Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] |
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By the 2010 census, the population had reached 1,838.
As of the census[16] of 2000, there had been 1,737 people, 660 households, and 481 families residing in the town. The population density was 110.3 people per square mile (42.6/km²). There were 796 housing units at an average density of 50.5 per square mile (19.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.75% White, 0.52% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 660 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female
The median income for a household in the town was $48,906, and the median income for a family was $51,629. Males had a median income of $39,766 versus $27,557 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,267. About 1.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
References[edit]
- ^ "Profile for Wales, Massachusetts". ePodunk. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
- ^ Munger, J. B., The Munger Book: Something of the Mungers, 1639-1914, pp. 203-13, The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., 1915.
- ^ Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. v.9 (1899)
- ^ http://www.townofwales.net/Library.html Retrieved 2010-11-09
- ^ July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008; cf. The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What’s Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: Municipal Pie Reports. Retrieved 2010-08-04
- ^ "TOTAL POPULATION (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
- ^ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). 1: Number of Inhabitants. Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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