Bolton, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Settled: 1682 – Incorporated: 1738 | |
| Zip Code(s): 01740 – Area Code(s): 351 / 978 | |
| Official website: http://www.townofbolton.com/ | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
 Location in Massachusetts |
|
| Government | |
| County | Worcester County |
| Form of Government | Open town meeting |
| Town Administrator | Jodi Ross |
| Board of Selectmen | Panny E. Gerken Curt Plante Kenneth F. Troup |
| Geography | |
| Area | |
| Total | 20.0 mi² / 51.8 km² |
| Land | 19.9 mi² / 51.6 km² |
| Water | 0.1 mi² / 0.2 km² |
| Coordinates | |
| Elevation | 387 ft / 118 m |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| Population | |
| Total (2000) | 4148 |
| Density | 208.1/mi² / 80.3/km² |
Bolton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,148 at the 2000 census.
Contents |
[edit] History
The town of Bolton, Massachusetts was incorporated on June 24, 1738, following an influx of settlers. Town historian Esther Whitcomb, descendant of one of Bolton's earliest documented settlers, cites the recorded birth of a son, Hezekiah, to Josiah Whitcomb in 1681. By 1711, according to Whitcomb, more than 150 people were living on Bolton soil, despite a local history of Indian uprisings and one massacre. Many early houses were protected by flankers, and were designated as garrisons. Bolton's history is interesting because it is reflective of early settlement patterns in the Central Massachusetts area, and the conflicts with King Philip (Metacom) and his Indian soldiers. In her book, About Bolton, Whitcomb lists a Chronology of the Town of Bolton (pp. 443-444). 1642 - Lancaster territory bought from Sholan, Chief of the Nashaways. 1653 - Lancaster incorporated as a town. 1676 - Massacre by King Philip and his followers. Territory empty of white people. 1680 - Resettlement started. 1704 - Eleven garrisons designated. 1705 - Indians carry Thomas Sawyer, son Elias and John Bigelow to Canada. 1711 - Twenty-seven garrisons designated. 1732 - Harvard incorporated. 1738 - Bolton incorporated. 1739 - Town voted sum of 50 pounds to hire schoolmaster. 1740 - leominster incorporated. 1740 - First Meeting House in Bolton built. 1741 - First minister, Reverend Thomas Goss, settled.1744 - First school house built. 1754 - 1763 French and Indian War 1760 - Five school houses built. 1770 - Quaker Meeting established, and Meeting House built. 1771 - Reverend Goss dismissed. 1775 - Bolton soldiers and General John Whitcomb march to Concord; beginning of the American Revolution. 1776 - Declaration of Independence 1778 - South Parish formed. 1781 - Battle of Yorktown and end of Revolution. 1784 - South Parish becomes the town of Berlin. 1790 - Seven school houses built. 1793 - Second Meeting House built (site of Federated Church). 1797 - Second Quaker Meeting House built. 1812 - Powder House (oldest public building) built; War of 1812 (1812-1814). 1828 - Hillside Church erected. 1830 - Firstfire engine purchased and engine house built. 1834 - First Town Hall built (burned 1852). 1849 - Houghton School built. 1853 - Second Town Hall built. 1859 - Public Library established (in Town Hall). 1861 - 1865 Civil War 1866 - Second Baptist Meeting House built. 1868 - Part of Bolton annexed to Hudson. 1870 - Old Baptist Meeting House sold to town; becomes No. 1 School House. 1898 - Spanish-American War 1900 - District schools moved to town center. 1903 - Library building given by Whitney sisters. 1905 - Pond Park created. 1914 - 1918 World War I 1917 - Houghton School becomes a junior high. 1922 - Emerson School given to town; additions in 1953, 1971. 1926 - Second Meeting House, then Unitarian, burned. 1928 - Meeting House rebuilt. 1930 - Fire Department organized. 1931 - Federation of Unitarian, Baptist, Quaker churches. 1938 - Hurricane destroys Baptist Meeting House. 1935 - 1945 World War II 1950 - 1953 Korean War 1953 - Saint Francis Xavier Church erected. 1955 - Quaker Meeting House given to Old Sturbridge Village. 1957 - Addition to Federated Church (Davis Hall) 1963 - Trinity Church (Congregational) organized. 1964 - New Fire Station built; new Post Office built. 1964 - 1975 Vietnam War 1987 - Second Trinity Church (Congregational) built. From ABOUT BOLTON. Esther Kimmens Whitcomb, Heritage Books, Inc., Bowie, MD 1988. ISBN 1-55613-105-4
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 51.8 km² (20.0 mi²). 51.6 km² (19.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.35%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 4,148 people, 1,424 households, and 1,201 families residing in the town. The population density was 80.4/km² (208.1/mi²). There were 1,476 housing units at an average density of 28.6/km² (74.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.76% White, 0.19% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 1,424 households out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.0% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.6% were non-families. 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $102,798, and the median income for a family was $108,967. Males had a median income of $79,167 versus $50,278 for females. The per capita income for the town was $42,542. About 1.1% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
Taxes in Bolton have increased since the 1980s in a disproportional fashion as compared to surrounding areas. This is largely due to the increased School budget and a lack of a commercial tax base.
[edit] Government
| County government: Worcester County | |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts: | Francis A. Ford (D) |
| County Treasurer: | Position Eliminated |
| District Attorney: | John J. Conte (D) |
| Registrar of Deeds: | Anthony J. Vigliotti (D) |
| Registrar of Probate: | Stephen Abraham (D) |
| Sheriff: | Guy W. Glodis (D) |
| State government | |
| Representative(s) in General Court: | Patricia A. Walrath (D) |
| Senator(s) in General Court: | Robert A. Antonioni (D) |
| Governor's Councilor(s): | Dennis P. McManus (D) |
| Federal government | |
| Member(s) of the U.S. House of Representatives: | Martin T. Meehan (D-5th District), |
| U.S. Senators: | Edward Kennedy (D) John Kerry (D) |
[edit] Notable residents
- Wilbert Robinson, born in Bolton, Baseball Hall of Fame member[1]
- Karen O'Connor
[edit] References
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- ^ [1969] (1979) Reichler, Joseph L.: The Baseball Encyclopedia, 4th edition, New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
