Gardner, Massachusetts

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Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner, Massachusetts
Official seal of Gardner, Massachusetts
Seal
Nickname: "Chair City"
Settled: 1764 – Incorporated: 1785
Zip Code(s): 01440 – Area Code(s): 351 / 978
Official website: http://www.gardner-ma.gov/
Location
Location of Gardner, Massachusetts
Location in Massachusetts
Government
County Worcester County
Form of Government Mayor-council city
Mayor Gerald St. Hilaire (D)
City Council Joanne E. Bernard
Joshua L. Cormier
Ronald F. Cormier
Kim M. Dembrosky
Scott J. Graves
Cleo E.Monette
Neil W. Janssens (Ward 1)
Charles J. LeBlanc (Ward 2)
Roger Jaillet (Ward 3)
James J. Minns (Ward 4)
James J. Robinson (Ward 5)
Geography
Area
Total 23.0 mi² / 59.6 km²
Land 22.2 mi² / 57.5 km²
Water 0.8 mi² / 2.1 km²
Coordinates 42°34′30″ N
71°59′55″ W
Elevation 1100 ft / 335 m
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
Population
Total (2000) 20770
Density 936.0/mi² / 361.4/km²

Gardner, Massachusetts is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,770 at the 2000 census. It includes the village of Otter River. Gardner is home to Dunn Pond State Park, Gardner Heritage State Park, Lake Wampanoag Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mount Wachusett Community College.

Contents

[edit] History

Named after Col. Thomas Gardner, the community was first settled in 1764 and officially incorporated as a town in 1785 after receiving land grants from the surrounding towns of Ashburnham, Westminster, Templeton and Winchendon. Dating from about 1805, it became a center for lumber and furniture industries. Indeed, Gardner is known as the "Chair City" and "The Furniture Capital of New England" due to its long history in furniture production. By 1910, it had 20 chair factories which produced 4 million chairs per year. It was also noted for silvermithing. The Gardner State Colony for the Insane pioneered the use of cottage residences. Gardner was incorporated as a city in 1923. It became a filming location for the 1992 movie, School Ties.

[edit] Geography

Gardner is located at 42°34′26″N, 71°59′27″W (42.573920, -71.990818)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.6 km² (23.0 mi²). 57.5 km² (22.2 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (3.52%) is water. Gardner is situated on Crystal Lake.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 20,770 people, 8,282 households, and 5,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 361.4/km² (936.0/mi²). There were 8,838 housing units at an average density of 153.8/km² (398.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.13% White, 2.29% African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of the population.

There were 8,282 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 32.4% 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 2.97.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,334, and the median income for a family was $47,164. Males had a median income of $35,804 versus $26,913 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,624. About 7.0% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

[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: Robert L. Rice, Jr. (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: John W. Olver (D-1st District),
U.S. Senators: Edward Kennedy (D)
John Kerry (D)

[edit] External links

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