Hatfield, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hatfield, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampshire County |
| Settled | 1661 |
| Incorporated | 1670 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| - Town | 16.8 sq mi (43.6 km²) |
| - Land | 16.0 sq mi (41.5 km²) |
| - Water | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 129 ft (39 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 3,249 |
| - Density | 202.8/sq mi (78.3/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01038, 01088 |
| Area code(s) | 413 |
| Website: http://www.townofhatfield.org/ | |
Hatfield is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,249 at the 2000 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Hatfield, please see the article Hatfield (CDP), Massachusetts.
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[edit] History
Hatfield was founded in 1660 on land granted to General Daniel Dennison and Governor William Bradford. It was formally incorporated as a town in 1670 and has a Board of Selectmen and annual town meeting.
As a center for agriculture the region produced cattle, sheep, corn, and tobacco. At first their relations with the local Indians were very welcoming on both sides. But on October 16, 1675 a substantial part of the town was destroyed in King Philip's War, and surviving settlers sought refuge at Springfield.
During the American Revolution, Hatfield was an important source of supplies and men for the rebels. In 1786 the town was used as an assembly area for the discontented who became involved in Shays' Rebellion.
Hatfield was also the birthplace and hometown of Sophia Smith, the founder of both Smith Academy (the Hatfield Public High School), and Smith College, the famous women's college.
[edit] Geography
Hatfield is located on the west bank of the Connecticut River at the mouth of the Mill River, 25 miles north of Springfield and about 100 miles west of Boston. It is bordered to the west by Horse Mountain (a typical New England granite glacial remnant), to the north by the Town of Whately, Massachusetts and to the south by a bend in the Connecticut River, and Northampton, Massachusetts.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.6 km² (16.8 mi²). 41.5 km² (16.0 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (4.82%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 3,249 people, 1,381 households, and 871 families residing in the town. The population density was 78.3/km² (202.8/mi²). There were 1,431 housing units at an average density of 34.5/km² (89.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.03% White, 0.22% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 1,381 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% 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 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,238, and the median income for a family was $61,607. Males had a median income of $39,414 versus $35,042 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,813. About 1.4% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.
