Mendon, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mendon, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester County |
| Settled | 1660 |
| Incorporated | 1667 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| - Administrative Assistant | Michael McCue |
| - Board of Selectmen |
David Breen Sharon Cutler Lawny Tinio |
| Area | |
| - Town | 18.3 sq mi (47.3 km²) |
| - Land | 18.1 sq mi (46.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²) |
| Elevation | 330 ft (101 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 5,286 |
| - Density | 292.1/sq mi (112.8/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01756 |
| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 |
| Website: http://mendonma.net/ | |
Mendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,286 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
Mendon was first settled in 1660 and was officially incorporated in 1667. The town was originally 64 square miles, including the modern-day towns of Milford, Bellingham, Hopedale, Uxbridge, Upton, Blackstone, Northbridge, and Millville. For this reason, the town of Mendon is sometimes referred to as “Mother Mendon”. Benjamin Albee (1614-1695) erected a water-powered mill in 1664 on modern-day Hartford Ave. in Hopedale [1] and was one of the town's important early residents.
On July 14, 1675, early violence in King Philip's War took place in Mendon, with the deaths of multiple residents and the destruction of Albee's mill. The town was largely burnt to the ground later that winter in early 1676 [2]. The town was rebuilt in 1680.
Mendon would eventually rebuild and find itself along Boston's Middle Post Road (Route 16 today). Milestone 37 (from Boston) was erected in 1772 and still stands today[3]. In 1719, Bellingham became the first community to break off from Mother Mendon and incorporate as a separate entity. In 1789, it is purported that President George Washington, during his inaugural journey, was denied a room in Mendon by an innkeeper’s wife[4].
Lake Nipmuc Park was a popular resort in the early 20th century, featuring leading musical and vaudeville talent. Vintage postcards from this resort are frequently for sale on eBay.
The first gig of Aerosmith took place at Nipmuc Regional High School (now middle school) in this town in 1970. History teacher Carl Olson hired the band and allowed them to use the girls locker room which they trashed with beer bottles.
In 1986, the United States Congress created the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, a national park. Mendon falls within this corridor.
In modern times, Mendon serves primarily as a bedroom community.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.3 km² (18.3 mi²). 46.9 km² (18.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (0.88%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 5,286 people, 1,815 households, and 1,450 families residing in the town. The population density was 112.8/km² (292.1/mi²). There were 1,886 housing units at an average density of 40.2/km² (104.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.99% White, 0.40% African American, 0.59% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.
There were 1,815 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.5% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $71,164, and the median income for a family was $79,337. Males had a median income of $55,230 versus $36,174 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,693. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
| County government: Worcester County | |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts: | Dennis P. McManus (D) |
| County Treasurer: | Position Eliminated |
| District Attorney: | Joseph D. Early, Jr. (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: | John V. Fernandes (D) |
| Senator(s) in General Court: | Richard T. Moore (D) |
| Governor's Councilor(s): | Thomas J. Foley (D) |
| Federal government | |
| Member(s) of the U.S. House of Representatives: | Richard E. Neal (D-2nd District), |
| U.S. Senators: | Edward Kennedy (D) John Kerry (D) |
[edit] Points of interest
- The Mendon Twin Drive-In
- Southwick's Zoo
- A historic walking tour of Mendon
[edit] Media
- The Upton and Mendon Town Crier newspaper (circulation ~5500) is published twice monthly and mailed free to all residents of Mendon and the adjoining town of Upton.
- The Milford Daily News is the nearest daily publication.
[edit] Notable residents
- Benjamin Adams, (1764-1837), born in Mendon, United States Congressman[1]
- Adin Ballou, (1803-1890), social reformist, pacifist, and Unitarian minister, lead Mendon’s Unitarian Church from 1831 to 1842, immediately before his founding of The Hopedale Community.
- Eli Thayer, (1819-1899), abolitionist United States Congressman and founder of Oread Institute, was born in Mendon.
- Michael Legge, filmmaker, lives in Mendon.
- Alexander Scammel, Revolutionary War officer.
- Albert Harkness (1822-1907), Scholar and educator
[edit] References
- ^ (1967) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
