Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

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Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
Bridge of Flowers
Bridge of Flowers
Coordinates: 42°36′19″N 72°44′18″W / 42.60528, -72.73833
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Franklin
Area
 - Total 2.6 sq mi (6.8 km²)
 - Land 2.5 sq mi (6.6 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Elevation 404 ft (123 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 1,951
 - Density 768.3/sq mi (296.6/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 01370
Area code(s) 413
FIPS code 25-61205
GNIS feature ID 0608657

Shelburne Falls is a census-designated place (CDP) in the towns of Shelburne and Buckland in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,951 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. Notable features include the Bridge of Flowers, a former trolley bridge over the Deerfield River that is now maintained by the Shelburne Falls Women's Club as a floral display from April through October; and the glacial potholes of the Deerfield River. Bill and Camille Cosby are well known and admired residents of the area, though they keep a relatively low profile. The downtown is alive and well, including an independently-owned pharmacy with a soda fountain, one coffeeshop, several restaurants, two pizza joints, a bookstore, a newsstand, a grocery store, a whole foods store, and the candlepin Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley, accessible via a narrow (and nearly secret) alleyway. Two community newspapers -- the West County News and the locally-owned Shelburne Falls Independent -- serve Shelburne Falls and the surrounding towns. On the Shelburne side of town is the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School, with over 200 students.

In May 2007, selectmen from the towns of Buckland and Shelburne inked a memorandum of agreement with officials from Mutianyu, a village in China, making the two the first known "sister villages."

Contents

[edit] Geography

Shelburne Falls is located at 42°36′19″N, 72°44′18″W (42.605231, -72.738353)[1]. The Deerfield River bisects the village, and Massaemett Mountain rises east of the village.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.8 km² (2.6 mi²). 6.6 km² (2.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (3.79%) is water. Shelburne Falls is served by Route 2, also known as the Mohawk Trail, as well as Routes 2A and 112, the latter beign the main route through the village.

[edit] Demographics

Shelburne Falls Truss Bridge, the main bridge between the two halves of the village, takes Rtes. 2A and 112 across the Deerfield River
Shelburne Falls Truss Bridge, the main bridge between the two halves of the village, takes Rtes. 2A and 112 across the Deerfield River

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,951 people, 815 households, and 466 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 296.6/km² (768.3/mi²). There were 878 housing units at an average density of 133.5/km² (345.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.92% White, 0.26% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 815 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 86.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $36,333, and the median income for a family was $41,250. Males had a median income of $32,403 versus $26,534 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,367. About 7.4% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links