Spencer, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Spencer, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Spencer's Memorial Town Hall, on Main Street at Maple Street.
image_

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Worcester County in Massachusetts


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Massachusetts
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Worcester
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1721
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1753
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title = Town
Administrator
leader_name = Carter Terenzini
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 = Vincent Cloutier
John Gagnon
Peter Durant
Peter Adams
Gary Herl
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 88.2
area_total_sq_mi = 34.1
area_land_km2 = 85.1
area_land_sq_mi = 32.9
area_water_km2 = 3.1
area_water_sq_mi = 1.2
population_as_of = 2000
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 11691
population_density_km2 = 137.4
population_density_sq_mi = 355.9
elevation_m = 282
elevation_ft = 925
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 14 |lats = 38 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 59 |longs = 34 |longEW = W
website = http://spencerma.gov/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 01562
area_code = 508 / 774
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-66105
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618385
footnotes =

Spencer is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,691 at the 2000 census.

For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Spencer, please see the article Spencer (CDP), Massachusetts.

History

Spencer was first settled in 1721 and was officially incorporated on April 12, 1753, splitting from the town of Leicester. Spencer was named after the then acting governor of Massachusetts, Spencer Phips. Spencer was the home of the Howe family of inventors, including Elias Howe, who perfected the lockstitch sewing machine.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.0 square miles (88.2 km²), of which, 32.8 square miles (85.1 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it (3.52%) is water. The town, roughly rectangular in shape, is bounded on the east by Leicester on the south by Charlton, on the west by East Brookfield, and on the north by Paxton. It is divided into quarters by north-south Route 31 and east-west Route 9. A third state highway, Route 49, connects the town's western portions with nearby Sturbridge.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 11,691 people, 4,583 households, and 3,093 families residing in the town. The population density was 355.9 people per square mile (137.4/km²). There were 4,938 housing units at an average density of 150.3/sq mi (58.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.93% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.

There were 4,583 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,598, and the median income for a family was $56,763. Males had a median income of $40,581 versus $29,837 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,017. About 5.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Infobox Mass Town Govt
county= Worcester
clerk_courts = Dennis P. McManus (D)
cty_treasurer = Position Eliminated
da = Joseph D. Early, Jr. (D)
deeds = Anthony J. Vigliotti (D)
probate = Stephen Abraham (D)
sheriff = Guy W. Glodis (D)
state_rep = Anne M. Gobi (D), Geraldo Alicea (D)
state_sen = Stephen M. Brewer (D)
gov_councilors = Thomas J. Foley (D)
fed_rep = Richard E. Neal (D-2nd District),
fed_sen = Edward Kennedy (D)
John Kerry (D)

Education

Spencer's public schools are regionalized K-12 with East Brookfield. Spencer students attend Maple Street School for kindergarten, Lake Street School for grades 1-3, and Wire Village School for grades 4-6. Students from both towns attend Knox Trail Junior High School for grades 7-8 and David Prouty High School for grades 9-12.

Notable residents

*Elias Howe, American inventor and sewing machine pioneer
*Phineas Jones (1819-1884) - represented New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1881-83. [ [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=J000247 Phineas Jones] , Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 13, 2007.]

2007 Public Water Lye Accident

On April 25th, 2007, it was discovered early in the morning that there was a malfunction at one of the town's water treatment facilities where a hazardous amount of sodium hydroxide (lye) was released into the town's water supply. The official cause was a malfunction of the system that regulates the amount of lye released. According to local news reports, dozens of people received medical treatment for "burning sensations and skin rashes." [ [http://wbztv.com/local/Spencer.water.sodium.2.586765.html wbztv.com - Chemical Release Taints Spencer Water Supply ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.spencerma.gov/ Official town Web site]
* [http://www.seb.k12.ma.us/ Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District]
* [http://www.spencerfair.org/ Spencer Fair - held Labor Day weekend]
* [http://www.spencernewleader.com/ Spencer New Leader - free weekly newspaper]