Hawley, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Hawley, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize =
image_caption = Entering Hawley - Inc 1792
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Franklin County in Massachusetts


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Massachusetts
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Franklin
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1760
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1792
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 80.0
area_total_sq_mi = 30.9
area_land_km2 = 79.9
area_land_sq_mi = 30.9
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
population_as_of = 2000
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 336
population_density_km2 = 4.2
population_density_sq_mi = 10.9
elevation_m = 534
elevation_ft = 1752
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 33 |lats = 52 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 52 |longs = 42 |longEW = W
website =
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 01339
area_code = 413
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-29475
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0619380
footnotes =

Hawley is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 336 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Hawley was first settled in 1760 as Plantation Number 7, by a group from Hatfield. The town was called the "Hatfield Reserve" until it was officially incorporated in 1792. The town was named for Joseph Hawley of Northhampton, a local leader in the American Revolution. The town's main industries were forestry and, eventually, recreation. The town originally included the land of its neighbor, Plainfield, which split off in the early nineteenth century. [ [http://www.co.franklin.ma.us/hawley.html Town of Hawley - Franklin Co. Chamber of Commerce] ]

Today, the town has very little industry. There are a few remaining farms, artisans and small businesses. Most people commute out of the town, work from home or work for municipalities. The town has no gas stations, convenience stores, or liquor stores.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 30.9 square miles (80.0 km²), of which, 30.9 square miles (79.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.06%) is water. The town is located at the southwest corner of Franklin County, with Hampshire County to the south and Berkshire County to the west. The town is bordered by Charlemont to the north, Buckland to the east, Ashfield to the southeast, Plainfield to the south, and Savoy to the west. Hawley is located 22 miles west of Greenfield, 45 miles north-northwest of Springfield, and 110 miles west-northwest of Boston.

Hawley is located among the northern Berkshires, with the northern edge of town falling to the valley of the Deerfield River. Several brooks and the Chickley River flow into the river through town. The town is home to Hawley Bog, one of the few bogs in Massachusetts to be preserved in its natural state. There are several small peaks in town, with the highest being Parker Hill to the south. The hill lies within Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest, which has several recreation sites for all seasons. Mohawk Trail State Forest also extends into the town from Charlemont and Savoy, in the northwest corner of town. Between the two forests lies [http://www.stumpsprouts.com Stump Sprout Cross-Country Ski Area] , which also provides other recreational activities off-season. A portion of Berkshire East Ski Area also lies within town, with the base of the area being in Charlemont.

The main road through town is Route 8A, which connects Route 116 to the south with Route 2 to the north. Route 2, the Mohawk Trail, passes just north of the town line for most of the town border. The nearest interstate, Interstate 91, can be accessed in nearby Greenfield. There is no rail, air or bus service in town. The town is roughly equidistant from the two nearest points for rail and air service, Greenfield and North Adams. The nearest Amtrak service is in Pittsfield, and the nearest national air service is at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 336 people, 137 households, and 99 families residing in the town. By population, Hawley ranks 25th out of the 26 towns in Franklin County, and 347th out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The population density was 10.9 people per square mile (4.2/km²), which ranks second to last in the county and fourth to last in the Commonwealth. There were 192 housing units at an average density of 6.2/sq mi (2.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.32% White, 0.30% African American, 0.89% Asian, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of the population.

There were 137 households out of which 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 108.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,125, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,333. About 11.8% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Hawley employs the open town meeting form of government, and is led by a board of selectmen and an administrative assistant. The town only has two full-time employees with most being part-time or volunteer, as in the case with the fire department and emergency services. The town also has a small police department, but there is no library or post office; neighboring Charlemont provides these services. The nearest hospitals are in Greenfield and North Adams.

On the state level, Hawley is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as part of the First Berkshire district, which includes the northern portion of Berkshire County as well as several towns in northwest Franklin County. In the Massachusetts Senate, the town is part of the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and the western portions of Hampshire and Franklin Counties. [ [http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm List of Massachusetts Legislators by City and Town] ] The town is patrolled by the Second (Shelburne Falls) Station of Troop "B" of the Massachusetts State Police. [ [http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+B&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_b_msp_field_troop_b_station_b2&csid=Eeops Station B-2, SP Shelburne Falls] ]

On the national level, Hawley is represented in the United States House of Representatives as part of Massachusetts's 1st congressional district, and has been represented by John Olver of Amherst since June 1991. Massachusetts is represented in the United States Senate by senior Senator Ted Kennedy and junior Senator John Kerry.

Education

Hawley and neighboring Charlemont make up the Hawlemont Regional School District, a sub-district of the 9-town Mohawk Trail Regional School District, which serves much of western Franklin County. Town students attend the Hawlemont Regional Elementary School in Charlemont from pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, and all students in the district attend Mohawk Trail Regional High School in Buckland. There is a private academy, the Academy at Charlemont, in Charlemont as well, and other private and religious schools are in nearby towns.

The nearest community college, Greenfield Community College, is located in Greenfield. The nearest state college is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, and the nearest state university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The nearest private college is Williams College in Williamstown, with several others located southeast in the Northampton area.

References

External links

* [http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=mg2localgovccpage&L=1&L0=home&L1=Resident&sid=massgov2&selectCity=Hawley Massachusetts Official Information]
* [http://www.stumpsprouts.com/ Stump Sprouts]
* [http://www.tregellysfibers.com/about.html Tregellys Fiber Farm]