Williamsburg, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Williamsburg, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =


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


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Massachusetts
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Hampshire
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1735
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1775
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title =
leader_name =
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area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 66.6
area_total_sq_mi = 25.7
area_land_km2 = 66.4
area_land_sq_mi = 25.6
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
population_as_of = 2000
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 2427
population_density_km2 = 36.6
population_density_sq_mi = 94.7
elevation_m = 162
elevation_ft = 530
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 23 |lats = 35 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 43 |longs = 50 |longEW = W
website = http://www.burgy.org/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 01039
area_code = 413
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-79915
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618211
footnotes =

Williamsburg is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,427 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Williamsburg was first settled in 1735 and was officially incorporated in 1775.

The Mill River Flood

On the morning of May 16, 1874, a flood along Williamsburg's Mill River claimed 139 lives and left nearly 800 victims homeless throughout Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The deluge occurred when the Williamsburg Reservoir Dam unexpectedly burst, sending a twenty foot wall of water surging into the valley below. Every town and village along the river's normally placid flow was soon devastated by the great rush of water. Much of the flood's force was abated in Northampton, Massachusetts at the Mill River's confluence with the Connecticut River. Located over twelve miles from the breached dam in Williamsburg, Northampton was the last town to experience the flood's mortal fury, with four additional victims swept away in the swell. [Elizabeth M. Sharpe, In the Shadow of the Dam, Free Press, New York, 2004, pages 238-239]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.7 square miles (66.6 km²), of which, 25.6 square miles (66.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.35%) is water. The town also includes the villages of Haydenville and Searsville.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,427 people, 1,027 households, and 658 families residing in the town. The population density was 94.7 people per square mile (36.6/km²). There were 1,073 housing units at an average density of 41.9/sq mi (16.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.94% White, 0.25% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.

There were 1,027 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,250, and the median income for a family was $55,833. Males had a median income of $36,977 versus $28,906 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,813. About 1.2% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.burgy.org/ Official Site]
* [http://www.meekins-library.org/ Williamsburg Public Libraries]