Stow, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Stow, Massachusetts
nickname =
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imagesize =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts


mapsize1 =
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Massachusetts
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Middlesex
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1681
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1683
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 46.9
area_total_sq_mi = 18.1
area_land_km2 = 45.6
area_land_sq_mi = 17.6
area_water_km2 = 1.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.5
population_as_of = 2007
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 6,327
population_density_km2 = 138.8
population_density_sq_mi = 359.5
elevation_m = 70
elevation_ft = 231
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 26 |lats = 13 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 30 |longs = 22 |longEW = W
website = http://www.stow-ma.gov/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 01775
area_code = 351 / 978
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-68050
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618236
footnotes =

Stow is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,902 at the 2000 census.

History

Stow was first settled in 1663, a disputed date, by Matthew Boon and John Kettell. Coming from Gloucester and Charlestown, Massachusetts, these two men settled the land of the Tantamous (Jethro) Native Americans, called "Pompocitticut." Boon settled by a large body of water (later bearing his name: Lake Boon), upon a hill (also bearing his name: Boon Hill), with a vast tract of land surrounding him. It is said that he traded all this for a single jacknife. John Kettell (whose name is also disputed: Kettell vs. Kettle) took up residence in a portion of land in the southwestern corner of Stow, where the flatness helped with farming and its proximity to the Lancaster Garrison House (in present day Bolton, Massachusetts, owned by Reverend Joseph Rowlandson) house proved vital in later years. John, who brought his wife, Elizabeth Allen of Salem, Massachusetts, and three children: Elizabeth, Mary, Samuel, and James (the only one born in Stow in 1665), proceeded to trade with the natives and farm the land, though very little is known for fact.

Both families were involved in King Philip's War in 1676. Boon sent his family to the Sudbury Garrison House, then proceeded to return home with one of his sons and a neighbor. All three were killed. Little, if any thing, is known about the remaining Boon family, but they did survive the initial attack.

John Kettell sent his family to the Lancaster Garrison, which was also attacked and burned. The natives took twenty captives, including Mrs. Rowlandson (a well-known captive, the wife of Rev. Rowlandson who wrote narratives of her captivity), Mrs. Rowlandson’s sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Kettell (John Kettell's wife), and some children. All twenty were ransomed by John Hoar of Concord for 20 £ after several months of the native life style. The Kettell family, once reunited, moved back to Salem, Massachusetts after selling their farm.

Stow was officially incorporated in 1683.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.1 square miles (46.9 km²), of which, 17.6 square miles (45.6 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (2.60%) is water. It is located in eastern/central Massachusetts.

Stow borders the following towns: Harvard, Boxborough, Acton, Maynard, Sudbury, Hudson, and Bolton.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,902 people, 2,082 households, and 1,678 families residing in the town. The population density was 334.9 people per square mile (129.3/km²). There were 2,128 housing units at an average density of 120.7/sq mi (46.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.48% White, 0.36% African American, 0.19% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.42% of the population.

There are 2,082 households, out of which 41.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.7% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $96,290, and the median income for a family was $102,530. Males had a median income of $75,758 versus $40,911 for females. The per capita income for the town was $38,260. About 1.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The public schools in Stow include the Pompositticut Elementary School (grades K-2), Center School (grades 3-5) and Hale Middle School (grades 6-8). The schools are all part of the Nashoba Regional School District; high school level students attend Nashoba Regional High School in Bolton. Students also have the option of attending Minuteman Regional High School in Lexington, Massachusetts, a public vocational-technical high school.

Points of interest

Golf

Stow may be best known for its numerous golf courses, having 4 courses and 81 total holes of golf in town. The best known of these is Stow Acres Country Club, the site of the 1995 US Amateur Public Links Championship. Numerous times it has been ranked among the best public courses in the state and boasts a top 50 pro shop for public pro shops nationally.

Courses:
* Butternut Farm Golf Club - Public, 18 holes
* Stow Acres Country Club - Public, 36 holes
* Stowaway Golf Course - Public, 9 holes
* Wedgewood Pines Country Club - Private, 18 holes

Notable residents

*Tom Barasso, former NHL goaltender
*Rob Marshall, Motocross rider
*Dan Duquette, former general manager of the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox

Apple orchards & farms

Stow is known throughout the Boston area for its many apple orchards, with the most popular being Honeypot Hill Orchard. Others include [http://www.CarverHill.com Carver Hill Orchard] , Derby Orchard, [http://www.OneStack.com One Stack Farm] , and [http://www.ShelburneFarm.com Shelburne Farm] .

Stow is also know for several of its farms and farm stands. These include Applefield Farm, Sauta Farm Stand and [http://www.small-farm.org Small Farm]

Fire education

Stow is also home to the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy. Future firefighters come here to train to become a firefighter at the minimum age of 18.

Airports

Minute Man Air Field (6B6), a privately-owned, public-use airport, is located in Stow.

References

External links

* [http://www.stow-ma.gov/Pages/index Stow official website]
* [http://www.stowminutemen.org/ The Stow Minutemen Company]