Bolton, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Bolton, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =
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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 = 1682
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1738
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title = Town
Administrator
leader_name = Unoccupied. Jodi Ross was former Town Administrator until she stepped down for another position out of Bolton in August of 2008
leader_title1 = Board of
Selectmen
leader_name1 = Panny E. Gerken
Curt Plante
Kenneth F. Troup
Nicholas A. Birse
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 51.8
area_total_sq_mi = 20.0
area_land_km2 = 51.6
area_land_sq_mi = 19.9
area_water_km2 = 0.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
population_as_of = 2000
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 4148
population_density_km2 = 80.3
population_density_sq_mi = 208.1
elevation_m = 118
elevation_ft = 387
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 26 |lats = 00 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 36 |longs = 30 |longEW = W
website = [http://www.townofbolton.com/ www.townofbolton.com]
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 01740
area_code = 351 / 978
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-06365
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618357
footnotes =

Bolton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,148 at the 2000 census.

History

The town of Bolton, Massachusetts was incorporated on June 24, 1738, following an influx of settlers. Town historian Esther Whitcomb, descendant of one of Bolton's earliest documented settlers, cites the recorded birth of a son, Hezekiah, to Josiah Whitcomb in 1681. By 1711, according to Whitcomb, more than 150 people were living on Bolton soil, despite a local history of Indian uprisings and one massacre. Many early houses were protected by flankers, and were designated as garrisons. Bolton's history is interesting because it is reflective of early settlement patterns in the Central Massachusetts area, and the conflicts with King Philip (Metacom) and his Indian soldiers.cite book |last=Whitcomb |first=Esther Kimmon|authorlink=Esther Kimmon Whitcomb| title=About Bolton |year= 1988|publisher= Heritage Books, Inc. |location= Bowie, MD|id= ISBN 1-55613-105-4 ]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.0 square miles (51.8 km²), of which, 19.9 square miles (51.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.35%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,148 people, 1,424 households, and 1,201 families residing in the town. The population density was 208.1 people per square mile (80.4/km²). There were 1,476 housing units at an average density of 74.1/sq mi (28.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.76% White, 0.19% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 1,424 households out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.0% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.6% were non-families. 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.4% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $102,798, and the median income for a family was $108,967. Males had a median income of $79,167 versus $50,278 for females. The per capita income for the town was $42,542. About 1.1% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Taxes in Bolton have increased since the 1980s in a disproportional fashion as compared to surrounding areas. This is largely due to the increased School budget and a lack of a commercial tax base.

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 = Patricia A. Walrath (D)
state_sen = Robert A. Antonioni (D)
gov_councilors = Thomas J. Foley (D)
fed_rep = Niki Tsongas (D) (5th District),
fed_sen = Edward Kennedy (D)
John Kerry (D)

Schools

Bolton is a member of the Nashoba Regional School District, also serving the towns of Lancaster and Stow. Bolton is home to the Florence Sawyer School (K-8) and Nashoba Regional High School.

Notable residents

* Karen O'Connor
*Wilbert Robinson, Baseball Hall of Fame inducteecite book |editor=Reichler, Joseph L.| title=The Baseball Encyclopedia |origyear=1969 |edition= 4th edition |year= 1979|publisher= Macmillan Publishing |location= New York|language= |id= ISBN 0-02-578970-8 ]
*Hal Gill, current NHL player for the Pittsburgh Penguins

References

External links

* [http://www.townofbolton.com/ Bolton official website]
* [http://www.boltonpd.org/ Bolton Police Department]
* [http://www.boltonfire.com/ Bolton Fire Department]
* [http://www.boltonlibrary.org/ Bolton Library]