Holden, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Holden, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption = Holden Center
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 = 1723
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1741
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title = Town
Manager
leader_name = Brian J. Bullock
leader_title1 = Board of
Selectmen
leader_name1 = David J. White
James M. Jumonville
Kenneth O'Brien
Kimberly N. Ferguson
Joseph G. Sullivan
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 93.8
area_total_sq_mi = 36.2
area_land_km2 = 90.6
area_land_sq_mi = 35.0
area_water_km2 = 3.2
area_water_sq_mi = 1.2
population_as_of = 2000
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 15621
population_density_km2 = 172.4
population_density_sq_mi = 446.4
elevation_m = 262
elevation_ft = 860
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 21 |lats = 06 |latNS = N
longd = 71 |longm = 51 |longs = 50 |longEW = W
website = http://www.townofholden.net/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 01520
area_code = 508 / 774
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-30560
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618365
footnotes =

Holden is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States.It is bounded on the west by Rutland; on the northwest by Princeton; on the east by Sterling and West Boylston; on the southeast by Worcester; and on the southwest by Paxton.

The population was 15,621 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²), of which, 35.0 square miles (90.6 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it (3.40%) is water. The landscape is dominated by hills, rivers, and the mighty Quinapoxet River

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 15,621 people, 5,715 households, and 4,423 families residing in the town. The population density was 446.4 people per square mile (172.4/km²). There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 166.5/sq mi (64.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.39% White, 0.49% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 5,715 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $64,297, and the median income for a family was $73,614. Males had a median income of $52,203 versus $36,194 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,971. About 2.0% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% 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)
fire chief = Jack Chandler III
state_rep = Lewis G. Evangelidis (R)
state_sen = Harriette L. Chandler (D)
gov_councilors = Thomas J. Foley (D)
fed_rep = James P. McGovern (D-3rd District),
fed_sen = Edward Kennedy (D)
John Kerry (D)

chools

Holden is part of the five town Wachusett Regional School District, which also includes neighboring towns Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling. The towns share the newly renovated Wachusett Regional High School. Holden has three elementary schools; Davis Hill Elementary, Dr. Leroy E. Mayo Elementary, and Dawson Elementary.

Fire Department

InfoboxFireDepartment
name = Holden Fire Department

motto =
established =
staffing = Part Time/Full Time/Auxiliary
strength =
stations = 2
engines = 4
trucks = 1
squads = 1
rescues = 1
EMSunits =
FirstResponderBLSorALS = EMT
chief = Jack Chandler III
commissioner =

The Holden Fire Department is basically run as a "fire" department but does run EMS calls. What makes the department more of a fire based department is the fact that receiving an EMT certification is not mandatory but those that do obtain an EMT certification run what's called "The Squad". Holden's Squad 1 responds to every EMS call in Holden. Holden does not run a fire-based ambulance service but instead leases the services of American Medical Response, a private ambulance provider.

The fire department in Holden has reached out to the community in many ways. The fire department supports the S.A.F.E. program by going to different schools and teaching children the importance of fire safety and the Holden Fire Department has a Fire Service Exploring program for young adults ages 14-21. The Fire Service Exploring program in Holden is currently the leading program in Massachusetts with a total of 32 registered Explorers.

The department still owns and maintains its 1920s Ahrens Fox pumper. This apparatus was Engine 1 from the late 1920s until the late 1950s.

Public Safety Building Proposal

Holden Fire Chief Jack Chandler III has been actively exploring the possibility of either adding on to the original station or demolishing the original station and just starting from scratch. If the proposal was to be approved, Chandler would pursue the possibility of purchasing an ambulance instead of continuing with a private ambulance service.

References

External links

* [http://www.townofholden.net/ Official Town of Holden website]