Petersham, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Petersham, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Petersham Common
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 = 1733
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1754
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 176.9
area_total_sq_mi = 68.3
area_land_km2 = 140.5
area_land_sq_mi = 54.2
area_water_km2 = 36.4
area_water_sq_mi = 14.1
population_as_of = 2000
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 1180
population_density_km2 = 8.4
population_density_sq_mi = 21.8
elevation_m = 329
elevation_ft = 1080
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 29 |lats = 15 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 11 |longs = 15 |longEW = W
website =
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 01366
area_code = 351 / 978
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-53120
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0619486
footnotes =

Petersham (pronounced "Peter's ham") is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,180 at the 2000 census. Petersham is home to a considerable amount of conservation land, including the Quabbin Reservation, Harvard Forest and Federated Women's Club State Forest.

History

Petersham was first settled in 1733 and was officially incorporated in 1754. On February 4, 1787, it was the site of the second battle of Shays' Rebellion. The town is noted for its common, part of the Petersham Historic District. About 45 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.3 square miles (176.9 km²), of which, 54.2 square miles (140.5 km²) of it is land and 14.1 square miles (36.4 km²) of it (20.60%) is water. The town is drained by the Swift River.

Petersham now contains the entirety of Dana, and portions of Greenwich and Prescott, Massachusetts, three of the four towns that were disincorporated in 1938 to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,180 people, 438 households, and 299 families residing in the town. The population density was 21.8 people per square mile (8.4/km²). There were 474 housing units at an average density of 8.7/sq mi (3.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.20% White, 0.68% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 438 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,833, and the median income for a family was $58,125. Males had a median income of $39,265 versus $26,354 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,222. About 2.0% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

ites of interest

Infobox Mass Town Govt
county = Worcester
wraparound = yes
align = right
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 = Anne M. Gobi (D)
state_sen = Stephen M. Brewer (D)
gov_councilors = Thomas J. Foley (D)
fed_rep = John W. Olver (D-1st District),
fed_sen = Edward Kennedy (D)
John Kerry (D)
* [http://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/museum.html Fisher Museum, Harvard Forest]
* Petersham Historical Society Museum

Notable residents

* Lewis Bigelow, congressman
* Yodelin' Slim Clark, musician
* Austin Flint, physician
* James Hawkes, congressman
* Emmeline B. Wells, journalist & activist

References

External links

* [http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/fwsf.htm Federated Women's Club State Forest]
* [http://home.tiac.net/~rflaford/petersh.htm Welcome to Petersham]