Wales, Massachusetts

For alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation).
Wales, Massachusetts
Town

Seal

Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°04′10″N 72°13′22″W / 42.06944°N 72.22278°W / 42.06944; -72.22278Coordinates: 42°04′10″N 72°13′22″W / 42.06944°N 72.22278°W / 42.06944; -72.22278
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Hampden
Settled 1726
Incorporated 1775
Government
 • Type Open town meeting
Area
 • Total 16.0 sq mi (41.3 km2)
 • Land 15.8 sq mi (40.8 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation 949 ft (289 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 1,737
 • Density 110.3/sq mi (42.6/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 01081
Area code(s) 413
FIPS code 25-72390
GNIS feature ID 0619389

Wales is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,838 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.


History

Wales was first settled in 1726 and was officially incorporated on August 23, 1775, as South Brimfield, a name it kept until February 20, 1828. The town was renamed after James Lawrence Wales, a local benefactor.[1] Initial settlers included John Bullen, and Samuel and Dorothy Munger. The next generation of Mungers became prominent in the town. Samuel (Jr.) served as a selectman and was deacon of the Baptist Church for many years. Nathaniel was one of 12 men of the district appointed as a "court of Justice and Honor to determine all controversies that may hereafter arise in said District," and was also a deacon of the Baptist Church. The "Meadow District" of Wales was originally known as "Munger's Meadow" and includes graves of early pioneers.[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 16.0 square miles (41 km2), of which 15.8 square miles (41 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (1 km2) (1.32%) is water. Wales is bounded on the west by Monson; on the south by Stafford, Connecticut and Union, Connecticut; on the east by Holland; and on the north by Brimfield.

Education

Wales Elementary School, serving grades K-6, has its own school committee, part of School Union 61. Wales students attend Tantasqua Regional Junior High School (grades 7-8) and Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge. Union 61 and the Tantasqua district share administrators, including the superintendent, and both include Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.

Library

The Wales Public Library opened in 1897.[3][4] In fiscal year 2008, the town of Wales spent 1.28% ($45,480) of its budget on its public library—some $24 per person.[5]

Demographics

Wales Public Library

By the 2010 census, the population had reached 1,838.

As of the census[16] of 2000, there had been 1,737 people, 660 households, and 481 families residing in the town. The population density was 110.3 people per square mile (42.6/km²). There were 796 housing units at an average density of 50.5 per square mile (19.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.75% White, 0.52% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 660 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female

Pond at Wales, Massachusetts

The median income for a household in the town was $48,906, and the median income for a family was $51,629. Males had a median income of $39,766 versus $27,557 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,267. About 1.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wales, Massachusetts.
  1. ↑ "Profile for Wales, Massachusetts". ePodunk. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  2. ↑ Munger, J. B., The Munger Book: Something of the Mungers, 1639-1914, pp. 203-13, The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., 1915.
  3. ↑ Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. v.9 (1899)
  4. ↑ http://www.townofwales.net/Library.html Retrieved 2010-11-09
  5. ↑ July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008; cf. The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What’s Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: Municipal Pie Reports. Retrieved 2010-08-04
  6. ↑ "TOTAL POPULATION (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  7. ↑ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  8. ↑ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  9. ↑ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  10. ↑ "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  11. ↑ "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  12. ↑ "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. ↑ "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  14. ↑ "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  15. ↑ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  16. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
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