Granby, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Granby is a town
in Hampshire County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 6,420 at the 2010 census.
It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
Part of the town is comprised in the census-designated place
of Granby
.
. Granby was originally part of Hadley and then South Hadley before being incorporated on June 11, 1768. Old Hadley was first settled in 1659 by people from Hartford
and Wethersfield
, Connecticut
. These settlers left Connecticut because of religious differences within their communities. John Pynchon was commissioned to buy wilderness land in Massachusetts for their new community. Pynchon purchased the land from three Native American
chiefs, Chickwallop, Umpanchala and Quontquont. Ownership was transferred to the settlers and confirmed by the General Court. These original boundaries include part of present day Granby.
, the town has a total area of 28.1 square miles (72.7 km²), of which, 27.9 square miles (72.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (0.71%) is water. Granby is bordered by South Hadley to the west, Amherst to the north, Belchertown to the east, and Ludlow and Chicopee to the south. Two highways pass through town. Route 202 runs eastward though town from South Hadley to Belchertown on East State Street and West State Street. Route 116 runs northeastward from South Hadley to Amherst along Amherst Road.
The Holyoke Range is in the northern part of Granby. Major peaks within the town are Long Mountain, Harris Mountain, and Mount Norwottuck. Norwottuck is the highest peak in town at 1106 feet above sea level.
of 2000, there were 6,132 people, 2,247 households, and 1,662 families residing in the town. The population density
was 220.1 people per square mile (85.0/km²). There were 2,295 housing units at an average density of 82.4 per square mile (31.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.77% White, 0.51% Black or African American
, 0.13% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races
, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 2,247 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% 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 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,293, and the median income for a family was $57,632. Males had a median income of $40,833 versus $30,597 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,209. About 1.0% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
, journalist, Pulitzer Prize
winner, Zepp's Last Stand
Andrew Cook, former drummer for the band The Receiving End of Sirens
(now A Rocket to the Moon
)
Matthew Masse, well known weather reporter and Loke of getDare.com, the most popular Truth or Dare website
Jesse Richards
, artist, photographer and filmmaker (remodernist film
) and former member of the Stuckism
art group.
Chris Waddell, Four-time Paralympian
(Albertville
, Lillehammer
, Nagano, Salt Lake City)
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Hampshire County
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,420 at the 2010 census.
It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area
The Springfield Metropolitan Area is a region that is socio-economically and culturally tied to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Springfield metropolitan statistical area as consisting of three counties in Western Massachusetts. As of...
.
Part of the town is comprised in the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of Granby
Granby (CDP), Massachusetts
Granby is a census-designated place in the town of Granby in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,344 at the 2000 census...
.
History
Granby was first settled in 1727 and was officially incorporated in 1768. The town is named in honor of John Manners (marquis de Granby). Granby was originally part of Hadley and then South Hadley before being incorporated on June 11, 1768. Old Hadley was first settled in 1659 by people from Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
and Wethersfield
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Many records from colonial times spell the name Weathersfield, while Native Americans called it Pyquag...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. These settlers left Connecticut because of religious differences within their communities. John Pynchon was commissioned to buy wilderness land in Massachusetts for their new community. Pynchon purchased the land from three Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
chiefs, Chickwallop, Umpanchala and Quontquont. Ownership was transferred to the settlers and confirmed by the General Court. These original boundaries include part of present day Granby.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 28.1 square miles (72.7 km²), of which, 27.9 square miles (72.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (0.71%) is water. Granby is bordered by South Hadley to the west, Amherst to the north, Belchertown to the east, and Ludlow and Chicopee to the south. Two highways pass through town. Route 202 runs eastward though town from South Hadley to Belchertown on East State Street and West State Street. Route 116 runs northeastward from South Hadley to Amherst along Amherst Road.
The Holyoke Range is in the northern part of Granby. Major peaks within the town are Long Mountain, Harris Mountain, and Mount Norwottuck. Norwottuck is the highest peak in town at 1106 feet above sea level.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,132 people, 2,247 households, and 1,662 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 220.1 people per square mile (85.0/km²). There were 2,295 housing units at an average density of 82.4 per square mile (31.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.77% White, 0.51% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.13% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21% of the population.
There were 2,247 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% 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 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,293, and the median income for a family was $57,632. Males had a median income of $40,833 versus $30,597 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $23,209. About 1.0% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
Madeleine BlaisMadeleine Blais
Madeleine Blais is a United States journalist, author and professor in the University of Massachusetts Amherst's journalism department. As a reporter for the The Miami Herald, Blais earned the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1980 for "Zepp's Last Stand", a story about a self-declared pacifist...
, journalist, Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winner, Zepp's Last Stand
Andrew Cook, former drummer for the band The Receiving End of Sirens
The Receiving End of Sirens
The Receiving End of Sirens is a rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 2003.-Overview:The band played on the 2005 Warped Tour and has toured with such acts as Gatsbys American Dream, A Wilhelm Scream, 30 Seconds to Mars, Funeral for a Friend, Saves the Day, Senses Fail, Thrice, and New...
(now A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon
A Rocket to the Moon is an American rock band. The band was founded during 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts by Nick Santino, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist...
)
Matthew Masse, well known weather reporter and Loke of getDare.com, the most popular Truth or Dare website
Jesse Richards
Jesse Richards
Jesse Richards is a painter, filmmaker and photographer from New Haven, Connecticut and was affiliated with the international movement Stuckism.-Early life:...
, artist, photographer and filmmaker (remodernist film
Remodernist Film
Remodernist film developed in the United States and the United Kingdom in the early 21st century with ideas related to those of the international art movement Stuckism and its manifesto, Remodernism...
) and former member of the Stuckism
Stuckism
Stuckism is an international art movement founded in 1999 by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting in opposition to conceptual art...
art group.
Chris Waddell, Four-time Paralympian
Paralympian
A Paralympian is an athlete who has participated in the Paralympic Games.A Paralympic athlete has a physical disability. The disability can be amputation, spinal cord injuries, visual impairment or cerebral palsy. An exception is the sighted guides for athletes with a visual impairment...
(Albertville
Albertville
Albertville is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The town is best known for hosting the 1992 Winter Olympics.-Geography:...
, Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
, Nagano, Salt Lake City)