Housatonic, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Housatonic is a village and census-designated place
(CDP) in the town
of Great Barrington
in Berkshire County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,335 at the 2000 census.
s.
Monument Mills closed in 1956. After undergoing a period of decline, the village has been revitalized by the presence of art galleries
and related commercial activity. The town's Ramsdell Public Library is located in Housatonic. Monument Mills
and Rising Paper Mill
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²). 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (6.38%) is water. Housatonic is drained by the Housatonic River
.
of 2000, there were 1,335 people, 543 households, and 356 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 592.5/km² (1,526.5/mi²). There were 582 housing units at an average density of 258.3/km² (665.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.48% White, 1.27% African American, 0.37% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races
, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 543 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples
living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $35,324. Males had a median income of $38,462 versus $24,917 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $16,636. About 9.9% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
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...
(CDP) in the town
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...
of Great Barrington
Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Great Barrington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,104 at the 2010 census. Both a summer resort and home to Ski Butternut, Great Barrington includes the villages of Van...
in Berkshire County
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
, 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...
. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,335 at the 2000 census.
History
The village formed in the early 1800s around textile and paper mills. At its peak, Monument Mills, a textile manufacturer, occupied five factory buildings totaling 420000 ft2 and had 500 employees. Mill workers, many of whom were immigrants, were housed in tenementTenement
A tenement is, in most English-speaking areas, a substandard multi-family dwelling, usually old, occupied by the poor.-History:Originally the term tenement referred to tenancy and therefore to any rented accommodation...
s.
Monument Mills closed in 1956. After undergoing a period of decline, the village has been revitalized by the presence of art galleries
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
and related commercial activity. The town's Ramsdell Public Library is located in Housatonic. Monument Mills
Monument Mills
Monument Mills are historic textile mills, built in 1851, located on Park and Front Streets in the village of Housatonic in the town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The mills produced material for United States Army uniforms and was a major employer for over a century, before closing in the...
and Rising Paper Mill
Rising Paper Mill
Rising Paper Mill is a historic factory in the village of Housatonic in the town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.The mill was built in 1873 and added to the National Historic Register of Historic Places in 1975....
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Geography
Housatonic is located at 42°15′8"N 73°22′3"W (42.252122, -73.367537).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 CDP has a total area of 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²). 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (6.38%) is water. Housatonic is drained by the Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
.
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 1,335 people, 543 households, and 356 families residing in the CDP. 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 592.5/km² (1,526.5/mi²). There were 582 housing units at an average density of 258.3/km² (665.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.48% White, 1.27% African American, 0.37% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.82% 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 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 543 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% 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, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $35,625, and the median income for a family was $35,324. Males had a median income of $38,462 versus $24,917 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 CDP was $16,636. About 9.9% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.