Monson, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Monson is a town
in Hampden County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 8,560 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
The village of Monson Center
lies at the center of the town.
Monson was hit by a devastating EF3 tornado on June 1 2011 that destroyed an extensive amount of the town.
until most of the mills in town closed down due to poor business
. Monson also had a large granite
quarry
that was opened by Rufus Flynt, later owned by his oldest son William Flynt. It was closed around 1935. On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 1, 2011, an EF-3 tornado struck and caused extensive damage to the center of town. On the night of October 29, 2011, a rare snow storm paralyzed Monson and the many other cities and towns in Western Massachusetts.
, the town has a total area of 44.8 square miles (116 km²); 44.3 square miles (114.7 km²) of which is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of which is water.
Monson is bordered on the north by Palmer, on the east by Brimfield and Wales, on the south by Stafford, CT, and on the west by Hampden and Wilbraham.
of 2000, there were 8,359 people, 3,095 households, and 2,203 families residing in the town. The population density
was 188.8 people per square mile (72.9/km²). There were 3,213 housing units at an average density of 72.6 per square mile (28.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White, 0.67% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.
There were 3,095 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,030, and the median income for a family was $58,607. Males had a median income of $41,373 versus $30,545 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,519. About 5.2% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
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 Hampden County
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 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 8,560 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...
.
The village of Monson Center
Monson Center, Massachusetts
Monson Center is a census-designated place in the town of Monson in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,103 at the 2000 census...
lies at the center of the town.
Monson was hit by a devastating EF3 tornado on June 1 2011 that destroyed an extensive amount of the town.
History
Monson was first settled in the year 1715 and was officially incorporated in 1775. The town was named after Sir John Monson, a friend of the governor. Monson was largely a mill townMill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
until most of the mills in town closed down due to poor business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
. Monson also had a large granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
that was opened by Rufus Flynt, later owned by his oldest son William Flynt. It was closed around 1935. On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 1, 2011, an EF-3 tornado struck and caused extensive damage to the center of town. On the night of October 29, 2011, a rare snow storm paralyzed Monson and the many other cities and towns in Western Massachusetts.
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 44.8 square miles (116 km²); 44.3 square miles (114.7 km²) of which is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of which is water.
Monson is bordered on the north by Palmer, on the east by Brimfield and Wales, on the south by Stafford, CT, and on the west by Hampden and Wilbraham.
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 8,359 people, 3,095 households, and 2,203 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 188.8 people per square mile (72.9/km²). There were 3,213 housing units at an average density of 72.6 per square mile (28.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White, 0.67% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.23% 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 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.17% of the population.
There were 3,095 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,030, and the median income for a family was $58,607. Males had a median income of $41,373 versus $30,545 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 $22,519. About 5.2% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.
Trivia
- Monson, like its neighboring town of HampdenHampden-Asia/Pacific:* Hampden, New Zealand , North Otago, New Zealand* Hampden Cup , Perth, Western Australia-Europe:* Hampden Park , Glasgow, Scotland* Hampden Park, Eastbourne , East Sussex, England...
, does not have a single traffic light, but it does have a blinking light at the intersection of Route 32 and High Street in the center of town.
- Monson is home to the Monson Developmental CenterMonson Developmental CenterMonson Developmental Center is a historic site at 200 State Avenue in Monson, Massachusetts.It was built in 1854 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994....
, a hospital for the mentally disabled that has served as a home for epileptics and people with other disorders since the 1800s.
Notable residents
- Allan BérubéAllan BerubeAllan Ronald Bérubé was an American historian, activist, independent scholar, self-described "community-based" researcher and college drop-out, and award-winning author, best known for his research and writing about homosexual members of the American Armed Forces during World War II...
(1946-2007), historian, activist, and author - Samuel Robbins BrownSamuel Robbins BrownSamuel Robbins Brown was an American missionary to China and Japan with the Dutch Reformed Church.-Birth and Education:...
(1810-1880), missionary - George Stewart MillerGeorge Stewart MillerGeorge Stewart Miller was the acting president of Tufts College from 1937 to 1938, between the terms of the sixth and seventh elected presidents.-Early life and education:...
(1884-1971), educator - Arthur D. NorcrossArthur D. NorcrossArthur Dickinson Norcross was an American musician and politician who served in the both branches of the Massachusetts Legislature. He was a first cousin of poet Emily Dickinson.-Bibliography:...
(1848-?), musician and politician - Erasmus D. PeckErasmus D. PeckErasmus Darwin Peck was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Stafford, Connecticut, Peck attended the common schools of Monson, Massachusetts and graduated from the medical department of Yale College in 1829. He moved to Portage County, Ohio in 1830 and later to Perrysburg, Ohio to practice...
(1808-1876), politician - Albert G. RiddleAlbert G. RiddleAlbert Gallatin Riddle was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Monson, Massachusetts, Riddle moved with his parents to Newbury, in the Western Reserve of Ohio, in 1817. He completed preparatory studies, and then studied law...
(1816-1902), politician - Sal SalvadorSal SalvadorSal Salvador was a bebop jazz guitarist and a prominent music educator.He was born in Monson, Massachusetts and began his professional career in New York City. He eventually moved to Stamford, Connecticut. He taught guitar at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut as well as at...
(1928-1999), jazz musician - Henry Martin TupperHenry Martin TupperHenry Martin Tupper D.D. was a Baptist minister who founded Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, the first university established for African Americans following the end of the civil war, and the oldest historically black college and university in the Southern United States, as well as one...
(1831-1893), minister and educator
Notable places
- Conant Brook DamConant Brook DamThe Conant Brook Dam is located on Conant Brook in Monson, Massachusetts, about upstream from the confluence of Conant Brook and the Quaboag River. It is approximately east of Springfield, Massachusetts....
- First Church of MonsonFirst Church of MonsonThe Congregational Church, or the First Church of Monson is a historic church located in Monson, Massachusetts that is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ.-History:...
- Flynt QuarryFlynt QuarryFlynt Quarry was a granite quarry that opened in 1809 in Monson, Massachusetts by Rufus Flynt to originally supply granite for the construction of the Springfield Armory. It was later used to supply granite to virtually all buildings in Monson that are made of granite, including the Memorial Town...
- Memorial Town HallMemorial Town HallMemorial Town Hall is a historic site on Main Street in Monson, Massachusetts.The hall was built in 1885 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984....
- Monson High SchoolMonson High SchoolMonson High School is a school of about 400 students located in Monson, Massachusetts. Because the town's non-white population is less than 3%, Monson High School is one of Massachusetts' least diverse high schools. The school's construction started in 2000 and was finished in 2002...
- Peaked MountainPeaked MountainPeaked Mountain is a nature reserve located in Monson, Massachusetts. The property is approximately and is owned by The Trustees of Reservations, a non-profit conservation organization. The principal landowners of its western slope, Leonard and Roslyn Harrington and Richard Elliott, have long...
- William Norcross HouseWilliam Norcross HouseWilliam Norcross House is a historic house at 14 Cushman Street in Monson, Massachusetts.It was built in 1785 and added to the National Historic Register in 1984....
Mills
- Ellis Mill Number 1Ellis Mill Number 1The First Ellis Mill was built in 1872 to replace an old wooden Reynolds Mill that burned down several years before. It is located at the confluence of the Chicopee and Conant Brooks, on Bliss Street in Monson, Massachusetts, and was powered by one of the largest waterfalls in Monson...
- Ellis Mill Number 3Ellis Mill Number 3The Third Ellis Mill was an industrial mill located in Monson, Massachusetts. It was constructed in 1908 on the site of the old wooden Reynolds Mill. During its heyday, the two Ellis Mills made upholstery for a number of notable people, including Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom's...
- Omega Metal ProcessingOmega Metal ProcessingOmega Metal Processing is an abandoned chemical processing plant in Monson, Massachusetts, directly across the street from the First Ellis Mill on Bliss Street. It was owned and operated by the Omega Processing Co. On April 20, 1989, a massive chemical spill occurred that released around 200...
- S. F. Cushman Woolen MillS. F. Cushman Woolen MillThe S.F. Cushman Woolen Mill was built on Cushman Street in Monson, MA in 1886. The mill specialized in hat making, but in 1912 the factory was sold to the Heimann and Lichten Company, who had just been burned out of their Main Street facility. They sold the factory in 1927 to Ellis, who used the...