New Braintree, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
New Braintree is a town in Worcester County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 999 at the 2010 census.
It has been the home of the Massachusetts State Police
Academy since 1992. Governor Michael Dukakis
had proposed and began construction of a controversial state prison in the late 1980s on this site, but was met with heavy opposition by the town and a group called C.O.S.T. (Conserve Our Small Town). Governor William Weld
was elected and ceased the construction of the prison. The state police training academy now occupies the grounds and buildings of the former Seventh-day Adventist Pioneer Valley Academy. In the photo shown, one can see the school's former boys' and girls' dormitories with the cafeteria in between and the water tower to the right of the boys' dormitory. The school opened its doors in 1966 and closed in the late 1980s.
, the town has a total area of 20.9 square miles (54.1 km²), of which 20.7 square miles (53.6 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), or 0.72%, is water.
New Braintree is bordered by Barre
to the north, Oakham
to the east, Spencer
to the southeast, West Brookfield
and North Brookfield
to the south, Ware
to the southwest and Hardwick
to the west.
of 2000, there were 927 people, 318 households, and 267 families residing in the town. The population density
was 44.8 people per square mile (17.3/km²). There were 328 housing units at an average density of 15.8 per square mile (6.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.14% White, 0.22% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.11% Asian, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 318 households out of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.0% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,844, and the median income for a family was $60,417. Males had a median income of $41,477 versus $26,136 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,072. About 4.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
The town's only restaurant, Reed's Country Store, has been owned and operated by Edward and Susan Reed since 1977. Breakfast and lunch is served here and it has been a central town gathering point for years. Every September for the past 38 years the town has had a Country Fair in the Town Center.
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, 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 999 at the 2010 census.
History
New Braintree was first settled in 1709 and was officially incorporated in 1751.It has been the home of the Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts State Police
The Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulation across the state...
Academy since 1992. Governor Michael Dukakis
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis served as the 65th and 67th Governor of Massachusetts from 1975–1979 and from 1983–1991, and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1988. He was born to Greek immigrants in Brookline, Massachusetts, also the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, and was the longest serving...
had proposed and began construction of a controversial state prison in the late 1980s on this site, but was met with heavy opposition by the town and a group called C.O.S.T. (Conserve Our Small Town). Governor William Weld
William Weld
William Floyd Weld is a former governor of the US state of Massachusetts. He served as that state's 68th governor from 1991 to 1997. From 1981 to 1988, he was a federal prosecutor in the United States Justice Department...
was elected and ceased the construction of the prison. The state police training academy now occupies the grounds and buildings of the former Seventh-day Adventist Pioneer Valley Academy. In the photo shown, one can see the school's former boys' and girls' dormitories with the cafeteria in between and the water tower to the right of the boys' dormitory. The school opened its doors in 1966 and closed in the late 1980s.
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 20.9 square miles (54.1 km²), of which 20.7 square miles (53.6 km²) is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), or 0.72%, is water.
New Braintree is bordered by Barre
Barre, Massachusetts
Barre is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,398 at the 2010 census.-History:Originally called the Northwest District of Rutland, it was first settled in 1720. The town was incorporated on June 17, 1774, as Hutchinson after Thomas Hutchinson, colonial...
to the north, Oakham
Oakham, Massachusetts
Oakham is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,902 at the 2010 census.- History :Oakham was first settled in 1749 and was officially incorporated in 1762...
to the east, Spencer
Spencer, Massachusetts
Spencer is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,688 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Spencer, please see the article Spencer , Massachusetts....
to the southeast, West Brookfield
West Brookfield, Massachusetts
West Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,701 at the 2010 census. Lucy Stone was born in West Brookfield, and Noah Webster published his dictionary there....
and North Brookfield
North Brookfield, Massachusetts
North Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,680 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place North Brookfield, please see the article North Brookfield , Massachusetts.- History :North Brookfield...
to the south, Ware
Ware, Massachusetts
Ware is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 9,707 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.Part of the town comprises the census-designated place of Ware....
to the southwest and Hardwick
Hardwick, Massachusetts
Hardwick is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, about west of the city of Worcester. It had a population of 2,990 at the 2010 census. It includes the villages of Hardwick, Gilbertville, Wheelwright and Old Furnace.- History :...
to the west.
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 927 people, 318 households, and 267 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 44.8 people per square mile (17.3/km²). There were 328 housing units at an average density of 15.8 per square mile (6.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.14% White, 0.22% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.11% Asian, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 318 households out of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% 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 16.0% were non-families. 13.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,844, and the median income for a family was $60,417. Males had a median income of $41,477 versus $26,136 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 $21,072. About 4.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
The town's only restaurant, Reed's Country Store, has been owned and operated by Edward and Susan Reed since 1977. Breakfast and lunch is served here and it has been a central town gathering point for years. Every September for the past 38 years the town has had a Country Fair in the Town Center.
Government
Notable residents
- Charles AllenCharles Allen (Massachusetts politician)Charles Allen , was a United States Representative from Massachusetts.He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on August 9, 1797; he attended the Leicester Academy and Yale College and studied law...
, congressman, established a law practice in New Braintree - Thaddeus BowmanThaddeus BowmanThaddeus Bowman was the last scout sent out by Capt. John Parker at Lexington, MA, but the only one to find the approaching British troops and get back to warn the militia, on the first day of the American Revolution ....
, minuteman, buried in the cemetery at the Congregational Church in New Braintree - Charles DelanoCharles DelanoCharles Delano was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in New Braintree, Massachusetts, Delano moved with his parents to Amherst in 1833....
, US Representative from Massachusetts, born in New Braintree - Alexander DeWitt, US Representative from Massachusetts, born in New Braintree
- Jonathan FisherJonathan FisherParson Jonathan Fisher was the first Congregational minister from 1794 to 1837 in the small village of Blue Hill, Maine in the United States. Although his primary duties as a country parson engaged much of his time, Fisher was also a farmer, scientist, mathematician, surveyor, and writer of prose...
, Congregational minister born in New Braintree - Rufus PutnamRufus PutnamRufus Putnam was a colonial military officer during the French and Indian War, and a general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
, general in the Continental ArmyContinental ArmyThe Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, lived in New Braintree