Athol, Massachusetts
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| Athol, Massachusetts | |
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| Nickname: Tool Town | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester County |
| Settled | 1735 |
| Incorporated | 1762 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| - Town Administrator | David Ames |
| Area | |
| - Town | 33.4 sq mi (86.5 km²) |
| - Land | 32.6 sq mi (84.4 km²) |
| - Water | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 546 ft (166 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 11,299 |
| - Density | 346.9/sq mi (133.9/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01331 |
| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 |
| Website: http://www.mass.gov/cc/athol.html | |
Athol is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,299 at the 2000 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Athol, please see the article Athol (CDP), Massachusetts.
It was the birthplace of Lysander Spooner and Bishop Daniel Francis Feehan. It was home to inventor and businessman Leroy S. Starrett.
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[edit] History
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Athol was first settled in 1735 and was officially incorporated in 1762.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 86.5 km² (33.4 mi²). 84.4 km² (32.6 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (2.46%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 11,299 people, 4,487 households, and 2,970 families residing in the town. The population density was 133.9/km² (346.9/mi²). There were 4,824 housing units at an average density of 57.2/km² (148.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.33% White, 0.65% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.73% from other races, and 1.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.
There were 4,487 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% 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 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,475, and the median income for a family was $41,061. Males had a median income of $34,414 versus $23,156 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,845. About 8.3% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
| County government: Worcester County | |
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| Clerk of Courts: | Dennis P. McManus (D) |
| County Treasurer: | Position Eliminated |
| District Attorney: | Joseph D. Early, Jr. (D) |
| Registrar of Deeds: | Anthony J. Vigliotti (D) |
| Registrar of Probate: | Stephen Abraham (D) |
| Sheriff: | Guy W. Glodis (D) |
| State government | |
| Representative(s) in General Court: | Christopher J. Donelan (D) |
| Senator(s) in General Court: | Stephen M. Brewer (D) |
| Governor's Councilor(s): | Thomas J. Foley (D) |
| Federal government | |
| Member(s) of the U.S. House of Representatives: | John W. Olver (D-1st District), |
| U.S. Senators: | Edward Kennedy (D) John Kerry (D) |
[edit] Notable residents
- Jimmy Barrett, major league baseball player[1]
- Ellen Cheney Johnson, (1829-1899), educator, advocate of separate prisons for women.[2]
- Lysander Spooner, (1808-1887), early American libertarian, abolitionist, writer, anarchist
[edit] References
- ^ [1969] (1979) in Reichler, Joseph L.: The Baseball Encyclopedia, 4th edition, New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
