Brimfield, Massachusetts
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| Brimfield, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampden County |
| Settled | 1706 |
| Incorporated | 1731 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| - Town | 35.2 sq mi (91.2 km²) |
| - Land | 34.7 sq mi (89.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 668 ft (204 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 3,339 |
| - Density | 96.2/sq mi (37.1/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01010 |
| Area code(s) | 413 |
Brimfield is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,339 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
Brimfield was first settled in 1706 and was officially incorporated in 1731.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 91.2 km² (35.2 mi²). 89.9 km² (34.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it (1.45%) is water. Brimfield is located in [Western Massachusetts]. Brimfield is bordered by Sturbridge on the east, Holland and Wales on the south, Monson and Palmer on the west, and Warren on the north. U.S. Route 20 and Interstate 90 both run through Brimfield.
[edit] Education
Brimfield Elementary School, serving grades K-6, has its own school committee, part of School Union 61. Brimfield students attend Tantasqua Regional Junior High School (grades 7-8) and Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge. Union 61 and the Tantasqua district share administrators, including the superintendent, and both include Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 3,339 people, 1,250 households, and 886 families residing in the town. The population density was 37.1/km² (96.2/mi²). There were 1,396 housing units at an average density of 15.5/km² (40.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.69% White, 0.51% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 1,250 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,181, and the median income for a family was $59,943. Males had a median income of $44,000 versus $26,695 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,711. About 2.2% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Points of interest
- Brimfield Antique Show - Brimfield is the site of the largest outdoor antiques show in New England. It takes place three times each year, for six days in May, July, and September.
[edit] Notable residents
- William Eaton (1764-1811) military adventurer who helped capture the city of Derna on the Barbary Coast during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson.
- Erastus Fairbanks (1792 – 1864) Whig Politician and Governor of Vermont
- John Wells Foster (1815-1873) geologist and paleontologist and assisted in organizing Massachusetts Republican Party.
- Erasmus D. Keyes (1810-1895) Military General and lead the IV corps of the Potomac during the American Civil War.
- Fitz Henry Warren (1816 – 1878) Whig Politician, Served in the civil war in the United States Cavalry, as an Iowa State Senator and as United States Minister to Guatemala.
