Spencer, Massachusetts
Spencer, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
| Spencer's Memorial Town Hall, on Main Street at Maple Street. Spencer's Memorial Town Hall, on Main Street at Maple Street. | |
 Location in Massachusetts | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester County |
| Settled | 1721 |
| Incorporated | 1753 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Open town meeting |
| • Town Administrator | Carter Terenzini |
| Elevation | 925 ft (282 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 11,691 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 01562 |
| Area code | 508 / 774 |
| Website | http://spencerma.gov/ |
Spencer is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,691 at the 2000 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Spencer, please see the article Spencer (CDP), Massachusetts.
History
Spencer was first settled in 1721 and was officially incorporated on April 12, 1753, splitting from the town of Leicester. Spencer was named after the then acting governor of Massachusetts, Spencer Phips. Spencer was the home of the Howe family of inventors, including Elias Howe, who perfected the lockstitch sewing machine.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 88.2 km² (34.0 mi²). 85.1 km² (32.8 mi²) of it is land and 3.1 km² (1.2 mi²) of it (3.52%) is water. The town, roughly rectangular in shape, is bounded on the east by Leicester, on the south by Charlton, on the west by East Brookfield, and on the north by Paxton. It is divided into quarters by north-south Route 31 and east-west Route 9. A third state highway, Route 49, connects the town's western portions with nearby Sturbridge.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 11,691 people, 4,583 households, and 3,093 families residing in the town. The population density was 137.4/km² (355.9/mi²). There were 4,938 housing units at an average density of 58.0/km² (150.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.93% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 4,583 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,598, and the median income for a family was $56,763. Males had a median income of $40,581 versus $29,837 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,017. About 5.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
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Template:Infobox Mass Town Govt
Education
Spencer's public schools are regionalized K-12 with East Brookfield. Spencer students attend Maple Street School for kindergarten, Lake Street School for grades 1-3, and Wire Village School for grades 4-6. Students from both towns attend Knox Trail Junior High School for grades 7-8 and David Prouty High School for grades 9-12.
Notable residents
- Elias Howe, American inventor and sewing machine pioneer
2007 public water lye accident
On April 25th, 2007, it was discovered early in the morning that there was a malfunction at one of the town's water treatment facilities where a hazardous amount of sodium hydroxide (lye) was released into the town's water supply. The official cause was a malfunction of the system that regulates the amount of lye released. At least 12 people were rushed to the hospital due to burns and illness related to the accident. There was a Mass Casualty Incident declared as well as a No Contact ban put in place through April 26th, 2007.[1]
