Hampden County, Massachusetts
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Hampden County is a county located in the state of Massachusetts. As of 2000, the population is 456,228. Its county seat is Springfield6.
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Law and government
Like an increasing number of Massachusetts counties, Hampden County exists today only as a historical geographic region, and has no county government. All former county functions were assumed by state agencies in 1998. The sheriff and some other regional officials with specific duties are still elected locally to perform duties within the county region, but there is no county council or commissioner. However, communities are now granted the right to form their own regional compacts for sharing services. See also: MassGov page on counties (http://lwvma.org/govcounty.shtml).
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,642 km² (634 mi²). 1,602 km² (618 mi²) of it is land and 41 km² (16 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.48% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 456,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density is 285/km² (738/mi²). There are 185,876 housing units at an average density of 116/km² (301/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 79.10% White, 8.10% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.30% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 8.85% from other races, and 2.32% from two or more races. 15.17% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 175,288 households out of which 31.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.80% are married couples living together, 15.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.00% are non-families. 28.40% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.90% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.52 and the average family size is 3.10.
In the county the population is spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.20% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $39,718, and the median income for a family is $49,257. Males have a median income of $37,676 versus $27,621 for females. The per capita income for the county is $19,541. 14.70% of the population and 11.40% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 22.70% of those under the age of 18 and 9.60% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities, towns, and villages*
- Agawam
- Blandford
- Brimfield
- Chester
- Chicopee
- East Longmeadow
- Granville
- Hampden
- Holland
- Holyoke
- Longmeadow
- Ludlow
- Monson
- -- Monson Center (a village of Monson)
- Montgomery
- Palmer
- -- Bondsville (a village of Palmer)
- -- Three Rivers (a village of Palmer)
- Russell
- Southwick
- Springfield
- Tolland
- Wales
- West Springfield
- Westfield
- Wilbraham
* Villages are census division, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.
External link
- National Register of Historic Places listing for Hampden Co., Massachusetts (http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/MA/Hampden/districts.html)