Petersham, Massachusetts
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Petersham (pronounced "Peter's Ham," not "Peter-shum") is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,180.
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History
Petersham was first settled in 1733 and was officially incorporated in 1754.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 176.9 km² (68.3 mi²). 140.5 km² (54.2 mi²) of it is land and 36.4 km² (14.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 20.60% water.
Petersham now contains the entirety of Dana, and portions of Greenwich and Prescott, Massachusetts, three of the four towns that were disincorporated in 1938 to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 1,180 people, 438 households, and 299 families residing in the town. The population density is 8.4/km² (21.8/mi²). There are 474 housing units at an average density of 3.4/km² (8.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.20% White, 0.68% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 438 households out of which 29.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% are married couples living together, 5.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% are non-families. 27.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.48 and the average family size is 3.04.
In the town the population is spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $47,833, and the median income for a family is $58,125. Males have a median income of $39,265 versus $26,354 for females. The per capita income for the town is $24,222. 5.8% of the population and 2.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.2% of those under the age of 18 and 1.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External link
- Petersham local index (http://www.petershamcommon.com/)