Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
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Shrewsbury is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 31,640. Shrewsbury is an unusual New England town in that it was neither a mill town nor a farming village. Rather, it grew as a suburb to neighboring Worcester, Massachusetts from the start.
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History
Shrewsbury was first settled in 1722 and was officially incorporated in 1727.
Shrewsbury was the birthplace and home of Artemas Ward, an American Major General in the Revolutionary War and often characterized as the runner-up for George Washington's post. His home is a museum preserved by Harvard University. Located at 786 Main Street in Shrewsbury, it is open to the public for limited hours during the summer months.
Shrewsbury is home to the Hebert Candy Mansion, where white chocolate was first produced in the United States.
The town was also home to the now-defunct Worcester Foundation, the renowned research facility where the conventional birth control pill was first developed.
Shrewsbury was also home to world-famous Spag's, the original all-purpose store which predated Costco, Walmart and other similar outlets. Noted for its unorthodox inventory and discount prices, Spags recently succumbed to the competition of the modern megastore and was acquired in 2002 by Building 19. The location became Spags 19, and in 2004 the store was converted to Building 19's format (it is now just another Building 19 location).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.1 km² (21.6 mi²). 53.7 km² (20.7 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 4.25% water.
Shrewsbury is bordered on the West by Worcester, with the two cities separated by Lake Quinsigamond. To the North is Boylston and Interstate 290. The South side is bounded by North Grafton with the Mass Pike just beyond. Westborough is to the East.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 31,640 people, 12,366 households, and 8,693 families residing in the town. The population density is 589.3/km² (1,526.3/mi²). There are 12,696 housing units at an average density of 236.5/km² (612.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 89.12% White, 1.45% African American, 0.12% Native American, 7.61% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 1.59% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 12,366 households out of which 34.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% are married couples living together, 7.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% are non-families. 25.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.54 and the average family size is 3.09.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $64,237, and the median income for a family is $77,674. Males have a median income of $56,259 versus $37,129 for females. The per capita income for the town is $31,570. 4.8% of the population and 3.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.6% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Shrewsbury official website (http://www.shrewsbury-ma.gov/)
- Shrewsbury Historical Society (http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/2771/ShrewsburyHistoricalSociety.html)
- Shrewsbury High School Alumni Association (http://www.shrewsburyalumni.org/society.htm)
- Shrewsbury Youth Soccer homepage (http://www.shrewsburyyouthsoccer.org/sys/indexw.html)
- Shrewsbury Little League Baseball and Softball homepage (http://www.shrewsburylittleleague.com/)
- First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury (http://www.fccsm.org)