Chelmsford, Massachusetts
|
|
Chelmsford is a town located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts located 32 miles from Boston. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 33,858.
| Contents |
History
Chelmsford was founded by settlers from the adjacent communities of Woburn and Concord, Massachusetts. The town was incorporated by an act of the Massachusetts General Court in last week of May 1655 and named after Chelmsford, England. The near-by communities of Groton and Billerica were incorporated at the same time. Chelmsford originally contained the neighboring towns of Westford and Lowell.
Government
The town uses a representative town meeting model with a Board of Selectman overseeing the operation of the town. Reporting to the Board of Selectman are the Town’s Manager, Counsel, and Accountant. The Town Manager oversees the public employees and serves as Chief Executive Officer. Other elected boards include: Planning Board (http://chelmsfordma.virtualtownhall.net/Public_Documents/ChelmsfordMA_BComm/planning/), School Committee, Library Trustees, Cemetery Commission (http://chelmsfordma.virtualtownhall.net/Public_Documents/ChelmsfordMA_BComm/cemetery/), Board of Health (http://chelmsfordma.virtualtownhall.net/Public_Documents/ChelmsfordMA_Health/index/), Sewer Commission (http://chelmsfordma.virtualtownhall.net/Public_Documents/ChelmsfordMA_bcomm/sewer/) and the Zoning Board of Appeals (http://chelmsfordma.virtualtownhall.net/Public_Documents/ChelmsfordMA_BComm/appeals/).
Schools
Chelmsford Public School District consists of one high school, two middle schools, one charter middle school, and five elementary schools.
Chelmsford High School, "CHS," is located in North Chelmsford on 200 Richardson Road. The high school mascot is the lion, and the school colors are maroon and white.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 60.0 km² (23.2 mi²). 58.7 km² (22.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.4 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.29% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 33,858 people, 12,812 households, and 9,301 families residing in the town. The population density is 577.2/km² (1,495.0/mi²). There are 13,025 housing units at an average density of 222.0/km² (575.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 93.09% White, 0.79% African American, 0.07% Native American, 4.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 12,812 households out of which 34.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% are married couples living together, 9.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% are non-families. 23.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.11.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $70,207, and the median income for a family is $82,676. Males have a median income of $56,493 versus $38,927 for females. The per capita income for the town is $30,465. 2.8% of the population and 2.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.2% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Transportation
Chelmsford is located at the intersection of the major US highways of I-495 and Route 3.
North Chelmsford will also host a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail station if the proposed extension of the Lowell Line to Nashua, New Hampshire is completed.
External links
- Chelmsford official website (http://chelmsfordma.virtualtownhall.net/Home/)
- Chelmsford Historical Society (http://www.chelmhist.org/)
- Chelmsford Independent (local newspaper) (http://www.townonline.com/chelmsford/)
- Chelmsford Library (http://www.chelmsfordlibrary.org/)
- Area Schools (http://chelmsfordma.virtualtownhall.net/Public_Documents/ChelmsfordMA_WebDocs/schools/)
- Homeschooling in Chelmsford (http://homeschool.mixmox.com/)
- Lowell Line Extension (http://www.ctps.org/bostonmpo/pmt/PMT-7.pdf)
- Images of Chelmsford, MA (http://leefortier.smugmug.com/gallery/556288)