Pelham, Massachusetts
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Pelham is a town located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,403.
History
Pelham was first settled in 1738 and was officially incorporated in 1743.
Pelham is the homeplace of Daniel Shays, leader of Shays Rebellion, an uprising to stop declining economic conditions in Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 68.6 km² (26.5 mi²). 64.9 km² (25.1 mi²) of it is land and 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.40% water.
Pelham now contains a portion of Enfield, Massachusetts, one 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 1,403 people, 545 households, and 382 families residing in the town. The population density is 21.6/km² (56.0/mi²). There are 556 housing units at an average density of 8.6/km² (22.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.08% White, 1.43% African American, 0.00% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. 1.85% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 545 households out of which 32.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% are married couples living together, 8.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% are non-families. 19.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.57 and the average family size is 2.95.
In the town the population is spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $61,339, and the median income for a family is $71,667. Males have a median income of $50,435 versus $33,500 for females. The per capita income for the town is $29,821. 4.9% of the population and 2.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.1% of those under the age of 18 and 5.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.