Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Image:Sturbridge, MA Seal.jpg Seal
Location in Worcester County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°06′30″N 72°04′45″W / 42.10833, -72.07917
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Worcester
Settled	1729
Incorporated	1738
Government
- Type	Open town meeting
- Town    Administrator	James J. Malloy
Area
- Total	39.0 sq mi (100.9 km²)
- Land	37.4 sq mi (96.9 km²)
- Water	1.5 sq mi (4.0 km²)
Elevation	619 ft (189 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	7,837
- Density	209.5/sq mi (80.9/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	01566
Area code(s)	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-68155
GNIS feature ID	0618384
Website: http://www.town.sturbridge.ma.us/

Sturbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to Old Sturbridge Village living history museum and other sites of historical interest such as Tantiusques and the Crowd Site.

The population was 7,837 at the 2000 census. For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Sturbridge, please see the articles on Fiskdale and Sturbridge (CDP).

History

Sturbridge was first settled in 1729, by settlers from Medfield, and was officially incorporated in 1738. New Medfield and Dummer (after Governor William Dummer) were considered as town names, before the town was named after Stourbridge, England.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.0 square miles (100.9 km²), of which, 37.4 square miles (96.9 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (4.0 km²) of it (3.95%) is water. Sturbridge is bordered by Charlton and Southbridge to the east, Union, Connecticut and Woodstock, Connecticut to the south, Brimfield and Holland to the west, and Brookfield and East Brookfield to the north.

U.S. Route 20 runs through Sturbridge, and the junction of Interstate 90 (the Massachusetts Turnpike) and Interstate 84 is located there. The Wilbur Cross Highway (Connecticut Route 15) formerly ended in Sturbridge; locals sometimes call Haynes Street "Old Route 15". Haynes Street ends at Main Street (Massachusetts Route 131), which connects Sturbridge Center with Southbridge; on the west side of town, Massachusetts Route 148 connects Fiskdale with Brookfield.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 7,837 people, 3,066 households, and 2,213 families residing in the town. The population density was 209.5 people per square mile (80.9/km²). There were 3,335 housing units at an average density of 89.1/sq mi (34.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.14% White, 0.36% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.

There were 3,066 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $56,519, and the median income for a family was $64,455. Males had a median income of $50,168 versus $31,940 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,559. About 4.5% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Education

Burgess Elementary School, serving grades K-6, is one of three public schools in Sturbridge. It has its own school committee, part of School Union 61. Sturbridge students also attend Tantasqua Regional Junior High School (grades 7-8) and Tantasqua Regional High School, in the Fiskdale section of town. Union 61 and the Tantasqua district share administrators, including the superintendent, and both include Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.

Places of interest

Old Sturbridge Village, located on Route 20, is a living museum that re-creates life in rural New England during the 1830s.

Wells State Park, a 1,400-acre (5.7 km²) woodland park and campground, located on Route 49. The park features 10 miles (16 km) of trails and Walker Pond, which offers a setting for fishing, canoeing, and swimming.^[2]

References

1. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ Wells State Park. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.

External links

• Sturbridge travel guide from Wikitravel
• Sturbridge official website
• Sturbridge Real Estate
• Wells State Park

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