Ashby, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Ashby is a town
in Middlesex County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 3,120 as of the 2010 census.
, the town has a total area of 24.2 square miles (62.7 km²), of which 23.8 square miles (61.6 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (1.53%) is water.
Ashby is bordered by New Ipswich
, New Hampshire
and Mason
, New Hampshire
to the north, Townsend
to the east, Lunenburg
to the southeast, Fitchburg
to the south, and Ashburnham
to the west.
(MART). MART operates fixed-route bus services, shuttle services, as well as paratransit services within the Montachusett Region.
of 2000, there were 2,845 people, 978 households, and 783 families residing in the town. The population density
was 119.6 people per square mile (46.2/km²). There were 1,011 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile (16.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.03% White, 0.28% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. The ethnic makeup was 0.84% Hispanic or Latino. 14.9% were of English
, 14.3% Irish
, 13.9% French
, 13.3% Finnish, 8.2% American
, 7.9% French Canadian
, 6.3% Italian and 5.4% German
ancestry according to Census 2000
.
There were 978 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $61,000, and the median income for a family was $64,900. Males had a median income of $40,781 versus $28,150 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,648. About 3.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line
, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
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Ashby was first settled in 1676 and was officially incorporated in 1767.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,120 as of the 2010 census.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 24.2 square miles (62.7 km²), of which 23.8 square miles (61.6 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) (1.53%) is water.
Ashby is bordered by New Ipswich
New Ipswich, New Hampshire
New Ipswich is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,099 at the 2010 census. New Ipswich, situated on the Massachusetts border, includes the villages of Bank, Davis, Gibson Four Corners, Highbridge, New Ipswich Center, Smithville, and Wilder, though these...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Mason
Mason, New Hampshire
Mason is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,382 at the 2010 census. Mason, together with Wilton, is home to Russell-Abbott State Forest.-History:...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
to the north, Townsend
Townsend, Massachusetts
Townsend is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,926 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Townsend, please see the article Townsend , Massachusetts....
to the east, Lunenburg
Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,086 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Lunenburg, please see the article Lunenburg , Massachusetts....
to the southeast, Fitchburg
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
to the south, and Ashburnham
Ashburnham, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,546 people, 1,929 households, and 1,541 families residing in the town. The population density was 143.4 people per square mile . There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 57.0 per square mile...
to the west.
Public Transportation
Public transportation for Ashby is largely supplied by the Montachusett Regional Transit AuthorityMontachusett Regional Transit Authority
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority is one of Massachusetts' regional transit authorities. It is a public, non-profit organization in Massachusetts, charged with providing public transportation to an area consisting of the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, and the adjoining...
(MART). MART operates fixed-route bus services, shuttle services, as well as paratransit services within the Montachusett Region.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,845 people, 978 households, and 783 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 119.6 people per square mile (46.2/km²). There were 1,011 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile (16.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.03% White, 0.28% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. The ethnic makeup was 0.84% Hispanic or Latino. 14.9% were of English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 14.3% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 13.9% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, 13.3% Finnish, 8.2% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 7.9% French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
, 6.3% Italian and 5.4% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
ancestry according to Census 2000
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
There were 978 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $61,000, and the median income for a family was $64,900. Males had a median income of $40,781 versus $28,150 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $21,648. About 3.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line
Poverty threshold
The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living in a given country...
, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
History
Notable residents
- Asa Allen (1789-c1837), born in Ashby, noted physician and author.
- Ruth Henshaw Bascom (1772–1848), America's premier folkartist and portraitist, lived with her husband Reverend Ezekial L. Bascom in Ashby where both are buried.
- Prince EstabrookPrince EstabrookPrince Estabrook was a black slave and Minutemen Private who fought and was wounded at the Battle of Lexington, the first battle of the American Revolutionary War. An undated broadside from the time identified him as "a Negro Man", spelled his name Easterbrooks, and listed him among the wounded...
, enslaved American patriot who fought and was wounded at the battle of Lexington is buried in the graveyard behind the Unitarian-Universalist church. He gained his emancipation following his service to the Continental Army.