Clarksburg, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Clarksburg is a town
in Berkshire County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. It is part of the Pittsfield
, Massachusetts
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,686 at the 2000 census.
Captain Matthew Ketchum, Colonel William Bullock, and Nicholas Clark are credited with having originally settled the eventual township in 1769, and the latter ultimately became Clarksburg's namesake. The town began as a mostly agrarian community, with mills springing up along the waterways in the nineteenth century. The major mills were one to make cashmere, and several mills supplied gunpowder during the Civil War
. However, the industry was stopped by the town after one of the mills exploded in 1869.
, the town has a total area of 12.8 square miles (33.2 km²), of which, 12.8 square miles (33.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.62%) is water.
Clarksburg is located at 42°42'42.86"N,73°05'02.97"W. Clarksburg is bordered Pownal
and Stamford
, Vermont
on the north, Florida
on the east, North Adams
on the south, and Williamstown
on the west.
The town is bordered on two sides by mountains, with East Mountain and Bald Mountain to the west, and the Hoosac Range
to the east. Between the two ranges, Hudson Brook and the north branch of the Hoosic River
flow through the valley, merging just south of the town line. In the northern part of the valley is Clarksburg State Park
, operated by the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation
. The park is home to Mauserts Pond and offers picnicking, hiking, and camping, as well as other recreational activities. On the Vermont side of the border lies the Green Mountain National Forest
. The Appalachian Trail
crosses from north to south through the town, passing just west of the peak of East Mountain, the highest point in town, at 2300 feet (701 m).
Route 8 is the only state route through town, and is the main road. The nearest interstate highway is Interstate 91
, which is several miles east of town along Route 2, also known as the Mohawk Trail
, which ends just south of town and whose hairpin turn is located just within the town border near the town's southeast corner.
There is no rail service in town, and the nearest bus services are located in North Adams. The nearest regional airport is Harriman and West Airport in North Adams, and the nearest airport with national service is the Albany International Airport
.
of 2000, there were 1,686 people, 659 households, and 512 families residing in the town. Clarksburg ranks 15th out of 32 towns in Berkshire County by population, and 299th out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. The population density
was 132.2 people per square mile (51.0/km²), making it the 9th most densely populated town in the county and the 273rd in the Commonwealth. There were 688 housing units at an average density of 53.9 per square mile (20.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.82% White, 0.06% African American, 0.12% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 659 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% 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 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,362, and the median income for a family was $47,411. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $25,679 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,389. About 5.1% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
form of government, and is governed by a board of selectmen
and a town administrator. The town has its own police department and volunteer fire department, and has its own public services. The town has its own library, the Clarksburg Town Library, which is connected to the regional library system. The nearest hospital, North Adams Regional Hospital, is located in neighboring North Adams.
On the state level, Clarksburg is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
by the First Berkshire district, which covers northern Berkshire County, as well as portions of Franklin County. In the Massachusetts Senate
, the town is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin Counties. The town is patrolled by the Fourth (Cheshire) Station of Barracks "B" of the Massachusetts State Police
.
On the national level, Clarksburg is represented in the United States House of Representatives
as part of Massachusetts's 1st congressional district
, and has been represented by John Olver
of Amherst
since June 1991. Massachusetts is currently represented in the United States Senate
by senior Senator John Kerry
and junior Senator Scott Brown
.
in North Adams, MA. Students also have the option of applying to attend Charles H. McCann Technical High School
also in North Adams. There are also private schools in North Adams and Williamstown which accept students from the town.
The nearest community college is Berkshire Community College
, located in Pittsfield. The nearest public college is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
in neighboring North Adams, and the nearest university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst
. The nearest private college is Williams College
in Williamstown.
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 Berkshire County
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
, 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...
. It is part of the Pittsfield
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
, 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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,686 at the 2000 census.
History
Clarksburg was first settled in 1764 and was officially incorporated in 1798.Captain Matthew Ketchum, Colonel William Bullock, and Nicholas Clark are credited with having originally settled the eventual township in 1769, and the latter ultimately became Clarksburg's namesake. The town began as a mostly agrarian community, with mills springing up along the waterways in the nineteenth century. The major mills were one to make cashmere, and several mills supplied gunpowder during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. However, the industry was stopped by the town after one of the mills exploded in 1869.
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 12.8 square miles (33.2 km²), of which, 12.8 square miles (33.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.62%) is water.
Clarksburg is located at 42°42'42.86"N,73°05'02.97"W. Clarksburg is bordered Pownal
Pownal, Vermont
Pownal is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 3,560. The town of Pownal includes the villages of Pownal, North Pownal, and Pownal Center.-History:...
and Stamford
Stamford, Vermont
Stamford is a town in Bennington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 813 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Stamford is located near the southwestern corner of Vermont, on the Massachusetts state line. To the south of Stamford lie Clarksburg, Massachusetts and Florida, Massachusetts...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
on the north, Florida
Florida, Massachusetts
Florida is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 676 at the 2000 census. It is home to the east portal of the Hoosac Tunnel, as well as Whitcomb Summit , the highest point of the Mohawk...
on the east, North Adams
North Adams, Massachusetts
North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,708 as of the 2010 census, making it the least populous city in the state...
on the south, and Williamstown
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,754 at the 2010 census...
on the west.
The town is bordered on two sides by mountains, with East Mountain and Bald Mountain to the west, and the Hoosac Range
Hoosac Range
The Hoosac Range is part of both the Berkshires of western Massachusetts and the southern Green Mountains of Vermont; it is part of the greater Appalachian Mountain chain...
to the east. Between the two ranges, Hudson Brook and the north branch of the Hoosic River
Hoosic River
The Hoosic River, also known as the Hoosac, the Hoosick and the Hoosuck , is a tributary of the Hudson River in the northeastern United States. The different spellings are the result of varying transliterations of the river's original Algonquian name...
flow through the valley, merging just south of the town line. In the northern part of the valley is Clarksburg State Park
Clarksburg State Park
Clarksburg State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in Clarksburg. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation .-Description:...
, operated by the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts)
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is a state agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, situated in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. It is best known for its parks and parkways. As of May 24, 2011 the Commissioner of the DCR is Edward M. Lambert, Jr...
. The park is home to Mauserts Pond and offers picnicking, hiking, and camping, as well as other recreational activities. On the Vermont side of the border lies the Green Mountain National Forest
Green Mountain National Forest
Green Mountain National Forest is a national forest located in Vermontwhich supports a variety of wildlife, including beaver, moose, black bear, and white tailed deer. It also supports an abundant variety of bird species. The forest has been referred to as the 'granite backbone' of the state...
. The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
crosses from north to south through the town, passing just west of the peak of East Mountain, the highest point in town, at 2300 feet (701 m).
Route 8 is the only state route through town, and is the main road. The nearest interstate highway is Interstate 91
Interstate 91
Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
, which is several miles east of town along Route 2, also known as the Mohawk Trail
Mohawk Trail
- External links :* *...
, which ends just south of town and whose hairpin turn is located just within the town border near the town's southeast corner.
There is no rail service in town, and the nearest bus services are located in North Adams. The nearest regional airport is Harriman and West Airport in North Adams, and the nearest airport with national service is the Albany International Airport
Albany International Airport
Albany International Airport is a public use airport located six nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Albany, in Albany County, New York, United States. It is owned by the Albany County Airport Authority....
.
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 1,686 people, 659 households, and 512 families residing in the town. Clarksburg ranks 15th out of 32 towns in Berkshire County by population, and 299th out of 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts. 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 132.2 people per square mile (51.0/km²), making it the 9th most densely populated town in the county and the 273rd in the Commonwealth. There were 688 housing units at an average density of 53.9 per square mile (20.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.82% White, 0.06% African American, 0.12% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 659 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% 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 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,362, and the median income for a family was $47,411. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $25,679 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 $19,389. About 5.1% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Clarksburg uses the open town meetingOpen town meeting
An open town meeting is a form of town meeting in which all registered voters of a town may vote . This form of government is typical of smaller municipalities in the New England region of the United States....
form of government, and is governed by a board of selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
and a town administrator. The town has its own police department and volunteer fire department, and has its own public services. The town has its own library, the Clarksburg Town Library, which is connected to the regional library system. The nearest hospital, North Adams Regional Hospital, is located in neighboring North Adams.
On the state level, Clarksburg is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
by the First Berkshire district, which covers northern Berkshire County, as well as portions of Franklin County. In the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
, the town is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin Counties. The town is patrolled by the Fourth (Cheshire) Station of Barracks "B" of the Massachusetts State Police
Massachusetts State Police
The Massachusetts State Police is an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Public Safety and Security responsible for criminal law enforcement and traffic vehicle regulation across the state...
.
On the national level, Clarksburg is represented in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as part of Massachusetts's 1st congressional district
Massachusetts's 1st congressional district
Massachusetts's 1st congressional district is in western and central Massachusetts. The largest Massachusetts district in area, it covers about one-third of the state and is more rural than the rest. It has the state's highest point, Mount Greylock...
, and has been represented by John Olver
John Olver
John Walter Olver is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Early in his career, he was a chemistry professor and served in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court....
of Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
since June 1991. Massachusetts is currently represented in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
by senior Senator John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
and junior Senator Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
.
Education
The town operates its own elementary school, Clarksburg Elementary, which serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade. At high school age the town sends its students to Drury High SchoolDrury High School
Drury High SchoolDrury High School is a school located in North Adams, Massachusetts. It serves the towns of North Adams, Florida, Clarksburg, Monroe, Readsboro, Vermont, and Stamford, Vermont.-History:...
in North Adams, MA. Students also have the option of applying to attend Charles H. McCann Technical High School
Charles H. McCann Technical High School
Charles H. McCann Technical High School is a technical school located in North Adams, Massachusetts that serves grades 9-12. It serves the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District made up of the City of North Adams, and the towns of Adams, Williamstown, Clarksburg, Florida, Savoy, and...
also in North Adams. There are also private schools in North Adams and Williamstown which accept students from the town.
The nearest community college is Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Community College is a two-year community college in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges...
, located in Pittsfield. The nearest public college is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is a public, residential, liberal arts college that offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. Located in North Adams, Massachusetts, it is part of the state university system of Massachusetts. It is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts...
in neighboring North Adams, and the nearest university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
. The nearest private college is Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in Williamstown.