Cummington, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Cummington is a town
in Hampshire County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 978 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
was born in Cummington, and returned for many years to summer in the town. His house is now preserved and open to the public as the William Cullen Bryant Homestead
. The town hosts the Cummington Fair every August on the town's fairgrounds. The fair features many events including adult and 4-H exhibition halls, a craft barn, vaudeville stage, antique car parade, oxen pull, and an assortment of fair rides, games, and food stands.
, the town has a total area of 23 square miles (59.6 km²), all land. The East Branch of the Westfield River
flows through Cummington.
The mineral cummingtonite
was first found in this town and was named after it.
of 2000, there were 978 people, 382 households, and 239 families residing in the town. The population density
was 42.4 people per square mile (16.4/km²). There were 452 housing units at an average density of 19.6 per square mile (7.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.42% White, 0.61% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.51% from other races
, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.27% of the population.
There were 382 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,250, and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $31,765 versus $27,279 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,553. About 4.2% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
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 Hampshire County
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
, 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 978 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area
The Springfield Metropolitan Area is a region that is socio-economically and culturally tied to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Springfield metropolitan statistical area as consisting of three counties in Western Massachusetts. As of...
.
History
Cummington was first settled in 1762 and was officially incorporated in 1779. It was named after Colonel Cummings, a landholder. Noted poet and newspaper editor William Cullen BryantWilliam Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.-Youth and education:...
was born in Cummington, and returned for many years to summer in the town. His house is now preserved and open to the public as the William Cullen Bryant Homestead
William Cullen Bryant Homestead
The William Cullen Bryant Homestead is the boyhood home and later summer residence of William Cullen Bryant , one of America's foremost poets and newspaper editors. It is located at 205 Bryant Road in Cummington, Massachusetts, currently operated by the non-profit Trustees of Reservations, and...
. The town hosts the Cummington Fair every August on the town's fairgrounds. The fair features many events including adult and 4-H exhibition halls, a craft barn, vaudeville stage, antique car parade, oxen pull, and an assortment of fair rides, games, and food stands.
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 23 square miles (59.6 km²), all land. The East Branch of the Westfield River
Westfield River
The Westfield River in Metropolitan Springfield, Massachusetts, is a major tributary of the Connecticut River in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The Westfield River has four major tributary branches that confluence in the City of Westfield, for which the river is named...
flows through Cummington.
The mineral cummingtonite
Cummingtonite
Cummingtonite is a metamorphic amphibole with the chemical composition 7Si8O222, magnesium iron silicate hydroxide.Monoclinic cummingtonite is compositionally similar and polymorphic with orthorhombic anthophyllite, which is a much more common form of magnesium-rich amphibole, the latter being...
was first found in this town and was named after it.
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 978 people, 382 households, and 239 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 42.4 people per square mile (16.4/km²). There were 452 housing units at an average density of 19.6 per square mile (7.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.42% White, 0.61% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.51% 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...
, and 1.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.27% of the population.
There were 382 households out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% 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, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,250, and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $31,765 versus $27,279 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 $21,553. About 4.2% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Government
The town is part of the Second Berkshire District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, represented by Paul Mark, and the Berkshire, Franklin, and Hampshire Senate district, represented by Ben Downing.Points of interest
- William Cullen Bryant HomesteadWilliam Cullen Bryant HomesteadThe William Cullen Bryant Homestead is the boyhood home and later summer residence of William Cullen Bryant , one of America's foremost poets and newspaper editors. It is located at 205 Bryant Road in Cummington, Massachusetts, currently operated by the non-profit Trustees of Reservations, and...
- Greenwood Music CampGreenwood Music CampGreenwood Music Camp is a summer camp whose primary focus is chamber music. Other activities include soccer, crackabout, softball, capture the flag, a treasure hunt, charades, talent show, hikes up Mount Greylock, visits to art museums, a contra-dance and a visit to the Cummington Fair...
- The Academy at Swift River
Notable people
- William Cullen BryantWilliam Cullen BryantWilliam Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.-Youth and education:...
, poet - Sergei IsupovSergei IsupovSergei Isupov is a ceramic artist born in Stavropol, Russia now living in Cummington, Massachusetts, United States, where he has been represented by the Ferrin Gallery. He was educated at the Ukrainian State Art School in Kiev and went on to graduate in 1990 from the Art Institute of Tallinn in...
, artist - Rachel MaddowRachel MaddowRachel Anne Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, aired on Air America Radio...
, MSNBC host - Worcester Reed WarnerWorcester Reed WarnerWorcester Reed Warner was an American mechanical engineer, entrepreneur, manager, astronomer, and philanthropist. With Ambrose Swasey he cofounded the Warner & Swasey Company.-Biographical sketch:...
, Engineer - Richard WilburRichard WilburRichard Purdy Wilbur is an American poet and literary translator. He was appointed the second Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1987, and twice received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, in 1957 and again in 1989....
, poet
External links
- Official Site
- MHC Survey Reconnaissance Town Report: Cummington Massachusetts Historical Commission, 1982.