Upton, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Upton is a town in Worcester County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 7,542 at the 2010 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place
Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton
, Massachusetts
.
Upton was home to a number of members of the Taft family
, including an American Revolutionary War
soldier named Samuel Taft
, who was born there. Samuel Taft had 22 children and hosted President George Washington
on his inaugural tour of New England
in 1789. Three-term mayor of Worcester
, historian Judge Henry Chapin
was born here on May 13, 1811.
Between 1730 and 1850, Upton had many small shoe shops, called ten–footers. These operations were gradually merged into large assembly-line manufacturing companies. By 1837, Upton produced 21.7% of the boots made in Worcester County.
William Knowlton founded what was to become the world’s largest women's hat factory: Knowlton Hat Factory was built in 1872 and added to the National Historic Register in 1982.
The band Aerosmith
played their first gig in 1970 at the then Nipmuc Regional High School, now called Miscoe Hill Middle School.
, the town has a total area of 21.7 square miles (56.2 km²), of which 21.5 square miles (55.7 km²) are land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (0.97%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,642 people, 2,042 households, and 1,562 families residing in the town. The population density
was 262.2 people per square mile (101.2/km²). There were 2,084 housing units at an average density of 96.9 per square mile (37.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.48% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.30% from other races
, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 2,042 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% were married couples
living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $78,595, and the median income for a family was $89,251. Males had a median income of $66,734 versus $39,224 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $34,924. About 1.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, 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 7,542 at the 2010 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
Upton-West Upton, please see the article Upton-West Upton
Upton-West Upton, Massachusetts
Upton-West Upton is a census-designated place in the town of Upton in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,326 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Upton-West Upton is located at ....
, 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...
.
History
Upton was originally the home of the Nipmuc, who inhabited most of central Massachusetts. The town was first settled in 1728 and was officially incorporated in 1735.Upton was home to a number of members of the Taft family
Taft family
The Taft family of the United States hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, with historic origins in Massachusetts; its members have served Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Utah, and the United States in various positions, such as Governor of Ohio, Governor of Rhode Island, U.S. Senator , U.S...
, including an American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
soldier named Samuel Taft
Samuel Taft
Samuel Taft was born September 23, 1735 at Upton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, and died in 1816 at Uxbridge Worcester County, Massachusetts, in his 80th year...
, who was born there. Samuel Taft had 22 children and hosted President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
on his inaugural tour of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
in 1789. Three-term mayor of Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, historian Judge Henry Chapin
Judge Henry Chapin
Henry Chapin was a judge, a state legislator, and a three-term mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts.-Early life and career:...
was born here on May 13, 1811.
Between 1730 and 1850, Upton had many small shoe shops, called ten–footers. These operations were gradually merged into large assembly-line manufacturing companies. By 1837, Upton produced 21.7% of the boots made in Worcester County.
William Knowlton founded what was to become the world’s largest women's hat factory: Knowlton Hat Factory was built in 1872 and added to the National Historic Register in 1982.
The band Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
played their first gig in 1970 at the then Nipmuc Regional High School, now called Miscoe Hill Middle School.
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 21.7 square miles (56.2 km²), of which 21.5 square miles (55.7 km²) are land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) (0.97%) is water.
Adjacent towns
Upton is located in eastern Massachusetts, bordered by:- HopkintonHopkinton, MassachusettsHopkinton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, just under 30 miles west and south of Boston. The town is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots' Day in April, and as the home of computer storage firm EMC Corporation.For geographic and demographic...
on the northeast - Westborough on the north
- MilfordMilford, MassachusettsMilford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It had a population of 27,999 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Milford, constituting the center of the town, please see the article Milford ,...
on the east - MendonMendon, MassachusettsMendon is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,839 at the 2010 census.Mendon is very historic and is now part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, the oldest industrialized region in the United States.- Early history :The Nipmuc people...
on the south - GraftonGrafton, MassachusettsGrafton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 17,765 at the 2010 census. Grafton is the home of a Nipmuc village known as Hassanamisco Reservation, the Willard House and Clock Museum, and the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine...
on the west - HopedaleHopedale, MassachusettsHopedale is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,911 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Hopedale, please see the article Hopedale , Massachusetts....
on the southeast - NorthbridgeNorthbridge, MassachusettsNorthbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 15,707 at the 2010 census. The Northbridge Town Hall is located at 7 Main Street in Whitinsville. The town is now a part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, of the National Park...
on the southwest
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 5,642 people, 2,042 households, and 1,562 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 262.2 people per square mile (101.2/km²). There were 2,084 housing units at an average density of 96.9 per square mile (37.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.48% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.30% 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 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 2,042 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% 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, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $78,595, and the median income for a family was $89,251. Males had a median income of $66,734 versus $39,224 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 $34,924. About 1.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.