Wendell, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Wendell is a town
in Franklin County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 986 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
. The town center has been listed as a historic district
on the National Register of Historic Places
.
On July 11, 2006, a strong F2 tornado
moved through town, starting near Wickett Pond, traveling about 2.9 miles, and ending about a half mile east of New Salem Road. The path varied in width from 100 to 300 yards. The tornado knocked down trees, including an old maple tree, whose falling damaged gravestones in an historic cemetery in Wendell Center. While trees were downed and some structures damaged, no one was injured.
, the town has a total area of 32.2 square miles (83.4 km²), of which, 32 square miles (82.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.68%) is water.
of 2000, there were 986 people, 378 households, and 224 families residing in the town. The population density
was 30.8 people per square mile (11.9/km²). There were 439 housing units at an average density of 13.7 per square mile (5.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.49% White, 3.45% African American, 0.41% Asian, 1.32% from other races
, and 2.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.42% of the population.
There were 378 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,846, and the median income for a family was $60,147. Males had a median income of $32,639 versus $27,375 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,701. About 5.8% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 17.6% 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 Franklin County
Franklin County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 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 986 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
Wendell was first settled in 1754 and was officially incorporated in 1781. It was named after Judge Oliver Wendell of BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The town center has been listed as a historic district
Wendell Town Common Historic District
Wendell Town Common Historic District is a historic district at the junction of Depot, Lock's Village, Montague and Morse Village Roads in Wendell, Massachusetts....
on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
On July 11, 2006, a strong F2 tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
moved through town, starting near Wickett Pond, traveling about 2.9 miles, and ending about a half mile east of New Salem Road. The path varied in width from 100 to 300 yards. The tornado knocked down trees, including an old maple tree, whose falling damaged gravestones in an historic cemetery in Wendell Center. While trees were downed and some structures damaged, no one was injured.
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 32.2 square miles (83.4 km²), of which, 32 square miles (82.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (0.68%) is water.
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 986 people, 378 households, and 224 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 30.8 people per square mile (11.9/km²). There were 439 housing units at an average density of 13.7 per square mile (5.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.49% White, 3.45% African American, 0.41% Asian, 1.32% 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 2.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.42% of the population.
There were 378 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 4.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,846, and the median income for a family was $60,147. Males had a median income of $32,639 versus $27,375 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 $19,701. About 5.8% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over.