Editing Hardwick, Massachusetts (section)

==Geography and transportation==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|40.8|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|38.6|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.2|sqmi}}, or 5.51%, is water.  Hardwick was one of the towns which gained lands (though lost some land area) by the building of the [[Quabbin Reservoir]].  The reservoir's waters extend into the town along the former East Branch of the Swift River, which once ran through the northwest corner of town.  Due to the disincorporation of the towns which the Quabbin Reservoir and its reservation lands now lie on, Hardwick gained a small portion of the former town of [[Greenwich, Massachusetts|Greenwich]] along the northwestern corner of town, though it is the smallest portion of land gained by any of the towns surrounding the reservoir.  The town lies along the edge of the former Swift River Valley, with Muddy Brook and the former East Branch of the Swift River draining the western part of town, and the [[Ware River]] draining the eastern portion.  The lands along the Ware, especially in the far eastern part of town, are marshy.  The town has some open areas, and a portion of the lands not already protected as part of the Quabbin Reservation are part of the Muddy Brook Wildlife Management Area.

Hardwick lies along the western edge of Worcester County, bordered by [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]] to the southwest.  It is bordered by [[Petersham, Massachusetts|Petersham]] to the northwest, [[Barre, Massachusetts|Barre]] to the northeast, [[New Braintree, Massachusetts|New Braintree]] to the southeast and [[Ware, Massachusetts|Ware]] to the southwest.  From its town center, Hardwick lies {{convert|24|mi|km}} west-northwest of [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]], {{convert|31|mi|km}} northeast of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], and {{convert|64|mi|km}} west of [[Boston]].

Hardwick has no interstates or limited access highways within town, lying approximately halfway between [[Massachusetts Turnpike|Interstate 90]], also known as the Massachusetts Turnpike, to the south and [[Massachusetts Route 2|Route 2]] to the north. The southern neighborhood of Gilbertville is the location of the intersection of [[Massachusetts Route 32|Route 32]] and the southern terminus of [[Massachusetts Route 32A|Route 32A]], with Route 32 coming from Ware heading northeast towards Barre, and Route 32A heading due north through the town's center towards the center of Petersham, where its northern end lies.  The [[Massachusetts Central Railroad]] line passes through the town from [[Palmer, Massachusetts|Palmer]] towards Barre, roughly following the path of Route 32. It does not carry passenger rail, however, not having done so since the early twentieth century. The nearest private airport is the [[Tanner-Hiller Airport]] in New Braintree, and the nearest national air service can be reached at [[Bradley International Airport]] in Connecticut.