Editing Buckland, Massachusetts

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Buckland, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Buckland Town Hall.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Buckland Town Hall
|image_seal               = Seal of Buckland, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               = Flag of Buckland, Massachusetts.gif
|image_map                = Franklin County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Buckland highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Franklin County in Massachusetts
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Franklin County, Massachusetts|Franklin]]
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1779
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1779
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = <!--[[Town Administrator|Town<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Administrator]]-->
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1             = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 51.5
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 50.9
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 0.5
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 1816
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 607
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|35|32|N|72|47|32|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 01338 (Buckland)<br/>01330 ([[Ashfield, Massachusetts|Ashfield]])<br/>01339 ([[Charlemont, Massachusetts|Charlemont]])<br/>01370 ([[Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts|Shelburne Falls]])
|area_code                = [[Area code 413|413]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-09595
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0618159<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|618159}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|town.buckland.ma.us}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Buckland''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Franklin County, Massachusetts]], United States. The population was 1,816 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2501109595|title=Census - Geography Profile): Buckland town, Franklin County, Massachusetts |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> The town shares the village of [[Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts|Shelburne Falls]] with neighboring [[Shelburne, Massachusetts|Shelburne]].  The town center at Shelburne Falls is the western end of the [[Bridge of Flowers (bridge)|Bridge of Flowers]], a local tourist attraction.

Buckland is part of the [[Springfield, Massachusetts]] [[Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

== History ==

[[File:Buckland, Massachusetts 1850-68.jpg|thumb|left|Buckland {{circa|1850–1868}}]]
Buckland was first settled in 1742 as "No Town", as it was not currently part of either the village of [[Charlemont, Massachusetts|Charlemont]] or [[Ashfield, Massachusetts|Ashfield]], which the land belonged to as one large town.  A sawmill was set up that year by Othneil Taylor and Asaph White, and eventually settlement occurred.  However, the townspeople did not want to cross the [[Deerfield River]] or travel the long distance to Ashfield Village to attend services, so they petitioned the [[Massachusetts General Court]] for a separate incorporation.  The town was incorporated on April 14, 1779, as Buckland, presumably named for the abundant hunting in the area.<ref>[http://www.co.franklin.ma.us/buckland.html Town of Buckland - Franklin County Chamber of Commerce]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Buckland was the birthplace of [[Mary Lyon]], founder of the [[Mount Holyoke College|Mount Holyoke Female Seminary]], now known as Mount Holyoke College.

==Geography==
[[Image:Shelburne Falls Truss Bridge.JPG|thumb|left|Shelburne Falls Truss Bridge carries Routes 2A and 112 across the Deerfield River]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|51.5|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|50.9|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.5|km2|disp=flip}}, or 1.05%, is water.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Buckland town, Franklin County, Massachusetts |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=August 22, 2012 }}</ref> Buckland is located in western Franklin County, and is bordered by [[Charlemont, Massachusetts|Charlemont]] to the north, [[Shelburne, Massachusetts|Shelburne]] to the northeast, [[Conway, Massachusetts|Conway]] to the southeast, [[Ashfield, Massachusetts|Ashfield]] to the south, and [[Hawley, Massachusetts|Hawley]] to the west.  Buckland's town center is located {{convert|13|mi}} west of [[Greenfield, Massachusetts|Greenfield]], {{convert|40|mi}} north-northwest of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], and {{convert|103|mi}} west-northwest of [[Boston]].

Buckland is bounded on the north and east by the [[Deerfield River]]. Clesson Brook and Clark Brook flow northward through town towards the river, with the former forming the main valley in the town. To either side of the valley lie several hills, including Walnut Hill, Drank Hill and Snow Mountain to the west and Mary Lyon Hill and Moonshine Hill to the east, both of which are between the two brooks. A small state forest occupies part of Moonshine Hill.

A short section of [[Massachusetts Route 2]], known as the [[Mohawk Trail]], passes through the northeast corner of town. The nearest interstate, [[Interstate 91]], passes through nearby Greenfield.

There is a [[park and ride]] lot located on Route 2, near the bridge over the river to Shelburne Falls. South of the river, the freight rail line passes from Conway in the east towards the [[Hoosac Tunnel]] through the mountains to the west. Buckland lies along the Charlemont bus line of the [[Franklin Regional Transit Authority]] (FRTA), but has no scheduled stops in town (the nearest being in Charlemont and Shelburne Falls).  The nearest [[Amtrak]] station is in Greenfield, and the nearest small air service is at [[Turners Falls Airport|Turners Falls Municipal Airport]]. The nearest national air service is at [[Bradley International Airport]] in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut|Windsor Locks]], [[Connecticut]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA | align=left
 | 1840|1110
 | 1850|1056
 | 1860|1702
 | 1870|1946
 | 1880|1739
 | 1890|1570
 | 1900|1446
 | 1910|1573
 | 1920|1433
 | 1930|1497
 | 1940|1527
 | 1950|1605
 | 1960|1664
 | 1970|1892
 | 1980|1864
 | 1990|1928
 | 2000|1991
 | 2010|1902
 | 2020|1816
 | 2022*|1810
 | footnote=* = population estimate.  {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=November 10, 2023 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
[[Image:Bridge of Flowers.JPG|thumb|The Bridge of Flowers]]
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,991 people, 772 households, and 542 families residing in the town.  By population, Buckland ranks ninth out of the twenty-six towns in Franklin County, and 291st out of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.  The population density was {{convert|101.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, which ranks seventh in the county and 280th in the Commonwealth.  There were 839 housing units at an average density of {{convert|42.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 96.53% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.45% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.45% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.65% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.50% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.41% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.16% of the population.

There were 772 households, out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $45,833, and the median income for a family was $51,420. Males had a median income of $38,684 versus $24,977 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $20,033.  About 3.5% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
[[Image:Buckland Public Library, MA.jpg|thumb|Buckland Public Library]]
Buckland employs the [[open town meeting]] form of government, and is governed by a [[board of selectmen]] and an administrative assistant.  The town offices, police station and fire station are all located in Shelburne Falls, with the Buckland Public Library and the town's post office located near the geographic center of town. The nearest hospital, Franklin Medical Center, is located in Greenfield, as are most of the nearest state offices. The town is patrolled by the Second Barracks of Troop "B" of the [[Massachusetts State Police]], headquartered on the Shelburne side of Shelburne Falls.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopsterminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Law+Enforcement&L3=State+Police+Troops&L4=Troop+B&sid=Eeops&b=terminalcontent&f=msp_divisions_field_services_troops_troop_b_msp_field_troop_b_station_b2&csid=Eeops Station B-2, SP Shelburne Falls]</ref>

On the state level, Buckland is represented in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] as part of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 1st Franklin district|1st Franklin District]], represented by Natalie Blais. In the [[Massachusetts Senate]], the town is part of the [[Massachusetts Senate's Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden district|Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden District]], represented by [[Paul Mark]].

On the national level, Buckland is represented in the [[United States House of Representatives]] as part of [[Massachusetts's 1st congressional district]] and has been represented by [[Richard Neal]] of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] since January 2013, and is represented in the [[United States Senate]] by [[Ed Markey]], and [[Elizabeth Warren]]. Neal was redistricted from [[Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district]] due to Massachusetts's loss of one seat in the House after reapportionment following the [[2010 United States Census]].

==Education==

Buckland is a member of the Mohawk Trail / Hawlemont Regional School District, along with [[Ashfield, Massachusetts|Ashfield]], [[Charlemont, Massachusetts|Charlemont]], [[Colrain, Massachusetts|Colrain]], [[Hawley, Massachusetts|Hawley]], [[Heath, Massachusetts|Heath]], [[Plainfield, Massachusetts|Plainfield]], [[Rowe, Massachusetts|Rowe]], and [[Shelburne, Massachusetts|Shelburne]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mohawkschools.org/co.php |title=Mohawk Schools > Central Office |access-date=August 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814174635/http://www.mohawkschools.org/co.php |archive-date=August 14, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Students attend Buckland-Shelburne Regional Elementary School, which also serves the neighboring town of [[Shelburne, Massachusetts|Shelburne]] which serves K–6. High school students then attend [[Mohawk Trail Regional High School]]. Mohawk Trail Regional's athletics teams are nicknamed the Warriors, and their school colors are blue and gold.   There are several private, religious and charter schools located in the Greenfield area, with the most prominent being [[Deerfield Academy]] in [[Deerfield, Massachusetts|Deerfield]], [[Northfield Mount Hermon School]] in [[Gill, Massachusetts|Gill]], the [[Academy at Charlemont]] in [[Charlemont, Massachusetts|Charlemont]], [[Eaglebrook School]] in [[Deerfield, Massachusetts|Deerfield]], and Stoneleigh-Burnham School in [[Greenfield, Massachusetts|Greenfield]].

The nearest community college, [[Greenfield Community College (Massachusetts)|Greenfield Community College]], is located in Greenfield.  The nearest state college is [[Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts]] in North Adams, and the nearest state university is the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]].  The nearest private colleges, including members of the [[Five College Consortium|Five Colleges]] and [[Seven Sisters (colleges)|Seven Sisters]], are located southeast in the Northampton area.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://town.buckland.ma.us Town of Buckland official website]
*[https://www.histclo.com/schun/country/us/is/alpha/b/bu/buckm.html Buckland School]

{{Franklin County, Massachusetts}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Buckland, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Franklin County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1742]]
[[Category:1742 establishments in the Province of Massachusetts Bay]]