Editing Conway, Massachusetts

{{short description|Town in Massachusetts, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Conway, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Conway Town Hall - Conway, Massachusetts - DSC06408.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Conway Town Hall
|image_seal               = Seal of Conway, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               = 
|image_map                = Franklin County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Conway 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         = 1762
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1767
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1             = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 98.1
|area_total_sq_mi         = 
|area_land_km2            = 97.6
|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         = 1761
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 673
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|30|35|N|72|42|00|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|website                  = {{URL|www.townofconway.com}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 01341 (Conway)<br/>01096 ([[Williamsburg, Massachusetts|Williamsburg]])<br/>01370 ([[Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts|Shelburne Falls]])
|area_code                = [[Area code 413|413]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-15200
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0618161<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|618161}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Conway''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Franklin County, Massachusetts]], United States. The population was 1,761 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2501115200|title=Census - Geography Profile: Conway town, Franklin County, Massachusetts |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> It is part of the [[Springfield, Massachusetts]] [[Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

== History ==
English colonists first settled Conway in 1762 as the southwestern portion of the Town of [[Deerfield, Massachusetts|Deerfield]]. The town was eventually separated and was officially incorporated in 1767. The town was named after General [[Henry Seymour Conway]], a leader in the [[House of Commons of Great Britain|British House of Commons]] during the repeal of the [[Stamp Act 1765|Stamp Act]]. ([[Conway, New Hampshire]], as well as other towns across the country, were also named for him.) The town was known for its sheep farming and other agrarian pursuits in its early years, with some industry along the South River. This was washed out in a dam break in 1869. Today the town is primarily a farming community.

[[Bardwell's Ferry Bridge]], built in 1882, is an historic lenticular [[truss bridge]] spanning the [[Deerfield River]] between Conway and [[Shelburne, Massachusetts|Shelburne]]. Today it is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The town's Field Memorial Library was donated by native son [[Marshall Field]] in honor of his parents. It was designed by architects [[Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge]], and completed in 1901.

On February 25, 2017, an EF1 tornado touched down in Conway. The tornado caused significant damage to localized areas. It was the first tornado in the month of February in Massachusetts' recorded history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nwschat.weather.gov/p.php?pid=201702270328-KBOX-NOUS41-PNSBOX|title = NWSChat - NOAA's National Weather Service}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Bardwell's Ferry Bridge viewed from north in 2014.jpg|thumb|left|Historic Bardwell's Ferry Bridge]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|98.1|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|97.6|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.5|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.47%, is water.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Conway town, Franklin County, Massachusetts |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=August 27, 2012 }}</ref> Conway is in the central part of the county, and is bordered by [[Shelburne, Massachusetts|Shelburne]] to the north, [[Deerfield, Massachusetts|Deerfield]] to the east, [[Whately, Massachusetts|Whately]] to the southeast, [[Williamsburg, Massachusetts|Williamsburg]] to the south, [[Goshen, Massachusetts|Goshen]] to the southwest, [[Ashfield, Massachusetts|Ashfield]] to the west, and [[Buckland, Massachusetts|Buckland]] to the northwest. Included within the town boundaries are the historic neighborhoods of Burkville and Shirkshire. Conway is {{convert|10|mi|0}} southwest of [[Greenfield, Massachusetts|Greenfield]], {{convert|32|mi}} north-northwest of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], and {{convert|99|mi}} west-northwest of [[Boston]].

Conway lies south of the [[Deerfield River]], which comprises most of its northern border. The [[Bardwell's Ferry Bridge]] connects Conway to Shelburne across the Deerfield River. The town lies along the South River, which flows from Ashfield to the Deerfield River through the town, with many brooks feeding it as well as the nearby Mill River through Deerfield.  The town is dotted with forests and hills, and is home to several state forests, including Conway State Forest, [[South River State Forest]], and the Poland Brook State Wildlife Management Area.

[[Massachusetts Route 116]] passes through the center of town, from Ashfield in the east towards Deerfield, along its way towards Springfield.  Deerfield also has the nearest exits of [[Interstate 91]], the nearest interstate highway to the town. A stretch of freight rail passes through the northern part of town, along the banks of the Deerfield River, between Deerfield and the [[Hoosac Tunnel]] to the west.  The nearest passenger rail service can be reached at the [[Amtrak]] station in [[Greenfield, Massachusetts|Greenfield]], with the nearest bus service in Deerfield. The nearest small airport is in [[Montague, Massachusetts|Turners Falls]], with the nearest national air service being at [[Bradley International Airport]] in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA | align=left
 | 1776|905
 | 1840|1394
 | 1850|1831
 | 1860|1689
 | 1870|1460
 | 1880|1760
 | 1890|1451
 | 1900|1458
 | 1910|1230
 | 1920|961
 | 1930|900
 | 1940|944
 | 1950|873
 | 1960|875
 | 1970|998
 | 1980|1213
 | 1990|1529
 | 2000|1809
 | 2010|1897
 | 2020|1761
 | 2022|1760
 | footnote= {{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>
}}
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 1,809 people, 692 households, and 512 families residing in the town.  By population, Conway ranked twelfth of the twenty-six towns in Franklin County, and 295th of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.  The population density was {{convert|48.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, which ranked sixteenth in the county and 312th in the Commonwealth.  There were 749 housing units at an average density of {{convert|19.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 98.73% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.17% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.50% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.28% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.94% of the population.

There were 692 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. Of all households, 18.8% were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $56,094, and the median income for a family was $62,917. Males had a median income of $41,146 versus $32,273 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $25,605.  About 2.5% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
[[File:Field Memorial Library - Conway, Massachusetts - DSC06393.jpg|thumb|right|Field Memorial Library]]

Conway employs the [[open town meeting]] form of government, and is led by a [[board of selectmen]] and a Town Administrator.  The town offices, police station, fire station, post office and Field Memorial Library (donated to the town by [[Marshall Field]] and named for his family) are all located in the center of town.  The nearest hospital, Franklin Medical Center, is located in Greenfield, as are most of the nearest state offices.

On the state level, Conway is represented in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] by the First Franklin district, which includes the southeastern third of Franklin County and towns in north central Hampshire County. In the [[Massachusetts Senate]], the town is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County, as well as much of western Franklin and Hampshire Counties.<ref>[http://www.mass.gov/legis/city_town.htm List of Massachusetts Legislators by City and Town]</ref>  The town is patrolled by the Second (Shelburne Falls) Barracks of Troop "B" of the [[Massachusetts State Police]].<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 national level, Conway is part of [[Massachusetts's 1st congressional district]], and has been represented in the US Congress by House Rep [[Richard E. Neal]] (D) since 2012. Massachusetts is currently represented in the [[United States Senate]] by Senators [[Ed Markey]] and [[Elizabeth Warren]].

==Education==
Conway is a member of [[Frontier Regional School|Frontier Regional]] and Union 38 School Districts, which also includes Deerfield, Whately and Sunderland. Each town operates its own elementary school, with [[Conway Grammar School]] serving the town's students from kindergarten through sixth grades. All four towns send seventh through twelfth grade students to [[Frontier Regional School|Frontier Regional High School]] in Deerfield. There are several private, religious and charter schools located in the Greenfield and Deerfield area, with the nearest being the [[Deerfield Academy]].

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

==Notable people==
[[File:Conway Covered Bridge.jpg|thumb|Conway Covered Bridge (2018)]]
* [[Brian Bram]], illustrator for Harvey Pekar's ''[[American Splendor]]''
* [[Jack Chesbro]], Hall of Fame pitcher, retired and died here
* [[John Crowley (author)|John Crowley]], author
* [[Marshall Field]], [[Marshall Field and Company]] founder
* [[Moses Hayden]], former US Congressman
* [[Holly Hobbie]], author of children's books
* [[Archibald MacLeish]], Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Librarian of Congress
* [[Erin McKeown]], singer-songwriter
* [[Socrates Nelson]], Minnesota State Senator
* [[Hortense May Orcutt]], educator
* [[William Collins Whitney]], financier, Secretary of the Navy 1885–1889
* [[Austin Eli Wing]], Michigan politician

==See also==
*[[Student Hosteling Program]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Pease, Charles Stanley (ed.) ''[https://archive.org/details/historyofconwaym00peas/mode/1up?view=theater History of Conway (Massachusetts), 1767-1917]'',

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.townofconway.com Town of Conway official website]

{{Franklin County, Massachusetts}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Conway, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:1762 establishments in the Province of Massachusetts Bay]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1762]]
[[Category:Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Franklin County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]