Editing Florida, Massachusetts

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Florida, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = 
|official_name            = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Florida MA.jpg
|image_caption            = Welcome sign along the [[Mohawk Trail]]
|image_seal               = Seal of Florida, MA.png
|image_flag               = Flag of Florida, Massachusetts.jpg
|image_map                = Berkshire County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Florida highlighted.svg
|image_shield=Logo of Florida, Massachusetts.png
| image_blank_emblem = Seal of Florida, Massachusetts.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 100px
| blank_emblem_alt   =  
| blank_emblem_link  = List of U.S. county and city insignia
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire County]] and [[Massachusetts]].
|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        = [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire]]
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1783
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1805
|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_total_km2           = 63.7
|area_land_km2            = 63.1
|area_land_sq_mi          = 
|area_water_km2           = 0.6
|area_water_sq_mi         = 
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 694
|population_density_km2   = auto
|elevation_m              = 578
|elevation_ft             = 1895
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|40|00|N|73|00|42|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}

|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 01247 (Florida)<br/>01343 ([[Drury, Massachusetts|Drury]])
|area_code                = [[Area code 413|413]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-24120
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0619419
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|townofflorida.org/}}
}}
'''Florida''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts|Berkshire County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States. It is part of the [[Pittsfield, Massachusetts|Pittsfield]], [[Massachusetts]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is home to the east portal of the [[Hoosac Tunnel]], as well as Whitcomb Summit (elevation {{convert|2172|ft|m|disp=or|abbr=on}}), the highest point of the [[Mohawk Trail]]. Florida contains the village of Drury. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] the town had a total population of 694.<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2500324120| title=Census - Geography Profile: Florida town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> Despite the town’s name, Florida is statistically the coldest and snowiest town in Massachusetts.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

== History ==
The area was first settled by Europeans as part of the [[Equivalent Lands]] (specifically, the "Berkshire Equivalent"). Most of what is now the town of Florida, Massachusetts was originally a grant to the town of [[Bernardston, Massachusetts]] made sometime before 1771. The first settler, Dr. Daniel Nelson, arrived around 1783. The town was incorporated in 1805 and named "Florida", perhaps because [[Spanish Florida]] was a topic of conversation at the time.<ref>{{cite book | last=Field| first=David D.| author-link=David Dudley Field I| author2=Chester Dewey| title=A History of the County of Berkshire, Massachusetts| url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorycountyb00dewegoog| access-date=November 12, 2008| year=1829| publisher=Printed by Samuel W. Bush| location=Pittsfield, Mass.| oclc=1680713| pages=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorycountyb00dewegoog/page/n465 457], 460}}</ref><ref name=DHCD>{{cite web | url = http://www.mass.gov/Ehed/docs/dhcd/profiles/098.doc| title = Florida| access-date  = November 12, 2008| year = n.d.| format  = Word| work = DHCD Community Profiles| publisher = Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development}}</ref>

The town was mostly agrarian, with maple syrup, wool, and potatoes its main products for many years. However, in the mid-nineteenth century, the town was a boom town for the workers involved in the construction of the [[Hoosac Tunnel]], a rail tunnel which begins on the town's eastern border and extends through the [[Hoosac Range]] to neighboring [[North Adams, Massachusetts|North Adams]].

[[Nathaniel Hawthorne]], in his American Notebooks, names the town as Lebrida, not Florida, and speaks of the Hoosac Range as "the Green Mountain" in the singular. It is possible that the name Lebrida was a corruption of Florida; or the other way around. While the reference to "the Green Mountain" evidently reflects local tradition of the time (1838), and may in fact be what gave the name Green Mountains to the entire range, as another mountain in Vermont also bears the name Green Mountain.

Today, the town is sparsely populated, with most residents working in neighboring towns.<ref name="DHCD" /><ref>{{cite web| url = http://berkshireweb.com/themap/florida/florida.html| title = Florida, Massachusetts 01247| access-date = November 12, 2008| year = 1978| work = The BerkshireWeb| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081102220316/http://www.berkshireweb.com/themap/florida/florida.html| archive-date = November 2, 2008| url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2012, the [[Hoosac Wind Power Project]] was constructed in Florida and the neighboring town of [[Monroe, Massachusetts|Monroe]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|63.7|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|63.1|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.6|km2|disp=flip}}, or 0.93%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500324120| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212142827/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US2500324120| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Florida town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 18, 2013}}</ref>

Florida is located at 42° 39'57.77"N, 72° 56'29.38"W. It is bordered on the north by [[Stamford, Vermont|Stamford]], [[Vermont]], on the northeast by [[Monroe, Massachusetts|Monroe]], on the east by [[Rowe, Massachusetts|Rowe]], on the southeast by [[Charlemont, Massachusetts|Charlemont]], on the south by [[Savoy, Massachusetts|Savoy]], on the southwest by [[Adams, Massachusetts|Adams]], and on the west by [[North Adams, Massachusetts|North Adams]] and [[Clarksburg, Massachusetts|Clarksburg]]. The town's population is mostly concentrated along the [[Mohawk Trail]], which runs through the town, and its villages, Drury, Florida and Whitcomb Summit.

Florida is located near the highest points of the [[Hoosac Range]], which runs through the western part of town. There are several rivers and brooks, most of which lead to the [[Deerfield River]], which forms much of the eastern border and flows to the [[Connecticut River]]. The town includes parts of three state forests - [[Monroe State Forest]] in the northeast, [[Savoy Mountain State Forest]] in the south, and [[Mohawk Trail State Forest]] in the southeast. The highest elevation in the town is {{convert|2830|ft}} above sea level, on an unnamed hill northwest of Crum Hill in the neighboring town of Monroe.

[[Image:Florida massachusetts citysign.jpg|thumb|left|The official town line marker as seen from Route 2]]
[[Massachusetts Route 2]], the Mohawk Trail, runs from the southeast of town northwest across the center of town, passing over Whitcomb Summit, the highest point along the trail. At Whitcomb Summit there is a monument to the Elks Club, whose members helped modernize the trails and worked on the Hoosac Tunnel. Whitcomb Summit is known for sensational views of the surrounding valleys. Just west of the town line is the West Summit, which has views of the [[Hoosic River]] valley and the [[Taconic Range]] further west. There are no other state routes through town, and the nearest interstate highway is [[Interstate 91]] to the east.

The {{convert|4.75|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[Hoosac Tunnel]] carries the railway under the town, and as such has no stops in town. The nearest regional bus service can be found in North Adams, as can the nearest regional airport, [[Harriman-and-West Airport]]. The nearest airport with national flights is [[Albany International Airport]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA | align=left
 | 1850|561
 | 1860|645
 | 1870|1322
 | 1880|459
 | 1890|436
 | 1900|390
 | 1910|395
 | 1920|298
 | 1930|307
 | 1940|421
 | 1950|479
 | 1960|569
 | 1970|672
 | 1980|730
 | 1990|742
 | 2000|676
 | 2010|752
 | 2020|694
 | 2022*|681
 | 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 25, 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]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 676 people, 265 households, and 196 families residing in the town.  Florida's population ranks 27th out of the 32 towns in Berkshire County, and 337th out of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts.  The population density was {{convert|27.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, making it the 24th most densely populated town in the county, and 333rd in the Commonwealth.  There were 294 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.59% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.44% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.44% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.30% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.74% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.44% of the population.

There were 265 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,000, and the median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $32,000 versus $23,906 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $16,979.  About 3.3% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
[[Image:Florida-The Elk On The Trail.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"The Elk on the Trail" statue, Whitcomb Summit]]
Florida is governed by an [[open town meeting]] form of government, which is led by a [[board of selectmen]] and a town secretary. The town has its own services, including fire and public works, as well as the Florida Free Library, a small library with association to the regional library services. The nearest hospital was [[North Adams Regional Hospital]] until its bankruptcy in March 2014. Since May 2014, [[Berkshire Medical Center]] has operated an emergency room and other health services at the old NARH location.

On the state level, Florida is represented in the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] by the First Berkshire district, which covers northern Berkshire County, as well as portions of Franklin County. In the [[Massachusetts Senate]], the town is represented by the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin district, which includes all of Berkshire County and western Hampshire and Franklin counties.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm |title=Senators and Representatives by City and Town |access-date=February 24, 2008 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929115141/http://www.mass.gov/legis/citytown.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The town's police services are provided by the Fourth (Cheshire) Station 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_b4&csid=Eeops Station B-4, SP Cheshire]</ref>

On the national level, Florida is represented in the [[United States House of Representatives]] as part of [[Massachusetts's 1st congressional district]], and is represented by [[Richard Neal]] of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]]. Massachusetts is currently represented in the [[United States Senate]] by senior Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]] and junior Senator [[Ed Markey]].

==Education==
Florida has one school, the Gabriel Abbott Memorial School, which serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade. The school also serves the students of neighboring Monroe. The town sends its high school students to either [[Drury High School]] or [[Charles H. McCann Technical High School]], both of which are in North Adams.

The nearest community college is [[Berkshire Community College]], located in Pittsfield. The nearest public college is the [[Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts]] in neighboring North Adams, and the nearest university is the [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]]. The nearest private college is [[Williams College]] in Williamstown.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://townofflorida.org/ Official Site], Town of Florida, Massachusetts

{{Berkshire County, Massachusetts}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Florida, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Berkshire County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1805 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1805]]