Editing Petersham, Massachusetts

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{More cn|date=January 2024}}{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Petersham, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = First Congregational Parish, Unitarian, Petersham, MA.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = [[Petersham Common Historic District|Petersham Common]]
|image_seal               = Seal of Petersham, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               = 
|image_map                = Worcester County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Petersham highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]] and the state of [[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        = [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1733
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1754
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = <!--[[Town Secretary|Town<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Secretary]]-->
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = <!--Board of <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen-->
|leader_name1             = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 176.9
|area_total_sq_mi         = 68.3
|area_land_km2            = 140.5
|area_land_sq_mi          = 54.2
|area_water_km2           = 36.4
|area_water_sq_mi         = 14.1
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 1194
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|elevation_m              = 329
|elevation_ft             = 1080
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|29|15|N|72|11|15|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|website                  = {{URL|http://townofpetersham.org/}}
|postal_code_type         = ZIP code
|postal_code              = 01366
|area_code                = [[Area code 351|351]] / [[Area code 978|978]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-53120
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0619486
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Petersham''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|iː|t|ər|s|æ|m}} is a town in [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States.  The population was 1,194 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2502753120|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 12, 2021|title=Census - Geography Profile: Petersham town, Worcester County, Massachusetts}}</ref> Petersham is home to a considerable amount of conservation land, including the [[Quabbin Reservoir|Quabbin Reservation]], [[Harvard Forest]], the [[Swift River Reservation]], and [[Federated Women's Club State Forest]].

==History==
Petersham was first settled by Europeans in 1733 and was officially incorporated on April 20, 1754. On February 4, 1787, it was the site of the second battle of [[Shays' Rebellion]]. The town is noted for its [[common land|common]], part of the [[Petersham Common Historic District]]. About 45 buildings are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The Country Store, an 1842 Greek Revival structure that has housed a general store on its main floor since its opening, sits just to the East of the common.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

The town's lands were expanded greatly by the building of the [[Quabbin Reservoir]] in 1938.  When the towns of the [[Quabbin Valley|Swift River Valley]] were disincorporated, Petersham and neighboring [[New Salem, Massachusetts|New Salem]] benefited the most, with Petersham receiving all of the former town of [[Dana, Massachusetts|Dana]], much of the town of [[Greenwich, Massachusetts|Greenwich]], and a small portion of the former town of [[Prescott, Massachusetts|Prescott]] east of the Middle Branch of the Swift River.  Its modern southwestern borders lie along the former East and Middle branches of the Swift River, and includes lands that were once part of [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]].

A memorial was erected in the town in 1927 by the New England Society of Brooklyn, New York. The memorial commemorates General [[Benjamin Lincoln]], who raised 3,000 troops and routed the rebellion on February 4, 1787. It ends with the line, "Obedience to the law is true liberty."<ref name=Peet>{{cite journal|last1=Peet|first1=Richard|title=A Sign Taken for History: Daniel Shays' Memorial in Petersham, Massachusetts|journal=Annals of the Association of American Geographers|date=March 1996|volume=86|issue=1|pages=21–43 |jstor=2563945|doi=10.1111/j.1467-8306.1996.tb01744.x}}</ref>

==Geography and transportation==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|68.3|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|54.2|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|14.1|sqmi|km2}} (20.60%) is water. {{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} By virtue of the lands it gained in the construction of the [[Quabbin Reservoir]], Petersham is the largest town by land area in Worcester County, and the fifth-largest town of the 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}  It is the largest town by area in Central and [[Western Massachusetts]], with the four largest towns being in southeastern Massachusetts ([[Plymouth, Massachusetts|Plymouth]], [[Middleborough, Massachusetts|Middleborough]], [[Dartmouth, Massachusetts|Dartmouth]] and [[Barnstable, Massachusetts|Barnstable]]).{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Much of the town's land is protected as part of the Quabbin Reservation, a protected area surrounding the Quabbin Reservoir. The town's borders extend well into the eastern branch of the reservoir, and includes the lands around what were once Mount Pomeroy, Mount Zion (the largest such "island" in the reservoir), and several other former hills. The lands of the Reservation are only accessible on foot, and include the only disincorporated areas which are accessible to the public, at the former Dana Common, a {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} walk from Gate 40.  Most of the town still drains into the Quabbin, along brooks that once met the [[Quabbin–Swift River Valley|Swift River]]. The town has several other hills that are part of the larger [[Worcester Hills]] region, including Whitney Hill and Camels Hump Hill, at {{convert|1044|ft|m}} the highest point in town.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}} Several other parts of the town are also protected, including the Federated Women's Club State Forest, the Petersham State Forest, Harvard state Forest, the Popple Camp Wildlife Management Area, and the Phillipston Wildlife Management Area, the latter three extending into neighboring towns. Most of the town is rural in nature, with the largest population located near the town common, in the [[Petersham (CDP), Massachusetts|village of Petersham]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Petersham, by virtue of its territory in the Quabbin, is the westernmost town in Worcester County, bordering [[Franklin County, Massachusetts|Franklin County]] to the west and a small portion of [[Hampshire County, Massachusetts|Hampshire County]] to the south.  Petersham is bordered by [[Athol, Massachusetts|Athol]] to the northwest, [[Phillipston, Massachusetts|Phillipston]] to the northeast, [[Barre, Massachusetts|Barre]] and [[Hardwick, Massachusetts|Hardwick]] to the southeast, [[Ware, Massachusetts|Ware]] to the south, and [[New Salem, Massachusetts|New Salem]] to the west. From the town common, Petersham is {{convert|29|mi|km}} northwest of [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]], {{convert|41|mi|km}} north-northeast of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], and {{convert|66|mi|km}} west-northwest of [[Boston]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

There are no interstates or other limited-access highways within town, with the nearest being [[Massachusetts Route 2|Route 2]], the major east-west route across northern Massachusetts, which lies just north of the town. Near the center of town lies the junction of [[Massachusetts Route 32|Route 32]] and [[Massachusetts Route 122|Route 122]], with Route 32 entering from Athol and Route 122 entering from New Salem. The routes pass concurrently into the town of Barre before splitting again in the southern part of that town. The town center is also the northern terminus of [[Massachusetts Route 32A|Route 32A]], which heads southward through Hardwick, providing a more direct route from where Route 32 turns eastward in the Hardwick village of Gilbertville to the Petersham town center. Just north of the town center, the southern terminus of [[Massachusetts Route 101|Route 101]] lies along Route 32, heading into Phillipston along its route towards the New Hampshire border.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

There are no means of mass transit in Petersham. The nearest general aviation airports are the [[Orange Municipal Airport]], [[Gardner Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)|Gardner Municipal Airport]] and [[Tanner-Hiller Airport]] in Barre.  The nearest national air service can be reached at [[Bradley International Airport]] in Connecticut.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==Education==
Petersham is home to one public elementary school which serves kindergarten through sixth grade, the Petersham Center School. High School students attend [[Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School]], in [[Orange, Massachusetts|Orange]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA | state=collapsed
 | 1850|1527
 | 1860|1465
 | 1870|1335
 | 1880|1109
 | 1890|1050
 | 1900|853
 | 1910|757
 | 1920|642
 | 1930|660
 | 1940|923
 | 1950|814
 | 1960|890
 | 1970|1014
 | 1980|1024
 | 1990|1131
 | 2000|1180
 | 2010|1234
 | 2020|1194
 | 2022*|1183
 | 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>
}}
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 1,180 people, 438 households, and 299 families residing in the town.  The [[population density]] was 21.8 people per square mile (8.4/km{{sup|2}}).  There were 474 housing units at an average density of 8.7 per square mile (3.4/km{{sup|2}}).  The racial makeup of the town was 97.20% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.68% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.76% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.25% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.02% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.10% of the population.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

There were 438 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.04.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

The median income for a household in the town was $47,833, and the median income for a family was $58,125. Males had a median income of $39,265 versus $26,354 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $24,222.  About 2.0% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==Library==

[[File:1899 Petersham public library Massachusetts.jpg|thumb|right|Petersham Public Library, 1899]]
The Petersham public library began in 1879.<ref>C.B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. 1st Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1891. [https://books.google.com/books?id=LusKAAAAYAAJ Google books]</ref><ref>[http://www.petershamlibrary.net/ Petersham Memorial Library]. Retrieved November 10, 2010</ref> In fiscal year 2008, the town of Petersham spent 0.35% ($10,752) of its budget on its public library—approximately $8 per person, per year.<ref>July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008; cf. The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What's Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: [http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php Municipal Pie Reports] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123010127/http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php |date=January 23, 2012 }}. Retrieved August 4, 2010</ref> The [[Nichewaug Inn]] and [[Petersham Center School]] were designed by the same firm, [[Stone, Carpenter & Willson]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==Sites of interest==
{{Worcester County politicians |
| county = Worcester
| wraparound = yes
| align = right
| state_rep = Susannah Whipps Lee (R)
| state_sen = Anne Gobi (D) 
| gov_councilors = Paul Depalo (D)
| fed_rep = [[Jim McGovern (congressman)|James P. McGovern]] (D-[[United States House of Representatives, Massachusetts District 2|2nd District]]),
| fed_sen = [[Scott Brown]] (R)<br>[[John Kerry]] (D)}}
* The Country Store
* Petersham Curling Club
* Fisher Museum, Harvard Forest
* Petersham Historical Society Museum
* Most Holy Trinity Monastery

==Notable people==

* [[Lewis Bigelow]], congressman
* [[Yodelin' Slim Clark]], musician
* [[Dorothy Eaton]] (1893–1968), painter <ref>Petersham Historical Society, The History of Petersham, Massachusetts, incorporated April 20, 1754; Volunteerstown or Voluntown, 1730-1733 ; Nichewaug 1733-1754, by Mabel Cook Coolidge for the Petersham Historical Society, Inc., 1948,  p. 343. Available at https://archive.org/details/historyofpetersh00cool/page/342/mode/2up</ref>
* [[Austin Flint]], physician
* [[James Hawkes (congressman)|James Hawkes]], congressman
* [[Jonas Howe]] (1786–1865), Massachusetts state legislator
* [[Emmeline B. Wells]], journalist, activist
* [[Solomon Willard]], builder of [[Bunker Hill Monument]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://townofpetersham.org/ Town of Petersham]
*[http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/fwsf.htm Federated Women's Club State Forest]
*[http://home.tiac.net/~rflaford/petersh.htm Welcome to Petersham]
*[http://www.petershamcommon.com Petersham Common]

{{Worcester County, Massachusetts}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Petersham, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Worcester County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Towns in Massachusetts]]