Chesterfield, Massachusetts

Chesterfield is a rural hill town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, Template:Convert east of Pittsfield and Template:Convert west of Boston. The population was 1,186 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">Template:Cite web</ref> It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Chesterfield was first settled in 1760 and was officially incorporated in 1762. It was named after the Earl of Chesterfield.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The town center, established after the Revolution, has well-preserved Federal period houses along Main Road. In its early days, the town supported a largely agricultural economy, with wool from Merino sheep as a major product. However, there were sawmills and tanneries in operation as well as cloth dressing mills, and in the early 19th century these superseded farming and brought in a small immigrant population that was mostly Irish. Progress wiped out most of the industry in Chesterfield, and by the start of the 20th century a re-emerging agricultural economy developed alongside the growing trade from summer residents.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert are land and Template:Convert, or 1.27%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref> Chesterfield's location is nearly equidistant from the northern, southern and western state lines of Massachusetts.

Chesterfield is located in the Hilltowns region of Massachusetts, Template:Convert north of Hartford, Connecticut, Template:Convert west of Boston, Template:Convert northwest of Springfield, Template:Convert southeast of Albany, New York, Template:Convert east of Pittsfield, and Template:Convert northeast of New York City.

Education

Chesterfield is part of the Hampshire Regional School District along with Goshen, Southampton, Westhampton, and Williamsburg. Students attend K–6 at New Hingham Regional Elementary School along with Goshen, and 7–12 students attend Hampshire Regional High School.

Points of interest

• Chesterfield Gorge along the Westfield River, a property of the Trustees of Reservations
• Indian Hollow (Massachusetts)

Demographics

At the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> there were 1,201 people, 447 households and 324 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 524 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 98.67% White, 0.25% Asian, 0.25% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.08% of the population.

There were 447 households, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. Of all households, 18.8% were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.09.

Of the population 25.7% were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.

The median household income was $49,063 and the median family income was $57,361. Males had a median income of $35,417 versus $27,788 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,220. About 3.4% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

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External links

• Town of Chesterfield official website
• "MHC Survey Reconnaissance Town Report: Chesterfield" Massachusetts Historical Commission, 1982.