Berlin, Massachusetts Facts for Kids

Berlin is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It was first settled in 1665 and became an official town in 1812. Berlin is governed by an open town meeting system, where citizens directly vote on town matters.

The town is located about 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Worcester and 29 miles (47 km) west of Boston. In 2020, about 3,158 people lived in Berlin.

History of Berlin
- Berlin Town Hall
Education in Berlin
Geography of Berlin
Population and People
Notable People from Berlin
See also

History of Berlin

Berlin was originally home to the Nashaway people. In 1643, their leader, Sachem Sholan, sold some of the town's land to early settlers. Berlin was first settled in 1665.

It was officially named "Berlin" as a district in 1784. It became an incorporated town in 1812. The way people say "Berlin" here (with the stress on the first part, like "BUR-lin") is thought to have started around 1784.

Berlin is located among low hills between the Nashua River and Assabet River valleys. After it became a town in 1812, Berlin was mostly a farming community. People grew hay and grains and raised cattle.

After the American Civil War, Berlin had a large shoe factory. Shoe making and cutting timber provided jobs that weren't farming. Later, the town became known for growing special crops. In 1885, they sent 41,000 bunches of asparagus to market! They also grew hops and raised chickens. By 1940, Berlin's chicken farmers produced over 836,000 dozen eggs each year.

Berlin Town Hall

Berlin's first town house was built in 1831. It was used for town meetings and social events. As the community grew, a new town hall was needed. Construction on the new building began in 1869 and finished in 1870. The land for the building was given to the town by Artemas Barnes.

Inside the new Town Hall, the first floor had Memorial Hall. This room displayed photos of local soldiers who died in the Civil War. Later, photos of other Civil War veterans were added, totaling nearly 100 local men. In the 20th century, photos of those lost in World War I, World War II, and Vietnam were also added.

Barnes Hall, used for social gatherings, and the Selectmen's Room were also on the first floor. In 1904–1905, an addition was built. This added space for a kitchen and the public library on the first floor. It also created a stage on the second floor.

In 1998, the town hall moved to the building that used to be the elementary school. The elementary school then moved to a new building.

The public library was in the Town Hall from 1891 until 1928. Barnes Hall was even used as a school room in the 1870s. The upper hall is still used for community events, like local musical performances and contra dance groups. Boy and Girl Scouts, and youth sports groups also hold meetings there.

In 2019, the 1870 Town Hall building was updated. It now has easier access for everyone, including to the second floor. This space is used by the town government and can also be rented for events.

Education in Berlin

Berlin shares its school district with the nearby town of Boylston. Together, they form the Berlin-Boylston Regional School District.

Younger students, from kindergarten to fifth grade, attend Berlin Memorial School. Older students, in middle and high school, go to Tahanto Regional High School.

Geography of Berlin

Berlin covers about 13.1 square miles (33.9 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 12.9 square miles (33.5 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.2 square miles (0.4 square kilometers), is water.

Berlin is surrounded by several other towns. To the east are Hudson and Marlborough. To the north is Bolton. To the west are Clinton and Boylston. And to the south is Northborough.

Interestingly, Berlin is considered the geographic center of population for all of New England. This means if you imagine all the people in New England as dots on a map, Berlin would be the balance point.

Major roads like Interstate 495 and Route 62 pass through Berlin.

Population and People

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	866	—
1860	1,106	+27.7%
1870	1,016	−8.1%
1880	977	−3.8%
1890	884	−9.5%
1900	1,003	+13.5%
1910	904	−9.9%
1920	868	−4.0%
1930	1,075	+23.8%
1940	1,057	−1.7%
1950	1,349	+27.6%
1960	1,742	+29.1%
1970	2,099	+20.5%
1980	2,215	+5.5%
1990	2,293	+3.5%
2000	2,380	+3.8%
2010	2,866	+20.4%
2020	3,158	+10.2%
2023*	3,425	+8.5%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

In 2020, Berlin had a population of 3,158 people. The town has grown steadily over the years. For example, in 1850, there were 866 people, and by 1950, the population had grown to 1,349.

Most households in Berlin are made up of married couples living together. About 34.5% of households have children under 18 living with them. The average household size is about 2.7 people.

The median age in Berlin is around 40 years old. About 25% of the population is under 18 years old.

Notable People from Berlin

Some interesting people have connections to Berlin:

Katherine Bacon – An artist and historian.
Donald Featherstone – The artist famous for creating the pink plastic flamingo. He is buried in Berlin.
Aaron Feuerstein – A businessman and kind person who owned Malden Mills.
Holman K. Wheeler – An architect who designed over 400 buildings in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Berlin, Massachusetts facts for kids

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