Brimfield, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brimfield, Massachusetts
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Hitchcock Free Academy
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Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Hampden | ||
| Settled | 1706 | ||
| Incorporated | 1731 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 35.2 sq mi (91.2 km2) | ||
| • Land | 34.7 sq mi (89.9 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 668 ft (204 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,772 | ||
| • Density | 107.16/sq mi (41.360/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP code |
01010
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| Area code(s) | 413 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-08470 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0619384 | ||
Brimfield is a small town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It's known as a 'New England town,' which is a special type of local government. In 2020, about 3,694 people lived here. Brimfield is also part of the larger Springfield area.
Contents
History of Brimfield
Brimfield was first settled by people in 1706. It officially became a town in 1731. For many years, until 1812, Brimfield was part of a larger area called Hampshire County. Over time, this big county was divided into smaller ones, including Hampden County where Brimfield is now.
Geography and Location
Brimfield covers an area of about 35.2 square miles (91.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The town is located in Western Massachusetts.
Neighboring Towns
Brimfield shares its borders with several other towns:
- To the east is Sturbridge.
- To the south are Holland and Wales.
- To the west are Monson and Palmer.
- To the north is Warren.
Major Roads
Two main roads, U.S. Route 20 and Route 19, pass through Brimfield. Also, Interstate 90, a major highway, goes through the northern part of the town.
Distance to Cities
Brimfield is located a short distance from several important cities:
- About 22 miles (35 km) from Springfield.
- About 25 miles (40 km) from Worcester.
- About 41 miles (66 km) from Hartford.
- About 65 miles (105 km) from Boston.
- About 153 miles (246 km) from New York City.
Education in Brimfield
Students in Brimfield attend different schools depending on their age.
Elementary School
Brimfield Elementary School teaches students from kindergarten through sixth grade. This school has its own special committee that helps run it.
Junior High and High School
After elementary school, Brimfield students go to Tantasqua Regional Junior High School for grades 7 and 8. They then attend Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge.
School District Partnership
Brimfield, along with the towns of Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge, and Wales, are part of a shared school system. This means they share administrators, like the superintendent, to manage their schools.
Brimfield Public Library
The Brimfield Public Library has an interesting beginning! It was started in 1877 using money collected from a "dog tax." This money had been saved up in the town's treasury. The town decided to use it to create a free public library. A special room was set up for the library in the new town hall, which was built in 1879.
Population Information
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,420 | — |
| 1860 | 1,363 | −4.0% |
| 1870 | 1,288 | −5.5% |
| 1880 | 1,203 | −6.6% |
| 1890 | 1,288 | +7.1% |
| 1900 | 941 | −26.9% |
| 1910 | 866 | −8.0% |
| 1920 | 778 | −10.2% |
| 1930 | 884 | +13.6% |
| 1940 | 1,012 | +14.5% |
| 1950 | 1,182 | +16.8% |
| 1960 | 1,414 | +19.6% |
| 1970 | 1,907 | +34.9% |
| 1980 | 2,318 | +21.6% |
| 1990 | 3,001 | +29.5% |
| 2000 | 3,339 | +11.3% |
| 2010 | 3,609 | +8.1% |
| 2020 | 3,694 | +2.4% |
| 2022* | 3,690 | −0.1% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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According to the 2020 census, Brimfield had a population of 3,694 people. The town has grown steadily over the years. In 2000, there were 3,339 people living in Brimfield. About 27% of the population was under 18 years old, and the average age was 39 years.
Fun Things to Do in Brimfield
Brimfield Antique Show
Brimfield is famous for hosting the largest outdoor antiques show in New England. This huge event happens three times a year, for six days each time, in May, July, and September. People come from all over to find unique treasures!
Brimfield Trail
The Brimfield Trail is part of a bigger plan for a trail system. Currently, a 2-mile (3.2 km) section is open. It's a great place for walking and bicycling, especially for bikes with wider tires, on land near the East Brimfield Dam.
Notable People from Brimfield
Many interesting people have connections to Brimfield:
- Tabitha Moffatt Brown: A pioneer who helped found a school in Oregon.
- William Eaton: A military adventurer known for his role in the Barbary Wars.
- Erastus Fairbanks: A former governor of Vermont and one of the founders of the Republican Party.
- John Wells Foster: A geologist, paleontologist, and politician from Massachusetts.
- Richard Nelson Frye: A well-known scholar who studied Iran and Central Asia.
- Samuel Hitchcock: An attorney and judge in Vermont.
- Charles McEwen Hyde: An early missionary in Hawaii.
- Erasmus D. Keyes: A military General who led part of the Army during the American Civil War.
- Nathaniel Raymond: A human rights investigator.
- Fitz Henry Warren: A state senator in Iowa and a United States Minister to Guatemala.
See also
In Spanish: Brimfield (Massachusetts) para niños
