East Brookfield, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
East Brookfield, Massachusetts
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The Keith Block, formerly the East Brookfield Municipal Building
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Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Worcester | ||
| Settled | 1664 | ||
| Incorporated | 1920 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 10.4 sq mi (26.9 km2) | ||
| • Land | 9.8 sq mi (25.5 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 620 ft (189 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,224 | ||
| • Density | 213.8/sq mi (82.68/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP code |
01515
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| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-18560 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618362 | ||
| Website | www.eastbrookfieldma.us | ||
East Brookfield is a small town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It's a place where about 2,224 people lived as of the 2020 United States Census. The town is also home to a smaller area called East Brookfield (CDP).
Contents
Discovering East Brookfield's Past
East Brookfield has a long and interesting history. European settlers first arrived here in 1664. At that time, it was part of the Quaboag Plantation lands.
When East Brookfield Became a Town
Later, in 1673, this area became part of the new town of Brookfield. East Brookfield officially became its own separate town on March 24, 1920. This makes it the newest town in Massachusetts based on when it was officially formed.
Exploring East Brookfield's Geography
East Brookfield covers about 10.4 square miles (26.9 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 9.8 square miles (25.5 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.5 square miles (1.4 square kilometers), is water.
Where is East Brookfield Located?
East Brookfield is surrounded by other towns. To the north, you'll find North Brookfield. To the west is Brookfield. South of East Brookfield are Sturbridge and Charlton. Finally, to the east is Spencer.
The Heart of Town Life
Most of the town's activities happen around Route 9. This is especially true for the part of the road near Lake Lashaway. Along this stretch, you'll find churches, schools, shops, and town buildings. Depot Square is a key spot here, close to the post office and Redmans Hall. Redmans Hall is where the Senior Center is and where some town meetings take place.
Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds
West of the town center, you'll find the Quaboag River plains. Locals call this area "the Flats." A train line, the CSX rail line from Boston to Selkirk, New York, runs alongside Main Street through this area.
North of Main Street is the town's main body of water, Lake Lashaway. To the southwest of the town center are Quaboag and Quacumquasit Ponds. These are also known as North and South ponds. On Quacumquasit Pond, there's a YMCA summer camp called Camp Frank A. Day. Near these ponds, in the middle of town, is a marshy area with few people living there.
Discovering Podunk and High Rocks
South of the marshes, you'll find quiet woodlands. This area used to be a village called Podunk. Today, only a small cemetery along Podunk Road marks where it once was. There's also a hilly area nearby called High Rocks.
How Podunk Became Famous
A famous entertainer named George M. Cohan used to spend his summers in Podunk when he was young. He loved East Brookfield very much. In his comedy shows, he often talked about "Podunk." Because of him, the word "Podunk" became well-known. Other entertainers started using it too. Now, "Podunk" is a word that means any small, quiet, or "backwater" town.
East Brookfield's Population
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1930 | 926 | — |
| 1940 | 1,016 | +9.7% |
| 1950 | 1,243 | +22.3% |
| 1960 | 1,533 | +23.3% |
| 1970 | 1,800 | +17.4% |
| 1980 | 1,955 | +8.6% |
| 1990 | 2,033 | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 2,097 | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 2,183 | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 2,224 | +1.9% |
| 2022* | 2,204 | −0.9% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. | ||
In 2000, there were 2,097 people living in East Brookfield. There were 778 households, and 599 of them were families. The average household had about 2.7 people. About 25.6% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age for people in the town was 39 years.
East Brookfield Public Library
The public library in East Brookfield opened in 1921. It's a great place for residents to find books and learn new things.
Learning in East Brookfield
| County-level state agency heads | |
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| Clerk of Courts: | Dennis P. McManus (D) |
| District Attorney: | Joseph D. Early, Jr. (D) |
| Register of Deeds: | Anthony J. Vigliotti (D) |
| Register of Probate: | Stephanie K. Fattman (R) |
| County Sheriff: | Lew Evangelidis (R) |
| State government | |
| State Representative(s): | Donnie Berthiaume (R) |
| State Senator(s): | Anne M. Gobi (D) |
| Governor's Councilor(s): | Jen Caissie (R) |
| Federal government | |
| U.S. Representative(s): | Richard E. Neal (D-1st District), |
| U.S. Senators: | Elizabeth Warren (D), Ed Markey (D) |
East Brookfield has one active school today, the East Brookfield Elementary School.
Past Schools and Regional Learning
In 2002, two older schools closed down. One was Lashaway Junior High School, also known as the Hodgkins School, which was built in 1882. The other was the Memorial School, built in 1952.
East Brookfield works with the town of Spencer for schooling from kindergarten through 12th grade. This means that after elementary school, East Brookfield students attend Knox Trail Junior High School (for grades 7–8) and David Prouty High School (for grades 9–12) in Spencer.
Interesting Places to Visit
The Hodgkins School, which used to be Lashaway Junior High, is a very special building. When it closed in 2002, it was the oldest original wooden school building still in use in the entire country!
Today, this historic building is home to several groups:
- The East Brookfield Historical Museum
- The Quaboag Valley Railroaders Club
- The Massasoit Art Guild
It's also where Boy Scout Troop 238 holds its meetings.
Famous People from East Brookfield
Some notable people have connections to East Brookfield:
- Anna Brackett: A philosopher and educator who taught school here.
- Connie Mack: A famous baseball player, manager, and long-time owner of the Philadelphia A's team.
- Charles Thurber: An inventor.
See also
In Spanish: East Brookfield (Massachusetts) para niños
