Hardwick, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hardwick, Massachusetts
|
||
|---|---|---|
The Ware-Gilbertville Covered Bridge in Gilbertville
|
||
|
||
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
|
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Worcester | |
| Settled | 1737 | |
| Incorporated | 1739 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 40.8 sq mi (105.8 km2) | |
| • Land | 38.6 sq mi (99.9 km2) | |
| • Water | 2.3 sq mi (5.8 km2) | |
| Elevation | 880 ft (268 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 2,667 | |
| • Density | 65.37/sq mi (25.208/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
01031
|
|
| Area code(s) | 413 | |
| FIPS code | 25-28740 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619481 | |
| Website | www.townofhardwick.com | |
Hardwick is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of the city of Worcester. In 2020, 2,667 people lived in Hardwick. The town includes several small villages like Hardwick, Gilbertville, Wheelwright, and Old Furnace.
Contents
History
Hardwick was first settled in 1737. It officially became a town in 1739. The town was named after Philip Yorke, Lord Hardwicke, an important English nobleman.
In 1762, General Timothy Ruggles started the Hardwick Fair. He was a Loyalist, meaning he supported the British during the American Revolution. This fair is now the oldest annual fair in the United States!
In the late 1800s, Hardwick had many factories. These included textile mills (for making cloth) and paper mills. However, these factories closed down by the 1930s. Even so, the town has kept its strong connection to farming, which has been a tradition there for a long time. Eagle Hill School, a special school, was founded in Hardwick in 1967.
Geography and How to Get Around
Hardwick covers about 40.8 square miles (105.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
A large water area called the Quabbin Reservoir touches Hardwick. This reservoir was built by flooding several towns, and Hardwick gained a small piece of land from the former town of Greenwich. The Ware River flows through the eastern part of Hardwick. There are also some marshy areas and a wildlife management area for nature lovers.
Hardwick is on the western edge of Worcester County. It shares borders with other towns like Petersham, Barre, New Braintree, and Ware.
You won't find any major highways like interstates in Hardwick. However, Route 32 and Route 32A pass through the town. A railroad line, the Massachusetts Central Railroad, also goes through Hardwick. It is only used for cargo, not for passenger trains anymore. If you need to fly, the closest large airport is Bradley International Airport in Connecticut.
People of Hardwick
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,631 | — |
| 1860 | 1,521 | −6.7% |
| 1870 | 2,219 | +45.9% |
| 1880 | 2,233 | +0.6% |
| 1890 | 2,922 | +30.9% |
| 1900 | 3,203 | +9.6% |
| 1910 | 3,524 | +10.0% |
| 1920 | 3,085 | −12.5% |
| 1930 | 2,460 | −20.3% |
| 1940 | 2,154 | −12.4% |
| 1950 | 2,348 | +9.0% |
| 1960 | 2,340 | −0.3% |
| 1970 | 2,379 | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 2,272 | −4.5% |
| 1990 | 2,385 | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 2,622 | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 2,990 | +14.0% |
| 2020 | 2,667 | −10.8% |
| 2022* | 2,658 | −0.3% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
||
In 2000, there were 2,622 people living in Hardwick. The town had 997 households. About 35% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.57 people.
The population was spread out by age:
- 28% were under 18 years old.
- About 29% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- About 14% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Hardwick was 38 years.
Schools in Hardwick
Hardwick is part of the Quabbin Regional School District. This district also includes the towns of Barre, Hubbardston, New Braintree, and Oakham.
Students in Hardwick attend:
- Hardwick Elementary School for grades K–6.
- Quabbin Regional Middle School for grades 7–8.
- Quabbin Regional High School for grades 9–12.
Hardwick is also part of the Pathfinder Regional Vocational-Technical High School District. This district offers special training for jobs.
Hardwick's Libraries
Hardwick has a public library that opened in 1892. The town spends money each year to support its library.
There is also a library in the village of Gilbertville. This library was built in 1911. It was given to the town by E.H. Gilbert. The Gilbertville Library still looks much like it did when it was first built. A new entrance was added in 2002 to make it easier for everyone to use. The library gets money from donations, fundraising events, and town funds.
Famous People from Hardwick
- Adeliza Perry: A nurse during the Civil War, writer, and educator.
- Jonathan Robinson: A United States Senator from Vermont.
- Moses Robinson: A Governor of Vermont.
- Carrie Stevens: A model.
- Squire Whipple: An engineer.
- Charles Robinson: A Governor of Kansas.
See also
In Spanish: Hardwick (Massachusetts) para niños
