Hawley, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hawley, Massachusetts
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Entering Hawley
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Location in Franklin County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Franklin | |
| Settled | 1760 | |
| Incorporated | 1792 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 30.9 sq mi (80.0 km2) | |
| • Land | 30.9 sq mi (79.9 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,404 ft (428 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 353 | |
| • Density | 11.42/sq mi (4.413/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
01339
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| Area code(s) | 413 | |
| FIPS code | 25-29475 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619380 | |
Hawley is a small town located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2020, about 353 people lived there. It is part of the larger Springfield area.
Contents
Hawley's Story
Early Days and Naming
Hawley was first settled in 1760. It was known as "Plantation Number 7" by people from Hatfield. For a while, it was called the "Hatfield Reserve."
In 1792, it officially became a town. It was named after Joseph Hawley. He was an important leader from Northampton during the American Revolution, which was the war for America's independence.
Life in Hawley Today
Long ago, Hawley's main jobs were in forestry (working with trees) and later, recreation (fun outdoor activities). The nearby town of Plainfield used to be part of Hawley but became its own town later.
Today, Hawley is a very quiet town with not many big businesses. There are still some farms, artists, and small shops. Most people who live in Hawley either work from home or travel to other towns for their jobs.
You won't find gas stations, convenience stores, or liquor stores in Hawley. The town does not have its own police department, but it does have a fire department to keep everyone safe.
Exploring Hawley's Geography
Hawley is located in the southwestern part of Franklin County. It shares borders with Hampshire County to the south and Berkshire County to the west.
The town covers about 30.9 square miles (80 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a tiny bit of water.
Natural Beauty and Outdoor Fun
Hawley is nestled in the northern Berkshires, which are beautiful mountains. The northern edge of the town slopes down to the Deerfield River valley. Many small streams and the Chickley River flow into the Deerfield River.
Hawley is also home to a special place called Hawley Bog. A bog is a type of wetland with unique plants. This bog is one of the few in Massachusetts that has been kept in its natural state.
There are several small hills in town. The tallest one is Parker Hill, located in the south. This hill is part of the Kenneth Dubuque Memorial State Forest. This forest offers many fun activities all year round, like hiking and skiing.
Another forest, Mohawk Trail State Forest, also reaches into Hawley from nearby towns. Between these two forests, you can find the Stump Sprout Cross-Country Ski Area. This place is great for skiing in winter and other activities when there's no snow. Part of the Berkshire East Ski Area is also in Hawley, though its main base is in Charlemont.
Getting Around Hawley
The main road that goes through Hawley is Massachusetts Route 8A. This road connects to Route 116 in the south and Route 2 in the north. Route 2, also known as the Mohawk Trail, runs just north of Hawley's border.
If you need to get on a major highway, Interstate 91 is accessible in nearby Greenfield. Hawley itself does not have train, airplane, or bus services. The closest places for train and air travel are Greenfield and North Adams. For longer train trips, the nearest Amtrak station is in Pittsfield. The closest major airport is Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
Hawley's Weather
Hawley has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold, snowy winters.
| Climate data for East Hawley, Massachusetts, 1991–2020 normals: 1,647 feet (502 m) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.2 (−2.1) |
31.0 (−0.6) |
39.4 (4.1) |
51.3 (10.7) |
62.6 (17.0) |
70.1 (21.2) |
74.8 (23.8) |
74.1 (23.4) |
67.5 (19.7) |
55.5 (13.1) |
44.6 (7.0) |
33.9 (1.1) |
52.8 (11.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 18.7 (−7.4) |
20.9 (−6.2) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
40.7 (4.8) |
51.3 (10.7) |
60.2 (15.7) |
64.1 (17.8) |
63.1 (17.3) |
56.6 (13.7) |
45.0 (7.2) |
35.8 (2.1) |
25.8 (−3.4) |
42.6 (5.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 9.2 (−12.7) |
10.7 (−11.8) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
30.0 (−1.1) |
40.0 (4.4) |
50.2 (10.1) |
53.4 (11.9) |
52.1 (11.2) |
45.6 (7.6) |
34.5 (1.4) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
32.4 (0.2) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Hawley?
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 881 | — |
| 1860 | 671 | −23.8% |
| 1870 | 672 | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 592 | −11.9% |
| 1890 | 515 | −13.0% |
| 1900 | 429 | −16.7% |
| 1910 | 424 | −1.2% |
| 1920 | 390 | −8.0% |
| 1930 | 313 | −19.7% |
| 1940 | 257 | −17.9% |
| 1950 | 244 | −5.1% |
| 1960 | 251 | +2.9% |
| 1970 | 224 | −10.8% |
| 1980 | 280 | +25.0% |
| 1990 | 317 | +13.2% |
| 2000 | 336 | +6.0% |
| 2010 | 337 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 353 | +4.7% |
| 2022* | 354 | +0.3% |
Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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In 2000, there were 336 people living in Hawley. This made it one of the smallest towns in Franklin County and in all of Massachusetts.
About 29.9% of the homes had children under 18 living there. The average family size was about 2.85 people. The median age of people in Hawley was 44 years old.
Learning in Hawley
Hawley and its neighbor, Charlemont, share a school district called the Hawlemont Regional School District. This district is part of the larger Mohawk Trail Regional School District, which serves many towns in western Franklin County.
Younger students in Hawley, from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade, go to the Hawlemont Regional Elementary School in Charlemont. After that, all students in the district attend Mohawk Trail Regional High School in Buckland.
There is also a private school in Charlemont called the Academy at Charlemont. Other private and religious schools can be found in nearby towns.
For higher education, the closest community college is Greenfield Community College in Greenfield. The nearest state college is Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams. The biggest state university is the University of Massachusetts Amherst. If you're looking for a private college, Williams College in Williamstown is close by, and there are several others near Northampton.
Famous People from Hawley
- David Dunnels White: He was nominated for the Medal of Honor, which is a very brave award. He was recognized for capturing Major General Custis Lee, who was the son of General Robert E. Lee, during the Battle of Sailor's Creek in the Civil War. David Dunnels White is buried in the Bozrah cemetery in East Hawley.
- Alice Parker: A well-known composer, who writes music.
See also
In Spanish: Hawley (Massachusetts) para niños
