Hopedale, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hopedale, Massachusetts
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| Town of Hopedale | |||
Hopedale Community House
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Hopedale Pond
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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 | 1660 | ||
| Incorporated | 1886 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 5.3 sq mi (13.8 km2) | ||
| • Land | 5.2 sq mi (13.4 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 280 ft (85 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,017 | ||
| • Density | 1,135/sq mi (436.0/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP code |
01747
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| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-30945 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618366 | ||
| Website | www.hopedale-ma.gov | ||
Hopedale is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is about 25 miles southwest of Boston. Hopedale started as a special Christian community. Later, it became famous for the Draper Corporation, a big company that made machines called looms for weaving fabric. This company closed in 1980.
Today, Hopedale is a "bedroom community." This means many people who live here travel to Greater Boston for work. The town is also known for its excellent public schools. In 2020, about 6,017 people lived in Hopedale.
Contents
History of Hopedale
Hopedale was first settled by Europeans in 1660. Benjamin Albee built a mill here in 1664. This mill was on what is now the south side of Hopedale. A large area of the Blackstone Valley became the town of Mendon in 1780. Later, Milford separated from Mendon.
How Hopedale Got Its Name
On August 26, 1841, Adin Ballou and a group called the Practical Christians gave Hopedale its name. This was while it was still part of Milford. In 1842, Ballou and his group created the Hopedale Community. This was a special community based on Christian and socialist ideas. It was a "utopian commune," meaning they hoped to create a perfect society.
The Draper Family's Influence
The utopian community faced financial problems and went bankrupt in 1856. Ebenezer and George Draper, who made looms, bought its property. The Draper brothers started many businesses, like the Hopedale Machine Company.
Hopedale officially became its own town in 1886. It separated from Milford at that time. George Draper paid for and built the town hall, which opened in 1887. The Unitarian church and the Bancroft Memorial Library were also gifts from the Draper family. A beautiful marble statue outside the library was shipped from Rome in 1904.
The Draper Corporation's Legacy
The Draper family's loom business grew over many years. The Draper Corporation became the largest maker of textile looms in the United States. In 1967, another company bought Draper. The Draper factory in Hopedale closed on August 29, 1980.
For many years, people tried to reuse the old factory buildings. Finally, in 2020, it was decided the factory would be torn down. Demolition began in July 2020. By October 2020, the main factory was gone. Only a few smaller buildings remain in downtown Hopedale. What the land will be used for is not yet known.
Hopedale is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. However, much of the town is also in the Charles River area.
Geography and Nature
Hopedale covers about 5.3 square miles (13.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The biggest body of water is Hopedale Pond. It is near the town center.
Hopedale Pond is surrounded by the Parklands. This is a 275-acre public nature reserve. It has many walking trails. A famous landscape architect's firm designed the Parklands in 1899.
Hopedale is located in the Blackstone Valley.
Population and People
Hopedale has grown over the years. In 1890, there were 1,176 people. By 2020, the population was 6,017.
Who Lives in Hopedale?
In 2010, there were 5,911 people living in Hopedale. Most residents were White (96.1%). About 2.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (35.8%) had children under 18. Most families (58.8%) were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.58 people.
The median age in Hopedale was 39 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39 and half were older. About 23.9% of the population was under 18.
The median household income was $107,550. This means half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. Only a small number of families (2.9%) lived below the poverty line.
Education in Hopedale
Hopedale has its own public schools. Students in kindergarten through sixth grade go to Memorial School. Hopedale Junior Senior High School serves students in grades 7 through 12.
Hopedale's public schools are very highly rated. They are often ranked among the top 5% of high schools in the United States. In 2020, Hopedale High School was ranked 54th out of 650 public high schools in Massachusetts.
After a tough economic time, Hopedale thought about joining another regional high school. However, the community did not agree. They decided against it in 2010.
Famous People from Hopedale
- Adin Ballou – A leader in peace, social justice, and anti-slavery movements in the 1800s.
- Dick Bresciani – An executive for the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
- Brendan Burke – A coach in Major League Soccer.
- Eben Sumner Draper – He was the 44th Governor of Massachusetts.
- Dana Gould – A well-known comedian.
- Kevin Nee – A professional strongman athlete.
- Joe Perry – The lead guitarist for the famous rock band Aerosmith.
Images for kids
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Draper Factory
See also
In Spanish: Hopedale (Massachusetts) para niños
