Monson, Massachusetts Facts for Kids

Monson is a town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, in the United States. In 2020, about 8,150 people lived there. Monson is part of the larger Springfield Metropolitan Area.

The area known as Monson Center is right in the middle of the town.

History of Monson
Geography of Monson
Population and People
Education in Monson
Transportation
Notable people
Notable places and mills
See also

History of Monson

Early Settlement and Founding

The first European settler in what is now Monson was Ian Farry in 1657. He received 200 acres of land from the Massachusetts General Court. Farry built a tavern along the Bay Path, a main road from Springfield to Boston. This was the first house between Springfield and Brookfield. However, Farry soon left due to fears of attacks from local Native Americans.

Permanent settlers began arriving in 1715. In 1735, the town of Brimfield was formed, and it included the area that would become Monson. Later, the western part of Brimfield separated. It officially became the town of Monson in 1775. The town was named after Sir John Monson. He was a friend of the Massachusetts governor and led the British Board of Trade.

Industries and Growth

In the 1800s and early 1900s, many factories were built along the Chicopee Brook. This brook flows through the center of Monson. One very successful business was the woolen mills. These mills made cloth from wool. Important business owners like Joseph L. Reynolds and S. F. Cushman ran these mills. There was also a successful factory on Main Street that made straw and felt items.

Monson was also famous for its granite quarries. These are places where large stones are dug out of the ground. The first quarry opened in 1809. It was used by the government to get stone for the Springfield Armory. Later, Rufus Flynt bought it and started a business in 1825. By 1900, his company, W.N. Flynt Granite Co., had nearly 500 employees. The quarry continued to operate until about 1935.

2011 Tornado Impact

On June 1, 2011, a strong tornado hit Monson. It was an EF3 tornado, which is a very powerful type. The tornado caused about $11.9 million in damage. It damaged 238 buildings, and 77 of them were so badly damaged they couldn't be fixed.

Several important town buildings were hurt or destroyed. The First Church of Monson and the Unitarian Universalist Church both lost their steeples. The historic 1900 Holmes Gymnasium was completely destroyed. The town office building, which used to be the first Monson High School, was also badly damaged and had to be torn down in 2013.

Geography of Monson

Monson is located in the eastern part of Hampden County. Massachusetts Route 32 goes through the town. This road leads north 4 miles to Palmer and south 5 miles to the Connecticut border. Springfield is about 15 miles to the west. Worcester is 34 miles northeast, and Hartford, Connecticut, is 37 miles southwest.

The town covers about 116 square kilometers (44.8 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. The central part of Monson is drained by Chicopee Brook. This brook flows north into the Quaboag River. Other parts of the town drain into different rivers that eventually lead to the Connecticut River or the Thames River.

Monson shares its borders with several other towns. To the north are Palmer and U.S. Route 20. To the east are Brimfield and Wales. To the south is Stafford, Connecticut. To the west are Hampden and Wilbraham.

Population and People

Monson has seen its population change over the years. In 1850, about 2,831 people lived here. By 1950, the population had grown to 6,125. In 2020, the town had 8,150 residents.

In 2000, there were about 3,095 households in Monson. About 34.2% of these households had children under 18 living there. Most households (57.9%) were married couples. The average household had 2.63 people.

The median age in Monson was 38 years old. About 25.2% of the population was under 18. About 10.9% of residents were 65 years or older.

Education in Monson

Monson has three public schools for its students.

Quarry Hill Community School is for preschool and kindergarten.
Granite Valley Middle School teaches students from first to sixth grade.
Monson High School serves students from seventh to twelfth grade.

In the 2017–2018 school year, about 929 students attended Monson Public Schools.

Monson was also home to a private school called Monson Academy. It started in 1804. In 1847, it became the first American school to welcome Chinese students. Many famous people went to Monson Academy. These include Lucy Stone, who fought for equal rights for women and to end slavery. Two United States Supreme Court justices, William Strong and Henry Billings Brown, also graduated from there.

Some notable teachers at the academy included Frances Perkins, who later became the first female US Secretary of Labor. Louise Torrey Taft, the mother of President William Howard Taft, also taught there. In 1971, Monson Academy joined with Wilbraham Academy to form Wilbraham & Monson Academy.

Transportation

Two main roads pass through Monson. Massachusetts Route 32 is the main north-south road in the downtown area. US Route 20 forms part of the northern border of the town. It also crosses a small part of the northeastern corner.

Train tracks also run through Monson. The New England Central Railroad goes north-south, similar to Route 32. There is no passenger train service available. Another train line, the Boston & Albany Railroad, crosses the northwestern part of town. This line is now operated by CSX.

Notable people

Allan Bérubé (1946–2007), historian, activist, and author
Samuel Robbins Brown (1810–1880), missionary
George Stewart Miller (1884–1971), educator
Effie Maud Aldrich Morrison, planned the first senior housing project
Arthur D. Norcross (1848–1916), musician and politician
Erasmus D. Peck (1808–1876), Congressman
Albert G. Riddle (1816–1902), Congressman
Sal Salvador (1928–1999), jazz musician
James Hayden Tufts (1862-1942), philosopher
Eliphalet Trask (1806-1890), Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
Henry Martin Tupper (1831–1893), minister and educator
William L. Utley (1814–1887), military officer and politician
Brian Burrows (1983-present), professional fisherman

Notable places and mills

Conant Brook Dam
First Church of Monson
W.N. Flynt Granite Co.
Memorial Town Hall
Monson High School
Peaked Mountain
William Norcross House
Omega Metal Processing
S. F. Cushman Woolen Mill
Monson Bellmen
Monson Developmental Center

Monson, Massachusetts facts for kids

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