Tolland, Massachusetts Facts for Kids

Tolland is a small town located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is part of the larger Springfield area. In 2020, about 471 people lived there. This makes Tolland the smallest town in Hampden County based on its population.

History of Tolland
Geography of Tolland
- Waterways and Land Area
- Natural Areas
Population and People
Education in Tolland
Tolland Public Library
Notable Person from Tolland
See also

History of Tolland

Tolland was first settled by people in 1750. At that time, it was part of a nearby town called Granville. Later, in 1810, Tolland officially became its own separate town.

Geography of Tolland

Tolland is in the southwestern part of Hampden County. It shares borders with several other towns and states.

To the north, it borders Otis and Blandford.
To the east, it borders Granville.
To the south, it borders Hartland and Colebrook, Connecticut in Connecticut.
To the west, it borders Sandisfield.

Massachusetts Route 57 is a main road that goes through the middle of Tolland. This road connects the town to Agawam to the east and New Marlborough to the west.

Waterways and Land Area

The West Branch of the Farmington River forms most of Tolland's western edge. The southern part of Otis Reservoir is in the northern area of the town. Rivers and streams in Tolland flow into the Connecticut River watershed. This means all the water from these rivers eventually makes its way to the Connecticut River.

The town covers a total area of about 84.9 square kilometers (32.8 square miles). Most of this area, about 81.7 square kilometers (31.5 square miles), is land. The rest, about 3.2 square kilometers (1.2 square miles), is water.

Natural Areas

A significant part of Tolland's land is protected. This includes areas within Tolland State Forest and Granville State Forest. These forests help preserve the natural beauty and wildlife of the town.

Population and People

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	594	—
1860	596	+0.3%
1870	509	−14.6%
1880	452	−11.2%
1890	393	−13.1%
1900	275	−30.0%
1910	180	−34.5%
1920	192	+6.7%
1930	134	−30.2%
1940	129	−3.7%
1950	107	−17.1%
1960	101	−5.6%
1970	172	+70.3%
1980	235	+36.6%
1990	289	+23.0%
2000	426	+47.4%
2010	485	+13.8%
2020	471	−2.9%
2022*	467	−0.8%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

In 2000, there were 426 people living in Tolland. They lived in 169 households, with 114 of these being families. The town had about 13.5 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Tolland were White.

The population included people of all ages. About 23.9% of the residents were under 18 years old. The median age in the town was 41 years old. This means half the people were younger than 41, and half were older.

Education in Tolland

Tolland is part of the Southwick Regional School District. This district also includes the towns of Granville and Southwick.

Younger students attend Woodland School for grades K-2.
Students in grades 3-6 go to Powder Mill School.
For middle and high school, students attend Southwick Regional School for grades 7-12.

Tolland Public Library

The Tolland Public Library first opened in 1892. It serves as an important resource for the community. In 2008, the town spent about $10,271 on its public library. This worked out to about $22 per person each year.

Notable Person from Tolland

John Easton Mills (1796–1847) was born in Tolland. He later became the fifth Mayor of Montréal, Canada, serving from 1846 to 1847.

Tolland, Massachusetts facts for kids

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