Turners Falls, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Turners Falls, Massachusetts
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Turners Falls at Great Falls Discovery Center
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Location in Franklin County in Massachusetts
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Franklin |
| Town | Montague |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.30 sq mi (5.96 km2) |
| • Land | 1.90 sq mi (4.92 km2) |
| • Water | 0.40 sq mi (1.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 240 ft (70 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,512 |
| • Density | 2,373.49/sq mi (916.40/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
01349, 01376
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| Area code(s) | 413 |
| FIPS code | 25-70815 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0608956 |
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Turners Falls Historic District
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Turners Falls, Massachusetts |
| Built | 1867 |
| Architect | William P. Crocker, C.W. Hazelton |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004966 |
| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1982 |
Turners Falls is a village and a special area called a census-designated place in the town of Montague. It is located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, in the United States. In 2020, about 4,512 people lived there.
Turners Falls is part of the larger Springfield, Massachusetts area. Sometimes, people use the name "Turners Falls" to talk about the whole town of Montague. This is because Turners Falls is the main business area and has more than half of Montague's population.
Contents
Exploring Turners Falls Geography
Turners Falls is located at 42°35′56″N 72°33′25″W / 42.59889°N 72.55694°W.
The village covers a total area of about 6 square kilometers (2.3 square miles). Most of this area, about 4.9 square kilometers (1.9 square miles), is land. The rest, about 1 square kilometer (0.4 square miles), is water. This means that about 17% of the village's area is covered by water.
Turners Falls Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 4,512 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 4,512 people living in Turners Falls. There were 2,015 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. Out of these, 1,153 were families.
The average number of people in a household was 2.22. For families, the average size was 2.87 people.
History and Culture of Turners Falls
The village of Turners Falls was created in 1868. It was planned as a place for factories and businesses. A man named Alvah Crocker from Fitchburg had a big idea. He saw the powerful waterfalls and imagined a great city built around them.
Crocker wanted to bring industries to the town. He planned to offer cheap hydropower, which is energy made from moving water. This power would come from a dam and canal built on the Connecticut River. He planned to sell land next to the canal to companies. He also sold building lots to workers who would come to work in the new factories. The village was designed with streets laid out in a grid pattern. Avenue A, the main shopping area, was planned as a wide street with trees.
The Turners Falls Massacre Event
Turners Falls is the largest of five villages in the area. It was named after Captain William Turner. He was an important person during the region's Indian Wars. In 1676, during King Philip's War, Captain Turner led about 160 soldiers. They made a surprise attack on a Native American camp near the falls.
The attack happened on a sleeping village of Native Americans. It took place on the Gill side of the Great Falls. Many people died during the attack, including women and children. The area by the falls was a traditional meeting place for the Pocumtuk, Nipmuc, and Wabanaki tribes. They gathered there because there was a lot of salmon and shad fish.
During the soldiers' retreat, at least 40 of them were killed. Some, like the Chaplain, Reverend Hope Atherton, got separated. They had to find their way back alone. Some made it, but others never returned.
Captain Turner's body was found about a month later. He was buried on a hill west of where he fell. Today, a special marker shows that spot.
The Turners Falls massacre was called the Battle of Turner's Falls at the time. Many people see it as a turning point in King Philip's War. After this event, Native American leaders started to talk about making peace with the English. The war ended not long after.
To remember the sad events of the Turners Falls massacre, the town of Montague held a special ceremony. On May 19, 2004, they had a Reconciliation Day. Representatives from different Native American tribes joined them to mark the town's 250th anniversary.
Turners Falls Historic District
The main part of the village is a historic district. This means it's a special area recognized for its history. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This area is known as the Turners Falls Historic District. It is generally located between the Connecticut River, the Power Canal, 9th Street, and L Street.
Places to Visit in Turners Falls
If you visit Turners Falls, here are some interesting places you might want to see:
- Turners Falls Canal
- Great Falls Discovery Center
- Gill–Montague Bridge
- The Shea Theater
- Canalside Rail Trail
Famous People from Turners Falls
Here are some notable people who have connections to Turners Falls:
- Robert E. Bourdeau, an astrophysicist and project manager for Explorer 8
- Rico Brogna, a former professional baseball player
- Philip H. Hoff (1924–2018), who was the 73rd Governor of Vermont
- Walter Kostanski (1923–2015), a Massachusetts state representative and funeral director
See also
In Spanish: Turners Falls (Massachusetts) para niños
