New Salem, Massachusetts
|
|
New Salem is a town located in Franklin County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 929.
History
New Salem was first settled in 1737 and was officially incorporated in 1775.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 152.2 km² (58.8 mi²). 116.5 km² (45.0 mi²) of it is land and 35.7 km² (13.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 23.44% water.
New Salem now contains portions of Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott, Massachusetts, three of the four towns that were disincorporated in 1938 to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 929 people, 379 households, and 264 families residing in the town. The population density is 8.0/km² (20.7/mi²). There are 422 housing units at an average density of 3.6/km² (9.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.48% White, 0.75% African American, 0.54% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 379 households out of which 30.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% are married couples living together, 8.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% are non-families. 21.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.45 and the average family size is 2.88.
In the town the population is spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $48,688, and the median income for a family is $54,500. Males have a median income of $38,000 versus $27,188 for females. The per capita income for the town is $23,234. 6.3% of the population and 3.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.8% of those under the age of 18 and 3.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.