Wales, Massachusetts

For alternate meanings, see Wales (disambiguation).

Wales, Massachusetts
Town
Seal
Motto(s):  The Past Our Heritage, The Future Our Legacy
Location in Hampden County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°04′10″N72°13′22″W / 42.06944°N 72.22278°W / 42.06944; -72.22278
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Hampden
Settled	1726
Incorporated	1775
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	15.9 sq mi (41.3 km2)
• Land	15.7 sq mi (40.7 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation	949 ft (289 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,832
• Density	110/sq mi (44/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	01081
Area code	413
FIPS code	25-72390
GNIS feature ID	0619389
Website	www.townofwales.net

Wales is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,838 at the 2020 census. ^[1] It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Stone marker at Wales historical cemetery commemorating the pioneers who founded the Town of Wales

Wales was first settled by Europeans in 1726 and was officially incorporated on August 23, 1775, as "South Brimfield," a name it kept until February 20, 1828. The town was renamed after James Lawrence Wales, a local benefactor. ^[2] Initial settlers included Anthony Needham, John Bullen, and Samuel and Dorothy Munger. The next generation of Mungers became prominent in the town. Samuel (Jr.) served as a selectman and was deacon of the Baptist Church for many years. Nathaniel was one of 12 men of the district appointed as a "court of Justice and Honor to determine all controversies that may hereafter arise in said District," and was also a deacon of the Baptist Church. The "Meadow District" of Wales was originally known as "Munger's Meadow" and includes graves of early pioneers. ^[3]

Geography

Pond at Wales, Massachusetts

By the 2010 census, the population had reached 1,838.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41.3 km²), of which 15.7 square miles (40.7 km²) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²), or 1.46%, are water. ^[4] Wales is in southeastern Hampden County and is bounded on the west by Monson; on the south by Stafford and Union, Connecticut; on the east by Holland; and on the north by Brimfield.

Massachusetts Route 19 crosses the town, leading north 4 miles (6 km) to the center of Brimfield and south 10 miles (16 km) (via Connecticut Route 19) to Stafford Springs, Connecticut.

Education

Wales Elementary School, serving grades K–6, has its own school committee, part of School Union 61. Wales students attend Tantasqua Regional Junior High School (grades 7–8) and Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge. Union 61 and the Tantasqua district share administrators, including the superintendent, and both include Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.

Library

The Wales Public Library opened in 1897. ^{[5] [6]} In fiscal year 2008, the town of Wales spent 1.28% ($45,480) of its budget on its public library—approximately $24 per person, per year ($31.63 adjusted for inflation to 2022). ^[7]

Wales Public Library

Demographics

As of the census ^[8] of 2000, there had been 1,737 people, 660 households, and 481 families residing in the town. The population density was 110.3 inhabitants per square mile (42.6/km²). There were 796 housing units at an average density of 50.5 per square mile (19.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.75% White, 0.52% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1850	711	—
1860	677	−4.8%
1870	831	+22.7%
1880	1,030	+23.9%
1890	700	−32.0%
1900	773	+10.4%
1910	345	−55.4%
1920	419	+21.4%
1930	300	−28.4%
1940	367	+22.3%
1950	497	+35.4%
1960	659	+32.6%
1970	852	+29.3%
1980	1,177	+38.1%
1990	1,566	+33.1%
2000	1,737	+10.9%
2010	1,838	+5.8%
2020	1,832	−0.3%
2022	1,807	−1.4%
Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

There were 660 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, and 11.1% had a female head of household with no husband present.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,906, and the median income for a family was $51,629. Males had a median income of $39,766 versus $27,557 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,267. About 1.8% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: Wales town, Hampden County, Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
2. "Profile for Wales, Massachusetts". ePodunk . Retrieved April 25, 2010.
3. Munger, J. B., The Munger Book: Something of the Mungers, 1639-1914, pp. 203-13, The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., 1915.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Wales town, Hampden County, Massachusetts". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
5. Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. v.9 (1899)
6. "Library". Archived from the original on July 4, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
7. July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008; cf. "The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What's Your Share?" Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: Municipal Pie Reports Archived January 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved August 4, 2010
8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
9. "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
10. "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
11. "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
12. "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
13. "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
14. "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
15. "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
16. "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
17. "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
18. "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
19. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 24, 2023.

External links

• Town of Wales official website