West Brookfield, Massachusetts

For the census-designated place, see West Brookfield (CDP), Massachusetts.

West Brookfield, Massachusetts
Town
Town Hall
Seal
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 42°14′07″N72°08′30″W / 42.23528°N 72.14167°W / 42.23528; -72.14167
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Worcester
Settled	1664
Incorporated	1848
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	21.1 sq mi (54.7 km2)
• Land	20.5 sq mi (53.0 km2)
• Water	0.6 sq mi (1.7 km2)
Elevation	633 ft (193 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,833
• Density	180/sq mi (70/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	01585
Area code	508 / 774
FIPS code	25-75400
GNIS feature ID	0618392
Website	http://www.wbrookfield.com/

West Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,833 at the 2020 census. ^[1] Lucy Stone was born in West Brookfield, and George and Charles Merriam, the publishers of Webster's Dictionary, were raised there.

For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place West Brookfield, please see the article West Brookfield (CDP), Massachusetts.

History

West Brookfield was first settled by Europeans in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1848, splitting off from Brookfield, which was originally settled as part of the Quaboag Plantation. ^[2]

The town is believed to be the birthplace of asparagus in the New World. Diederik Leertouwer came to the United States in 1784 to promote trade between the Netherlands and New England. He later settled with his wife and daughter in West Brookfield where he carried out his duties as Consul and lived here between the years 1794 and 1798. At that time West Brookfield had a population greater than Worcester and was being considered for the county seat. Local legend has it that Diederik Leertouwer imported asparagus from his homeland and was the first to plant it in this area. This fact was forgotten until it was discovered in an old cookbook. Wild asparagus still grows in this area today. Leertouwer died here and is buried in the Old Indian Cemetery on Cottage Street in West Brookfield. ^[3]

The town is also home to the Rock House Reservation, a massive, cave-like rock shelter, exposed after the glacial retreat 10,000 years ago, that served as a winter camp for Native Americans. By the mid-1800s, it was part of a farm owned by William Adams whose descendant, F. A. Carter, dammed a small stream to create Carter Pond and built the cottage now serving as a trailside museum and nature center. The reservation is open year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Admission is free to all. ^[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.1 square miles (55 km²), of which 20.5 square miles (53 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), or 3.03%, is water. West Brookfield is bounded on the southeast by Brookfield, on the north by North Brookfield and New Braintree, on the west by Ware and on the southwest by Warren. Route 9 is the main route in town. Other routes include Route 67, Route 19 (which begins in West Brookfield), and Route 32.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1850	1,344	—
1860	1,548	+15.2%
1870	1,842	+19.0%
1880	1,917	+4.1%
1890	1,592	−17.0%
1900	1,448	−9.0%
1910	1,327	−8.4%
1920	1,281	−3.5%
1930	1,255	−2.0%
1940	1,387	+10.5%
1950	1,674	+20.7%
1960	2,053	+22.6%
1970	2,653	+29.2%
1980	3,026	+14.1%
1990	3,532	+16.7%
2000	3,804	+7.7%
2010	3,701	−2.7%
2020	3,833	+3.6%
2022*	3,817	−0.4%
* = population estimate. Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

As of the census ^[16] of 2000, there were 3,804 people, 1,362 households, and 965 families residing in the town. The population density was 185.8 inhabitants per square mile (71.7/km²). There were 1,534 housing units at an average density of 74.9 per square mile (28.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.16% White, 0.32% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 1,362 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,722, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $41,211 versus $29,783 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,501. About 4.0% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

State government
State Representative(s):	Donnie Berthiaume (R)
State Senator(s):	Peter Durant (R)
Governor's Councilor(s):	Jen Caissie (R)
Federal government
U.S. Representative(s):	{{{fed_rep}}}
U.S. Senators:	Elizabeth Warren (D), Ed Markey (D)

West Brookfield public library, 1899

Library

The Merriam-Gilbert Public Library was built in 1880 when Charles Merriam (born in West Brookfield in 1806), famous for publishing the first Webster's Dictionary, provided the funding for the structure. After seven months of construction, the building was dedicated as the Merriam Public Library and Reading Room. The Library was eventually re-dedicated in 1960 as the Merriam-Gilbert Public Library after it received an unexpected and generous bequest from Helen E. Gilbert, a former West Brookfield native.

The exterior of the Library remains relatively unchanged with the exception of a cupola, which was destroyed in the Hurricane of 1938. Also, an elevator tower was discreetly added during the 1997 building renovation project that both refurbished and made the building accessible to the handicapped. ^[17]

The following includes the names of those who have served as Head Librarian (Director) throughout the Library's history: Thomas S. Knowlton, 1880–1894; Charlotte E. Wilbur, 1895–1899; Florence A. Johnson, 1900–1906; Mary P. Foster, 1907–1916; Helen P. Shackley, 1916–1948; Evelyn Hazen, 1948–1951; Freeda E. Huyck, 1951–1953; Doris Jones, 1954–1955; Mildred B. Grazier, 1956–1960; Isabel Smith, 1960–1965; Joanne Scobie, 1965–1967; Roberta M. Rhodes, 1967–1987; Mary Hulser, 1987–1997; Michael J. Bennett, 1997–1999; Louise Garwood (Interim), 1999–2000; Elizabeth Zemelka, 2000–2001; Lisa M. Careau, 2001–2011; Carrie Grimshaw, 2011–2015; Katie Marsh, 2015–2017; MaryAnne Pelletier, 2017-2024; Amy Agro, 2024-present.

In fiscal year 2008, the town of West Brookfield spent 3.11% ($167,532) of its budget on its public library—approximately $44 per person, per year ($57.98 adjusted for inflation to 2022). ^[18]

Education

There is one public school in West Brookfield, West Brookfield Elementary School, serving grades K–6. West Brookfield is regionalized with Warren; students in grades 7–12 from both towns attend Quaboag Regional Middle/High School in Warren.

Notable people

• Lucy Stone, prominent American suffragist
• George Merrick Rice, businessman and Massachusetts state senator
• Daniel Henry Chamberlain, 76th Governor of South Carolina
• Doug McMurdy, Springfield Indians hockey player, Red Tilson Trophy winner

References

1. "Census - Geography Profile: West Brookfield town, Worcester County, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 11, 2021.
2. "Brief History of Quaboag Plantation". West Brookfield Historical Society. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
3. "The Legend of Diederick Leertouwer and Asparagus in New England." Diederick Leertouwer. West Brookfield Historical Commission, January 5, 2009. Web. November 7, 2011. <http://www.westbrookfield.org/history-of-asparagus.htm>.
4. "Rock House Reservation." West Brookfield Historical Commission. West Brookfield Historical Commission, October 25, 2006. Web. November 8, 2011. <http://www.westbrookfield.org/rockhouse.htm>.
5. "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
6. "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
7. "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.
8. "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.
9. "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.
10. "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.
11. "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.
12. "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.
13. "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.
14. "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
15. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 11, 2023.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
17. "About the Library." Merriam-Gilbert Public Library. Merriam-Gilbert Public Library, November 4, 2011. Web. November 8, 2011. <http://www.wbrookfieldlibrary.org/about.html>.
18. 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

External links

• Town of West Brookfield official website