Charlton, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 Charlton Center | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location inWorcester County and the state ofMassachusetts. | |
| Coordinates:42°08′08″N71°58′14″W / 42.13556°N 71.97056°W /42.13556; -71.97056 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Settled | 1735 |
| Incorporated | 1775 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
• Total | 43.8 sq mi (113.4 km2) |
| • Land | 42.5 sq mi (110.2 km2) |
| • Water | 1.2 sq mi (3.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 896 ft (273 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,315 |
| • Density | 312.9/sq mi (120.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Codes |
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| Area code | 508 /774 |
| FIPS code | 25-12715 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618359 |
| Website | www |
Charlton is a town inWorcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,315 at the2020 census.[1]
Charlton was first settled in 1735.[2] It was established as a District separated fromOxford on January 10, 1755, and became a Town on August 23, 1775, by a law that made all Districts into Towns to help for the cause of theRevolutionary War.[3] It was named afterSir Francis Charlton, 4th Baronet Charlton.[4] During the 1800s, farming continued to be the major occupation, but woolen mills were being built along some of the town's brooks by the turn of the twentieth century.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.8 square miles (113 km2), of which 42.5 square miles (110 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (2.86%) is water.
The town is bordered on the west bySturbridge; on the north byEast Brookfield,Spencer andLeicester; on the east byOxford; and on the south byDudley andSouthbridge.
Charlton is bisected by north–southRoute 31, which runs through the historical villages of Charlton Center, Charlton City and Charlton Depot. North-southRoute 169 connects Charlton City with Southbridge. East–west routes includeRoute 20, a major commuter road, and theMassachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90), which crosses through Charlton but does not have an exit in the town. While there is no exit for the town, there are two rest stops on the Mass Pike that are in Charlton.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2,015 | — |
| 1860 | 2,047 | +1.6% |
| 1870 | 1,878 | −8.3% |
| 1880 | 1,900 | +1.2% |
| 1890 | 1,847 | −2.8% |
| 1900 | 1,860 | +0.7% |
| 1910 | 2,032 | +9.2% |
| 1920 | 1,995 | −1.8% |
| 1930 | 2,154 | +8.0% |
| 1940 | 2,557 | +18.7% |
| 1950 | 3,136 | +22.6% |
| 1960 | 3,685 | +17.5% |
| 1970 | 4,654 | +26.3% |
| 1980 | 6,719 | +44.4% |
| 1990 | 9,576 | +42.5% |
| 2000 | 11,263 | +17.6% |
| 2010 | 12,981 | +15.3% |
| 2020 | 13,315 | +2.6% |
| 2022* | 13,360 | +0.3% |
| * = population estimate. Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] | ||
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 11,263 people, 3,788 households, and 3,045 families residing in the town. The population density was 264.8 inhabitants per square mile (102.2/km2). There were 4,008 housing units at an average density of 94.2 per square mile (36.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.08%White, 0.46%African American, 0.23%Native American, 0.20%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 0.34% fromother races, and 0.62% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 3,788 households, out of which 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.4% weremarried couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 34.4% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $63,033, and the median income for a family was $70,208. Males had a median income of $46,727 versus $33,451 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $23,626. About 4.9% of families and 5.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
Charlton has anopen town meeting form of government, with a five-memberBoard of Selectmen.
| Role | Term ends | |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Lancette | Chairman | 2026 |
| Karen Spiewak | Member | 2028 |
| Barbara Zurawski | Clerk | 2027 |
| Stephen Koronis | Member | 2026 |
| David Singer | Member | 2027 |
| State government | |
|---|---|
| State Representative(s): | John Marsi (R),Paul K. Frost (R) |
| State Senator(s): | Ryan Fattman (R) |
| Governor's Councilor(s): | Paul DePalo (D) |
| Federal government | |
| U.S. Representative(s): | Richard E. Neal (D-1st District), |
| U.S. Senators: | Elizabeth Warren (D),Ed Markey (D) |
The Charlton Free Public Library was established in 1882.[18][19] In fiscal year 2008, the town of Charlton spent 1.73% ($306,971) of its budget on its public library—some $24 per person.[20] The library gained national recognition in 1906 after it bannedMark Twain's short story "Eve's Diary" for its illustrations of Eve in "summer costume." Twain testified before Congress after the incident saying, "The whole episode has rather amused me. I have no feeling of vindictiveness over the stand of the librarians there—I am only amused. You see they did not object to my book; they objected to Lester Ralph's pictures. I wrote the book; I did not make the pictures. I admire the pictures, and I heartily approve them, but I did not make them. It seems curious to me—some of the incidents in this case. It appears that the pictures in Eve's Diary were first discovered by a lady librarian. When she made the dreadful find, being very careful, she jumped at no hasty conclusions—not she—she examined the horrid things in detail. It took her some time to examine them all, but she did her hateful duty! I don't blame her for this careful examination; the time she spent was, I am sure, enjoyable, for I found considerable fascination in them myself. Then she took the book to another librarian, a male this time, and he, also, took a long time to examine the unclothed ladies. He must have found something of the same sort of fascination in them that I found."[citation needed]
Charlton public schools are part of the Dudley–Charlton RegionalSchool district. Charlton Elementary serves students inkindergarten andfirst grade. The Heritage School serves students in grades 2 through 4. The Charlton Middle School serves grades 5 through 8. Charlton High Schoolers (ninth grade throughtwelfth grade) attendShepherd Hill Regional High School inDudley.
Charlton is also home toBay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School which serves Charlton and surrounding communities.
There used to be a high school in the center of town called Charlton High School. That building is now used for the Charlton Municipal Offices.
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42°8′2.63″N71°58′8.46″W / 42.1340639°N 71.9690167°W /42.1340639; -71.9690167
