Templeton, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 First Church of Templeton | |
 Seal | |
| Motto: "Industry" | |
 Location inWorcester County andMassachusetts. | |
| Coordinates:42°33′20″N72°04′05″W / 42.55556°N 72.06806°W /42.55556; -72.06806 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Settled | 1751 |
| Incorporated | 1762 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Open town meeting |
| • Select Board Chair | Michael Currie (2025) |
| • Select Board |
|
| Area | |
• Total | 32.4 sq mi (83.9 km2) |
| • Land | 32.0 sq mi (83.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.39 sq mi (1.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,142 ft (348 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 8,149 |
| • Density | 254/sq mi (98.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Codes |
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| Area code | 351/978 |
| FIPS code | 25-69275 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619492 |
| Website | www |
Templeton is a town inWorcester County,Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,149 at the2020 census.[1] The town comprises four main villages: Templeton Center, East Templeton,Baldwinville, and Otter River.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.4 square miles (84 km2), of which 32.0 square miles (83 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), or 1.17%, is water.
Templeton is bordered byRoyalston andWinchendon to the north,Gardner to the east,Hubbardston to the southeast, andPhillipston to the west.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2,173 | — |
| 1860 | 2,816 | +29.6% |
| 1870 | 2,802 | −0.5% |
| 1880 | 2,789 | −0.5% |
| 1890 | 2,999 | +7.5% |
| 1900 | 3,489 | +16.3% |
| 1910 | 3,756 | +7.7% |
| 1920 | 4,019 | +7.0% |
| 1930 | 4,159 | +3.5% |
| 1940 | 4,601 | +10.6% |
| 1950 | 4,757 | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 5,371 | +12.9% |
| 1970 | 5,863 | +9.2% |
| 1980 | 6,070 | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 6,438 | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 6,799 | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 8,013 | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 8,149 | +1.7% |
| 2023* | 8,261 | +1.4% |
| * = population estimate. Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] | ||
As of thecensus[13] of 2000, there were 6,799 people, 2,411 households, and 1,808 families residing in the town. The population density was 212.2 inhabitants per square mile (81.9/km2). There were 2,597 housing units at an average density of 81.1 per square mile (31.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.15%White, 0.35%African American, 0.22%Native American, 0.28%Asian, 0.43% fromother races, and 0.57% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.44% of the population. Other ethnicities: 19.2% were ofFrench, 13.3%French Canadian, 12.8%Irish, 10.1%Italian, 9.6%English, 8.0%Polish, 5.4%Finnish and 5.4%American ancestry according toCensus 2000.
There were 2,411 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% weremarried couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. Of all households, 19.7% were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,482, and the median income for a family was $52,936. Males had a median income of $38,088 versus $26,993 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $21,994. About 7.4% of families and 9.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Templeton is part of the Narragansett Regional School District, along with the neighboring town ofPhillipston. Elementary School students from both towns attend Templeton Elementary School, middle school students attend Narragansett Regional Middle School, and high school students attendNarragansett Regional High School. The district previously also included Phillipston Memorial Elementary School, located on Phillipston Common, but that school was closed at the end of the 2019-2020 school year and all students relocated to Templeton Elementary School for the 2020-2021 academic year.
| State government | |
|---|---|
| State Representative(s): | Jonathan Zlotnik (D) |
| State Senator(s): | Peter Durant (R) |
| Governor's Councilor(s): | Paul DePalo (D) |
| Federal government | |
| U.S. Representative(s): | James P. McGovern (D-2nd District), |
| U.S. Senators: | Elizabeth Warren (D),Ed Markey (D) |
Templeton's Boynton Public Library began in 1868 and named afterJohn Boynton.[14][15] In fiscal year 2008, the town of Templeton spent 0.49% ($53,608) of its budget on its public library—approximately $6 per person, per year ($7.91 adjusted for inflation to 2022).[16]
Otter River State Forest, operated by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, is located by Beamon Pond and includes 85 campsites, a swimming beach, picnic areas and a ball field.
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