Holden, Massachusetts

Holden, Massachusetts
Holden Center
Holden Center
Official seal of Holden, Massachusetts
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 42°21′06″N 71°51′50″W / 42.35167°N 71.86389°W / 42.35167; -71.86389Coordinates: 42°21′06″N 71°51′50″W / 42.35167°N 71.86389°W / 42.35167; -71.86389
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyWorcester
Settled1723
Incorporated1742
Government
 • TypeOpen town meeting
 • Town
   Manager
Dean Holden of Salford
 • Board of
   Selectmen
John Lansdown
Mark Ashton
Swiss Toni
Downsy
Steven Lansdown
Area
 • Total36.2 sq mi (93.8 km2)
 • Land35.0 sq mi (90.6 km2)
 • Water1.2 sq mi (3.2 km2)
Elevation860 ft (262 m)
Population
(2020)
 • Total19,969
 • Density550/sq mi (210/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
01520 & 01522
Area code(s)508 / 774
FIPS code25-30560
GNIS feature ID0618365
Websitewww.holdenma.gov//

Holden is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The town was founded in 1742, and the Town Square (Center, Common) was donated by John Hancock, former Governor of Massachusetts. The population was 19,969 at the 2020 census. In addition, the town has earned the nickname 'Hoop City' among its younger residents.

History

Modern-day Holden and the surrounding areas were the traditional homelands of the Nipmuc people.

Holden was named for Samuel Holden, a director of the Bank of England.

The Town of Holden was incorporated on January 9, 1741 from what was then called the “North Half” of Worcester. Like all Massachusetts communities, Holden has changed over the years. Originally a rural farming area, the town began to take on a new look in the early 1800s. Villages began to develop throughout the town around textile mills that were taking advantage of the water power provided by the local streams and rivers. Between 1860 and 1900 villages such as Chaffin, Unionville, Lovellville, Quinapoxet, Dawsonville, North Woods, Bryantville, Springdale, Eagleville, and Jefferson were known to all residents. The areas around these villages were becoming home to increasing numbers of immigrant families who worked in the mills. At the same time the Jefferson section of Holden became a summer retreat for people from Boston and New York as they tried to escape the heat of the cities. Summer hotels like the Jefferson House, The Elmwood House, The Summit House, and the largest of them all—The Mt. Pleasant House dotted the hills of the northwest part of Holden. Numerous farms also became boarding houses to handle the overflow guests. By the early 1900s most of the mills became the victim of the development of the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs that would supply drinking water to the city of Boston. The summer hotels slowly became victim to the same development as well as fire. The current golf course at Holden Hills Country Club is the only surviving aspect of Holden’s hotel era. Following World War II, Holden began to transition into its current status as a “bedroom community” to the surrounding urban areas.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.2 square miles (94 km2), of which 35.0 square miles (91 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), or 3.40%, is water. The landscape is compiled of hills and rivers, including the Quinapoxet.

Holden is bounded on the west by Rutland, on the northwest by Princeton, on the east by Sterling and West Boylston, on the southeast by Worcester, and on the southwest by Paxton.

Demographics

Entering Holden eastbound on Route 122A

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,621 people, 5,715 households, and 4,423 families residing in the town. The population density was 446.4 inhabitants per square mile (172.4/km2). There were 5,827 housing units at an average density of 166.5 per square mile (64.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.39% White, 0.49% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.

There were 5,715 households, out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% 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 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $64,297, and the median income for a family was $73,614. Males had a median income of $52,203 versus $36,194 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,971. About 2.0% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

County-level state agency heads
Clerk of Courts: Dennis P. McManus (D)
District Attorney: Joe Early Jr. (D)
Register of Deeds: Katie Toomey (D)
Register of Probate: Stephanie Fattman (R)
County Sheriff: Lew Evangelidis (R)
State government
State Representative(s): Kimberly Ferguson (R)
State Senator(s): Harriette Chandler (D-1st Worcester district)
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)
Holden ma map.png
Holden public library, 1891

Education

Schools

Holden is part of the five-town Wachusett Regional School District that includes the neighboring towns of Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling. The towns share the newly renovated Wachusett Regional High School. Wachusett was the first regional school district in Massachusetts.

Holden has three elementary schools: Davis Hill Elementary, Dr. Leroy E. Mayo Elementary, and Dawson Elementary. The town is served by Mountview Middle School for grades 6–8 which was newly built in 2016. High school students may choose to attend Wachusett Regional High School in Holden or Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School ("Monty Tech") in Fitchburg.

Holden also serves as the hometown for Holden Christian Academy, a PS–8 private Christian school.

Library

The Holden public library first opened in 1888. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Holden spent 1.99% ($679,756) of its budget on its public library—approximately $40 per person, per year.

Points of interest

Notable people


This page was last updated at 2022-05-28 16:52 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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