Montague is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

in Franklin County,

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

, United States. The population was 8,580 at the 2020 census. It is part of the

Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is a city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, and the seat of Hampden County. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers: the western Westfield River, the ...

metropolitan statistical area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

. The villages of Montague Center, Montague City, Lake Pleasant, Millers Falls, and

Turners Falls Turners Falls is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Montague in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,512 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropol ...

are located in the town of Montague; Turners Falls, comprising over half the population of the town and its main business district, is sometimes used as a

metonym Metonymy () is a figure of speech in which a concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept. Etymology The words ''metonymy'' and ''metonym'' come from grc, μετωνυμία, 'a change of name' ...

for the entire town of Montague.

History

Originally inhabited by the

Pocomtuc The Pocumtuc (also Pocomtuck or Deerfield Indians) were a Native American tribe historically inhabiting western areas of Massachusetts. Settlements Their territory was concentrated around the confluence of the Deerfield and Connecticut River ...

tribe, the area was known as ''Peskeompskut''. Montague was first settled by Europeans in 1715 and was incorporated in 1754. The town has five villages within it: Montague Center, Montague City,

, Millers Falls, and Lake Pleasant. Montague Center was the original European settlement and was originally a part of the town of Sunderland. Lake Pleasant was a prominent

spiritualist Spiritualism is the metaphysical school of thought opposing physicalism and also is the category of all spiritual beliefs/views (in monism and dualism) from ancient to modern. In the long nineteenth century The ''long nineteenth century'' i ...

campground. Turners Falls was a planned mill community (similar to but less successful than that at

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...

) that developed when the canal was converted to use for power production rather than transportation in the mid 19th century. Between 1974 and 1980, the

Montague Nuclear Power Plant The Montague Nuclear Power Plant was a proposed nuclear power plant to be located in Montague, Massachusetts. The plant was to consist of two 1150 MWe General Electric boiling water reactors. The project was proposed in 1973 and canceled in 1980, a ...

was proposed for construction in the town. In October 2010, the village of Turners Falls hosted the 1st annual Franklin County Pumpkinfest, now known as The Great Falls Festival. Musician Tiny Tim suffered a heart attack on stage on September 28, 1996, at what was then the Montague

Grange Hall The Grange, officially named The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, is a social organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and ...

; his health never recovered and he died on November 30, 1996, in Minnesota. Image:The Center, Montague, MA.jpg, Montague Center in 1907 Image:Main Street, Looking North, Montague City, MA.jpg, Montague City in 1907 Image:Suspension Bridge, Turners Falls, MA.jpg, Old Red Bridge in 1907

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 4.14%, is water. Bounded on the west by the

Connecticut River The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...

, Montague is drained by the

Millers River The Millers River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 1, 2011 river in northern Massachusetts, originating in Ashburnham and joining the Connecticut River just ...

. The town is served by state routes 2, 47 and 63.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 8,489 people, 3,616 households, and 2,169 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 279.2 people per square mile (107.8/km). There were 3,844 housing units at an average density of 126.4 per square mile (48.8/km). The racial makeup of the town was 95.13%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.84%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.39% Native American, 0.93%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.11%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 0.68% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.92% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 2.56% of the population. There were 3,616 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90. In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $33,750, and the median income for a family was $43,194. Males had a median income of $33,705 versus $27,303 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $17,794. About 9.1% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 17.5% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Montague is home to 2 public elementary schools. The Hillcrest Elementary School serves K–1, and the Sheffield Elementary School serves 2–5. Middle School students attend Great Falls Middle School, and high school students attend Turner Falls High School.

Notable people

Christopher Baldwin Christopher Baldwin (born February 25, 1973) is an American illustrator and author of several webcomics, the most significant being ''Bruno'', a look at the life of an introspective young woman set in the real world. Other works include shorter ...

, illustrator and author * Robert E. Bourdeau, astrophysicist and

Explorer 8 Explorer 8 was a NASA research satellite launched on 3 November 1960. It was intended to study the temporal and spatial distribution of the electron density, the electron temperature, the ion concentration, the ion mass, the micrometeorite di ...

Project Manager *

Rico Brogna Rico Joseph Brogna (born April 18, 1970) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and coach who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Brave ...

, first baseman * Eric Chester, author, activist and professor *

Cornelia Clapp Cornelia Maria Clapp (March 17, 1849 – December 31, 1934) was an American zoologist and educator, specializing in marine biology. She earned the first Ph.D. in biology awarded to a woman in the United States from Syracuse University in 1889, ...

, zoologist *

Philip H. Hoff Philip Henderson Hoff (June 29, 1924 – April 26, 2018) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont. He was most notable for his service as the List of Governors of Vermont, 73rd governor of Vermont from 1963 to 1969, the state's ...

, governor of Vermont * Samuel L. Montague, politician *

Isaac Morley Isaac Morley (March 11, 1786 – June 24, 1865) was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement and a contemporary of both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. He was one of the first converts to Smith's Church of Christ. Morley was present at ma ...

, religious leader * George Van Horn Moseley, Jr., colonel, United States Army. Commanded, trained and jumped into Normandy with the 502 Parachute Infantry Regiment on D-Day June 1944 George Van Horn Moseley, Jr. *

Janice Raymond Janice G. Raymond (born January 24, 1943) is an American lesbian radical feminist and professor emerita of women's studies and medical ethics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is known for her work against violence, sexual explo ...

* Charles Boudinot Root, silversmith and businessman * Sidney Root, businessman *

Luther Severance Luther Severance (October 26, 1797 – January 25, 1855) was a United States representative and diplomat from Maine. Life He was born in Montague, Massachusetts on October 26, 1797. He moved with his parents to Cazenovia, New York in 1799. He ...

, congressman * Doug Smith, relief pitcher * Tommy "Foghorn" Tucker, 3rd all-time for hit-by-pitch in major league baseball

References

External links

Town of Montague official website

Montague Public Libraries

Montague Center Library

MontagueMA.net
community website running since 1999 * {{authority control Towns in Franklin County, Massachusetts Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts Massachusetts populated places on the Connecticut River Towns in Massachusetts