Stockbridge, Massachusetts
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Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. The population was 2,276 at the 2000 census. It is the setting for Arlo Guthrie's song "Alice's Restaurant". It is also the location of:
- the Austen Riggs Center, a notable psychiatric hospital famous for its association with Erik H. Erikson;
- Chesterwood, home and studio of sculpter Daniel Chester French;
History
Stockbridge was first settled in 1734 and was officially incorporated in 1739.The painter Norman Rockwell lived and made most of his famous works in Stockbridge. The Norman Rockwell Museum is located in Stockbridge.
Stockbridge was also the home to Mumbet, late in her life. A slave freed via the underground railroad, Mumbet worked in the household of the Massachusetts statesman Judge Theodore Sedgwick. She is buried in Stockbridge's downtown cemetery.
The town was the location of the Mohicans/Stockbridge Indians, who were forced to leave in spite of assistance provided to the American cause during the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War and other occasions.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 61.4 km² (23.7 mi²). 59.4 km² (22.9 mi²) of it is land and 2.0 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (3.25%) is water.Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 2,276 people, 991 households, and 567 families residing in the town. The population density was 38.3/km² (99.2/mi²). There were 1,571 housing units at an average density of 26.4/km² (68.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.92% White, 1.23% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.97% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.90% of the population.There were 991 households out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.2% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 33.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,571, and the median income for a family was $59,556. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $27,969 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,499. About 1.7% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Points of interest
- Berkshire Botanical Garden
- Merwin House
- Mission House
- Naumkeag, home of attorney Joseph Choate
- Norman Rockwell Museum
- The Red Lion Inn, a still-operating 18th century colonial inn
- Southmayd Farm, former home of 19th century attorney Charles Southmayd
Famous residents
- Norman Rockwell - Artist
- Jonathan Edwards - Theologian
- Theodore Sedgwick - Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate
- Owen Johnson - Writer
- Ephraim Williams - Benefactor of Williams College
- Allen T. Treadway - Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Joseph Choate - U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom
- Cyrus West Field - Financier for the company that successfully first laid the transatlantic telegraph cable.
- Arlo Guthrie - Made the town famous in his Song Alice's Restaurant.
- William J. Obanhein - "Officer Obie." (mentioned in Arlo Guthrie's song, Alice's Restaurant.)
- James Taylor - Musician
- Story Musgrave - Astronaut
Trivia
- Inspired by the river during his honeymoon, the American classical music composer Charles Ives wrote The Housatonic at Stockbridge as part of his composition Three Places in New England.
- Mentioned in the James Taylor song "Sweet Baby James." ("The first of December was covered with snow, and so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston").
External links
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