Leverett, Massachusetts

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Leverett, Massachusetts
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = The New England Peace Pagoda is in Leverett, Massachusetts.
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Franklin County in Massachusetts


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Massachusetts
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Franklin
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1713
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1774
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
government_type = Open town meeting
leader_title =
leader_name =
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area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 59.5
area_total_sq_mi = 23.0
area_land_km2 = 59.2
area_land_sq_mi = 22.9
area_water_km2 = 0.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
population_as_of = 2000
settlement_type = Town
population_total = 1663
population_density_km2 = 28.1
population_density_sq_mi = 72.8
elevation_m = 134
elevation_ft = 438
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 42 |latm = 27 |lats = 07 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 30 |longs = 07 |longEW = W
website = http://townhall.leverett.ma.us/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 01054
area_code = 413
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 25-35180
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0618168
footnotes =

Leverett is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,663 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

According to the Massachusetts FCCC, Leverett was first settled in the 1600s when pioneers developed the Swampfield Plantation.The first permanent settlement, however, was not established until 1750, and the settlers officially petitioned Sunderland to become their own town in 1774.

In 1985, a Buddhist monastic order called Nipponzan Myohoji erected a large monument in Leverett. This structure, known as the New England Peace Pagoda, is considered the first of its kind to be built in North America.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.0 square miles (59.5 km²), of which, 22.9 square miles (59.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.61%) is water. Leverett is located in eastern Franklin County in the central part of Massachusetts. Leverett is located near the Quabbin Reservoir, which provides drinking water to Boston and its suburbs. Leverett is about 75 miles west of Boston. The inhabitants of the town, along with all other towns, align themselves with the Boston sports teams. The local newspapers are the "Daily Hampshire Gazette", The (Greenfield) "Recorder", the "Boston Globe", the "Boston Herald", and the (Worcester) "Telegram & Gazette". Most people in town are employed either in Amherst, Northampton, Springfield, Worcester or Boston.

Leverett is also the site of Rattlesnake Gutter, a deeply incised chasm of uncertain geologic origin.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,663 people, 632 households, and 448 families residing in the town. The population density was 72.8 people per square mile (28.1/km²). There were 648 housing units at an average density of 28.4/sq mi (10.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.31% White, 0.24% African American, 0.54% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 1.62% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

There were 632 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $63,203, and the median income for a family was $73,333. Males had a median income of $45,078 versus $36,607 for females. The per capita income for the town was $31,891. About 1.6% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.