Fort Devens is a census-designated place and part of the towns of Ayer, Harvard and Shirley, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. As of 2006, there are approximately 250 residents living on Devens. It was named after jurist and Civil War general Charles Devens.

Geography

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Fort Devens is located at (42.537137, -71.615493).

According to the United States Census Bureau, Fort Devens has a total area of 17.7 km² (6.8 mi²). 17.4 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.32%) is water.

Demographics

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As of 2006, there are approximately 250 residents living in 106 households residing in the former Fort Devens and now known as Devens.

As of the census of 2000, there are 1,017 people, and 3 households. One family resided in the town. The population density is 58.3/km² (151.1/mi²). There are 316 housing units at an average density of 18.1/km² (46.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 57.23% White, 32.45% African American, 0.39% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 6.69% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 35.89% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 3 households out of which one children under the age of 18 living with them, and one was a married couple living together. The other two are non-families. None had a female householder with no husband present. Two of the households are made up of individuals and two have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2 and the size of the only family is 4.

In the town the population is spread out with 9.6% under the age of 18, 21.6% from 18 to 24, 51.1% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 1.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 850.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 1,251.5 males.

No median household or family income was reported. Males have a median income of $19,423 (the median income of females was also not reported). The per capita income for the town is $10,354. 78.6% of the population are below the poverty line. The family was not below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, none are under the age of 18 and none are 65 or older.

Recent history

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The U.S. Army post which resided at Fort Devens was officially closed in 1996 after 79 years of service. The land and infrastructure was turned over to MassDevelopment, a semi-private development authority that has been given the task of turning Devens into a residential and business community. Since the closing of the military base, many of the existing buildings have been renovated or reconstructed; a few housing developments now exist, along with a growing business park, a new hotel, restaurants, and a golf course. Veterans of the Army Security Agency have also expressed interest in building a museum there as Fort Devens was their principal training facility for nearly twenty-five years.

On the political side, current redevelopment effort seems to be focused on establishing Devens as a new independent town, separate from Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley. As of 2005, however, residents of Devens still vote in either Harvard or Ayer; MassDevelopment controls the utilities such as phone, electric, and water; and essential services such as firefighting and police are not fully autonomous. Devens residents are represented by an elected committee, the Devens Committee ^* that is an advisory committee to MassDevelopment.

Devens is a non-operating school district. It currently contracts with the town of Shirley to educate the students living on Devens. The Devens Education Advisory Committee is examining other educational options to pursue when the contract with Shirley expires in June 2006.

Conspiracy surrounding Fort Devens

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Fort Devens was also a point of interest in the Iran-Contra affair. A soldier at the post, Elaine Tyree, was found stabbed to death in her on-post housing unit, allegedly after being informed of CIA drug running in Colombia and Panama. Her husband, William Tyree, was arrested in connection with the murder, was convicted, and sentenced to life in prison. In 1998, he sued the Central Intelligence Agency, a number of government officials, and former president George H.W. Bush for US$63 million, alleging that they framed him for murder. A few years later, one of Elaine's commanders, Col. Cutolo, wrote an affidavit which exposed the involvement of many special forces stationed at Ft. Devens. Shortly thereafter, Cutolo was killed in a mysterious car accident.

Current conspiracy theory is that an Israeli intelligence agent, Michael Harari, was hired by the CIA to carry out this, and several other connected murders, in order to cover drug money tracks. Several ranking officers from Fort Devens died under mysterious circumstances (some surrounding meetings with Harari) a few years later. William Tyree remains in a federal prison in Walpole, Massachusetts.

External links

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• Devens RFTA: Devens Reserve Forces Training Area Web Page
• devenscommunity.com: information about the current status of redevelopment in Devens
• devenscommittee.org: information for Devens residents
• Boston Globe article about the base's possible incorporation

Middlesex County, Massachusetts | Census-designated places in Massachusetts