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Granville, Massachusetts is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,521 at the 2000 census.
History and Description
Granville was first settled in 1736 and was officially incorporated in 1754. Soon after its incorporaton, Granville's population expanded substantially. With its proximity to area rivers and streams, Granville became the premier location for various trades. However, after growing tired of New England's harsh winters and rocky soil, the settlers eventually migrated to Ohio, establishing the town of Granville, Ohio.
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Berkshires, Granville is the ideal picture of a quaint New England village. Rich hues of orange, yellow and red paint the village in October while the spring features row upon row of fragrant apple trees, bursting with cotton candy-colored apple blossoms. Granville State Forest, located in the western part of Granville, features refreshing crystal clear rivers and acre upon acre of unspoiled wilderness.
Granville is rich in tradition. Many historic homes dot the main thoroughfare of town. The village center is registered with The National Register of Historic Places. Historic buildings include Granville Library, Granville's Old Meeting House, Granville Town Hall and Granville Academy. The lower village center also features an old fashioned country store, known for its cellar-aged cheese, and a cozy town green, Granville Citizens' Park. Granville Citizens' Park also features a replica of a turn-of-the-century Blacksmith Shop, modeled after the original structure.
In addition to beautiful period architecture, Granville boasts some of the most productive apple orchards in western Massachusetts, which include Nestrovich Fruit Farm and Roberts' Hillside Orchard. Another agricultural point of interest is The Gran-Val Scoop, featuring delicious homemade ice cream that would satisfy even the most discriminating palate. The Gran-Val Scoop also has a petting zoo and an agricultural educational exhibit.
Granville Harvest Fair
Running through Columbus Day weekend in October, Granville's Harvest Fair is an artisan’s delight. Stretching from the village school to the town hall, the fair features local crafts from artists near and far, while the town green boasts a plethora of food from area chefs. Visitors can easily walk the entire route or choose to ride the bus that pauses at various designated stops.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 111.3 km² (43.0 mi²). 109.4 km² (42.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.9 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (1.70%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 1,521 people, 556 households, and 409 families residing in the town. The population density was 13.9/km² (36.0/mi²). There were 595 housing units at an average density of 5.4/km² (14.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.69% White, 0.26% African American, 0.20% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 556 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 106.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,148, and the median income for a family was $59,219. Males had a median income of $42,273 versus $30,380 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,315. About 1.8% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
"Granville, Massachusetts"