Barre, Massachusetts

Barre is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,398 at the 2010 census.

History
Originally called the Northwest District of Rutland, it was first settled in 1720. The town was incorporated on June 17, 1774, as Hutchinson after Thomas Hutchinson, colonial governor of Massachusetts. But on November 7, 1776, it was renamed Barre /ˈbæri/ in honor of Isaac Barré, an Irish-born MP who was a champion of American Independence. Starting in the 1800s, the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad provided rail service to the town.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.6 sqmi, of which 44.3 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi, or 0.63%, is water. Barre is drained by the Ware River.

Barre is bordered by Hubbardston to the northeast, Rutland and Oakham to the southeast, New Braintree to the south, Hardwick to the southwest, Petersham to the northwest, and a small portion of Phillipston to the north.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 5,113 people, 1,889 households, and 1,377 families residing in the town. The population density is 115.3 people per square mile (44.5/km²). There are 1,988 housing units at an average density of 44.8 per square mile (17.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.63% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,889 households out of which 36.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% are married couples living together, 9.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% are non-families. 22.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.17.

In the town the population is spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $50,553, and the median income for a family is $56,069. Males have a median income of $40,284 versus $29,250 for females. The per capita income for the town is $20,476. 3.4% of the population and 1.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.5% of those under the age of 18 and 2.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Education
Barre is home to the Quabbin Regional High School and to Ruggles Lane Elementary School. It also home to the administrative offices (including the office of the superintendent) of the Quabbin Regional School District.

At one time, extending from 1840 into the twentieth century, it was home to the Barre Massachusetts Institution for the Education of Feeble Minded Youth.

Barre is home to Stetson School.

Sites of interest

 * Barre Historical Society & Museum
 * Barre Players Theater
 * Russell's Fossil Museum

Notable people

 * David Oliver Allen, missionary and author
 * Stephen Brewer, state senator
 * Ebenezer Childs, pioneer and legislator
 * Timothy Jenkins, congressman
 * Walker Lewis, black abolitionist, Masonic Grand Master of African Grand Lodge #1, and Mormon Elder
 * Joseph B. Plummer, general
 * Jacob Riis, journalist, author of "How the Other Half Lives"
 * Daniel Ruggles, Confederate general