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Hopedale, Massachusetts
Hopedale Community House
Hopedale Community House
Official seal of Hopedale, Massachusetts
Seal
Hopedale Pond
Hopedale Pond
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Worcester
Settled 1660
Incorporated 1886
Government
 • Type Open town meeting
Area
 • Total 5.3 sq mi (13.8 km2)
 • Land 5.2 sq mi (13.4 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation
280 ft (85 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,017
 • Density 1,135/sq mi (436.0/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
01747
Area code(s) 508 / 774
FIPS code 25-30945
GNIS feature ID 0618366
Website www.hopedale-ma.gov

Hopedale is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located 25 miles southwest of Boston, in eastern Massachusetts. With origins as a Christian utopian community, the town was later home to Draper Corporation, a large loom manufacturer throughout the 20th century until its closure in 1980. Today, Hopedale has become a bedroom community for professionals working in Greater Boston and is home to highly ranked public schools. The population was 6,017 as of the 2020 census.

History

Red Shop Hopedale
The Little Red Shop

Hopedale was first settled in 1660. Benjamin Albee built a mill on what is now the south end of Hopedale in 1664. A 64-square-mile (170 km2) area of the Blackstone Valley was incorporated as the town of Mendon. In 1780, Milford separated from Mendon. On August 26, 1841, Adin Ballou, along with the Practical Christians, gave Hopedale its name, within the town of Milford. Ballou and the Practical Christians established the Hopedale Community based on Christian and socialist ideologies in 1842. The town was officially incorporated in 1886 when it separated from Milford. In 1905, women were granted permission to swim at the town beach.

Hopedale was once home to the Draper Corporation, once the largest maker of textile looms in the United States. The company was acquired by Rockwell International in 1967.

Hopedale is included in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and is an historic mill village of national significance.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.3 square miles (14 km2), of which 5.2 square miles (13 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), or 3.20%, is water. The largest body of water is Hopedale Pond, located not far from the town center.

Adjacent towns

Hopedale is located in central Massachusetts, bordered by 4 towns:

Demographics

Hopedale Town Hall Postcard
Hopedale Town Hall (c. 1887)

Town

At the 2010 census there were 5,911 people, 2,263 households, and 1,572 families in the town. The population density was 1,143.1 people per square mile (442.0/km2). There were 2,289 housing units at an average density of 444.0 per square mile (171.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.1% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2%.

Of the 2,240 households 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 25.9% of households were one person and 12.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.13.

The age distribution was 23.9% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median household income was $107,550 and the per capita income was $42,756. Males had a median income of $47,380 versus $31,144 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,791. About 2.9% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

CDP

Draper Factory Hopedale
Draper Factory

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,158 people, 1,616 households, and 1,082 families in the Hopedale CDP, comprising the main village in the town. The population density was 933.4/km2 (2,411.4/mi2). There were 1,657 housing units at an average density of 372.0/km2 (961.0/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.43% White, 0.51% Black or African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.

Of the 1,616 households 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.0% of households were one person and 14.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.15.

The age distribution was 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median household income was $58,750 and the median family income was $67,417. Males had a median income of $45,694 versus $29,740 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,088. About 3.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government
County-level state agency heads
Clerk of Courts: Dennis P. McManus (D)
District Attorney: Joseph D. Early, Jr. (D)
Register of Deeds: Anthony J. Vigliotti (D)
Register of Probate: Stephanie K. Fattman (R)
County Sheriff: Lew Evangelidis (R)
State government
State Representative(s): Brian W. Murray (D)
State Senator(s): Ryan Fattman (R)
Governor's Councilor(s): Jen Caissie (R)
Federal government
U.S. Representative(s): Jake Auchincloss (D-4th District),
U.S. Senators: Elizabeth Warren (D), Ed Markey (D)

Places of Worship

There are currently three houses of worship in Hopedale.

  • Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church
  • Hopedale Unitarian Parish
  • Union Evangelical Church

Notable people

Images for kids

See also

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