Millers Falls, Massachusetts Explained

Millers Falls, Massachusetts should not be confused with Miners Falls (Michigan).

Official Name:Millers Falls, Massachusetts
Settlement Type:Census-designated place
Pushpin Label:Millers
Falls
Pushpin Label Position:left
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Massachusetts
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Franklin
Subdivision Type3:Town
Subdivision Name3:Montague
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:2.48
Area Land Km2:2.36
Area Water Km2:0.12
Area Total Sq Mi:0.96
Area Land Sq Mi:0.91
Area Water Sq Mi:0.05
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:994
Population Density Km2:420.56
Population Density Sq Mi:1088.72
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:295
Coordinates:42.5792°N -72.4933°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:01349
Area Code:413
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:25-41410
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0609184
Unit Pref:Imperial

Millers Falls is a census-designated place (CDP) in the towns of Montague and Erving in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,139 at the 2010 census.[2] It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan statistical area.

History

Located along the Mohawk Trail, Millers Falls was first established in 1824 as an agricultural community, named Grout's Corner after first settler Martin Grout (1790–1865). In the 1860s, however, the local growth of railroads stimulated development, as the New London Northern Railroad bought the Amherst & Palmer railroad in 1864 and in 1866 extended its line to a connection with the Vermont & Massachusetts at Grout's Corner. With this new railroad juncture, the abundant water power of the falls at Grout's Corner provided a perfect place to establish mills. The village's present name derives from the Millers Falls Manufacturing Company (later the Millers Falls Company), established on the Millers River in 1868, and famed for its fine hand tools.

The central portion of the village was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.

Geography

Millers Falls is located at (42.579154, -72.493414),[3] near the border with Erving, Massachusetts.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 km (0.9 mi2), of which 2.3 km (0.9 mi2) is land and 0.1 km (0.04 mi2) (3.26%) is water. The village is drained by the Millers River, a tributary of the Connecticut River.

Millers Falls is crossed by Massachusetts Routes 2 and 63.

Demographics

At the 2000 census there were 1,072 people, 439 households, and 273 families living in the CDP. The population density was 465.1/km (1,198.1/mi2). There were 472 housing units at an average density of 204.8/km (527.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.18% White, 0.28% African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12%.[4]

Of the 439 households 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 27.3% of households were one person and 13.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

The median household income was $37,337 and the median family income was $41,711. Males had a median income of $34,886 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,768. About 1.8% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. May 21, 2022.
  2. Web site: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Millers Falls CDP, Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. August 29, 2012.
  3. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  4. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.