HARVARD, MASSACHUSETTS

:''This article is about the town of Harvard, Massachusetts. Harvard University is located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts.''
'Harvard' is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 5,981 at the 2000 census. The official seal of the town depicts the old town public library on The Common prior to renovations that removed the front steps.

Contents

History

The Shakers

Fruitlands

Fiske Warren Tahanto Enclave

St. Benedict Center

References

Books

External links

Geography

Demographics

Government

References

External links

History

Europeans first settled in what later became Harvard in the 17th century, along a road connecting Lancaster with Groton that was formally laid out in 1658. There were few inhabitants until after King Philip's War, in which Groton and Lancaster were attacked and substantially destroyed. Over the next 50 years the population grew until it had reached a point adequate to support a church. A new town including parts of Lancaster, Groton, and Stow was incorporated in 1732, subject to the proviso that the inhabitants "Settle a learned and Orthodox Minister among them within the space of two years and also erect an House for the publick Worship of God." It is uncertain how the town obtained its name, though the Willard family, among the first settlers and the largest proprietors in the new town, had several connections to Harvard College.
In 1734, the town was considered to have five districts or villages. These were Oak Hill, Bare Hill, Still River, Old Mill and Shabikin (Devens).
The town economy was primarily based on agriculture until the middle of the 20th century. This past is most prominently visible in the number of apple orchards. It is now a residential town within reach, for example, of the technology companies outside of Boston. It has had a relatively quiet history, but has attracted several "non-traditional" communities that have given its history some flavor.

The Shakers

The town was site of ''Harvard Shaker Village'', a utopian religious community established in 1791, one of 19 scattered between Maine and Kentucky, and as far west as Indiana. The sect, renowned for plain architecture and furniture, reached its peak membership in the 1840s. But greater employment opportunities introduced by the Industrial Revolution would entice away some potential and practicing Shaker members. Some became disaffected with the church's insistence on celibacy, self-abnegation, and communal ownership of property. Indeed, Mary Marshall Dyer, a onetime believer, became an outspoken Anti-Shaker. The flock dwindled, and like others, ''Harvard Shaker Village'' eventually closed. Today, only one church "society" remains open, run by the last Shakers at ''Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village'' in New Gloucester, Maine.

★ ''Harvard Shaker Village'', Shaker Historic Trail

Fruitlands

Amos Bronson Alcott and some friends established the utopian transcendentalist socialist farm called Fruitlands on the slopes of Prospect Hill in Harvard. The community failed rather quickly but saw visits from the likes of Henry David Thoreau. Mr. Alcott's daughter, Louisa May Alcott lived at the farm with her father.

Fiske Warren Tahanto Enclave

Fiske Warren, a follower of Henry George, attempted to establish a single tax zone in Harvard in 1918. The enclave bought up land communally and attempted to manage the land according to George's principles. The enclave failed soon after Warren died in 1938.

St. Benedict Center

Leonard Feeney was a Catholic priest who strongly believed that only baptized Catholics would get to heaven. The Catholic Church, which now disagrees with this view, has taken action against Father Feeney and his followers. He was excommunicated in 1953, but reconciled with the church in 1972. When Feeney died in 1978, followers who had come to the Hospital Emergency Room removed from him items such as fingernail clippings as holy relics, indicating their belief that he was, or ought to be, a Saint. In his absence, the group suffered schisms, but several sects of his followers still reside in the village of Still River (part of Harvard). They practice celibacy and live communally.

References

Books

★ ''History of the Town of Harvard Massachusetts 1732-1893'' by Henry S. Nourse (1894)

★ ''Directions of a Town: A History of Harvard Massachusetts'' by Robert C. Anderson (1976)

External links

★ Town of Harvard

★ Harvard Public Library

★ Fruitlands Museum

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 69.9 km² (27.0 mi²). 68.3 km² (26.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (2.26%) is water.
The area is largely wooded with small rolling hills, fields and wetlands. In addition to the numerous streams and brooks throughout Harvard, Bare Hill Pond is a central, iconic locale.
Harvard and the surrounding area are renown for apple orchards and riding stables.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 5,981 people, 1,809 households, and 1,494 families residing in the town. The population density was 87.6/km² (226.9/mi²). There were 2,225 housing units at an average density of 32.6/km² (84.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.69% White, 4.50% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.97% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.09% of the population.
There were 1,809 households out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 14.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 124.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 133.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $107,934, and the median income for a family was $119,352. Males had a median income of $90,937 versus $49,318 for females. The per capita income for the town was $40,867. About 0.5% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The town elects five members to the Board of Selectmen to run the town day-to-day and has an annual Town Meeting to pass/amend the town bylaws.
The town has resisted pressures to regionalize its school system and its K-12 school system ranks among the top 5% of schools in the state and more than 90% of its graduates go on to college. The public high school, the Bromfield School, and the Harvard Elementary School are both located in the center of town on Massachusetts Avenue.

References

External links

★ Town of Harvard, Massachusetts ''Official Website''

★ Harvard Public Schools

★ Satellite image from Google maps

★ Street map from Google maps or MapQuest