Sheffield, Massachusetts
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Sheffield is a town located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 3,335.
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History
Sheffield was first settled in 1726 and was officially incorporated in 1733. The Sheffield Resolves, or Sheffield Declaration, was an early Colonial American petition against British tyranny and manifesto for individual rights, drawn up as a series of resolves approved by the Town of Sheffield on January 12, 1773 and printed in The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas’s Boston Journal on February 18, 1773. Sheffield was also the site of the bloodiest battle on February 27, 1787, during Shay's Rebellion.
Geography
Image:Sheffield ma highlight.png According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 125.7 km² (48.5 mi²). 124.7 km² (48.2 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.80% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 3,335 people, 1,369 households, and 911 families residing in the town. The population density was 26.7/km² (69.3/mi²). There were 1,634 housing units at an average density of 13.1/km² (33.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% White, 1.05% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 1.32% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 1,369 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $45,082, and the median income for a family was $50,944. Males had a median income of $36,016 versus $25,833 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,492. 5.3% of the population and 3.9% of families were below the poverty line. 3.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
