31-533: Worcester County is the name of two counties in the United States of America: Worcester County, Massachusetts Worcester County, Maryland See also [ edit ] Worcestershire , England [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
62-668: A neighboring county. In Massachusetts, Sheriffs have more limited roles than most states and are responsible for corrections, court service and bailiffs and jail release programs. County Sheriffs in Massachusetts are elected to six-year terms. The Worcester County Sheriff is Lewis Evangelidis (R), and the Worcester County District Attorney is Joseph Early Jr. (D) (see the info-box for elected officials at county level). The Worcester County Conservation District has countywide boundaries. The county has
93-561: A regional planning commission. Massachusetts law allows regional compacts, traditional counties and other governmental entities. Traditional County governments in the state include Norfolk, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, and Plymouth Counties. Barnstable County , which is Cape Cod, functions as a modern regional county government. Suffolk County, which is mainly Boston, is under the Boston City Council. The Massachusetts General Laws describe this relationship of county government and
124-454: A request to and a special act of the legislature, by local referendum, or by one of three mechanisms. See the references for the state statute, and the League of Women Voters link. 42°21′N 71°55′W / 42.35°N 71.91°W / 42.35; -71.91 Greater Springfield The Springfield metropolitan area , also known as Greater Springfield , is a region that
155-678: Is Greater Boston . An alternative system of measuring New England metropolitan areas was developed, called the New England city and town area (NECTA) because, in New England , towns are a much more important level of government than counties. County government in New England is weak at best, and in Connecticut , Rhode Island , and most of Massachusetts , does not exist at all. In addition, major cities and surrounding towns are often much smaller in land area than in other parts of
186-596: Is a county in the U.S. state of Massachusetts . At the 2020 census , the population was 862,111, making it the second-most populous county in Massachusetts. It is also the largest county in Massachusetts by geographic area. The largest city and traditional shire town is Worcester . Worcester County is part of the Worcester, MA–CT metropolitan statistical area and the Boston-Worcester-Providence combined statistical area . Worcester County
217-661: Is socio-economically and culturally tied to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts . The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Springfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as consisting of three counties in Western Massachusetts . As of 2023, the metropolitan area's population was estimated at 460,291, making it the 117th-largest metropolitan area in the United States . Historically,
248-666: Is the primary operator of public transportation services in the Springfield Metropolitan Area. Headquartered in Springfield, the PVTA maintains a fleet of approximately 174 buses, 144 vans, and "is the largest regional transit authority in Massachusetts." Founded in 1974 with the enactment of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 161B, the PVTA serves 24 member communities in Hampden , Hampshire , and Franklin counties. Each member community pays an assessment fee to
279-652: Is thought to better approximate New England's metropolitan areas because it uses New England's geographically smaller building blocks. In Springfield's case, its NECTA consists of 51 additional cities and towns surrounding the city. As of the census of 2010, there were 692,942 people, 269,091 households, and 168,758 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 81.10% White , 6.7% African American , 0.30% Native American , 2.5% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 6.6% from other races , and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.4% of
310-618: The Greater Springfield area from the Greater Boston area. It stretches from the northern to the southern border of the state. The geographic center of Massachusetts is in Rutland . Worcester County is one of two Massachusetts counties that borders three different neighboring states; ( New Hampshire , Connecticut and Rhode Island ); the other being Berkshire County . They are also the only two counties to touch both
341-399: The 2010 census, the metropolitan area had the highest percentage of Puerto Ricans of any metropolitan statistical area in the continental United States. The median income for a household in the MSA was $ 42,195, and the median income for a family was $ 52,551. Males had a median income of $ 37,784 versus $ 28,404 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $ 20,633. The median age for
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#1732771940255372-409: The 283,927 households, 33.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.20% were non-families. 26.20% of households were one person and 10.40% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.11. The age distribution was 25.60% under
403-399: The 303,080 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.2% were non-families, and 26.2% of households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09. The median age was 39.2 years. The median household income
434-495: The MSA was 38.9 in 2010 overall, with a median age of 37.4 for males and 40.1 for females. The estimated median age in 2017 was 38.2 overall with a median age 36.6 for males and 39.6 for females. Among the 100 most populous MSAs in the United States, the Springfield metropolitan area had the 10th highest life expectancy in 2016 for the top quartile of income earners, adjusted for race and ethnicity, with an overall life expectancy of 87.2. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA)
465-551: The PVTA based "on the number of miles served in that city or town." Alternative sources of revenue mostly originate from federal and state governments . The PVTA itself is governed by an advisory board . The Springfield metropolitan area is tabulated by Nielsen as the Springfield-Holyoke designated market area , and is the 111th largest television market in the United States, with viewership comparable to Tallahassee and Fort Wayne . The area's local news
496-526: The United States. For example, Springfield is 33.2 sq. miles, whereas Fort Worth, Texas , is 298.9 sq. miles, nearly 10 times larger in land area than Springfield. Because of the sizable discrepancy in land area, New England cities like Springfield feature much higher population densities. In addition, New England cities and towns have developed allegiances that transcend state borders; cities in Connecticut are included in Springfield's NECTA. This system
527-417: The age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males. The median household income was $ 47,874 and the median family income was $ 58,394. Males had a median income of $ 42,261 versus $ 30,516 for females. The per capita income for
558-518: The census designated locations and villages were included as cities or towns. Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Worcester County is one of the 8 (of the total of 14) Massachusetts counties that have had no county government or county commissioners since July 1, 1998, when county functions were assumed by state agencies at local option following a change in state law. The county has an elected county sheriff, county prosecutor, and court officials, administered under
589-459: The census has also identified the region as "Springfield–Holyoke, Mass.–Conn." as those cities were the area's population centers as recently as 1980; since that time the population has become further distributed, including new growth in Amherst , Westfield , and West Springfield , and Northern Connecticut. Greater Springfield is one of two combined statistical areas in Massachusetts; the other
620-493: The county was $ 22,983. About 6.80% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.30% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over. At the 2010 census , there were 798,552 people, 303,080 households, and 202,602 families in the county. The population density was 528.6 inhabitants per square mile (204.1/km ). There were 326,788 housing units at an average density of 216.3 per square mile (83.5/km ). The racial makeup of
651-431: The county was 85.6% white, 4.2% black or African American, 4.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.6% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.2% were Irish , 15.1% were French as well as 6.7% French Canadians , 14.4% were Italian , 11.7% were English , 7.0% were Polish , 6.9% were German , and 3.2% were American . Of
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#1732771940255682-479: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Worcester_County&oldid=933254891 " Category : United States county name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Worcester County, Massachusetts Worcester County ( / ˈ w ʊ s t ər / WUU -stər )
713-476: The northern and southern state lines. As of the 2020 census , 862,111 people resided in Worcester County. At the 2000 census , there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families in the county. The population density was 496 inhabitants per square mile (192/km ). There were 298,159 housing units at an average density of 197 per square mile (76/km ). The racial makeup of the county
744-563: The options for abolishing county governments and/or chartering regional governmental compacts in subchapter 34 B. Four other new county compacts have been created by the state legislature in Hampshire, Franklin, Barnstable Counties, and a regional planning council level for Berkshire County. Thus 9 of 14 Counties have some form of county regional governments. Worcester County could exercise that option if it chooses, such as for public safety and/or preparedness due to its rather large geography, by
775-409: The population. As of the census of 2000, there were 680,014 people, 260,745 households, and 167,924 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 83.50% White , 5.96% African American , 0.25% Native American , 1.74% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 6.35% from other races , and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.15% of the population. In
806-582: The state department of public safety. The state correctional system in the county is known as the Worcester County Jail or "House of Corrections" at West Boylston , and the Worcester County District courts (state administered) are housed at Worcester, Fitchburg, and other district courts within county boundaries. The Worcester County district attorney is a county-wide position even though the district includes one town from
837-414: Was $ 64,152 and the median family income was $ 79,121. Males had a median income of $ 56,880 versus $ 42,223 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 30,557. About 6.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over. The ranking of unincorporated communities that are included on the list are reflective of
868-482: Was 89.61% White , 2.73% Black or African American , 0.25% Native American , 2.62% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 2.93% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. 6.77%. were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.9% were of Irish , 12.3% Italian , 11.7% French , 8.0% French Canadian , 8.0% English , 5.6% Polish and 5.0% American ancestry according to Census 2000 . 85.1% spoke English , 6.1% Spanish and 1.9% French as their first language. Of
899-400: Was formed from the eastern portion of colonial Hampshire County , the western portion of the original Middlesex County and the extreme western portion of the original Suffolk County . When the government of Worcester County was established on April 2, 1731, Worcester was chosen as its shire town (later known as a county seat). From that date until the dissolution of the county government, it
930-660: Was split in two, with the Worcester Northern registry placed in Fitchburg. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,579 square miles (4,090 km ), of which 1,511 square miles (3,910 km ) is land and 68 square miles (180 km ) (4.3%) is water. It is the largest county in Massachusetts by area. The county is larger geographically than the entire state of Rhode Island even including Rhode Island's water ocean limit boundaries. The county constitutes Central Massachusetts, separating
961-549: Was the only county seat. Because of the size of the county, there were fifteen attempts over 140 years to split the county into two counties, but without success. Initially, Lancaster was proposed as the seat of the northern county; later, Petersham was proposed once and Fitchburg was proposed repeatedly, most recently in 1903. Perhaps as a concession, in August 1884 the Worcester County Registry of Deeds