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| Athol, Massachusetts | |
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| Nickname: Tool Town | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Settled | 1735 |
| Incorporated | 1762 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| - Town Administrator | David Ames |
| Area | |
| - Total | 33.4 sq mi (86.5 km²) |
| - Land | 32.6 sq mi (84.4 km²) |
| - Water | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 546 ft (166 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 11,299 |
| - Density | 346.9/sq mi (133.9/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01331 |
| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 |
| FIPS code | 25-02480 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619473 |
| Website: http://www.mass.gov/cc/athol.html | |
Athol is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,299 at the 2000 census.
Athol is a scenic community located between the picturesque Tully Mountains to the north and the Quabbin Reservoir to the south. The Town of Athol is part of Worcester County, and is located in the North Quabbin region of north central Massachusetts. The town lies between the picturesque Tully Mountains to the north and the Quabbin Reservoir to the south. It is bordered on the southwest by New Salem, on the west by Orange, on the north by Royalston, on the east by Phillipston, and on the southeast by Petersham. Athol lies 38 miles north of Worcester and 71 miles west of Boston. Athol’s 32.34 square miles support a population of 11,299. The population density is 349 persons per square mile.
The soil of Athol is rough and stony, and the terrain is wooded and hilly, with elevations ranging from 500 at the edge of Millers River to 1282 feet at the top of Pratt Hill near the Bearsden Forest. The Millers River is Athol’s most significant waterway and flows through the downtown area from northeast to west.
Athol is geographically isolated from the major cultural centers of Massachusetts; consequently, its residents tend to create their own entertainment. Productions and programs are initiated by such organizations as the Athol Area YMCA, the Athol Historical Society, the Athol-Orange Rotary, the schools, and the Athol Public Library. The Athol Cultural Council provides funds for some of these programs.
In addition, several community groups such as the Athol Lions Club provide annual entertainment for the community such as the Summerfest and River Rat Race. On the second week of April each year, the town is unofficially nicknamed "Rat Hole" due to a popular vandalism prank where an "R" and an "E" are added to the town signs causing "Athol" to read as "Rathole." This nickname is a play on a local canoe race named "The River Rat Race". Local musician Ethan Stone arranges numerous events in a Tool Town Live series at the Town Hall, uptown common and Fish Park which provide both venues for area musicians to showcase their talents and family concerts for the community. Joshua Lamarche, director of Osprey Entertainment, also manages concerts called Rockathons for the Metal/Death Metal crowd, which are well received. Other popular town activities are listed below in the Culture section and are available through the North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Athol, please see the article Athol (CDP), Massachusetts.
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