View source for Three Rivers, Massachusetts

{{Other places|Three Rivers (disambiguation){{!}}Three Rivers}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = Three Rivers, Massachusetts
 | settlement_type          = Former [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
 | nickname                 = "The Polka Capital of New England" "The Longmeadow of Palmer"
 | motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
 | image_skyline            = Chicopee, Ware, Quaboag Rivers, Three Rivers MA.jpg
 | imagesize                = 250px
 | image_caption            = Confluence of [[Ware River|Ware]] and [[Quaboag River|Quaboag]] rivers forming the [[Chicopee River]]
 | image_flag               = 
 | image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
 | image_map                = 
 | mapsize                  = 
 | map_caption              = 
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
 | subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Massachusetts]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Hampden County, Massachusetts|Hampden]]
 | subdivision_type3        = [[List of municipalities in Massachusetts|City]]
 | subdivision_name3        = [[Palmer, Massachusetts|Palmer]]
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = 
 | leader_name              = 
 | leader_title1            = 
 | leader_name1             = 
 | established_title        = 
 | established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
 | area_footnotes           = 
 | area_magnitude           = 
 | area_total_km2           = 8.8
 | area_land_km2            = 8.3
 | area_water_km2           = 0.5
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 3.4
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 3.2
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.2

<!-- Population -->
 | population_as_of         = [[United States Census, 2000|2000]]
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_total         = 2939
 | population_density_km2   = 354.6
 | population_density_sq_mi = 918.4

<!-- General information -->
 | timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
 | utc_offset               = -5
 | timezone_DST             = EDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -4
 | elevation_footnotes      = 
 | elevation_m              = 99
 | elevation_ft             = 325
 | coordinates              = {{coord|42|10|45|N|72|21|50|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
 | postal_code              = 01080
 | area_code                = [[Area code 413|413]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 25-69730
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 0609613
 | website                  = 
 | footnotes                = 
 | name                     = 
}}

'''Three Rivers''' is a village and former [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in the city of [[Palmer, Massachusetts|Palmer]] in [[Hampden County, Massachusetts|Hampden County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States. It is part of the [[Springfield, Massachusetts]] [[Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is named for the confluence of the [[Ware River|Ware]] and [[Quaboag River|Quaboag]] rivers, which form the [[Chicopee River]].

==Geography==
Three Rivers is located at {{Coord|42|10|45|N|72|21|50|W|type:city}} (42.179053, -72.363807).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP had a total area of {{convert|8.8|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|8.3|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|0.5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} (5.60%) is water.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,939 people, 1,203 households, and 795 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was {{convert|354.6|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|abbr=on}}. There were 1,309 housing units at an average density of {{convert|157.9|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.41% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.34% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.14% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.44% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.33% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 1,203 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,528, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $31,582 versus $22,533 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $16,810. About 7.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Three Rivers, MA (01080) is known as "'''The Polka Capital of New England'''", featuring some of the region's top [[Polka in the United States#Polish-American|polka]] bands at the well-known Pulaski Park. Many Polish immigrants came to Three Rivers in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and their culture of food and music carries through today. Polish traditions are also continued at Three Rivers' Catholic parish, [[Sts. Peter and Paul Church (Three Rivers)|Divine Mercy Parish]].

==See also==
* [[List of mill towns in Massachusetts]]

==References==
{{commons category}}
<references />

{{Hampden County, Massachusetts}}

[[Category:Populated places in Hampden County, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Palmer, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Former census-designated places in Massachusetts]]