WARE  , a township of

Hampshire county, Massachusetts, U.S.A., traversed by the Ware river, and about 25 M . E.N.E. of Springfield . Pop . (188o) 4817, (1890) 7329, (1900) 8263, of whom 3263 were foreign-born, (1910 census) 8774 . Area 29.3 sq. m . The township is served by the Boston & Albany and Boston & Maine railways, and by two interurban electric lines . Its average elevation is about 550 ft. above sea-level . There is a public library (14,225 volumes in 1910) . In 1905 the value of the factory products was $3,783,696, 23.2% more than in 1900 . Among the manufactures are cotton and woollen goods, and boots and shoes . The township owns and operates its waterworks . Because of its hard and rough soil, Ware was not settled as early as the surrounding townships, the first permanent settlement being made in 1730 .

It was incorporated in 1742 as a

precinct, in 1761 as a district (formed from parts of Brookfield, Palmer and Western, now -Warren, and certain common lands), and in 1775 as a separate township . In 1823 additions were made from Brookfield and Western .