Content deleted Content added
Dmoore5556 (talk | contribs) m →History: commas |
GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#webcitation.org |
||
| (47 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Short description|Town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, US}}
{{Redirect|Westborough}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2016}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->{{Infobox settlement
Line 9 ⟶ 8:
|imagesize = 250px
|image_caption = Nathan Fisher House, Westborough
|image_flag = Flag of Westborough, Massachusetts.gif
|image_seal =
|nickname =
|motto =
Line 72 ⟶ 71:
==History==
Before recorded time, the area now known as Westborough was a well-travelled crossroads. As early as 7,000 [[Anno Domini|BC]], prehistoric people in [[dugout canoe]]s followed the [[Sudbury River|Sudbury]] and [[Assabet River|Assabet]] Rivers to their headwaters in search of [[quartzite]] for tools and weapons.▼
▲Before recorded time, the area now known as Westborough was a well-travelled crossroads. As early as 7,000 [[
From 1200 to 1600 [[Anno Domini|AD]], seasonal migrations brought [[Nipmuc Nation|Nipmuc Indians]] to hunt and fish near Cedar Swamp and Lake Hoccomocco. Using Fay Mountain as a landmark, Indians crisscrossed Westborough on well-worn paths: the [[old Connecticut Path]] leading west from [[Massachusetts Bay]]; the Narragansett Trail leading south, and the trail (along the present Milk Street) leading to Canada.<ref>The section about Westborough history is based on notes titled [http://www.westborough.com/westborough_history.htm ''The Hundredth Town''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312223120/http://www.westborough.com/westborough_history.htm |date=March 12, 2007 }}, written by Kristina N. Allen, which in turn are based on her 1984 book ''On the Beaten Path''.</ref>▼
▲From 1200 to 1600 [[
The early English explorer [[John Oldham (colonist)|John Oldham]] followed these trails through Westborough in 1633, and settlers in search of fertile farmlands followed not long after. By late 1675, a few families had settled near Lake Chauncy, in the "west borough" of [[Marlborough, Massachusetts|Marlborough]].
===18th century===
On November 18, 1717, Westborough was incorporated as the hundredth town in Massachusetts, populated by twenty-seven families, including [[Thomas Rice (1654)|Thomas Rice]] who had represented Marlborough in the [[Massachusetts General Court|Great and General Court]]. Soon large farms were carved out, mills built along the Assabet River and Jackstraw Brook, and taverns flourished. Westborough's first minister, Reverend Ebenezer Parkman, shepherded the growing town of colonists through the years toward independence from [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]. Forty-six [[Minutemen (militia)|minutemen]] from Westborough fought under Captain Edmund Brigham in the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]].
In 1775, [[Northborough, Massachusetts|Northborough]] split off as the "north borough" of Westborough, much as Westborough split off from [[Marlborough, Massachusetts|Marlborough]] some 58 years before. However, the two towns shared a meetinghouse for some time more.
===19th century===
In 1810, the route from [[Boston]] to [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]] was straightened and improved into an official [[Toll road|turnpike]] (the present [[Route 9 (Massachusetts)|Route 9]]), and along its Westborough route, the Wesson Tavern Common, Forbush Tavern and Nathan Fisher's store prospered. The center of commerce shifted downtown in 1824 with the arrival of the steam train through Westborough's center. The railroad brought a new era to the town industry: over the next century, local factories shipped boots and shoes, straw hats, sleighs, textiles, bicycles, and eventually abrasive products, across the nation. Westborough dairies supplied cities with milk and local greenhouses shipped out carnations, while the eight orchards found ready markets for their produce.
Line 86 ⟶ 92:
In 1848, the [[State Reform School for Boys]], the first publicly funded reform school in the United States, was opened on Lake Chauncy. It operated as a State reform school until 1884 at which time the newly established [[Westborough State Hospital]] took over the property. In the same year, the reform school was relocated nearby on Chauncy Street and renamed The [[Lyman School for Boys]].
===20th century===
[[File:View of Main Street, Westborough, MA.jpg|thumb|right|Main Street,
From 1947 through 1985, [[Westboro Speedway]] operated as an [[auto racing]] venue.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/2021/09/24/remembering-westboro-speedway-from-1947-1985-westborough-ma-metrowest/8351021002/ |title='Filled to capacity:' Westboro Speedway race track thrilled MetroWest from 1947 to 1985 |first=Cesareo |last=Contreras |website=[[The MetroWest Daily News]] |date=September 24, 2021 |accessdate=March 4, 2022}}</ref>
▲The industrial progress of the entire country is indebted to Westborough's most famous native son, [[Eli Whitney|Eli Whitney Jr]]. Born in 1765, Whitney invented the [[cotton gin]] in 1795 after graduating from [[Yale]]. In 1798, he introduced [[mass production]] to the United States at his Whitney Arms Company in [[New Haven, Connecticut]].
===Registered
Westborough is home to several listings on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County, Massachusetts|National Register of Historic Places]]:
* [[Nathan Fisher House]]: East of Shrewsbury on [[Route 9 (Massachusetts)|MA 9]] (added April 25, 1980)
Line 103 ⟶ 109:
==Geography==
[[File:Mill Pond Sunset.jpg|thumb|right|Mill Pond at sunset|189x189px]]
[[File:Chauncy Lake in Autumn.jpg|thumb|189x189px|Chauncy Lake in Autumn]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 21.6 square miles (56.0 km<sup>2</sup>), of which 20.5 square miles (53.1 km<sup>2</sup>) of it is land, and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km<sup>2</sup>) of it is water or 5.09 percent. Westborough contains the headwaters of the [[Sudbury River|Sudbury]] and [[Assabet River|Assabet]] rivers. The town contains numerous bodies of water, including Lake Chauncy, George H. Nichols Reservoir (Mill Pond), Westboro Reservoir (Sandra Pond), [[Hocomonco Pond]], and Cedar Swamp Pond. Lake Chauncy is open to swimming, boating, and fishing, and has a public beach open to residents of Westborough and Northborough during the summer months. The average elevation of the town is approximately 300 feet (91 m).▼
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 21.6 square miles (56.0 km<sup>2</sup>), of which 20.5 square miles (53.1 km<sup>2</sup>) is land, and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km<sup>2</sup>) is water, or 5.09 percent.
▲
Westborough is located in east/central Massachusetts, located about 28 miles (45.47 km) west of [[Boston]] and 12 miles (19 km) east of [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]].▼
▲Westborough is located in east/central Massachusetts, located
==Demographics==
Line 128 ⟶ 137:
| 2010|18272
| 2020|21567
| 2023|22012
| footnote={{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=May 19, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
Line 140 ⟶ 150:
==Education==
===Public schools===
Westborough Public Schools consist of three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school:
* Hastings Elementary School
* Armstrong Elementary School
* Annie E. Fales Elementary School
* Mill Pond School
* Sarah W. Gibbons Middle School
Line 154 ⟶ 163:
==Transportation==
The Town of Westborough is located on the west side of the [[Massachusetts Turnpike]] ([[Interstate 90]]) and [[Interstate 495 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 495]] intersection. [[Route 30 (Massachusetts)|Route 30]] (Main Street) and [[Route 135 (Massachusetts)|Route 135]] (South Street/Milk Street) intersect in a [[roundabout|rotary]] at the town's center, while [[Route 9 (Massachusetts)|Route 9]] runs nearby, serving much of the town's commerce.
In terms of public transportation, Westborough is currently [[Westborough (MBTA station)|served]] by an [[MBTA]] commuter rail station on the [[Framingham/Worcester Line]] as well as public bus service through the [[Worcester Regional Transit Authority]]. Limited commercial airline service is available at the [[Worcester Regional Airport]]. The nearest international airport is [[Boston Logan Airport]].
Line 165 ⟶ 174:
| align = right
| wraparound = yes
| state_rep =
| state_sen = [[Jamie Eldridge]] (D)
| gov_councilors = Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney (D)
Line 172 ⟶ 181:
The Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps, Inc. operates two juvenile correctional facilities in Westborough on behalf of the [[Massachusetts Department of Youth Services]]:
* Robert F. Kennedy School, a juvenile correctional center for boys, is in Westborough.<ref>Kocian, Lisa. "Jail break." ''[[Boston Globe]]''. May 15, 2008. [http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/15/jail_break/ 1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190514/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/15/jail_break/ |date=December 23, 2015 }}. Retrieved on August 23, 2010.</ref>
* The Fay A. Rotenberg School, a juvenile correctional facility for girls, is in Westborough.<ref name=Celebrating30years>"[http://www.rfkchildren.org/whats-new-at-rfk/celebrating-30-years-of-service-to-young-women/ Celebrating 30 Years of Service to Young Women]" ([https://
==Media==
===Newspapers
* ''[https://www.communityadvocate.com/category/westborough/ The Community Advocate]''
*''Westborough Patch''
Line 187 ⟶ 195:
* ''Westborough High School Literary Magazine''
===Television===
* Channel 2: [[WGBH-TV|WGBH]] – ([[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]) – Boston
* Channel 4: [[WBZ-TV|WBZ]] – ([[CBS]]) – Boston, '''WBZ-TV'''
Line 203 ⟶ 210:
==Library==
The Westborough Public Library was founded in 1857.<ref>C. B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. [https://books.google.com/books?id=LusKAAAAYAAJ 1st Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts]. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1891.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westboroughlib.org/ |title=
==
* [https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/massachusetts/assabet-reservoir Assabet Reservoir] – hiking trails
* Fay Mountain – highest point in Westborough
Line 220 ⟶ 227:
==Annual events==
* Annual Boy Scout Troop 100 Pancake Breakfast – February/March
* High School Musical – March
Line 229 ⟶ 235:
* Little League Parade – April
* Memorial Day Parade
* Purple Day
* Dress and act like a Pirate Day, May 12
* High School Graduation Ceremony – June
Line 238 ⟶ 244:
* Thanksgiving Day Football game
* Christmas Singalong
* Westborough High School Winter Concert
* Eli Whitney Cup Playoffs (Westborough Men's Softball League)
==Places of worship==
Line 257 ⟶ 263:
==Notable people==
<!--
• The reference must mention how they are associated with the community--whether born, raised, or residing.
• The fact of their association must have a reliable source cited.
• Alphabetical by last name please.
-->
* [[Eli Whitney Blake]], inventor of stone crusher, businessman
* [[Mary A. Brigham]],
* [[Jaime Brockett]], folk singer
* [[Jim Butterfield (American football)|Jim Butterfield]], American football player and coach. Moved to Westborough as a child
* [[Jim Campbell (ice hockey)|Jim Campbell]], hockey player
* [[Henry W. Corbett]], businessman and senator
Line 271 ⟶ 280:
* [[Esther Forbes]], author
* [[Kaz Grala]], NASCAR driver
* [[Ashley Hayden]], [[luge]] athlete▼
* [[Richard B. Johnson]], author
* [[Daniels (directors)|Dan Kwan]], film writer and director
* [[Horace Maynard]], politician
* [[Tim McKeon]], writer, director, producer
* [[Mike Murphy (trainer and coach)|Mike Murphy]], athletics coach
* [[Adam Peltzman]], writer/producer of Odd Squad
Line 281 ⟶ 291:
* [[Jeffrey Thomas (writer)|Jeffrey Thomas]], science fiction and horror author
* [[Eli Whitney]], inventor and industrialist
* [[Jack M. Wilson]], President of the University of Massachusetts
| |||