Boylston, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Boylston is a town in Worcester County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 4,355 at the 2010 census.
, denied their request since he wanted to keep the number of towns to a minimum and to restrict popular representation.
A meeting house was built in 1743, and the Reverend Ebenezer Morse, ordained in October 1743, was the first minister in charge of the church.
The town was made up of a large part of land from Shrewsbury
and the remainder from Lancaster
and was known as the North Parish of Shrewsbury from 1742 until 1786, when it was incorporated as Boylston.
It was named after Ward Nicholas Boylston
(1747–1828), a benefactor of the town. The fund he set in 1797 finally accumulated 1450 USD, which were used to build the town hall and school building.
The locals used to live of agriculture, and erected mills on the Nashua River
, until the construction of Wachusett Reservoir
terminated their operation.
, the town has a total area of 19.7 square miles (51 km²), of which 16 square miles (41.4 km²) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), or 18.50%, is water.
With a population of nearly 4400 residents, the town is predominantly a residential community. The Wachusett Reservoir
, Boston's water source, lies in the northwestern part of the town and covers about 5000 acres (20.2 km²) of land. The town maintains approximately 45 miles (72.4 km) of roadway, has 9 miles (14.5 km) of sidewalks, and has its own Municipal Light Department, Water District, and volunteer fire and ambulance service.
The town of Boylston is bordered by the towns of Shrewsbury
, West Boylston
, Sterling
, Clinton
, Berlin
, and Northborough
.
was 250 PD/sqmi. There were 1,606 housing units at an average density of 100.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.71% White, 0.67% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 0.25% from other races
, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 1,573 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $67,703, and the median income for a family was $77,604. Males had a median income of $56,019 versus $43,277 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $32,274. About 2.4% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
.
The school mascot is a stag
, and the teams' colors are white and green. In 2005, the school erected the Traveling Vietnam Wall on campus.
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,355 at the 2010 census.
History
Boylston was first settled by Europeans around 1706 in the north part of the present-day town, most notably by the Sawyer family. In 1738, the residents petitioned to form a local town and government, but the British colonial Governor of Massachusetts, William ShirleyWilliam Shirley
William Shirley was a British colonial administrator who served twice as Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay and as Governor of the Bahamas in the 1760s...
, denied their request since he wanted to keep the number of towns to a minimum and to restrict popular representation.
A meeting house was built in 1743, and the Reverend Ebenezer Morse, ordained in October 1743, was the first minister in charge of the church.
The town was made up of a large part of land from Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,640 people, 12,366 households, and 8,693 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 12,696 housing units at an average density of...
and the remainder from Lancaster
Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Incorporated in 1653, Lancaster is the oldest town in Worcester County...
and was known as the North Parish of Shrewsbury from 1742 until 1786, when it was incorporated as Boylston.
It was named after Ward Nicholas Boylston
Ward Nicholas Boylston
Ward Nicholas Boylston , a descendent of the physician Zabdiel Boylston , was a man of wealth and refinement, a merchant, a philanthropist and a great benefactor of Harvard University...
(1747–1828), a benefactor of the town. The fund he set in 1797 finally accumulated 1450 USD, which were used to build the town hall and school building.
The locals used to live of agriculture, and erected mills on the Nashua River
Nashua River
The Nashua River, long, is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It is formed in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts, by junction of its north and south branches near Lancaster, and flows generally north-northeast past Groton to join the...
, until the construction of Wachusett Reservoir
Wachusett Reservoir
The Wachusett Reservoir is the second largest body of water in the state of Massachusetts. It is located in central Massachusetts, northeast of Worcester. It is part of the water supply system for metropolitan Boston maintained by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority . It has an aggregate...
terminated their operation.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 19.7 square miles (51 km²), of which 16 square miles (41.4 km²) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), or 18.50%, is water.
With a population of nearly 4400 residents, the town is predominantly a residential community. The Wachusett Reservoir
Wachusett Reservoir
The Wachusett Reservoir is the second largest body of water in the state of Massachusetts. It is located in central Massachusetts, northeast of Worcester. It is part of the water supply system for metropolitan Boston maintained by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority . It has an aggregate...
, Boston's water source, lies in the northwestern part of the town and covers about 5000 acres (20.2 km²) of land. The town maintains approximately 45 miles (72.4 km) of roadway, has 9 miles (14.5 km) of sidewalks, and has its own Municipal Light Department, Water District, and volunteer fire and ambulance service.
The town of Boylston is bordered by the towns of Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,640 people, 12,366 households, and 8,693 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 12,696 housing units at an average density of...
, West Boylston
West Boylston, Massachusetts
-Library:The West Boylston public library was established in 1878. In fiscal year 2008, the town of West Boylston spent 1.6% of its budget on its public library—some $37 per person.-External links:******...
, Sterling
Sterling, Massachusetts
Sterling is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. The population was 7,808 at the 2010 census.- History :Sterling was first settled by Europeans in 1720 and was officially incorporated in 1781....
, Clinton
Clinton, Massachusetts
Clinton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,606 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Clinton, please see the article Clinton , Massachusetts....
, Berlin
Berlin, Massachusetts
Berlin is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,866 at the 2010 census.- History :Berlin was first settled in 1665 and was officially incorporated in 1812....
, and Northborough
Northborough, Massachusetts
Northborough is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The official spelling of the town's name is "Northborough", but the shorter spelling "Northboro" is also used...
.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 4,008 people, 1,573 households, and 1,140 families residing in the town. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 250 PD/sqmi. There were 1,606 housing units at an average density of 100.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.71% White, 0.67% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.37% Asian, 0.25% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population.
There were 1,573 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $67,703, and the median income for a family was $77,604. Males had a median income of $56,019 versus $43,277 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $32,274. About 2.4% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Library
The Boylston Public Library was established in 1880. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Boylston spent 1.35% ($152,562) of its budget on its public library—some $35 per person.Education
Boylston currently operates a junior-senior high school with the neighboring town of Berlin, called the Tahanto Regional Middle/High School. It is part of the Berlin-Boylston Regional School DistrictBerlin-Boylston Regional School District
The Berlin-Boylston Regional School District consists of one school serving grades 7-12: Tahanto Regional Middle/High School. The school is physically situated in Boylston, Massachusetts, adjacent to the Wachusett Reservoir...
.
The school mascot is a stag
STAG
STAG: A Test of Love is a reality TV show hosted by Tommy Habeeb. Each episode profiles an engaged couple a week or two before their wedding. The cameras then follow the groom on his bachelor party...
, and the teams' colors are white and green. In 2005, the school erected the Traveling Vietnam Wall on campus.
Further reading
- Flagg, Charles Allcott, A Guide to Massachusetts local history, Salem : Salem Press Company, 1907. Cf.p. 225