Leicester, Massachusetts
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| Leicester, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
| Name | Leicester, Massachusetts |
| Settlement type | Town |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | Massachusetts |
| Subdivision type2 | County |
| Subdivision name2 | Worcester |
| Established title | Settled |
| Established date | 1713 |
| Established title2 | Incorporated |
| Established date2 | 1714 |
| Government type | Open town meeting |
| Area total km2 | 64.1 |
| Area land km2 | 61.5 |
| Area water km2 | 2.6 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 11384 |
| Population density km2 | auto |
| Timezone | Eastern |
| Utc offset | -5 |
| Timezone DST | EDT |
| Utc offset DST | -4 |
| Coordinates | 42, 14, 40, N... |
| Postal code type | ZIP Code |
| Postal code | 01524 |
| Area code | 508/774 |
| Blank name | FIPS code |
| Blank info | 25-34775 |
| Blank1 name | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 info | 0619460 |
| Website | https://www.leicesterma.org/ |
Leicester, Massachusetts. Leicester is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, with a history dating to its settlement in the early 18th century. The population was 11,384 at the 2020 census. Located just west of the city of Worcester, it is part of the Worcester metropolitan statistical area and retains a mix of residential, agricultural, and light industrial character.
History
The area was originally part of the Nipmuc homeland and was first settled by colonists in 1713, being officially incorporated in 1714 and named for Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Early industries included agriculture, sawmills, and gristmills, with the town playing a role in the events leading to the American Revolution, including local participation in the Powder Alarm of 1774. The 19th century saw significant industrial development, particularly in woolen manufacturing, boot and shoe production, and the operation of the Leicester Academy, a noted preparatory school founded in 1784 with early trustees including Samuel Adams and John Hancock. The arrival of the Boston and Albany Railroad in the 1830s further spurred economic activity, and the town was also the site of the Becker College campus from the late 19th century until the institution's closure in 2021.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 64.1 square kilometers, of which 61.5 square kilometers is land and 2.6 square kilometers, or 4.08%, is water. Leicester is bordered by Worcester to the east, Paxton to the northeast, Rutland to the north, Spencer to the west, and Charlton to the south. Significant bodies of water include Lake Sargent and Stiles Reservoir, while the terrain features part of the Worcester Plateau and is drained by tributaries of the French River and the Quinebaug River. The town is bisected by major transportation routes including Route 9 and Interstate 290.
Demographics
As of the 2020 census, there were 11,384 people, 4,187 households, and 2,978 families residing in the town. The population density was approximately 185 inhabitants per square kilometer. The racial makeup was predominantly White, with smaller populations identifying as African American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino. The median household income was above the state average, and the per capita income was consistent with figures for Worcester County. Historically, the population grew steadily through the 19th and early 20th centuries with industrialization before experiencing suburban expansion in the latter half of the 20th century.
Government
Leicester employs the Open town meeting form of government, led by a Board of Selectmen and a professional Town Administrator. The town provides standard municipal services including police through the Leicester Police Department, fire protection via the Leicester Fire Department, and public works. Leicester is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as part of the 5th Worcester district and in the Massachusetts Senate as part of the Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex district. At the federal level, the town is part of Massachusetts's 1st congressional district.
Education
Public education for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade is managed by the Leicester Public Schools district, which operates Leicester Primary School, Leicester Memorial School, Leicester Middle School, and Leicester High School. The district is a member of the Central Massachusetts Regional School District for certain vocational programs. Historically, the town was home to the prestigious Leicester Academy, which operated from 1784 to 1968 and later merged with the Becker College system. Becker College maintained a campus in Leicester from 1887 until its closure and merger with Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2021.
Notable people
Notable individuals associated with Leicester include Elias Howe, inventor of the lockstitch sewing machine; John R. Brooke, a Union Army general in the American Civil War and military governor of Puerto Rico; and William T. G. Morton, a dentist who pioneered the use of ether as a surgical anesthetic. Other figures are Samuel Green, a 17th-century printer in the Massachusetts Bay Colony; William A. Buckingham, former Governor of Connecticut and United States Senator; and John H. W. Toohey, a recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during the Indian Wars.
Category:Towns in Worcester County, Massachusetts Category:Towns in Massachusetts Category:1714 establishments in Massachusetts