Leicester, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leicester, Massachusetts
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Leicester Town Hall
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Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Worcester | |
| Settled | 1713 | |
| Incorporated | 1714 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 24.7 sq mi (63.9 km2) | |
| • Land | 23.4 sq mi (60.5 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,009 ft (308 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,087 | |
| • Density | 448.9/sq mi (173.51/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
01524, 01542, 01611
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| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 | |
| FIPS code | 25-34795 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619483 | |
| Website | http://www.leicesterma.org/ | |
Leicester (
i/ˈlɛstər/ LEST-ər) is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2020, about 11,087 people lived there.
Contents
History of Leicester
Early Days and Settlement
The land that is now Leicester was first home to the Nipmuc people. They called it Towtaid. In 1686, a group of nine land buyers bought the area for 15 pounds. They named it Strawberry Hill. For almost 30 years, no one settled there. This was because it was far away and there were wars happening.
Leicester became an official town on February 15, 1713. The rule was that 50 families had to settle there within seven years. The land was divided into two parts. The eastern part was for new settlers. The western part was for the buyers. Settlers could get land for one shilling per acre. Land was also set aside for schools, churches, and mills.
The town was named after Leicester, England. Samuel Green, one of the first town leaders, suggested the name. His father was from Leicester, England. Dr. Samuel Green was an early settler. He lived at 2 Charlton Street. He taught many other doctors in the 1700s. This was like the first medical school in Massachusetts.
Leicester and the American Revolution
Leicester played a big part in the start of the American Revolution. In 1774, Colonel William Henshaw from Leicester said that "we must have companies of men ready to march upon a minute's notice." This is where the term "minutemen" came from. Minutemen were soldiers ready to fight very quickly.
Before the British soldiers marched to Lexington and Concord, American supplies were moved to Leicester. One place they were stored was Dr. Green's house. When the British attacked, Leicester's Minutemen gathered. They marched to join the fight on April 19, 1775. This was at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
A few months later, Peter Salem, a freed slave from Leicester, fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He is known for killing British Major John Pitcairn. Today, both Peter Salem and Colonel Henshaw have streets named after them in Leicester.
General Knox brought cannons through Leicester. He delivered them to General Washington in Boston. These cannons helped force the British to leave Boston. There is a monument near the Leicester Library that marks this important route.
Industrial Growth and Social Leaders
Leicester was also important in the Industrial Revolution. By the 1780s, Leicester's mills made many "hand cards." These were tools used to prepare fibers for making thread and cloth. By the 1890s, Leicester made one-third of all hand and machine cards in North America.
Eli Whitney, who invented the cotton gin, went to school at Leicester Academy. This school later became Leicester High School. Pliny Earle I from Leicester helped build the first American mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He built the first carding machine for it. This was a key moment in the American Industrial Revolution.
Many important social leaders came from Leicester:
- Ruth Henshaw Bascom was a famous portrait artist.
- Emory Washburn was a governor of Massachusetts.
- Samuel May was a pastor and an abolitionist. He worked to end slavery. His house was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
In 2005, a local newspaper called Leicester one of Central Massachusetts' top ten sports towns.
Geography of Leicester
Leicester covers about 24.7 square miles (63.9 square kilometers). Most of this is land, and a small part is water.
Villages and Roads
Leicester has four main villages:
- Leicester Center
- Cherry Valley (near Worcester)
- Rochdale (in the southeastern part)
- Greenville (now part of Rochdale)
Cherry Valley and Rochdale have their own ZIP codes. The villages of Mannville and Lakeside no longer exist. They were removed to build the Kettle Brook reservoir system. This system provides water to Worcester.
Two main state highways cross Leicester. Route 9 goes east-west. Route 56 goes north-south.
Neighboring Towns
Leicester shares borders with several towns:
- Spencer to the west (which used to be part of Leicester).
- Paxton to the north.
- Worcester and Auburn to the east.
- Oxford and Charlton to the south.
A large part of the Worcester Regional Airport is located in Leicester. Also, most of Worcester's Kettle Brook water system is in Leicester.
Population Information
As of the 2000 census, there were 10,471 people living in Leicester. The town had 3,683 households. About 35.3% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.73 people. The median age in town was 36 years.
Climate
In Leicester, temperatures are usually below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for about 195 days each year. The town gets about 47.4 inches of rain and snow each year. Snow covers the ground for about 60 days a year.
Library
The Leicester public library started in 1801. It helps people in the town learn and read.
Education
Public Schools in Leicester
Students in Leicester attend public schools based on their grade level:
- Leicester Elementary School (Kindergarten to 4th Grade)
- Leicester Middle School (5th to 8th Grade)
- Leicester High School (9th to 12th Grade)
Leicester High School has a friendly sports rivalry with Auburn High School. After 8th grade, students can choose to go to Bay Path Regional Technical High School or Tantasqua Regional Technical High School for high school.
Notable People
Many interesting people have come from Leicester:
- Arthur Estabrook (born 1885), a researcher.
- David Henshaw, who was the United States Secretary of the Navy from 1843 to 1844.
- Samuel Joseph May, a pastor and historian who worked to end slavery.
- Emory Washburn, who was the Governor of Massachusetts from 1854 to 1855. He also taught at Harvard Law School.
- John R. Wilder (born 1816), a cotton merchant.
See also
In Spanish: Leicester (Massachusetts) para niños
