Northborough, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Northborough, Massachusetts
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First Parish Church
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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 | 1672 | ||
| Incorporated | 1766 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 18.8 sq mi (48.6 km2) | ||
| • Land | 18.5 sq mi (48.0 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 300 ft (91 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,741 | ||
| • Density | 837.3/sq mi (323.9/km2) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Northboroners | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP Code |
01532
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| Area code(s) | 508 / 774 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-46820 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618375 | ||
| Website | town.northborough.ma.us | ||
Northborough is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Its official name is "Northborough," but sometimes people use "Northboro." In 2020, about 15,741 people lived there.
Contents
Northborough's History
The land around Northborough was first home to the Nipmuc people. European settlers arrived and set up a small community on May 14, 1656. This happened after people from the nearby Sudbury area asked the government of the Bay Colony for permission to settle there.
Northborough officially became a "district" on January 23, 1766. It was part of the neighboring town of Westborough. Later, on August 23, 1775, it became its own town. A small part of Marlborough was added to Northborough on June 20, 1807.
The first church and town meeting place was built in 1746. At that time, the town's legal leader was called the Town Minister. Reverend John Martyn was the first person to hold this role.
In 1775, Northborough separated from Westborough. Westborough itself had separated from Marlborough 58 years earlier. Even after splitting, Northborough and Westborough shared a meetinghouse for a while.
Geography of Northborough
Northborough covers about 18.8 square miles (48.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. The town is usually about 302 feet (91 meters) above sea level.
Neighboring Towns and Cities
Northborough is in Central Massachusetts. It shares borders with five towns and one city:
- Southborough is to the southeast. Their border is very short and hard to reach.
- Marlborough is to the east. You can easily get there from Northborough using U.S. Route 20.
- Berlin is to the north of Northborough.
- Boylston is to the northwest.
- Shrewsbury is to the west. It's the town between Northborough and the city of Worcester. You can reach Shrewsbury using Route 20 or Route 9.
- Westborough is to the south. You can get there using Route 9 or Route 135.
Among these seven towns (including Northborough), Northborough is the fourth largest in terms of how many people live there. Marlborough has the most people, while Berlin has the fewest.
Northborough's Population
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1860 | 1,565 | — |
| 1870 | 1,504 | −3.9% |
| 1880 | 1,676 | +11.4% |
| 1890 | 1,952 | +16.5% |
| 1900 | 2,164 | +10.9% |
| 1910 | 1,713 | −20.8% |
| 1920 | 1,753 | +2.3% |
| 1930 | 1,946 | +11.0% |
| 1940 | 2,382 | +22.4% |
| 1950 | 3,122 | +31.1% |
| 1960 | 6,687 | +114.2% |
| 1970 | 9,218 | +37.8% |
| 1980 | 10,568 | +14.6% |
| 1990 | 11,929 | +12.9% |
| 2000 | 14,013 | +17.5% |
| 2010 | 14,155 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 15,741 | +11.2% |
| 2022 | 15,663 | −0.5% |
| Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. | ||
The population of Northborough has grown over the years. In 2010, there were 14,155 people. By 2020, the population had increased to 15,741.
In 2000, there were 14,013 people living in Northborough. About 43.4% of homes had children under 18. Most homes (68.9%) were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.83 people.
The median age in town was 37 years old. About 29.5% of the population was under 18.
Northborough Library
The Northborough Free Library opened in 1868. In 2009, the town spent about $645,208 on its public library. This was about $43.41 for each person living in Northborough that year.
Education in Northborough
Public Schools
The Northborough-Southborough Public School District has four elementary schools for students from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. These schools are Lincoln Street School, Marguerite E. Peaslee School, Fannie E. Proctor School, and Marion E. Zeh School.
In 2002, the Northborough Middle School was renamed Robert E. Melican Middle School. This was to honor a former superintendent of schools.
Students from Northborough attend Algonquin Regional High School. This high school is shared with students from Southborough. The school's mascot was the Tomahawk, but it was changed to the Titans in early 2022. Some people have debated whether Northborough and Southborough should have separate high schools. However, citizens from both towns voted to keep the school regional, meaning they share it. Another option for Northborough students is Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School.
Private Schools
Northborough also has private schools. These include The Cornerstone Academy, which is a private elementary school. There is also Saint Bernadette School, a private Roman Catholic elementary and middle school.
Sports in Northborough
The New England Baseball Complex is located in Northborough. It's a large sports facility where the New England Ruffnecks, a youth baseball team, play. Many high school teams, including Algonquin, have played games there. Colleges and universities also use the complex for their games.
Algonquin's little league, which is shared with Southborough, is open to all children. Robert E. Melican Middle School also has sports teams for students in 7th grade and above.
Famous People from Northborough
Many interesting people have connections to Northborough:
- Joseph Allen was a pastor.
- Joseph Henry Allen was a Unitarian minister and scholar.
- William Francis Allen was a classical scholar.
- Mark Fidrych (1954–2009) was a famous pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He was named Rookie of the Year in 1976.
- John Kellette (1873–1922) was a songwriter who wrote "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" in 1918.
- Meghan Kilcoyne is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. She lives in Northborough.
- Dorian McMenemy (born 1996) is an Olympic swimmer for the Dominican Republic.
- Jon Radoff (born 1972) is an internet entrepreneur and author.
- Nathaniel Raymond (born 1977) is a human rights investigator who looks into war crimes.
- Luther Rice (1783–1836) was a Baptist minister. He helped found George Washington University.
- Mike Sherman (born 1954) is a football coach. He used to be the head coach for the Green Bay Packers.
- Daniel Baird Wesson (1825–1906) was an inventor and firearms designer. He helped start the Smith & Wesson gun company.
Northborough Media
Newspapers
You can find news about Northborough in several newspapers:
- Metrowest Daily News
- Worcester Telegram and Gazette
- Community Advocate
- Northborough/Southborough Villager (a weekly paper)
- Northborough Patch (an online news source)
See also
In Spanish: Northborough (Massachusetts) para niños
