Rutland, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rutland, Massachusetts
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Community Hall
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| Nickname(s):
"Geographical Center of Massachusetts"
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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 | 1686 | ||
| Incorporated | 1713 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 36.4 sq mi (94.3 km2) | ||
| • Land | 35.3 sq mi (91.3 km2) | ||
| • Water | 1.2 sq mi (3.0 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,112 ft (339 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,049 | ||
| • Density | 248.6/sq mi (95.96/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP Code |
01543
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| Area code(s) | 508/774 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-58825 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618381 | ||
| Website | Town of Rutland, Massachusetts | ||
Rutland is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It's known as the "Geographical Center of Massachusetts." In 2020, about 9,049 people lived here. A special tree, called the Central Tree, marks the general center of the state.
Contents
Discovering Rutland's Past
Rutland was first settled by Europeans in 1666. It was originally called "Naquag," a name from the Nipmuc people. The town officially became a town in 1713. Back then, Rutland was much bigger. It included parts of what are now Barre, Hubbardston, Oakham, Princeton, and the northern half of Paxton.
During the American Revolutionary War, prison camps were set up in Northern Rutland. These camps held Hessian mercenaries, who were soldiers hired by the British.
One of Rutland's most famous citizens was Rufus Putnam. He was a very important engineer for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Rufus Putnam held many jobs in Rutland and later helped lead a group of war veterans to settle in the Northwest Territory. Because of his efforts, he became known as the "Father of Ohio." You can still see the General Rufus Putnam House in Rutland today; it's even shown on the town's official seal.
Exploring Rutland's Geography
Rutland covers about 36.4 square miles (94.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.3 square miles (91.3 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.1 square miles (3.0 square kilometers), is water.
Rutland shares its borders with several other towns:
- Princeton to the northeast
- Holden to the east
- Paxton to the southeast
- Oakham to the southwest
- Barre and Hubbardston to the northwest
Within Rutland, there are five smaller areas called villages: New Boston, West Rutland, Muschopauge, North Rutland, and Turkey Hill.
Rutland is located about 13 miles (21 km) northwest of Worcester. It's also about 52 miles (84 km) west of Boston and 181 miles (291 km) northeast of New York City. Rutland is known for being the highest town between The Berkshires (a mountain range) and the Atlantic Ocean. The town common, which is like a central park, is about 1,200 feet (366 meters) above sea level. As mentioned before, Rutland is the exact geographical center of Massachusetts.
Rutland's Population and People
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,223 | — |
| 1860 | 1,076 | −12.0% |
| 1870 | 1,024 | −4.8% |
| 1880 | 1,059 | +3.4% |
| 1890 | 980 | −7.5% |
| 1900 | 1,334 | +36.1% |
| 1910 | 1,743 | +30.7% |
| 1920 | 1,743 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 2,442 | +40.1% |
| 1940 | 2,181 | −10.7% |
| 1950 | 3,056 | +40.1% |
| 1960 | 3,253 | +6.4% |
| 1970 | 3,198 | −1.7% |
| 1980 | 4,334 | +35.5% |
| 1990 | 4,936 | +13.9% |
| 2000 | 6,353 | +28.7% |
| 2010 | 7,973 | +25.5% |
| 2020 | 9,049 | +13.5% |
| 2023* | 9,422 | +4.1% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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In 2008, there were about 8,257 people living in Rutland. The town had about 2,300 households, with many of them being families.
About 30.8% of the people in Rutland were under 18 years old. The median age, which is the middle age of the population, was 35 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 102 males.
The median income for a household in Rutland was about $62,846. This means that half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. For families, the median income was about $70,689.
Fun Events and Culture in Rutland
Rutland loves to celebrate! Each year, the town holds a big four-day Fourth of July celebration. It starts on July 1st and includes many fun activities:
- Live music performances by local artists.
- A lip-sync concert where people pretend to sing.
- A delicious chicken barbecue hosted by the local Fire Brigade.
- A Historical Society Lemonade Social, where you can enjoy lemonade and learn about the town's history.
- An amazing fireworks show that everyone loves.
On the Fourth of July itself, Rutland has a parade. Local groups create colorful floats, and special guests, like local politicians, join in the fun.
In August, Rutland hosts the Central Tree Chowder Chili Challenge. This event is put on by the Rutland Fire Brigade. Local restaurants compete to see who can make the best clam chowder. They can win in two ways: by getting the most votes from the public, or by getting the most votes from other restaurants.
While the chowder competition is the main event, it's also a great family day. You don't need to pay to get in, but you do if you want to taste the chowder. There are also pony rides, face painting, animal exhibits, and inflatable rooms for kids to play in. Kids can even enjoy a free "train ride" where a lawn tractor pulls three cars around the athletic track. Many local vendors also set up stalls.
All the money raised from this event goes to the local Fire Brigade. They use it to help restore the town's original fire station and to buy important equipment for the Fire Department.
Learning in Rutland: Education
Rutland is part of the Wachusett Regional School District.
The town has two elementary schools:
- Naquag Elementary School: This school teaches students from kindergarten through 2nd grade. It's located on Main Street. For the 2024-2025 school year, it had 22 full-time teachers and 344 students.
- Glenwood Elementary School: This school is for students in 3rd through 5th grade.
The middle school in Rutland is Central Tree Middle School. It serves students in 6th through 8th grade. Central Tree Middle School has about 365 students and 25 full-time teachers. Students at this school generally do well in reading and math, with scores above the state average.
For high school, students can attend Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, or Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton.
Rutland is also home to the Devereux School, which is a special facility that helps young people aged 6 to 21 with their education and mental health.
Rutland Public Library
The public library in Rutland was started around 1865. It's a great place for everyone in town to read, learn, and explore.
See also
In Spanish: Rutland (Massachusetts) para niños
