Southborough, Massachusetts Facts for Kids

Southborough is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It includes smaller areas known as Cordaville, Fayville, and Southville. People often call it Southboro for short, and you might see this name on signs and maps. In 2020, about 10,450 people lived here.

Most of the land in Southborough is used for homes. A large part is also open space, including a section covered by the Sudbury Reservoir. Some light industries and small businesses are found along main roads like Massachusetts Route 9.

History of Southborough

Southborough was first settled in 1660. It officially became a town in July 1727. For many years, it was mostly a farming community.

Later, mills started to use the town's small rivers. By the late 1800s, Southborough was making things like plasters, straw bonnets, boots, and shoes.

How Southborough Became a Town

In 1727, Southborough separated from the town of Marlborough. It was called the "south borough" of Marlborough. This happened ten years after Westborough also split off from Marlborough.

Building the Sudbury Reservoir

In 1898, the Fayville Dam was built. This created several reservoirs to provide water for the growing city of Boston. Because of this, many factories and manufacturing businesses left Southborough. The town didn't grow much again until the 1970s, when new technology companies started to appear.

Important Families in Southborough

The Fay, Burnett, and Choate families played a big role in shaping Southborough. They helped build important places like St. Mark's Church, St. Mark's School, the Southborough Library, the Community House, and the Fay School.

Geography of Southborough

Southborough covers about 15.7 square miles (40.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers) is water.

Population and People in Southborough

The population of Southborough has grown over the years. In 2010, there were 9,767 people living in the town. By 2020, the population had reached 10,450.

Who Lives in Southborough?

In 2000, there were 8,781 people living in Southborough. Most residents were White (94.47%), with smaller percentages of Asian (3.52%), African American (0.54%), and other groups. About 1.50% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many households (47.5%) had children under 18 living with them. Most families (73.9%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.97 people.

Age Groups in Southborough

The population in Southborough is spread across different age groups. About 32.1% of residents were under 18 years old. About 32.2% were between 25 and 44 years old. The median age in the town was 37 years.

Income in Southborough

In 2000, the average income for a household in Southborough was $132,986. For families, the average income was $129,454. By 2009, the average family income had increased to $148,297.

Economy of Southborough

The information technology company Virtusa has its main office in Southborough.

Arts and Culture in Southborough

Southborough has several interesting places to visit:

9/11 Field
Elaine and Phillip Beals Preserve
Boroughs Loop Trail
Breakneck Hill conservation land
Community House
Pilgrim Congregational Church
Rural Cemetery
St. Mark's School
Fay School
Sudbury Reservoir Trail

The Pilgrim Congregational Church was used as a filming location for a scene in the movie Grown Ups.

Annual Events in Southborough

Southborough celebrates Heritage Day every year on Columbus Day. This event includes a parade with the Algonquin High School marching band. In the week before Heritage Day, there are other activities like a run/walk event and pumpkin carving.

Southborough Public Library

The public library in Southborough first opened in 1852. In 2008, the town spent about $370,390 on its library. This was about $38 per person each year.

Education in Southborough

Southborough has both public and private schools.

Public Schools in Southborough

Southborough has six public schools. Four of these schools are within the town limits, serving younger students. The two high schools are regional schools located in nearby towns.

Mary E. Finn School – For preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade.
Albert S. Woodward School – For 2nd and 3rd grade.
Margaret A. Neary School – For 4th and 5th grade.
P. Brent Trottier Middle School – For 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.
Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, Massachusetts – For 9th to 12th grade.
Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, Massachusetts – For 9th to 12th grade, focusing on technical skills.

Private Schools in Southborough

Southborough is home to two private schools:

St. Mark's School: This secondary school was started in 1865 by Joseph Burnett.
Fay School: This is the oldest junior boarding school in the United States. It was founded in 1866 by Harriet Burnett Fay, who was Joseph Burnett's cousin.

Media in Southborough

You can find local news about Southborough from:

Community Advocate, a local news website.
My Southborough, a news blog.

Transportation in Southborough

An MBTA Commuter Rail train arriving at Southborough station.

The MBTA Commuter Rail's Framingham/Worcester Line has a stop at Southborough station. This train station opened on June 22, 2002. It is located in the Cordaville area, near Route 85. As of December 2023, trains run frequently to South Station in Boston and Union Station in Worcester on weekdays and weekends.

Major highways like Interstate 495 and the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) pass through Southborough. However, they do not have exits within the town itself. Routes 9 and 30 are important roads that go east and west through Southborough. Route 85 runs north and south through the town.

Notable People from Southborough

Many interesting people have connections to Southborough.

Actors and Musicians

Storm Large (born 1969), a singer, songwriter, actress, and author.
Warner Oland (1879–1938), an actor famous for playing Charlie Chan in many movies.

Sports Figures

Doug Brown (born 1964), a professional ice hockey player.
Ryan Gallant (born 1982), a professional skateboarder.
Ben Johnson (born 1977), a professional soccer player and coach.
Fred J. Murphy (1886–1956), a college athlete, coach, and athletic director.
Henry Thrun (born 2001), a professional ice hockey player.
Luis Tiant (born 1940), a professional baseball player.

Other Notable People

Joseph Burnett (1820–1894), an educator and businessman who founded St. Mark's School.
Daniel Pinckney Parker (1781–1850), a merchant and shipbuilder.
Harold F. Smiddy (1900–1978), an engineer and business consultant.
E. C. Spykman (1896–1965), a children's novelist and journalist.
Robert H. Thayer (1901–1984), a lawyer, naval officer, and diplomat.
Sigourney Thayer (1896–1944), a theatrical producer, World War I pilot, and poet.
Michael Weishan, an author, designer, and former television personality.
John Garabedian, a radio personality and DJ, known for creating and hosting "Open House Party."

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Southborough, Massachusetts Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.

Southborough, Massachusetts facts for kids

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