Webster, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Webster, Massachusetts
Town
Town of Webster
Town Hall in Webster, Massachusetts
Flag Seal
Location in Worcester County and Massachusetts.
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Worcester
Settled	1713
Incorporated	1832
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	14.5 sq mi (37.7 km2)
• Land	12.5 sq mi (32.3 km2)
• Water	2.1 sq mi (5.3 km2)
Elevation	460 ft (140 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,776
• Density	1,226/sq mi (471.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	01570
Area code(s)	508
FIPS code	25-73895
GNIS feature ID	0618389
Website	www.webster-ma.gov

Main Street in Webster

Webster is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. In 2020, about 17,776 people lived there.

The town is named after a famous leader, Daniel Webster. It was started by a businessman named Samuel Slater, who built some of America's first textile factories here. Webster is also home to the Chaubunagungamaug Reservation, where the Nipmuc people live. You'll also find Lake Chaubunagungamaug here, which is the third largest freshwater lake in Massachusetts.

History of Webster

The land that is now Webster was the home of the Nipmuc people for thousands of years. Europeans first settled here in 1713. The town officially became a town on March 6, 1832. Before that, the area was split between the towns of Dudley and Oxford, and an extra piece of land.

The main person who helped found Webster was a factory owner named Samuel Slater. He came to the area after his successful work in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Slater started several textile mills in Webster. One of these mills was taken over by Cranston Print Works in 1936. Samuel Slater named the town after his friend, Daniel Webster. Slater spent his last years in Webster and is buried in Mount Zion Cemetery.

Geography of Webster

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Webster covers a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.7 square kilometers). About 12.5 square miles (32.3 square kilometers) of this is land, and 2.0 square miles (5.3 square kilometers), or 14.10%, is water.

The town is bordered by Oxford to the north and Douglas to the east. To the south, it borders Thompson, Connecticut. On the west, it borders Dudley, which it shares many cultural and political ties with.

Webster is famous for Lake Chaubunagungamaug, also known as "Webster Lake." This is the third largest lake in Massachusetts. Its full name, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, has 45 letters. It is often called the longest place name in the United States of America and the third longest in the world.

Population and People

St. Joseph Basilica in Webster

In 2000, there were 16,415 people living in Webster. These people lived in 6,905 households, and 4,274 of these were families. The population density was about 1,314 people per square mile.

Many people of Polish-American heritage live in Webster. About one-third of the town's population may be of Polish descent. St. Joseph Basilica is located in Webster. It is the oldest Polish-American Catholic parish church in New England.

Chaubunagungamaug Reservation

The Chaubunagungamaug Reservation is located within Webster. This is a special area for the Nipmuc people, recognized by the state of Massachusetts. There are over 500 tribe members officially recognized by the state.

Education in Webster

Webster has public schools for students of all ages.

• Park Avenue School teaches students from kindergarten to 4th grade.
• Webster Middle School is for grades 5 through 8. It opened in 2005.
• Bartlett High School serves students from 9th to 12th grade.

Before 2005, the middle school was called Anthony J. Sitkowski Middle School. That building is now an apartment building for senior citizens.

Three Catholic churches in Webster also used to have elementary schools: St. Anne's (Sacred Heart Parish), St. Joseph's, and St. Louis. In 2016, St. Anne's and St. Louis's schools joined together to form All Saints Academy.

Economy and Businesses

Several important businesses and attractions are located in Webster.

• MAPFRE Insurance (which used to be called the Commerce Insurance Group) has its main office in Webster.
• Indian Ranch is a place by Webster Lake where summer concerts are held. Many famous musicians have performed there. You can also ride the Indian Princess riverboat on the lake, which used to be on the Mississippi River.
• Goya Foods has its Massachusetts office in Webster.

Media and Library

Chester C. Corbin Library in Webster

• The Webster Times is a local newspaper published every Friday.
• Other newspapers that cover Webster include the Telegram & Gazette (from Worcester), The Boston Globe, and Boston Herald.
• WQVR-AM 940 is a local radio station.

Webster's public library first opened in 1889. The Chester C. Corbin Library opened in 1921. This building was used until it was taken down in 2016. The library's books were moved to the Webster Town Hall while a new building was built. The new library, named after Gladys E. Kelly, opened in 2018.

Notable People from Webster

• Andrew J. Bates (1839–1915), a businessman who started the Bates Shoe Company.
• Bette Boucher (born 1943), a retired professional wrestler.
• William Slater Brown (1896–1997), a writer and translator of French books.
• Stasia Czernicki (1922–1993), a professional candlepin bowler.
• George Derby (1857–1925), a professional baseball player.
• Gene Filipski (1931–1994), a professional football player.
• Frank Gilmore (1864–1929), a professional baseball player.
• George R. Stobbs (1877–1966), who was a member of the United States House of Representatives.
• Mike Sullivan (1860–1929), a professional baseball player.
• Lyman T. Tingier (1862–1920), who was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.

See also

In Spanish: Webster (Massachusetts) para niños