Milford, Massachusetts

Milford, Massachusetts
Town

Town Hall

Seal

Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 42°08′23″N 71°31′00″W / 42.13972°N 71.51667°W / 42.13972; -71.51667Coordinates: 42°08′23″N 71°31′00″W / 42.13972°N 71.51667°W / 42.13972; -71.51667
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Worcester
Settled 1662
Incorporated 1780
Government
 • Type Representative town meeting
Area
 • Total 14.9 sq mi (38.5 km2)
 • Land 14.6 sq mi (37.8 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation 307 ft (94 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 27,999
 • Density 1,900/sq mi (730/km2)
Demonym(s) Milfordian
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 01757
Area code(s) 508 / 774
FIPS code 25-41165
GNIS feature ID 0618372
Website www.milford.ma.us

Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 27,999 according to the 2010 census. First settled in 1662 and incorporated in 1780, Milford became a booming industrial and mining community in the 19th century due to its unique location which includes the nearby source of the Charles River, the Mill River, the Blackstone River watershed, and large quantities of Milford pink granite.

History

Milford was first settled in 1662 as a part Mendon. The King Philip's War destroyed the town in 1676, but settlers returned in 1680.[1] The Mill River flows through Milford and had several conspicuous fords that were familiar to the Native Americans, and used by the early white settlers. These "Mill (river) fords" gave Milford its name.[2] Milford was incorporated April 11th, 1780 and the first Town Hall built in 1819; a brick structure later named the Town House School. The Milford Town Hall was built in 1854 by architect Thomas Silloway.[1]

Milford is renowned for its pink Milford granite, discovered in 1870.[3] Milford quarries fueled the local economy until about 1940.[4] The granite has been used for local buildings such as Memorial Hall, the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale, Worcester City Hall, and the Boston Public Library. Other notable buildings include the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City, the main post office in New York City, and most recently the Singapore Changi Airport in 2002.[4] The Battle Monument at West Point is also made of Milford granite, and is reputed to be the largest column of polished granite in the Western Hemisphere.[5]

The Milford Hospital was donated in 1903 by Governor Eben Sumner Draper.[1] Today, the health care facility exists as the Milford Regional Medical Center. In January 2008, the Center opened a cancer treatment facility with the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute.[6] The Center is affiliated with UMass Medical Center as a teaching hospital.[7] In 2015 the hospital completed a $54 million expansion project that created a new emergency department and updated the intensive care unit, as well as patient rooms.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.9 square miles (39 km2), of which 14.6 square miles (38 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), or 1.82%, is water. Milford is drained by the Charles River.

The town is crossed by Interstate 495, as well as state routes 16, 85, 109, and 140.

Adjacent towns
 Hopkinton Holliston
Upton Medway
   Milford  
Hopedale Bellingham

Demographics

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 26,799 people, 10,420 households, and 7,200 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,835.6 people per square mile (708.7/km²). There were 10,713 housing units at an average density of 733.8 per square mile (283.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.95% White, 1.35% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.99% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.36% of the population.

There were 10,420 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,856, and the median income for a family was $61,029. Males had a median income of $42,173 versus $30,989 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,742. About 5.8% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Milford has been growing at a fast rate since the introduction of Interstate 495, which opened in the area with dual exits at Route 85 and Route 109 in 1969. Since then many major retailers have opened in town. Milford was fictitiously featured in a 2008 episode of the Fox television series Fringe.[19]

Government

County-level state agency heads
Clerk of Courts: Dennis P. McManus (D)
District Attorney: Joseph D. Early, Jr. (D)
Register of Deeds: Anthony J. Vigliotti (D)
Register of Probate: Stephanie K. Fattman (R)
County Sheriff: Lew Evangelidis (R)
State government
State Representative(s): John V. Fernandes (D)
State Senator(s): Ryan Fattman (R)
Governor's Councilor(s): Jen Caissie (R)
Federal government
U.S. Representative(s): Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-4th District),
U.S. Senators: Elizabeth Warren (D), Ed Markey (D)
Old Park School in 1909

The core of Milford's governing system is the representative town meeting, where elected citizens can voice their opinions, but more importantly, directly effect changes in the community. Along with a Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, Planning Board, Finance Committee, etc., the citizens of Milford have input into how the town is run.

The Massachusetts Department of Correction is headquartered in Milford.[20]

Library

The Milford Public Library was established in 1858.[21][22] In fiscal year 2008, the town of Milford spent 1.5% ($966,758) of its budget on its public library—some $35 per person.[23]

Education

Milford Public Schools operates six public schools and the town also has one catholic school.

Public schools
Catholic schools
Vocational schools

Annual events

Irish Round Tower, Milford, MA

Sites of interest

Media

Notable people

Milford Town Library, 1899

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Milford History". Town of Milford. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ Adin Ballou (1882). "History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881". Boston-Franklin Press: Rand, Avery, & Co. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  3. ↑ Danielle Ameden (June 1, 2008). "A story carved from Milford's pink granite". The Milford Daily News. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Mary MacDonald (June 12, 2014). "Milford Historical Society celebrating the pink granite quarries". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Tour of West Point: Battle Monument". United States Military Academy. Archived from the original on 11 January 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Emily Micucci (October 1, 2015). "Milford Regional cuts the ribbon on new ER, ICU". WBJournal. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Umass Memorial at Milford". UMass Medical Center. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  9. ↑ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  10. ↑ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  11. ↑ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  12. ↑ "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. ↑ "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  14. ↑ "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  15. ↑ "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  16. ↑ "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  17. ↑ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  18. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  19. ↑ Plot Synopsis for FOX's Fringe (Season 1, Episode 6: "The Cure", Original Air Date: 21 October 2008).
  20. ↑ "Massachusetts Department of Correction." Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. Retrieved on December 7, 2009.
  21. ↑ C.B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. 1st Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1891. Google books
  22. ↑ Milford Town Library. Retrieved 2010-11-10
  23. ↑ July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008; cf. The FY2008 Municipal Pie: What’s Your Share? Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Board of Library Commissioners. Boston: 2009. Available: Municipal Pie Reports Archived 2012-01-23 at the Wayback Machine.. Retrieved 2010-08-04
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