Westford, Massachusetts

Westford, Massachusetts
Town
Old Westford Academy, now the Westford Museum
Seal
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°34′45″N71°26′18″W / 42.57917°N 71.43833°W / 42.57917; -71.43833
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Middlesex
Region	New England
Settled	1635 [1]
Incorporated	September 23, 1729
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	31.3 sq mi (81.1 km2)
• Land	30.6 sq mi (79.3 km2)
• Water	0.7 sq mi (1.9 km2)
Elevation	406 ft (124 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,643
• Density	712.1/sq mi (274.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	01886
Area code	351/978
FIPS code	25-76135
GNIS feature ID	0618244
Website	www.westfordma.gov

Westford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was at 24,643 at the time of the 2020 Census. ^[2]

History

Westford Common, looking down Main Street

Westford began as 'West Chelmsford', a village in the town of Chelmsford. The village of West Chelmsford grew large enough to sustain its own governance in 1729, and was officially incorporated as Westford that year on September 23. ^{[3] [4]}

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Westford primarily produced granite, apples, and worsted yarn. The Abbot Worsted Company was said to be the first company in the nation to use camel hair for worsted yarns. ^[5]

Henry Fletcher House was built c. 1813

Paul Revere's son attended Westford Academy and a bell cast by Revere graces its lobby today. ^[6] A weather vane made by Paul Revere sits atop the Abbot Elementary school.

By the end of the American Civil War, as roads and transportation improved, Westford began to serve as a residential suburb for the factories of Lowell, becoming one of the earliest notable examples of suburban sprawl. Throughout the 20th century (and with the invention of the automobile), Westford progressively grew, continuing to serve as residential housing for the industries of Lowell, and later, Boston.

In the 1960s, the town was home to one of the research sites supporting Project West Ford.

By the 1970s, with the advent of the 128 Technology Belt, Westford began to act as a suburb for high-tech firms in Burlington, Woburn, and other areas, and later became a center of technology itself.

By the 1990s, Westford was home to offices for Cascade Communications (now part of Nokia), NETSCOUT, Red Hat, Samsung, Sonus Networks, Seagate, Iris Associates and many other technology firms, most located along Massachusetts Route 110, parallel to I-495. It is also the North American headquarters for Puma, which holds a road race in town. ^[7]

Geography

Lithograph of Westford from 1886 by L.R. Burleigh with list of landmarks

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.3 square miles (81 km²), of which 30.6 square miles (79 km²) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (2.30%) is water.

Regionally, it is on the edge of the Merrimack Valley, Northern Middlesex County, and the Metrowest regions of Massachusetts.

Colloquially, the town is divided into different regions based on location, including Forge Village, Nabnasset, Graniteville, Parker Village, and Center of Town.

The town was rated as #11 Best Places to live by Money.com in 2013. ^[8]

Demographics

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1790	1,229 [9]	—
1800	1,267 [10]	+3.1%
1810	1,330 [11]	+5.0%
1820	1,409 [12]	+5.9%
1830	1,327 [13]	−5.8%
1840	1,436 [14]	+8.2%
1850	1,473	+2.6%
1860	1,624	+10.3%
1870	1,803	+11.0%
1880	2,147	+19.1%
1890	2,250	+4.8%
1900	2,624	+16.6%
1910	2,851	+8.7%
1920	3,170	+11.2%
1930	3,600	+13.6%
1940	3,830	+6.4%
1950	4,262	+11.3%
1960	6,261	+46.9%
1970	10,368	+65.6%
1980	13,434	+29.6%
1990	16,467	+22.6%
2000	20,754	+26.0%
2010	21,951	+5.8%
2020	24,643	+12.3%
2022*	24,353	−1.2%
* = population estimate. Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data. [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

As of the 2010 census ^[26] there were 21,951 people, 7,498 households, and 6,165 families residing in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 76.1% White, 0.40% African American, 0.1% Native American, 22.6% Asian (10.7% Indian, 8.2% Chinese, 1.6% Korean, 0.3% Cambodian, 0.2% Vietnamese, 0.2% Japanese, 0.1% Filipino, 0.1% Pakistani, 0.1% Bangladeshi), 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.

As of the 2010 census, ^[26] there were 7,498 households, out of which 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female head of household, and 17.8% were other families. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 31.8% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $121,136, and the median income for a family was $137,230. The per capita income for the town was $48,951. About 1.3% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of February 1, 2021 [27]
Party		Number of Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	3,962	21.75%
	Republican	1,987	10.91%
	Unaffiliated	12,090	66.36%
Total		18,220	100%

Education

"Abbot Elementary School" redirects here. For the sitcom, see Abbott Elementary.

Westford Public Schools

The Superintendent of Westford's Public Schools is Christopher Chew, ^[28] who has held that role since 2021. The Assistant Superintendent is Courtney Moran. ^[29]

J.V. Fletcher Library, built 1895

• Westford Academy, Public High School
• Lloyd G. Blanchard Middle School, Public Middle School
• Stony Brook Middle School, Public Middle School
• Norman E. Day Elementary School, Public Elementary School (3–5)
• Abbot Elementary, Public Elementary School (3–5)
• John A. Crisafulli Elementary, Public Elementary School (3–5)
• Col. John Robinson School, Public Elementary School (K–2)
• Nabnasset Elementary School, Public Elementary School (K–2)
• Rita Edwards Miller School, Public Elementary School (K–2)

Nashoba Valley Technical High School District

Nashoba Valley Technical High School enrolls students from Westford, Chelmsford, Ayer, Groton, Littleton, Townsend, Shirley, and Pepperell

Established in 1968, Nashoba Valley Technical High School is a public, four-year, vocational high school.

• Nashoba Valley Technical High School, Public Regional Vocational Technical (known as Nashoba Tech, or The Tech)

Transportation

Freight travels daily through Westford over the tracks of the historic Stony Brook Railroad. The line currently serves as a major corridor of Pan Am Railways' District 3 which connects New Hampshire and Maine with western Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York. ^[30] Interstate 495 also passes through the town, linking it to other parts of the state as well as New Hampshire. ^[31] US-3 passes through the town, although the nearest interchanges are located in neighboring Tyngsborough (exit 88, formerly 34) and Chelmsford (exit 86, formerly 33).

The LRTA 15 bus connects Westford along Route 110 with Chelmsford and the Lowell train station on the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line.

Local routes passing through town are Massachusetts Routes 110, 40, 225, and 27.

Notable people

• Joel Abbot (1793–1855), born in Westford, noted naval officer ^[32]
• Pat Bradley, Member of World Golf Hall of Fame ^[33]
• Michael Fucito, Retired Major League Soccer player, first drafted by the Seattle Sounders FC ^[34]
• Pamela L. Gay, Astronomer
• Martha Reed Mitchell (1818–1902), philanthropist and socialite
• Ellen Henrietta Swallow Richards, creator of the field of home economics, first woman admitted to MIT, co-founder of American Association of University Women ^[35]
• Lt. Col. John Robinson, Revolutionary War soldier ^[36]
• Aaron Stanford, actor known for Nikita ^[37]
• Nettie Stevens, American geneticist

Points of interest

• Kimball Farm ^[38]
• Westford Knight stone and memorial
• Nashoba Valley Ski Area
• Fairview Cemetery
• Haystack Observatory

References

1. History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659–1883 by Hodgman, Edwin R. (Edwin Ruthven), 1819–1900; Westford Town History Association (Westford, Mass.)
2. "Census - Geography Profile: Westford town, Middlesex County, Massachusetts". November 7, 2021.
3. "HTML Error 404 – Page Not Found – Westford, Massachusetts".{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
4. "How Did Westford Split From Chelmsford?". Westford, MA Patch. November 16, 2011.
5. Oliphant, Robert W. "A brief history of Westford". Westford Museum and Historical Society. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
6. "History of Westford Academy - Westford, MA - Westford Eagle". Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
7. IMAGE GALLERY: Puma 5 Miler Road Race, Westford Patch
8. "Best Places To Live 2013". Money.com. 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
9. ""United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch, Massachusetts > Middlesex > Westford > image 2 of 2; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), archive date 14 May 2015". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
10. ""United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch, Massachusetts > Middlesex > Westford > image 6 of 6; citing NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), archive date 10 June 2015". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
11. ""United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch, Massachusetts > Middlesex > Groton > image 18 of 27; citing NARA microfilm publication M252, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), archive date 1 December 2015". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
12. ""United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch, Massachusetts > Middlesex > Westford > image 6 of 6; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), archive date 16 July 2015". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
13. ""United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch, Massachusetts > Middlesex > Westford > image 20 of 20; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), archive date 5 August 2015". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
14. ""United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch Massachusetts > Middlesex > Westford > image 18 of 18; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), access date 24 August 2015". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
15. "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
16. "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
17. "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.
18. "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.
19. "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.
20. "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.
21. "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.
22. "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.
23. "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.
24. "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
25. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 24, 2023.
26. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
27. "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of February 1, 2021" (PDF). Massachusetts Elections Division. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
28. "Lifting the curtain on Westford's new superintendent, Christopher Chew". March 28, 2021.
29. "Courtney Moran appointed as new assistant superintendent for WPS". WestfordCAT. June 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
30. Pan Am Railways route map Archived January 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine .panamrailways.com. Accessed April 30, 2007.
31. "interstate-guide.com". Accessed November 5, 2008.
32. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
33. "World Golf Hall of Fame Profile: Pat Bradley".
34. Hare, Bill (November 3, 2010), Mike Fucito: Seattle Sounders' Embodiment of Desire and Spirit, Bleacher Report , retrieved January 22, 2012
35. "Ellen Swallow Richards", Biographical Snapshots of Famous Women and Minority Chemists, Journal of Chemical Education, retrieved January 22, 2012
36. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783, vol. 13, Boston: Wright and Potter, 1905, p. 451
37. O'Connor, Austin (May 4, 2003), "Westford actor Aaron Stanford is hot", Lowell Sun , retrieved January 22, 2012
38. "Westford, MA". Kimball Farm. Retrieved January 29, 2024.

Further reading

• 1871 Atlas of Massachusetts. by Wall & Gray.Map of Massachusetts. Map of Middlesex County.
• History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 (A-H), Volume 2 (L-W) compiled by Samuel Adams Drake, published 1879 and 1880. 572 and 505 pages. Westford section in volume 2 page 475 by Hodgman and Julian Abbott.
• History of the Town of Westford, in the County of Middlesex, Massachusetts, by Rev. Edwin Ruthven Hodgman, published 1883, 494 pages.
• A Brief History of Westford, by Robert W. Oliphant, Town Historian.

External links

• Town of Westford
• The Westford Web Community Web Site
• Westford Historical Society and Museum