Editing Worcester, Massachusetts (section)

==History==
{{For timeline}}

===Colonial era===
The area was inhabited by members of the [[Nipmuc]] tribe at the time of European contact. The native people called the region ''Quinsigamond'' and built a settlement on Pakachoag Hill in [[Auburn, Massachusetts|Auburn]].<ref>Lincoln, William (1862). ''History of Worcester, Massachusetts'', pp. 22–23. Worcester: Charles Hersey.</ref>

In 1673, English settlers [[John Eliot (missionary)|John Eliot]] and [[Daniel Gookin]] led an expedition to Quinsigamond to establish a new Christian Indian [[praying town]] and identify a new location for an English settlement. On July 13, 1674, Gookin obtained a deed to eight square miles of land in Quinsigamond from the Nipmuc people and English traders and settlers began to inhabit the region.<ref name=Indian>{{cite web|title=Hassanamisco Indian Museum History|publisher=Hassanamisco Indian Museum|year=2013|url=http://nipmucmuseum.org/history|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=August 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823080037/http://nipmucmuseum.org/history|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1675, [[King Philip's War]] broke out throughout New England with the Nipmuc Indians coming to the aid of Indian leader [[Metacomet|King Philip]]. The English settlers completely abandoned the Quinsigamond area and the empty buildings were burned by the Indian forces. The town was again abandoned during [[Queen Anne's War]] in 1702.<ref name="Indian" />

Finally, in 1713, Worcester was permanently resettled for a third and final time by [[Jonas Rice]].<ref name="WSA">Worcester Society of Antiquity (1903). ''Exercises Held at the Dedication of a Memorial to Major Jonas Rice, the First Permanent Settler of Worcester, Massachusetts, Wednesday, October 7, 1903.'' Charles Hamilton Press, Worcester. 72pp.</ref>  Named after the city of [[Worcester, England]], the town was incorporated on June 14, 1722.<ref name="City of Worcester, Massachusetts">{{cite web | url=http://www.worcesterma.gov/city-clerk/history | title=History, Trivia, Vital Stats & More! | publisher=City of Worcester, Massachusetts | access-date=March 3, 2007 | archive-date=March 4, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304224655/http://www.worcesterma.gov/city-clerk/history | url-status=dead }}</ref>

On April 2, 1731, Worcester was chosen as the county seat of the newly founded [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]] government. Between 1755 and 1758, future U.S. president [[John Adams]] worked as a schoolteacher and studied law in Worcester.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History |website= Worcester County Bar Association |url=https://www.worcestercountybar.org/our-history/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-04 |title=John Adams: Life Before the Presidency |url=https://millercenter.org/president/adams/life-before-the-presidency |first1=C. James |last1=Taylor |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Miller Center |language=en}}</ref>

Worcester also had a role in the start of the [[American Revolution]], with an event that is oft-forgotten. On September 6, 1774, 4,622 militiamen from 37 towns in Worcester County assembled and marched on Main Street, Worcester; they sought to shut down the Crown's court before it could sit for a new session. The event was dubbed the [[Worcester Revolt|Worcester Revolution]], or the Worcester Revolt. Having seized the courthouse, the militiamen waited for the 25 appointees from the Crown to arrive, where they were denied entry and later forced to disavow their appointments by King George III. Bloodshed and violence was avoided, with not a shot fired. British authority had been demonstrably overthrown in the American colonies for the first time.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Raphael
| first = Ray
| date = February 12, 2013
| title = The True Start of the American Revolution
| newspaper = The Journal of the American Revolution
| page =
| url = https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/02/the-true-start-of-the-american-revolution/
| access-date = September 7, 2023
| quote =
}}</ref>

===Growth and industry===
In the 1770s, Worcester became a center of [[American Revolution|American revolutionary]] activity. The [[Worcester Revolt]] on September 6, 1774, was an early successful attempt to throw off British rule. British [[General Thomas Gage]] was given information of patriot ammunition stockpiled in Worcester in 1775. That same year, ''[[Massachusetts Spy]]'' publisher [[Isaiah Thomas (publisher)|Isaiah Thomas]] moved his radical newspaper out of British occupied [[Boston]] to Worcester. Thomas would continuously publish his paper throughout the [[American Revolutionary War]]. On July 14, 1776, Thomas performed the first public reading in Massachusetts of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] from the porch of the Old South Church,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hutchins|first1=Fred L.|title=Fixing the Spot|journal=Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity|date=1899|volume=16|page=88|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1gZFAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA88}}</ref> where the 19th-century Worcester City Hall stands today. He would later go on to form the [[American Antiquarian Society]] in Worcester in 1812.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americanantiquarian.org/media/factsheet.doc|title=American Antiquarian Society Fact Sheet|access-date=April 25, 2013|archive-date=April 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418163449/http://www.americanantiquarian.org/media/factsheet.doc|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the turn of the 19th century, Worcester's economy moved into manufacturing. Factories producing textiles, shoes and clothing opened along the nearby [[Blackstone River]].

However, the manufacturing industry in Worcester would not begin to thrive until the opening of the [[Blackstone Canal]] in 1828 and the opening of the [[Boston and Albany Railroad|Worcester and Boston Railroad]] in 1835. The city transformed into a transportation hub and the manufacturing industry flourished.<ref name=trains>{{cite web|title=Transportation|publisher=Worcester Historical Museum|year=2013|url=http://www.worcesterhistory.org/worcesters-history/worcester-in-the-19th-century/transportation/|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=December 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231003441/http://www.worcesterhistory.org/worcesters-history/worcester-in-the-19th-century/transportation/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Worcester was officially chartered as a city on February 29, 1848.<ref name="City of Worcester, Massachusetts"/> The city's industries soon attracted immigrants of primarily Irish, Scottish, French, German, and Swedish descent in the mid-19th century and later many immigrants of Lithuanian, Polish, Italian, Greek, Turkish, Armenian, Syrian, and Lebanese descent.<ref name=Washburn />  Immigrants moved into new [[Three-decker (house)|three-decker]] houses (which originated in Worcester) <ref name="Charles Nutt p. 473">Charles Nutt, ''History of Worcester and its people'', pg. 473</ref> lining hundreds of Worcester's expanding streets and neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite web|title=Three Deckers|publisher=Worcester Historical Museum|year=2013|url=http://www.worcesterhistory.org/worcesters-history/worcesters-own/three-deckers/|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=December 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231010235/http://www.worcesterhistory.org/worcesters-history/worcesters-own/three-deckers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1831, [[Ichabod Washburn]] opened the [[Washburn & Moen Company]]. The company would become the largest wire manufacturing in the country and Washburn became one of the leading industrial and philanthropic figures in the city.<ref name=Washburn>{{cite web|title=Washburn and Moen Worcester's Worldwide Wire Manufacturuer|author1=Dan Ricciardi|author2=Kathryn Mahoney|publisher=College of the Holy Cross|year=2013|url=http://college.holycross.edu/projects/worcester/immigration/northworks.htm|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=June 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629051540/http://college.holycross.edu/projects/worcester/immigration/northworks.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Worcester, MA Driving Tour & Guide to Blackstone Canal Historic Markers|url=http://www.nps.gov/blac/home.htm|access-date=July 23, 2007|archive-date=February 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204124242/http://www.nps.gov/blac/home.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Worcester would become a center of machinery, wire products and power looms and boasted large manufacturers, including Washburn & Moen, [[Wyman-Gordon]] Company, American Steel & Wire, Morgan Construction and the [[Norton Company]]. In 1908, the [[Royal Worcester Corset Company]] was the largest employer of women in the United States.<ref>Gaultney, Bruce (2009). ''Worcester Memories'', pg. 21.
</ref>

Worcester would also claim many inventions and firsts. New England [[Candlepin bowling]] was invented in Worcester by Justin White in 1879. [[Esther Howland]] began the first line of [[Valentine's Day]] cards from her Worcester home in 1847. [[Loring Coes]] invented the first [[monkey wrench]] and Russell Hawes created the first envelope folding machine.<ref name=1880s>Gaultney, Bruce (2009). ''Worcester Memories'', pg. 7 (1880s).</ref> On June 12, 1880, [[Lee Richmond]] pitched the first perfect game in Major league baseball history for the [[Worcester Ruby Legs]] at the [[Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds]].<ref name=1880s /> The first [[Three-decker (house)|three-decker homes]] were built by Francis Gallagher (1830–1911) in Worcester.<ref name="Charles Nutt p. 473"/>

===Urban changes and recovery===
After World War II, Worcester began to fall into decline as the city lost its manufacturing base to cheaper alternatives across the country and overseas. Worcester felt the national trends of movement away from historic urban centers. The city's population dropped over 20% from 1950 to 1980. In the mid-20th century, large [[urban renewal]] projects were undertaken to try to reverse the city's decline. A huge area of downtown Worcester was demolished for new office towers and the {{Convert|1,000,000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} [[Worcester Center Galleria]] shopping mall.<ref name=Mall>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=WT&Date=20040520&Category=MALL&ArtNo=520001&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1|title=City Square Slideshow|date=December 30, 2013|work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=December 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231053235/http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=WT&Date=20040520&Category=MALL&ArtNo=520001&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1|url-status=live}}</ref> After only 30 years, the Galleria would lose most of its major tenants and its appeal to more suburban shopping malls around Worcester County.

On June 9, 1953, an [[Fujita scale|F4]] tornado touched down in [[Petersham, Massachusetts|Petersham]], northwest of Worcester. The tornado tore through {{convert|48|mi|km}} of Worcester County including a large area of the city of Worcester. The tornado left massive destruction and killed 94 people. The [[1953 Worcester tornado|Worcester tornado]] would be the deadliest tornado ever to hit Massachusetts.<ref>Gaultney, Bruce (2009). ''Worcester Memories'', pg. 79 (1950s).</ref>  Debris from the tornado landed as far away as [[Dedham, Massachusetts|Dedham]].<ref name="parr">{{cite book|last=Parr|first=James L.|title=Dedham: Historic and Heroic Tales From Shiretown|publisher=The History Press|year=2009|isbn=978-1-59629-750-0}}</ref>

In the 1960s, [[Interstate 290 (Massachusetts)|Interstate 290]] was built right through the center of Worcester, permanently dividing the city. In 1963, Worcester native [[Harvey Ball]] introduced the iconic yellow [[smiley]] face to American culture.<ref name="nyt2001">{{cite news |first=William H. |last=Honan |author-link=William H. Honan |title=H. R. Ball, 79, Ad Executive Credited With happy Face |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/14/us/h-r-ball-79-ad-executive-credited-with-smiley-face.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 14, 2001 |access-date=August 29, 2009 |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629121520/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/14/us/h-r-ball-79-ad-executive-credited-with-smiley-face.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Adams">{{cite web |first=Cecil |last=Adams |work=The Straight Dope |title=Who invented the smiley face? |date=April 23, 1993 |access-date=April 18, 2011 |url=http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/961/who-invented-the-smiley-face |archive-date=May 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518141340/http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/961/who-invented-the-smiley-face |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the late 20th century, Worcester's economy began to recover as the city expanded into [[biotechnology]] and [[healthcare]] fields.<ref name=bio>{{cite web|title=Enterprise Timeline|publisher=Worcester Historical Museum|year=2013|url=http://www.worcesterhistory.org/worcesters-history/worcesters-industrial-heritage/enterprise-timeline/|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=December 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231012631/http://www.worcesterhistory.org/worcesters-history/worcesters-industrial-heritage/enterprise-timeline/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[University of Massachusetts Medical School|UMass Medical School]] has become a leader in biomedical research and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park has become a center of medical research and development.<ref name=bio />  Worcester hospitals [[Saint Vincent Hospital]] and [[UMass Memorial Health Care]] have become two of the largest employers in the city. Worcester's many colleges, including the [[Quinsigamond Community College]], [[College of the Holy Cross]], [[Worcester Polytechnic Institute]], [[Clark University]], UMass Medical School, [[Assumption University (Worcester)|Assumption University]], [[Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences]], and [[Worcester State University]], attract many students to the area and help drive the new economy.

On December 3, 1999, a homeless couple accidentally started a five-alarm fire at the [[Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire|Worcester Cold Storage & Warehouse Company]]. The fire took the lives of six firemen and drew national attention as one of the worst firefighting tragedies of the late 20th century.<ref name=fire>Gaultney, Bruce (2009). ''Worcester Memories'', pg. 113 (1970s, '80s & '90s).</ref> President [[Bill Clinton]], Vice President [[Al Gore]] and other local and national dignitaries attended the funeral service and memorial program in Worcester.<ref name=fire />

===Since 1997===
In recent decades, a renewed interest in the city's downtown has brought new investment and construction to Worcester. A Convention Center was built along the [[DCU Center]] arena in downtown Worcester in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=Facility Info|publisher=DCU Center|date=September 25, 2005|url=http://dcucenter.com/facility.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125093052/http://www.dcucenter.com/facility.php|archive-date=November 25, 2005}}</ref> In 2000, Worcester's [[Union Station (Worcester)|Union Station]] reopened after 25 years of neglect and a $32&nbsp;million renovation. [[Hanover Insurance]] helped fund a multimillion-dollar renovation to the old Franklin Square Theater into the [[Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts]].<ref name=theatre>{{cite web|title=Restoration|publisher=Wrcester Center for the Performing Arts|year=2013|url=http://www.thehanovertheatre.org/restoration|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=December 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231051438/http://www.thehanovertheatre.org/restoration|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000, the [[Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences]] built a new campus in downtown Worcester.<ref name=MCPHS>{{cite news|url=http://www.wbjournal.com/article/20100428/NEWS01/304289988 |title=College of Pharmacy To Buy Crowne Plaza Property|last=Brown|first=Matthew|date=April 28, 2010 |work=Worcester Business Journal|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=December 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231044340/http://www.wbjournal.com/article/20100428/NEWS01/304289988|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, WPI opened the first facility in their new Gateway Park center in Lincoln Square.<ref name=gateway>{{cite web |title=Gateway Park at WPI |publisher=Worcester Polytechnic Institute |year=2013 |url=http://www.gatewayparkworcester.com/ |access-date=December 30, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102181418/http://gatewayparkworcester.com/}}</ref> In 2004, Berkeley Investments proposed demolishing the old Worcester Center Galleria for a new mixed-used development called '''City Square'''. The ambitious project looked to reconnect old street patterns while creating a new retail, commercial and living destination in the city.<ref name=citysquare>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20100317/NEWS/3170418/1116|title=Hanover buys into CitySquare |last=Kotsopoulos|first=Nick |date=March 17, 2010|work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|access-date=December 30, 2013|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113170423/https://www.telegram.com/article/20100317/NEWS/3170418/1116|url-status=live}}</ref>  After struggling to secure finances for a number of years, Hanover Insurance took over the project and demolition began on September 13, 2010. [[Unum]] Insurance and the Saint Vincent Hospital leased into the project and both facilities opened in 2013. The new Front Street opened on December 31, 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegram.com/article/20100317/NEWS/3170418/1116 |title=Front St. connection planned by end of year in Worcester|date=December 13, 2012|work=Worcester Telegram & Gazette|access-date=December 30, 2013 |archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113170424/https://www.telegram.com/article/20100317/NEWS/3170418/1116|url-status=live}}</ref>

Worcester has become home to many refugees in recent years. The city has successfully resettled over 2,000 refugees coming from over 24 countries. Today, most of these refugees come from the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Iraq]], [[Somalia]], [[Bhutan]], [[Syria]], [[Ukraine]] and [[Afghanistan]].<ref>Fabos, A.,&nbsp;Pilgrim, M., Said-Ali, M., Krahe, J.,&nbsp;Ostiller, Z. 2015. Understanding refugees in Worcester, MA. Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise.</ref>

In 2025, Worcester City Council passed a resolution to become a sanctuary city for the transgender community.<ref>{{cite news | last = Aitken | first = Madeleine | date = February 12, 2025 | title = It's official: Worcester is a 'sanctuary city' for transgender community | url = https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2025/02/12/worcester-sanctuary-city-transgender-community/ | work = Boston.com}}</ref>