Editing Lancaster, Massachusetts

{{For|village of South Lancaster|South Lancaster, Massachusetts}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Lancaster, Massachusetts
|nickname                 = Lancaster-on-the-Nashua
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Bullfinch Church Lancaster.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = [[First Church of Christ, Unitarian|First Church of Christ]], a [[National Historic Landmark]] designed by [[Charles Bulfinch]]
|image_seal               = Seal of Lancaster, Massachusetts.png
|image_flag               = 
|image_map                = Worcester County Massachusetts incorporated and unincorporated areas Lancaster highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 260px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]] and the state of [[Massachusetts]].
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Massachusetts]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Massachusetts|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester]]
|established_title        = Settled
|established_date         = 1643
|established_title2       = Incorporated
|established_date2        = 1653
|established_title3       = 
|established_date3        = 
|government_type          = [[Open town meeting]]
|leader_title             = [[Town Administrator]]
|leader_name              = Kate Hodges<ref name="ci.lancaster.ma.us">{{cite web | url=https://www.ci.lancaster.ma.us/administration-select-board | title=Administration & Select Board &#124; Lancaster MA }}</ref>
|leader_title1            = Board of<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Selectmen
|leader_name1             = Jason Allison<br />[[Stephen J. Kerrigan]], Chair<br />Alix W Turner<ref name="ci.lancaster.ma.us">{{cite web | url=https://www.ci.lancaster.ma.us/administration-select-board | title=Administration & Select Board &#124; Lancaster MA }}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 73.0
|area_total_sq_mi         = 28.2
|area_land_km2            = 71.8
|area_land_sq_mi          = 27.7
|area_water_km2           = 1.3
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.5
|population_as_of         = 2020
|settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
|population_total         = 8441
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 
|elevation_m              = 91
|elevation_ft             = 300
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset               = −5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST           = −4
|coordinates              = {{coord|42|27|20|N|71|40|25|W|region:US-MA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = {{ubl|01523 (Lancaster)|01561&nbsp;([[South Lancaster, Massachusetts|South&nbsp;Lancaster]])}}
|area_code                = [[Area code 351|351]]/[[Area code 978|978]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 25-34165
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0618368
|website                  = {{URL|www.ci.lancaster.ma.us}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Lancaster''' is a town in [[Worcester County, Massachusetts|Worcester County]], [[Massachusetts]], United States. Incorporated in 1653, Lancaster is the oldest town in Worcester County. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the town population was 8,441.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US2502734165|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2021-11-11|title=Census - Geography Profile: Lancaster town, Worcester County, Massachusetts}}</ref>

== History ==
[[Image:Lancaster Town Hall MA.jpg|thumb|left|Town Hall]]
In 1643 Lancaster was first settled as "Nashaway" (named after the local [[Nashaway]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribe) by a group of colonists known as the Nashaway Company who may have initially been interested in iron deposits in the area.  Several of the company were blacksmiths or gunsmiths, including, [[Herman Garrett]], and as early as 1653 a settler, George Adams, was whipped for selling guns and alcohol to the Indians in the area.<ref>David P. Jaffee, ''People of the Wachusett: Greater New England in History and Memory, 1630–1860,'' p. 56</ref> The town was officially incorporated and renamed "Lancaster on the Nashua" in 1653.<ref>{{Cite web |title=isbn:0738509043 - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=isbn:0738509043 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.google.com |language=en}}</ref> Prominent Massachusetts military leader [[Simon Willard (first generation)|Simon Willard]] served as an advisor to the company and eventually settled in Lancaster for a period, and provided guns to the local tribe by order of the Massachusetts General Court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yipp.yale.edu/bio/bibliography/willard-simon-1605-1676|title = Willard, Simon, 1605 - 1676 &#124; Native Northeast Portal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=isbn:0300196733 - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=isbn:0300196733 |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=www.google.com |language=en}}</ref>

Supporters of Lancaster's founder, John Prescott, born in 1604 (great grandfather of Bunker Hill leader [[William Prescott]]), wished to name the new settlement Prescott, but the [[Massachusetts General Court]] considered such a request from a common [[freeman (Colonial)|freeman]] presumptuous, given that at that time, not even a governor had held the honor of naming a town after himself. Instead, they decided to use [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], the name of Prescott's home town in England.<ref>"The Lancastrian Towns", p. 11-14, Katherine Knowles, copyright 1967, The Lancaster Historical Commission.</ref>

Until it was cut down in 1989 due to safety concerns, Lancaster boasted the largest oak tree in the state, called the [[Beaman Oak]], named after settler [[Gamaliel Beaman]] (1623–1677).

Lancaster boasts being the official "mothertown" to all of Eastern central Massachusetts. Towns such as [[Harvard, Massachusetts|Harvard]], [[Bolton, Massachusetts|Bolton]], [[Leominster, Massachusetts|Leominster]], [[Clinton, Massachusetts|Clinton]], [[Berlin, Massachusetts|Berlin]], [[Sterling, Massachusetts|Sterling]], and part of [[West Boylston, Massachusetts|West Boylston]] were all formed from territory of the original boundaries of Lancaster.<ref>"The Lancastrian Towns", p. 33, Katherine Knowles, copyright 1967, The Lancaster Historical Commission.</ref>

Lancaster was the site of the [[Mary Rowlandson]] ({{circa|1637}}–1711) attack ([[Lancaster raid]]) in February 1676 (1675 old style calendar). During [[King Philip's War|Metacom's War]], which was fought partially in Lancaster, a group of Native Americans pillaged the entire town of Lancaster. Their last stop was Mary Rowlandson's house. Coming to the defense of the house was Rowlandson's brother-in-law, who was immediately shot and killed by the attacking Native Americans. The Native Americans then set fire to the house, forcing Rowlandson to exit the burning building. Upon crossing the doorstep, Rowlandson saw a scene full of carnage. The majority of her household was slaughtered, with the exception of her husband, Joseph Rowlandson Sr., who was not on the premises, their son, also called Joseph, their two daughters, Mary and Sarah, and herself. Mary, her son, and her two daughters were captured by the Native Americans and forced to join their travels across New England. The Native Americans non-fatally shot Mary Rowlandson in her side, but her youngest daughter, Sarah, sustained an injury during the attack that would later bring about her death. After her release from captivity, Rowlandson wrote a book called ''A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.'' In 2000, Lancaster Elementary School changed its name to Mary Rowlandson Elementary School.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|28.2|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|27.7|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.5|sqmi}}, or 1.84%, is water.{{Citation needed|date = March 2017}}

Lancaster is bordered by [[Lunenburg, Massachusetts|Lunenburg]] and [[Shirley, Massachusetts|Shirley]] to the north, [[Harvard, Massachusetts|Harvard]] to the northeast, [[Bolton, Massachusetts|Bolton]] to the southeast, [[Clinton, Massachusetts|Clinton]] to the south, [[Sterling, Massachusetts|Sterling]] to the southwest, and [[Leominster, Massachusetts|Leominster]] to the northwest.{{Citation needed|date = March 2017}}

{{Geographic location
 |width=auto
 | Centre = Lancaster
 | North = [[Lunenburg, Massachusetts|Lunenburg]] & [[Shirley, Massachusetts|Shirley]]
 | Northeast = [[Harvard, Massachusetts|Harvard]]
 | South = [[Clinton, Massachusetts|Clinton]] 
 | East  = 
 | Southeast = [[Bolton, Massachusetts|Bolton]]
 | Southwest = [[Sterling, Massachusetts|Sterling]]
 | Northwest = [[Leominster, Massachusetts|Leominster]] 
 | West = 
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations | type=USA | align=right 
 | 1850|1688
 | 1860|1932
 | 1870|1845
 | 1880|2008
 | 1890|2201
 | 1900|2478
 | 1910|2564
 | 1920|2461
 | 1930|2897
 | 1940|2963
 | 1950|3601
 | 1960|3958
 | 1970|6095
 | 1980|6334
 | 1990|6661
 | 2000|7380
 | 2010|8055
 | 2020|8441
 | 2023*|8802
 | footnote=* = population estimate.  {{Historical populations/Massachusetts municipalities references}}<ref>{{cite web | title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2023| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] | access-date=May 19, 2024 | url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2017-06-17|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010, there were 8,055 people, 2,409 households, and 1,758 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|290.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,614 housing units at an average density of {{convert|94.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 86.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 7.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.5% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.1% of the population.

There were 2,409 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. Of all households 21.8% had a householder that lived alone and 8.4% had a householder that lived alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% at the age of 19 or under, 7.9% from 20 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 128.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 131.0 males.

As of the 2015 [[American Community Survey]],<ref name="GR2" /> the median income for a household in the town was $96,813, and the median income for a family was $99,207. Males had a median income of $62,500 versus $45,174 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $32,899. About 8.3% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
{{Worcester County politicians
| county = Worcester
| state_rep = [[Meghan Kilcoyne]] (D) ([[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 12th Worcester district|12th Worcester district]])<ref>{{cite web | url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/M_K1 | title=Representative Meghan Kilcoyne }}</ref>
| state_sen = [[John J. Cronin]] (D) ([[Massachusetts Senate's Worcester and Middlesex district|Worcester and Middlesex district]])<ref>{{cite web | url=https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JJC0 | title=Senator John J. Cronin }}</ref>
| gov_councilors = [[Paul DePalo]] (R) (District 7)<ref>https://www.mass.gov/service-details/councillors {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2022}}</ref>
| fed_rep = [[Lori Trahan]] (D) ([[Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district|3rd district]])
}}

==Education==
Lancaster is served by the [[Nashoba Regional School District]]. The town is also served by [[Minuteman Career and Technical High School|Minuteman Regional Technical High School]] It is also the site of the former [[Atlantic Union College]] and of [[South Lancaster Academy]], incorporated in 1882–1883. The Dr. Franklin Perkins School is a [[private school|private]] [[special education]] school located in the town. [[Trivium School]], founded in 1979, is a [[private school|private]] [[Catholic school|Catholic]] [[University-preparatory school|college preparatory school]] occupying the former estate of E. V. R. Thayer Jr.<ref>[http://www.triviumschool.com Trivium School website]</ref>

==Library==

[[Image:1899 Lancaster public library Massachusetts.png|thumb|Lancaster public library, 1899]]
Lancaster's public Thayer Memorial Library first opened in 1868.<ref>C.B. Tillinghast. The free public libraries of Massachusetts. 1st Report of the Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. Boston: Wright & Potter, 1891. [https://books.google.com/books?id=LusKAAAAYAAJ Google books]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thayermemoriallibrary.org/about/history |title=History of the Library – Thayer Memorial Library |website=thayermemoriallibrary.org |access-date=2010-11-08}}</ref> In fiscal year 2008, the town of Lancaster spent 1.74% ($259,465) of its budget on its public library—approximately $36 per person, per year.<ref>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: [http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php Municipal Pie Reports] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123010127/http://mblc.state.ma.us/advisory/statistics/public/repmunicpie/index.php |date=2012-01-23 }}. Retrieved 2010-08-04</ref>

==Notable people==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2022}}

* [[Herman Vandenburg Ames]], dean of the [[University of Pennsylvania]] graduate school
* [[James Atherton (early settler to Massachusetts)|James Atherton]], pioneer and the namesake of [[Atherton Bridge]]
* [[Frank Bancroft]], Baseball manager
* [[Luther Burbank]], botanist, horticulturist and a pioneer in agricultural science
* [[Ezra Butler]], [[United States Representative]] from [[Vermont]]
* [[James C. Carter]], New York City lawyer
* [[Charles F. Chandler]], chemist
* [[Horace Cleveland]], landscape architect
* [[Francis B. Fay]], merchant and politician
* [[Hannah Flagg Gould]], poet
* Timothy Harrington, Lancaster clergyman<ref>{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle=Harrington, Timothy|year=1892}}</ref>
* Abraham Haskell, physician<ref>{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle=Haskell, Abraham|year=1892}}</ref>
* [[Stephen N. Haskell]], clergyman and pioneering leader of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, founded South Lancaster Academy
* [[Caroline Lee Hentz]], novelist
* [[Henrietta Swan Leavitt]], astronomer who discovered the relation between the [[luminosity]] and the period of [[Cepheid variable|Cepheid variable stars]]
* [[Charles W. Moors]], Wisconsin politician
* George Parker, President of the [[Lancaster Railroad]]
* Harold Parker, First Chairman of the Massachusetts State Forest Commission, namesake of the [[Harold Parker State Forest]]
* Cornelia C. Parker, donated 58 acres of forest to the New England Forestry Foundation creating the Parker Family Woods
*[[Herbert Parker (Massachusetts politician)]], Republican politician, Massachusetts Attorney General from 1902–1906
* John Prescott, pioneer, founder of Lancaster
* [[Mary Rowlandson]], colonial Indian captive and [[A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson|author of one of America's first best selling books]]
* [[Jared Sparks]], historian, [[Harvard University]] president (taught at a private school in Lancaster 1815–1817)
* [[John Thayer (ornithologist)|John Thayer]], ornithologist
* [[Nathaniel Thayer]], Unitarian congregational minister
* [[Nathaniel Thayer Jr.|Nathaniel Thayer]] (Jr.), financier and philanthropist
* John Whitcomb, soldier in the Continental Army<ref>{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle=Whitcomb, John|year=1889}}</ref>
* Henry Whiting, soldier in the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War<ref>{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle=Whiting, Henry|year=1889}}</ref>
* Abijah Willard, Loyalist soldier in the American Revolution<ref>{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle=Willard, Abijah|year=1889}}</ref>
* [[Dr. Samuel Willard]], representative to the Massachusetts ratification of the [[United States Constitution]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Americana Poster|Lancaster (Massachusetts)|Lancaster, Massachusetts}}
* [http://www.ci.lancaster.ma.us/ Town of Lancaster official website]
* [http://www.lancasteronline.org/ Lancaster Online], community website
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=687odzw5rKYC&dq=Killed+march+26%2C+1676&pg=PA324 ''Annals of Lancaster'': The Massacre of February 10, 1676]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=OCLC01804192&pg=PA119 Information about early education in Lancaster]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071008101706/http://www.restmap.net/clients/ma_lancaster/ Lancaster 2007 Master Plan maps and tables]
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Lancaster (Massachusetts)|display=Lancaster. A town, including several villages, in Worcester County, Mass. |year=1905 |short=x}}

{{Massachusetts}}
{{Worcester County, Massachusetts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lancaster, Massachusetts| ]]
[[Category:1653 establishments in the Massachusetts Bay Colony]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1653]]
[[Category:Towns in Worcester County, Massachusetts]]