Winchester, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 Winchester Town Hall | |
 Seal | |
 Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts | |
| Coordinates:42°27′08″N71°08′15″W / 42.45222°N 71.13750°W /42.45222; -71.13750 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Region | New England |
| Settled | 1640 |
| Incorporated | 1850 |
| Named after | William P. Winchester |
| Government | |
| • Type | Representative town meeting |
| • Town Manager | Stephen Delaney |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.3 sq mi (16.3 km2) |
| • Land | 6.0 sq mi (15.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.23 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,970 |
| • Density | 3,813/sq mi (1,472.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 01890 |
| Area code | 339 /781 |
| FIPS code | 25-80510 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618247 |
| Website | winchester |
Winchester is a town inMiddlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located 8.2 miles (13.2 km) north of downtownBoston as part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. It is also one of thewealthiest municipalities in Massachusetts. The population was 22,970 at the2020 United States Census.[1]
Native Americans inhabited the area that would become Winchester for thousands of years prior toEuropean colonization of the Americas. At the time of contact, the area was inhabited by theNaumkeag people, from whom the land that would become Winchester was purchased for the settlement of Charlestown in 1639.[2]
From the 17th century until the middle of the 19th century, parts ofArlington,Medford,Cambridge, andWoburn comprised what is now Winchester. In the early years of the settlement, the area was informally known as Waterfield, a reference to its many ponds and to the river, which divided the central village. In its second century, the area was referred to as Black Horse Village, after the busy tavern and inn at its center. The movement toward incorporation of what, by this time, was called South Woburn was likely caused by the rise of theWhig Party in Massachusetts (History of Winchester, Massachusetts by H. S. Chapman and Bruce W. Stone, 1936, 1975).
The town's early growth paralleled improvements in transportation. Prior to incorporation, theMiddlesex Canal, linking theMerrimack River to Boston, was completed through what was then Waterfield. It flourished from 1803 to 1836, until theBoston and Lowell Railroad completed a line that neatly split the town and provided it with two stations. Able to deliver passengers as well as goods, the railroad soon superseded the canal and spurred more people to move to the area. The first church was built in 1840, the Post Office followed in 1841, and soon after incorporation town schools were started. Industries small and large followed, including the Beggs and Cobb tannery and the Winn Watch Hand factory, which would operate well into the 20th century.
By the time of theCivil War, to which Winchester lent many citizens, the need for a town water supply became apparent. Engineers convinced a skeptical public to fund a dam in the highlands to the east of town. The structure blocked the creek that flowed from theMiddlesex Fells and produced the first of three reservoirs that continue to provide water today.
In the early 20th century, growth continued swiftly as Winchester evolved from its agri-industrial roots into the bedroom community it is today. A rich mix of immigrants—the Irish in the northern and eastern neighborhoods, a handful of African-Americans who flocked to the New Hope Baptist Church in the highlands, and finally Italians who came to work in the westside farms and live in the "Plains" to the east—complemented Winchester's Yankee forebears.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km2), of which 6.0 square miles (15.6 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2) is water. The total area is 3.97% water.
The town is roughly bisected by a central valley, which is the remnant of the original course of theMerrimack River. After glacial debris effectively rerouted the Merrimack north to its current location, all that remained of its original course through present day Winchester is theAberjona River and the several ponds it feeds en route to theMystic Lakes on Winchester's southern border.
On its eastern third, the valley rises steeply into the wooded hills of theMiddlesex Fells Reservation, in which lie the North, Middle, and South Reservoirs. The western edge of the valley yields to Arlington and Lexington heights, and the boundaries with those two towns. To the north, the town's longest border is shared with Woburn.
Winchester has several major bodies of water, including theMystic Lakes, Wedge Pond, Winter Pond, and theAberjona River, as well as several minor bodies of water such as Sucker Brook and Sachem Swamp.
Winchester borders the towns ofWoburn,Stoneham,Medford,Arlington, andLexington.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,353 | — |
| 1860 | 1,937 | +43.2% |
| 1870 | 2,645 | +36.6% |
| 1880 | 3,802 | +43.7% |
| 1890 | 4,861 | +27.9% |
| 1900 | 7,248 | +49.1% |
| 1910 | 9,309 | +28.4% |
| 1920 | 10,485 | +12.6% |
| 1930 | 12,719 | +21.3% |
| 1940 | 15,081 | +18.6% |
| 1950 | 15,509 | +2.8% |
| 1960 | 19,376 | +24.9% |
| 1970 | 22,269 | +14.9% |
| 1980 | 20,701 | −7.0% |
| 1990 | 20,267 | −2.1% |
| 2000 | 20,810 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 21,374 | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 22,970 | +7.5% |
| 2022* | 22,640 | −1.4% |
| * = population estimate. Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] | ||
As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 21,382 people, 7,647 households, and 5,785 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,394.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,310.7/km2). There were 7,988 housing units at an average density of 1,267.9 per square mile (489.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 87.1%White, 9.3%Asian, 1.0%African American, 0.1%Native American, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.4% fromother races, and 2.0% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
There were 7,647 households, of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18 and 16.2% over the age of 65. The median age was 42.7 years. The population was 52.3% female and 47.7% male.
According to a 2008 estimate,[15] themedian income for a household in the town was $125,952, and the median income for a family was $200,000+. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $70,847 for females. The per capita income for the town was $68,479. The median home value was $838,420, compared to a U.S. average of $180,000. About 1.3% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.3% ages 65 or older.
The crime rate in Winchester is below the U.S. average. The most common crime is property crime, with 62 burglaries reported in 2010. Violent crimes are rare, with only five murders and five rapes reported in 10 years.[16]
Winchester was ranked number 86 on theBloomberg list of America's 100 Richest Places with anaverage household income of $204,878 in 2016.[17]
Winchester has five elementary schools (Ambrose, Lincoln, Lynch, Muraco, and Vinson-Owen) and onemiddle school, McCall Middle School. Considered one of Boston's elite public high schools,Winchester High School was founded in 1850; at the time it was part of present-day Lincoln elementary. Winchester High was rebuilt in a different area in 1972, then renovated in 2017. Winchester public schools have achieved superior performances on theMCAS exams since their inception, and the district is consistently ranked by editorial reviews such asBoston Magazine as one of the best in Massachusetts.[18] The Winchester High School sports teams were known as the "Sachems", a term that refers to people who have been appointed to represent a (native) nation in a meeting of a confederacy council. However, the mascot was removed in the year 2020 due to its offensive and stereotypical nature. Their sports teams are now known as the "Red and Black", referring to the school's colors. For the 2018–2019 school year, Winchester public schools and Winchester Recreation developed the WRAP-AROUND program. A program designed to provide supervision for students who are dropped at school a bit early or who need to stay at school later on some days and was created to assist families with the school start time change for the next fall. Wrap-around care is offered at all five elementary schools for students in grades K–5, both before and after school.[19][20] The teams practice and host home games at Knowlton Field.[21] The Winchester Sports Foundation[22] raises money through donations to maintain sports programs in the town and to give financial support, make sports programs accessible to all classes, meet costs of program expenses and preserve and promote the level of WHS sports programs.
Founded in the 1942, the Children's Own School is among the earlier survivingMontessori schools in the United States. The building it occupies, a former farmhouse, is considered locally historic. The school's founder, Ms. Dorothy Gove, was an acquaintance ofMaria Montessori, giving her a firsthand opportunity to learn the Montessori concept of learning. Today the school operates as a private, non-religious, Montessori school for children of ages two to six, with classes of up to 20 children. Children's Own School is located at 86 Main Street in Winchester.[citation needed]
Winchester has two parent-led cooperative nursery schools: Neighborhood Cooperative Nursery School and Winchester Cooperative Nursery School. In addition, the Methodist church, Winchester Recreation Department, and Creative Corner all offer preschool classes.[citation needed]
St. Mary's School is a parochial school of St. Mary's Parish. The school opened in 1914 and has over 200 students in grades Pre-K through 5. The school building also serves as the Sunday school for the parish during Sunday services. Thechurch is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[citation needed]
Acera School is a small private school founded in 2010 in Melrose,[23][24] which moved to Winchester in 2013.[25] It offers K–8 education in small multi-age classrooms.
Established in 2004, the Winchester School of Chinese Culture[26] is a non-profit organization whose mission is to teach the language and traditional culture of China through classroom instructions, the arts, and cultural events. The school offers a K–8 weekend program at Lynch elementary school, after-school programs at Winchester Unitarian Church and Winchester First Congregational Church, and a summer program.
Winchester has two "Zone 1" stops on theMBTA Commuter RailLowell Line:Wedgemere andWinchester Center. The stops are within easy walking distance of one another. TheLowell Line runs fromLowell to Boston'sNorth Station, where one can connect with the"T", Boston's subway system. NearbyAnderson Regional Transportation Center off I-93 (Commerce Way exit) holds a stop for Amtrak'sDowneaster train, going through New Hampshire, and terminating in Brunswick, Maine. While this train runs through Winchester, it does not stop at either of the town's two train stations.
There are bus lines going through Winchester to nearby communities such as Medford, Arlington, and Cambridge. Bus route No. 134 runs between North Woburn andWellington Station on theMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA)Orange Line in Medford. Bus route No. 350 runs from the Burlington Mall toAlewife station inCambridge on the MBTA'sRed Line. A commuter express bus runs from Cummings Park in Woburn to Boston during rush hours. Anderson Regional Transportation Center also has theLogan Express shuttle bus service to Boston's Logan Airport every 30 minutes, and a paid shuttle service to Manchester New Hampshire Airport (reservations required in advance)
In December 2010 Winchester was among 18 Massachusetts communities to earn the "Green Community" designation by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (bringing the total number of green communities in the state up to 53).[27] In 2011 Winchester was selected as one of four communities to participate in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Solarize MASS pilot program.[28] The program provided incentives to home owners to install rooftop solar electric systems. During that year, 35 residents contracted to have solar systems installed, resulting in 165 kW of solar installations. Most recently, in July 2014, Winchester received a $250,000 Green Communities Grant,[29] which helped to offset the cost of installing 1668 cobra-head LED street lights. It is estimated that the LED streetlight conversion may potentially reduce the town's electricity costs by $50,000 each year.[citation needed]
Across the Main Street bypass from the high school sits the Jenks Community Center,[30] which offers programs for seniors and other age groups. Wedge Pond, home to Borggaard Beach and Splash Park, is a popular swimming spot, which is continually monitored to ensure safe water quality levels. And every year, as for over a century, thousands of fans attend the annual Thanksgiving Day football contest between Winchester High School and its long-time traditional rival,Woburn.
Several private entities provide recreational opportunities for local townsfolk. Founded in 1900 as a canoe club, theWinchester Boat Club serves locals wishing to sail casually or competitively on the Mystic Lakes. In the summer, it is a popular meeting place for local families and their children. The Winchester Country Club—located in the Myopia Hill neighborhood—offers an 18-hole course open to members and named after theMyopia Club based there in the late 19th century.
In the 1840s, the Whigs sought to split a new jurisdiction away from heavily Democratic Woburn and found enough supporters in the burgeoning village to organize a movement toward incorporation. Representatives of the planned new town selected the name Winchester in recognition of ColonelWilliam P. Winchester of nearby Watertown, who pledged $3,000 toward the construction of the first town hall. Upon the signature of then Governor Briggs, the town of Winchester was officially incorporated on April 30, 1850. Colonel Winchester did not live to visit the town that had honored his family name. He succumbed to typhoid fever within months of its incorporation.
Winchester's town government of Selectmen and Town Meeting members has remained essentially unchanged for most of its existence, until the renaming of the Board of Selectmen to the Select Board in 2018. A 1970s survey listed Winchester as "one of the top fifteen suburbs" in the nation (Ladies Home Journal, August 1975).
The town is part of theMassachusetts Senate's 2nd Middlesex district.
In recent years, Winchester has become an increasing stronghold for theDemocratic Party, especially for presidential elections.
Below the presidential level, somemoderate Republicans have been able to carry Winchester:
Town services include full-time police and fire departments, the Winchester Board of Health, the Town Clerk, the Post Office, Water and Sewer Department, and the Public Works Department.
Winchester does not offer curbside trash collection. Residents must get an annual permit and use the "Transfer Station" to dispose of their trash and for recycling.
Winchester also has a Chamber of Commerce located on the platform of theWinchester Center station of the MBTA Commuter Rail.
Winchester is thesister city ofSt. Germain-en-Laye, France.
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Municipalities and communities ofMiddlesex County, Massachusetts,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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| Geographic | |
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