Worcester

Worcester, a capital of Worcester county, Massachusetts, and the second city of the state, is pleasantly situated in a valley and on the surrounding hills, on Blackstone River, 44 miles by rail WSW. of Boston. Several suburban villages are included within the 36 sq. m. of the municipality. 'The Academic City' contains, besides excellent public schools, the state normal school, two state lunatic asylums, a military institute, high school, Jesuit college, Baptist academy, a large women's school, an industrial school, &c. Its churches include many handsome buildings, and from the porch of the Old South Church the Declaration of Independence was first read in Massachusetts. Worcester stands on several railways, which meet in a granite Union Depot, and has a flourishing trade; but it is more notable for its many busy manufactures. Of these the chief are boots and shoes, iron products, and woollens; its wire-mills are the largest in the world. Worcester was settled in 1675–1713. Pop. (1880) 58,291; (1890) 84,655.