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Leicester, MA

Frequently asked questions

Leicester, MA

Leicester is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The population was 11,087 at the 2020 United States Census.

What is now Leicester was originally settled by the Nipmuc people and was known by them as Towtaid. On January 27, 1686, the territory of eight square miles was purchased for 15 pounds by a company of nine proprietors engaged in land speculation: Joshua Lamb of Roxbury, Nathaniel Page of Bedford, Andrew Gardner of Roxbury, Benjamin Gamblin of Roxbury, Benjamin Tucker of Roxbury, John Curtice of Roxbury, Richard Draper of Boston, Samuel Ruggles of Roxbury, and Ralph Bradhurst of Roxbury. The proprietors called this land Strawberry Hill but did not make an effort to settle it for nearly 30 years due to its isolated location and the disruption of King Philip's War (1675–1678), King William's War (1688–1697), and Queen Anne's War (1702–1713).

Leicester was incorporated by a vote of the Massachusetts General Court on February 15, 1713, on the condition that the land be settled by 50 families within seven years. Upon the grant of the General Court, the proprietors immediately set about meeting the condition of the town's incorporation. Leicester was divided into two halves, the eastern half to be distributed among settlers and the western half retained and divided among the proprietors, who had grown in number to total 22. A combined 50 parcels (so-called "house-lots") of land with 30, 40, or 50 acres each were allotted to settlers for the eastern half of Leicester for one shilling per acre, with land also set aside for schools, churches, and mills. The purchaser of each parcel was required to settle a family on their house lot and each received 100 additional acres in another part of town for every 10 acres in their house lot.

The town was named after Leicester, England. First selectman Samuel Green suggested the use of the name as it was where his father had originated. One of the early settlers in town was Dr. Samuel Green, who lived in a house at 2 Charlton St. in Greenville. Dr. Green trained many other doctors in the early 1700s. This constituted the first medical school in Massachusetts. The Green family was involved in the creation of both Worcester's Green Hill Park and New York City's Central Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 24.7 square miles (64 km2), of which 23.4 square miles (61 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), or 5.35%, is water.

Leicester includes four distinct villages—Leicester Center, Cherry Valley (the eastern side of town, near Worcester), Rochdale (a crossroads in the southeastern corner, near the Oxford line), and Greenville (now considered to be part of Rochdale). Cherry Valley and Rochdale have separate ZIP codes from the rest of the town (01611 and 01542, respectively), but otherwise, the village boundaries have no official significance, although some Cherry Valley, Rochdale, and Leicester have three separate and distinct water districts and four sewer districts. The village of Greenville is now considered part of Rochdale, as it falls within the 01542 ZIP code; the former villages of Mannville and Lakeside were destroyed to construct the Kettle Brook reservoir system, in northeastern Leicester, to supply water to Worcester.

The town is cut into quarters by two state highways, east-west Route 9 and north-south Route 56. Route 9 is called Main Street through Cherry Valley and most of the rest of town; it follows a bypass alignment called South Main Street around the Washburn Square area. The town is actively trying to encourage business development along the western end of Route 9. Route 56 north of the Leicester Center crossroads is Paxton Street; south, it is Pleasant Street until it detours along a bypass road, Huntoon Memorial Highway, that skirts the edge of Rochdale.

Spencer, now a separate town to the west, was once part of Leicester. Other municipalities bordering Leicester include Paxton along Route 56 to the north, Worcester and Auburn on the east, and Oxford and Charlton on the south. Large parts of both Paxton and Auburn were also once part of Leicester.

The end of Worcester Regional Airport's longest runway, along with much of the airport's property, is in Leicester. Additionally, most of Worcester's Kettle Brook water reservoir system is in Leicester.

Leicester places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Saint Vincent Hospital offers a top-notch medical staff and a full spectrum of high-quality, state-of-the-art healthcare services. Atlantic Athletics offers personalized training programs tailored to individual needs, promoting overall fitness and well-being. MomLife Health and Wellness provides free introductory yoga classes, making them accessible to everyone. For those looking to improve their fitness level, Anytime Fitness offers a variety of workout programs and state-of-the-art equipment. The Leicester Parks and Recreation Committee organizes handball games, which are great for cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility. Redemption Rock Brewing hosts wellness events combining socializing and health education. Kula Yoga & Wellness offers a serene environment for yoga enthusiasts to practice and improve their skills. NuLife Behavioral Health focuses on mental wellness, providing support and resources for maintaining mental health.
 

Top Sites in Leicester, MA are Maple Hill Disc Golf, Cooper's Hilltop Farm, Tatnuck Driving Range, and Hillcrest Country Club.
 

ZIP code: 01524, 01542, 01611. Elevation: 308 m. Area code: 508 / 774. Settled: 1713. Area: 24.7 square miles (64 km2). Population: 11,066 (2022).
 

FAQs

What is the crime rate in Leicester, MA?

Leicester has an overall crime rate of 10 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. According to our analysis of FBI crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of crime in Leicester is 1 in 101. How does Leicester fare compared to other communities in Massachusetts of all population sizes? Leicester's crime rate is lower than approximately 33% of Massachusetts communities.

What is Leicester, MA famous for?

At the height of the industrial revolution, one-third of all hand and machine cards made in North America were produced in Leicester. Other famous industrialists such as Elias Howe as well as Henry Graton and Joseph Knight also got their beginnings in Leicester's carding industry. However, the new cheap labor available in the South forced many companies to sell their businesses which were then closed and moved south.

What are the demographics of Leicester Massachusetts?

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,471 people, 3,683 households, and 2,707 families residing in the town. The population density was 448.3 inhabitants per square mile (173.1/km2). There were 3,826 housing units at an average density of 163.8 per square mile (63.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.29% White, 1.28% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.75% of the population.

Sources

Wikipedia

Town of Leicester

Neighborhood Scout

Maple Hill Disc Golf

Cooper's Hilltop Farm

Tatnuck Driving Range 

Hillcrest Country Club

Saint Vincent Hospital

Atlantic Athletics

MomLife Health and Wellness

Anytime Fitness

Redemption Rock Brewing

Kula Yoga & Wellness

NuLife Behavioral Health

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