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Winchendon, MA

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Winchendon, MA

Winchendon, nicknamed Toy Town is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,364 at the 2020 census. The town includes the villages of Waterville and Winchendon Springs (also known as Spring Village). A census-designated place, also named Winchendon, is defined within the town for statistical purposes. The Winchendon State Forest, a 174.5 acres (70.62 hectares) parcel, is located within the township as is Otter River State Forest; both recreational areas are managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Winchendon is a small town in north-central Massachusetts, originally the country of the Pennacook Indians, and then the Nipnet/Nipmuck tribe. The House of Representatives made the grant of New Ipswich Canada, now Winchendon, on June 10, 1735, in answer to a petition from Lt. Abraham Tilton of Ipswich. The petition was on behalf of veterans or surviving heirs participating in the 1690 expeditions against Canada. Winchendon was officially incorporated in 1764, named after Nether Winchendon, Buckinghamshire, England, which itself was the site of land owned by Governor Francis Bernard, who signed the town's incorporation into law. (The English village would be where the Governor would die, fifteen years later.) The Millers River provided water power for mills, and at one time Winchendon produced so many wooden shingles that it was nicknamed Shingletown.

In addition to the manufacturing of wood products, Winchendon is known for its textile business during the Industrial Revolution. Located at the headwaters of the Millers River, Joseph 'Deacon' White of West Boylston, Massachusetts, with his son Nelson, purchased a textile mill in Spring Village in 1843. By 1857, the Nelson Mills had revamped a previous facility. In 1870, Joseph N. White, son of Nelson, traveled to Canada to recruit additional workers from Quebec. Spring Village became a prototype 'company town' with jobs, housing, and a school for its workers.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.1 square miles (114 km²), of which 43.3 square miles (112 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), or 1.77%, is water. Winchendon is drained by the Millers River. Winchendon is home to the Lake Dennison Recreation Area and Whitney Pond, and shares Lake Monomonac with Rindge, New Hampshire to the north. Along the path of the Millers River, in the western part of town, much of the land is marshy, with several brooks feeding into both the Millers River and the nearby Otter River, which flows into the Millers River in the southwest corner of town. The town lies on relatively flat high ground, with the western slope of Town Line Hill (1,320 ft) being the highest point in town, near the southeast corner of town. Two protected areas, the Birch Hill Wildlife Management Area and the Otter River State Forest, both have part of their lands within the town, as well as the small Winchendon State Forest.

Winchendon is the middle town of the three Worcester County towns bordering New Hampshire's Cheshire County. It is bounded by Fitzwilliam and Rindge to the north, Ashburnham to the east, Gardner to the southeast, Templeton to the southwest, and Royalston to the west. From its town center, Winchendon is 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Fitchburg, 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Keene, New Hampshire, 35 miles (56 km) north-northwest of Worcester and 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Boston.

Winchendon places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. The Winchendon Health Center offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Simply Grounded Yoga/Pilates, LLC is a holistic approach to wellness, guiding our practitioners through Yoga Therapy, Somatic Healing, and Yoga Nidra for Trauma. For those interested in fitness, Clark Memorial YMCA provides comprehensive programs including gym facilities, swimming, and fitness classes. The Winchendon School emphasizes physical education and outdoor activities as part of its curriculum, encouraging a healthy lifestyle among students. Waterville Valley Resort offers seasonal activities like hiking, skiing, and yoga retreats. Borges Martial Arts teaches self-defense and fitness through martial arts training. Toy Town Elementary School integrates physical activities and wellness education into its curriculum. Winchendon Golf Club offers a serene environment for playing golf, promoting both physical activity and social interaction.

Top Sites in Winchendon, MA are Lake Dennison Recreation Area, Winchendon Community Park, and Gardner Municipal Golf Course.

ZIP Code: 01475. Elevation: 1,000 ft (305 m). Area: 44.1 sq mi (114.1 km²). Area code: 351/978. Population: 10,364 (2020).

FAQs

What is Winchendon, MA known for?

In addition to the manufacturing of wood products, Winchendon is known for its textile business during the Industrial Revolution. Located at the headwaters of the Millers River, Joseph 'Deacon' White of West Boylston, Massachusetts, with his son Nelson, purchased a textile mill in Spring Village in 1843. By 1857, the Nelson Mills had revamped a previous facility. 

What is the crime rate in Winchendon, MA?

Winchendon has an overall crime rate of 11 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 Winchendon is 1 in 91. Winchendon's crime rate is lower than approximately 27% of Massachusetts communities. When NeighborhoodScout compared Winchendon with other communities size, we found that the crime rate was near the average for all other communities of similar size.

Is Winchendon, MA a good place to live?

Home to nearly 9 thousand people, this area offers lots of recreational opportunities like biking or canoeing at the adventurous Kulis Park plus there are several cultural sites such as the Sholan Farms Apple Orchard that draw tourists each year for their unique experiences among fruit-filled valleys! Large metro area set in the hills and woodlands of New England. Primary industries include healthcare and education. 40 Mins to Boston, low humidity, and pleasant summers make Winchendon a great place to live.

Sources

Wikipedia

Town of Winchendon

Neighborhood Scout

Best Places

Lake Dennison Recreation Area 

Winchendon Community Park 

Gardner Municipal Golf Course

Winchendon Health Center

Simply Grounded Yoga/Pilates, LLC

Clark Memorial YMCA

The Winchendon School

Toy Town Elementary School

Waterville Valley Resort

Borges Martial Arts 

Winchendon Golf Club

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