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Lancaster, Massachusetts

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	Lancaster, Massachusetts
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	Topics Lancaster, Massachusetts Topic Home History Lancaster was first settled as "Nashaway" (after the local NashawayNashaway The Nashaway were a tribe of Algonquian Indians inhabiting the Nashua River valley in present-day central Massachusetts in ... IndianNative Americans in the United States American Indian and Alaskan NativesU.S.... tribe) in 1643. It was officially incorporated and renamed "Lancaster" in 1653. Until it was cut down due to safety concerns, Lancaster boasted the largest oak tree in the state, called the Beaman OakBeaman Oak The Beaman Oak was the largest white oak tree in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, standing in the front yard of a colonial... , named after settler Gamaliel Beaman (1623-1677). Lancaster boasts being the official "mothertown" to all of central Massachusetts. Towns such as Harvard, Stow, Bolton, Hudson, Marlborough, Leominster, Clinton, Berlin and Boylston were all once considered part of Lancaster. Lancaster's founder, John Prescott (1604-1681), wished that the name of his new settlement be Prescottville, but due to English Law at the time, towns could not be named after the founding persons. Instead, Prescott used the name of his town in England as the name of his new town, Lancaster. Lancaster is home to the Mary RowlandsonMary Rowlandson Summary Mary Rowlandson was a colonial American woman, who wrote a vivid description of three months she spent living with Native Am... (c1637-1711) attack in 1675 and 1676. During King Philip's WarKing Philip's War King Philip's War was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English ... , which was fought partially in Lancaster, a tribe of Indians pillaged the entire town of Lancaster. Their last stop on their trail of destruction 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 Indians. The Indians then set fire to the house, forcing Rowlandson to exit the burning building. Upon crossing the doorstep, Rowlandson saw a scene full of carnage. Her entire family was slaughtered, with the exception of her and her 2 daughters. They were kidnapped by the Indians who then took them with them on their travels across New England. The Indians non-fatally shot her in her side. During her captivity, Rowlandson wrote a book called "A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson." The book is widely considered one of the greatest examples of a captivity narrative. In 2000, Lancaster Elementary school changed its name to Mary Rowlandson Elementary School. In 2002, Lancaster Middle school changed its name to Luther Burbank Middle SchoolLuther Burbank Middle School (Massachusetts) The Luther Burbank Middle School is a middle school located in Lancaster, Massachusetts.... . Geography According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau is a part of the United States Department of Commerce.... , the town has a total area of 28.2 square mileSquare mile A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile in length.... s (73.0 km²), of which, 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.84%) is water. Demographics As of the censusCensus A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population .... of 2000, there were 7,380 people, 2,049 households, and 1,551 families residing in the town. The population densityPopulation density Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume.... was 266.7 people per square mile (102.9/km²). There were 2,141 housing units at an average density of 77.4/sq mi (29.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.51% White, 10.61% African American, 0.19% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 1.54% from other racesRace (United States Census) Race, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget, is a self-identificatio... , and 1.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.44% of the population. There were 2,049 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.1% were married couplesMarriage A marriage is a relationship between or among individuals, usually recognized by civil authority and/or bound by the religio... living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.22. In the town the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 125.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 129.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $60,752, and the median income for a family was $66,490. Males had a median income of $42,367 versus $35,417 for females. The per capita incomePer capita income The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population.... for the town was $21,010. About 4.4% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over. Government Education Lancaster is served by the Nashoba Regional School District. It is also the site of Atlantic Union College & South Lancaster Academy, incorporated in 1881. Notable residents Luther BurbankLuther Burbank Luther Burbank was an American botanist, horticulturist, and pioneer of agricultural science.... , botanist, horticulturist and a pioneer in agricultural science Ezra ButlerEzra Butler Ezra Butler was an American politician from the U.S.... , United States Representative from VermontVermont Vermont is a state in the New England region of the United States, located in the northeastern part of the country.... Charles F. ChandlerCharles F. Chandler Charles Frederick Chandler was an American chemist, best known for his regulatory work in public health, sanitation, and con... , chemist Eric DonaldsonEric Donaldson (sculptor) Eric Robert Donaldson is a contemporary American sculptor and a singer/songwriter.... , sculptor and singer-songwriter Henrietta Swan LeavittHenrietta Swan Leavitt Henrietta Swan Leavitt was an American astronomer, as well as being the deaf daughter of a Congregational church minister .... , astronomer Mary RowlandsonMary Rowlandson Mary Rowlandson was a colonial American woman, who wrote a vivid description of three months she spent living with Native Am... , colonial Indian captive, author Jared SparksFacts About Jared Sparks ... , historian, Harvard UniversityHarvard University "Harvard" redirects here. For other uses of the name Harvard, see Harvard .... President (taught at a private school in Lancaster 1815-1817) John Thayer, ornithologist Dr. Samuel WillardDr. Samuel Willard Dr. Samuel Willard, April 13, 1748-March 7, 1801. ... , representative to the Massachusetts ratification of the United States ConstitutionUnited States Constitution The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America.... External links