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Wayland, Massachusetts

Coordinates: 42°21′45″N 71°21′41″W / 42.36250°N 71.36139°W / 42.36250; -71.36139
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Wayland, Massachusetts
Town
First Parish in Wayland
First Parish in Wayland
Official seal of Wayland, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°21′45″N 71°21′41″W / 42.36250°N 71.36139°W / 42.36250; -71.36139[1]
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyMiddlesex
Settled1638
Incorporated1780
Government
 • TypeOpen town meeting
Area
 • Total15.9 sq mi (41.2 km2)
 • Land15.2 sq mi (39.4 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (1.7 km2)
Elevation
127 ft (39 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,943
 • Density880/sq mi (340/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
01778
Area code508/774
FIPS code25-73790
GNIS feature ID0618243
Websitehttp://www.wayland.ma.us/

Wayland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town was founded in 1638, and incorporated in 1780 and was originally part of neighboring Sudbury (incorporated 1639). At the 2020 United States census, the population was 13,943.[2]

History

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Wayland was the first settlement of Sudbury Plantation in 1638. The residents of what is now Sudbury split away in 1722 and formed into the western parish, while residents of what is now Wayland formed into the eastern parish. Prior to the American Revolution Sudbury had one of the largest militias in Massachusetts, numbering about 400. During the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, approximately 302 members of the Sudbury militia, including 115 from the eastern parish, marched to Concord.

The Town of East Sudbury split away from the western parish and was formally incorporated on April 10, 1780. "The higher average wealth level of the residents on the eastern side of the river and on Pelham Island caused the east side of Town to have a higher total assessment than the west side... the east-siders paid more than half of Town taxes even though more than half of the Town population (and the associated costs for Town services) was on the west side."[3]

On March 11, 1835, members of town meeting voted to rename East Sudbury "Wayland" in honor of Dr. Francis Wayland, who was a temperance advocate, abolitionist, then president of Brown University, and a friend of local Judge Edward Mellen. Both Wayland and Mellen were strong advocates of public libraries, and donated money to fund the establishment of a public library for the town.[4] When questions arose about the legality of taxing residents to establish a library, Representative Reverend John Burt Wight brought the question to the state legislature, which led to an 1851 Massachusetts state law enabling the establishment of free public libraries. This makes the Wayland Public library arguably the first free public library in the state and the second public library in the country.[5] The current library building was built in 1900.

Famous residents of Wayland in the mid-19th century include abolitionist Rev. Edmund Sears, the minister of the First Parish Church, who wrote the 1849 poem and song "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" and abolitionist, author, and suffragist Lydia Maria Child.

The Sudbury Valley Trustees were founded in 1953 by seven men from Wayland.

In 1954, during the Red Scare, elementary school teacher Anne Hale was fired in a 2–1 vote by the Wayland School Committee. She had been a member of the Communist Party from 1938 to 1950 and the committee members who voted to fire her stated her lack of "perception, understanding, and judgment necessary in one who is to be entrusted with the responsibility for teaching the children of the Town."[6]

In 2010, Boston Duck Tours was asked to help transport flood victims in Wayland. Torrential rains had left Pelham Island area of Wayland isolated and the Ducks were brought in to ferry people in and out of their neighborhood until the waters receded.[7]

The Wayland display server protocol is named after the town.

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41 km2), of which 15.2 square miles (39 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2), or 4.21%, is water. Wayland borders Lincoln, Sudbury, Weston, Framingham, Natick, and narrowly touches Concord.

Demographics

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See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

As of the census[19] of 2010, there were 13,444 people, 4,808 households, and 3,676 families residing in the town. The population density was 859.9 inhabitants per square mile (332.0/km2). There were 5,021 housing units at an average density of 310.8 per square mile (120.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 87.2% White, 0.9% African American, 0.0% Native American, 9.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

As of 2000, there were 4,625 households, out of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.5% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% 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 3.15.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $121,036, and the median income for a family was $204,033.47. Males had a median income of $136,344 versus $60,875 for females. The per capita income for the town was $75,144. About 2.1% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Intersection of US Route 20, Route 27 & Route 126 in front of Wayland Town Building

The town is part of the Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district.

Education

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Claypit Hill School

The Town of Wayland operates six public schools:

  • The Children's Way (Pre-K)
  • Claypit Hill Elementary School (K–5)
  • Happy Hollow Elementary School (K–5)
  • Loker Elementary School (K–5)
  • Wayland Middle School (6–8)
  • Wayland High School (9–12)

There is one private school in Wayland: Veritas Christian Academy (K–8).

Notable people

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Musicians

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Businesspeople

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Athletes

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Actors and actresses

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Other

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References

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  1. ^ "Wayland". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Wayland town, Middlesex County, Massachusetts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  3. ^ "TOWN HISTORY: A SHORT HISTORY OF WAYLAND, MA". Wayland Historical Society. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Judge Edward Mellen letter to Rev. Francis Wayland". Digital Commonwealth. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Nix, Larry (December 20, 2009). "Rev. Wight and Wayland's Public Library". Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  6. ^ "Red Sympathies Result in Firing". The Harvard Crimson. June 17, 1955. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Martine Powers (April 1, 2010). "A Boston icon rides to the rescue in flooded Wayland - Local News Updates - MetroDesk - The Boston Globe". Boston.com. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  8. ^ "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  9. ^ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  10. ^ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  11. ^ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  12. ^ "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. ^ "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  14. ^ "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  15. ^ "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  16. ^ "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  17. ^ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  18. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  20. ^ Méras., Phyllis (June 15, 2012). "Gladys Widdiss Dies at 97, Was Widely Respected Tribal Elder". Vineyard Guardian. Retrieved July 2, 2012.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wayland, Massachusetts.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Wayland.
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