History of Westford, Massachusetts, USA

Westford, Massachusetts
Middlesex county. This is a good farming town, on elevated ground, 26 miles N.W. from Boston and 10 N.W. from Concord. Incorporated, 1729. Population, 1837, 1,451. The surface and soil of the town are well adapted to the growth of grain, grass and fruit, and large quantities of hay and vegetables are annually sent to Boston and Lowell. Quantities of fine granite, commonly called "Chelmsford granite," are found here, quarried and transported. Westford is watered by several beautiful ponds, and by Stoney brook which rises in the town and gives it mill privileges.

The manufactures of Westford, consist of bar iron, shoes and leather: annual value, about $25,000.

The village is handsomely situated on a swell of fine land, commanding a beautiful prospect, of great extent, and contains an Academy of ancient date and respectable standing.

Westford was so called probably from its having been the western precinct or parish of Chelmsford.

This town furnishes a large quantity of what is called Chelmsford Granite for building, but agriculture is the principal employment of the inhabitants.

Distance from Concord, 10 miles; from Boston, 25.

This town was formerly a part of Chelmsford grant; after a long controversy it was incorporated as a distinct town in 1729. "The church and society was established here in 1724, and the town of Chelmsford paid 100 pounds towards building a meeting house for this parish, which was then called the west precinct in Chelmsford; they also received their proportion of the ministerial lands.” This is principally an agricultural township, the soil being strong and productive, well adapted to grass, grain, and fruit trees. The village in the center of the town contains two Congregational churches and an academy, one of the oldest in the state, having a respectable fund for the support of a preceptor. The village is situated on the summit of a large swell, having a fine prospect over the neighboring valleys and of the distant mountains. Wachusett, Monadnock, and many of less height, are distinctly visible. Population, 1,451. Distance, 10 miles from Concord, 30 from Salem, S from Lowell, 5 to...

Westford, a post- village in Middlesex co., Massachusetts, near the Stony Brook rail road, 27 miles N. W. by W. from Boston, contains 2 or 3 churches and an academy. Population of the township, 1478.

Westford is a prosperous farming and manufacturing town of 2,193 inhabitants, occupying an elevated site between the Merrimack, Concord and Nashua rivers, near the centre of the northern section of Middlesex County. The Stony Brook Railroad, passing across the midst of the township, is intersected at Graniteville, in the western part, by the Nashua and Acton Railroad. The Lowell and Framingham Branch of the Old Colony, by its station at South Chelmsford, is convenient to the southeastern part of the town. The post-offices are Westford (centre), Cold-spring, Forge Village, Graniteville and Nashua. The other villages are Chamberlain's Corner, Parkeville and South Westford.

The town has Tyngsborough on the northwest and north; Chelmsford and Carlisle on the east; Acton on the south; Littleton on the southwest; and Ayer and Groton on the west. The assessed area is 18,000 acres; of which 8,461 are forest, consisting of oak, pine, maple and birch. At the junction of this town with Ayer...

Westford, a post-village in Westford township, Middlesex co., Mass., about 7 miles W.S.W. of Lowell, with a station on the Stony Brook Railroad and on the Nashua, Acton & Boston Railroad, 30 miles N.W. of Boston. It has 3 churches and an academy. It is on a hill which commands a beautiful view. The township contains Graniteville, and has a granite-quarry and a pop. (1890) of 2250.