Milford

History

Milford was first settled in 1662 as a part of Mendon after Native Americans, including the Sachem, Quashaamit, granted land to the early settlers. King Philip's War destroyed the town in 1676, but settlers returned in 1680. The Mill River flows through Milford and had several conspicuous fords that were familiar to the Native Americans, and used by the early white settlers. These "mill (river) fords" are said to have given Milford its name. Milford was incorporated April 11, 1780, and the first town hall built in 1819; a brick structure later named the Town House School. The current town hall was built in 1854 by architect Thomas Silloway. Milford quarries fueled the local economy until about 1940. The granite has been used for local buildings such as Memorial Hall; the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale; Worcester City Hall; and the Boston Public Library. Other notable buildings include the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City; the main post office in New York City; and more recently the Singapore Changi Airport in 2002. The center is affiliated with UMass Medical Center as a teaching hospital. In 2015 the hospital completed a $54-million expansion project that created a new emergency department and updated the intensive care unit, as well as patient rooms.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land, and , or 1.82%, is water. Milford is drained by the Charles River. The town is crossed by Interstate 495 and state routes 16, 85, 109, and 140.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  26,906
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  25,442
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  24,852
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  23,645
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  23,589
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  19,773
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  19,641
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  19,632

Largest nearby schools

• Milford High
  High · Milford · 1,324 students · 12.1:1 ratio
• Blackstone Valley
  High · Upton · 1,230 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• Westborough High
  High · Westborough · 1,178 students · 13.1:1 ratio
• Stacy Middle
  Middle · Milford · 1,030 students · 11.6:1 ratio
• Northbridge Elementary School
  Elementary · Whitinsville · 953 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• Woodland
  Elementary · Milford · 943 students · 11.1:1 ratio
• Grafton High School
  High · Grafton · 875 students · 12.3:1 ratio
• Mill Pond School
  Middle · Westborough · 865 students · 12:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.6 — 2020-11-08
  10 km S of Bliss Corner, Massachusetts
• M 2.7 — 2018-02-15
  0 km SE of East Kingston, New Hampshire
• M 2.6 — 2015-01-13
  2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 3.3 — 2015-01-12
  0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 2.5 — 2007-10-19
  2 km WSW of Littleton Common, Massachusetts
• M 2.5 — 2005-11-17
  4 km S of Plymouth, Massachusetts