Wayland, Massachusetts

Wayland is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was founded in 1638 and officially became a town in 1780. Before that, it was part of the nearby town of Sudbury, which became its own town in 1639.

In the year 2020, Wayland had a population of 13,943 people. One special part of the town is called Cochituate, which is recognized separately in population counts. Wayland has a rich history and many interesting places to explore, making it a notable place in Massachusetts.

History

Wayland was the first settlement of Sudbury Plantation in 1638. Before the American Revolution, Sudbury had one of the largest militias in Massachusetts, with about 400 people. During the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, around 302 of these militia members, including 115 from the eastern part, marched to Concord.

In 1780, the eastern part of Sudbury became its own town and was named Wayland in 1835 to honor Dr. Francis Wayland, a leader who supported good causes and a friend of a local judge. Both men helped start the town’s public library, which was one of the first free libraries in Massachusetts. The current library building was constructed in 1900.

Famous people from Wayland in the 1800s included Rev. Edmund Sears, who wrote the poem and song "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear", and Lydia Maria Child, who worked for fair treatment for all people.

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

In 2010, heavy rains caused flooding in Wayland, and Boston Duck Tours helped carry people in and out of the affected area until the water went down.

The Wayland display server protocol is named after the town.

Geography

Wayland, Massachusetts, covers an area of 15.9 square miles (41 km²). Out of this, 15.2 square miles (39 km²) is land, and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), which is about 4.21%, is water. The town shares borders with Lincoln, Sudbury, Weston, Framingham, Natick, and it narrowly touches Concord.

Demographics

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

In 2010, Wayland had 13,444 people living there. Most people, about 87%, were White. About 10% were Asian, with smaller numbers of African American, Native American, Pacific Islander, and people from other races. About 2% of the town’s people were Hispanic or Latino.

Families in Wayland tend to be larger, with many having children under 18. Most adults were married and living together. The town’s median income was quite high, with many families doing well financially. Only a small part of the town lived below the poverty line.

Government

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

Education

Wayland has six public schools for children from preschool to middle school, and one high school for grades 9 to 12. There is also one private school in Wayland for grades K to 8.

Notable people

Wayland, Massachusetts, has been home to many famous people from different fields.

Some well-known musicians from Wayland include rapper Sammy Adams, Tom Hamilton the bass player for Aerosmith, and Steven Tyler, also from Aerosmith, who held a concert at Wayland High School before the band became famous worldwide.

The town has also been home to successful businesspeople like Amar Bose, founder of Bose Corporation, known for its high-quality sound systems, and athletes such as NBA player Jae Crowder and MLB player Jonathan Papelbon.

Actors from Wayland include Taylor Schilling, known for her roles in TV shows and movies, and Hettienne Park. Other notable residents include Lydia Maria Child, a 19th-century writer and activist, and Harold Russell, an Academy Award winner for his acting role.