Rutland, Massachusetts

Rutland is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,973 at the 2010 census. Rutland is the geographic center of Massachusetts; a tree, the Central Tree, located on Central Tree Road, marks the general spot.

History
The town of Rutland is a residential mountain town. Rutland's original lands of about 12 sqmi were purchased from natives in Natick's Indian Praying Town in 1686. Frontier hostilities delayed settlement, and the land was not divided into lots until 1714 when 45 lots of 30 acre each were finally distributed. Settlers in Rutland came from older eastern towns, like Boston, Lexington, Concord and Sudbury.

Rutland was incorporated in 1713, and was named after the English county.

First settled in 1719, the town suffered repeated Indian attacks during Dummer's War, with the last death from Indian warfare recorded in 1724. During Dummer's War, on August 13, 1723, Gray Lock raided Northfield, Massachusetts, and four warriors killed two citizens near Northfield. The next day they attacked Joseph Stevens and his four sons in Rutland. Stevens escaped, two boys were killed, and the other two sons were captured.

There were about 1,000 people in the town in 1765 when a disastrous epidemic of dysentery killed 60 children.

The early economy included agriculture and grazing. The first gristmill was built on Mill Brook in 1719, and the town was one of the earliest in the county to establish a subscription library, before 1796. Three small villages grew up around the water-powered mills of the town by 1830, and there was small-scale production of chairs, carriages, and woodenware. A tannery was opened in the 1840s to supply local boot and shoemakers, and palm leaf hats were produced in quantity. The town's fresh air and still-rural environment drew increasing numbers of visitors, and Rutland became a minor recreational and health resort in the 1880s. In 1883, Muschapogue House hotel was built. This development was followed by the building in 1898 of the Massachusetts Hospital for Consumptive and Tubercular Patients, a state prison camp and hospital, as well as the opening of a handful of small private TB sanitoria.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.4 sqmi, of which 35.3 sqmi is land and 1.1 sqmi, or 3.16%, is water.

Rutland is bordered by Princeton on the northeast, Holden on the east, Paxton on the southeast, Oakham on the southwest, and Barre and Hubbardston on the northwest.

Rutland is about 13 mi northwest of Worcester, 52 mi west of Boston, and 181 mi northeast of New York City. Rutland is the highest town between The Berkshires and the Atlantic. The town common is 1200 ft above sea level. It is also the exact geographical center of Massachusetts.

Demographics
As of the year 2008, there were approximately 8,257 people, 2,300 households, and 1,721 families residing in the town. The population density was 180.2 people per square mile (69.6/km2). There were 2,392 housing units at an average density of 67.8 per square mile (26.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.58% White, 1.04% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 2,253 households out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.1% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,846, and the median income for a family was $70,689. Males had a median income of $45,824 versus $35,390 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,311. About 1.5% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture
Each year, Rutland holds a four-day-long Fourth of July celebration, beginning on July 1. Events include performances by area musicians, a lip-sync concert, chicken barbecue hosted by the local Fire Brigade, a Historical Society Lemonade Social, and an acclaimed fireworks show. On the Fourth, Rutland holds a parade with floats made by local organizations and special guests including local and regional politicians.

August also brings in the Central Tree Chowder Challenge, an event hosted and sponsored by the Rutland Fire Brigade. Area restaurants compete for local bragging rights for having the best area clam chowder. With two ways to "win", restaurants compete for both the people's choice as well as the votes of their peers and competitors.

While the main draw to the day is the clam chowder, the event has evolved into a family-oriented day. There is no admission fee except for those who wish to sample the chowder. However, there are also pony rides, face painting, "exotic" animal exhibits, inflatable rooms for kids, a free "train ride" (a lawn tractor towing three cars around the local athletic track), as well as miscellaneous vendors, both local and from surrounding towns. Proceeds go to the local Fire Brigade, which uses the money for restoration of the town's original fire station, and also to help supplement the expenses of the Fire Department by purchasing much needed equipment that would otherwise have to wait for town funding.

Education
Rutland is a part of the Wachusett Regional School District.

There are two elementary schools: Naquag Elementary (named after the tribe of Indians that once resided there), and the newly built Glenwood Elementary.

The middle school is Central Tree Middle School.

The public high schools are Wachusett Regional High School (in Holden, and Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton.

Library
The Rutland public library began ca.1865. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Rutland spent 1.16% ($159,360) of its budget on its public library—some $20.17 per person.