City of Worcester

Named after the historic city of Worcester, England, Worcester was incorporated as a town on June 14, 1722 and chartered as a city on February 29, 1848.

Worcester is not only the second largest city in Massachusetts, but also the second largest city in New England. Worcester is home to several institutes including the College of the Holy Cross, the oldest Roman Catholic college in New England, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester State University, Clark University, Becker College, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Assumption College, the fourth oldest Roman Catholic college in New England and Quinsigamond Community College.

Some notable residents of Worcester include Boston Celtics and Holy Cross great Bob Cousey, author Jane Austin, actor and comedian Denis Leary, Kenneth P. O’Donnell, political advisor to President John F. Kennedy, professional hockey player Bill Guerin, former Boston Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman, governor of Massachusetts Alexander H. Bullock, American figure skating coach Frank Carroll, US news personality Chris Matthews, American poet Elizabeth Bishop, George Bancroft, the 17th US Secretary of the Navy and the founder of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, mayor of Worcester and lieutenant governor of Massachusetts Charles F. Sullivan, author of “Casey at the Bat” Ernest Lawrence Thayer, professional baseball player Tim Collins, newspaper publisher Isaiah Thomas and US Congressman Charles Allen.