Westford dates to 1635, and 16% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 94% of U.S. towns · #99 of 283 in Massachusetts. What drives it
14 places in town are on the National Register, among them five historic districts with 602 buildings between them. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1886 on, and the census since 1790.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1803.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Westford’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Westford is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns, #99 of 283 in Massachusetts. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Westford’s overall grade.
Massachusetts towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Massachusetts town has 46.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Westford’s 246 sits above most of its state (81% of Massachusetts towns have fewer) while its 608 historic buildings outnumber those of 98% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1635.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. The pre-1940 share (±2.9 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Westford’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Westford began as 'West Chelmsford,' a village in the town of Chelmsford. The village of West Chelmsford grew large enough to sustain its own governance in 1729, and was officially incorporated as Westford that year on September 23.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Westford primarily produced granite, apples, and worsted yarn. The Abbot Worsted Company was said to be the first company in the nation to use camel hair for worsted yarns.
Paul Revere's son attended Westford Academy and a bell cast by Revere graces its lobby today. A weather vane made by Paul Revere sits atop the Abbot Elementary school.
Passages that mention Westford, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-18831883 · page 77Read the page →
Read the text
" Now Know Ye that I Ebenezer Stone of Westford in the County of Middlesex, Trader, in consideration of the Love and Good Will I bare on my mind to sd Town of Westford, Have given granted Bargained and sold and do by these presents give grant bargain and sell and Freely and Fully and absolutely " convey and confirm unto the sd Town of Westford, the land on which the sd Bellfree above mentioned Now Standeth so long as the Town of Westford shall see
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-18831883 · page 59Read the page →
Read the text
Esq. Capt. General and Governor in Cheafe in and over his majesties province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England &c and the Honorable his Council : The Desiar of the Town of Westford and pray that your Excellency and Honours would be pleased to allow to ye Town of Westford the sum hereafter mentioned, viz, the sum of Ten pounds five pence and two farthings lawful money for supporting ye French Family that Lately came from Nova Scotia, that are
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
Westford, decade by decade
2 decades in the archive, from the 1880s to the 1900s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1635, according to Wikidata. Westford’s post office opened in 1803, and the first U.S. census counted 1,229 people here in 1790.
How does Westford rank for history?
Westford is more historic than 94% of U.S. towns, #99 of 283 in Massachusetts. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Westford?
14 listings: 4 buildings, among them the John Proctor House (listed 1993, the first), 5 historic districts with 602 contributing buildings, and 5 sites. 608 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Westford?
16% of Westford’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.9 points), against a typical 21% for a Massachusetts town; the median home was built in 1983.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (4), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (7), the National Register of Historic Places (14), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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