Westborough, MA

Westborough was incorporated in 1717, formed from parts of Marlborough, and developed as a small inland town shaped by agriculture and early industry. Located along key routes between Boston and Worcester, it became a place of steady movement and growth. In the 19th century, Westborough played a role in the evolving ideas of social reform, most notably as the site of the Lyman School for Boys, one of the first reform schools in the country focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment, and later the Westborough State Hospital, known for its early efforts toward more humane mental health care.