Overview

Originally part of several neighboring towns, West Boylston was incorporated in 1808 and flourished in the 1800s as an industrial center with textile mills and other industry.  In 1896, this prosperity was interrupted as the town as selected as the site of the Wachusett Reservoir to provide water for Boston. Its location at the junction of three rivers, which originally brought industry to town, made it a prime location for the reservoir.

In 1897, the Wachusett Dam impounded part of the Nashua River and 6.5 square miles were flooded in the towns of Boylston, West Boylston, Sterling and Clinton.  West Boylston lost over 2,200 acres - the most of any town.  Over 1,700 residents, 300 homes, 8 schools, 6 mills, 4 churches and 1 hotel were moved to dry land, but the majority of the town was demolished and filled by the reservoir.  The Old Stone Baptist Church, built in 1892 and recently restored by the West Boylston Historical Commission and concerned citizens, is the only building remaining in the original town center.  It stands today on the shore of the Wachusett Reservoir as an iconic reminder of the upheaval.

Today, West Boylston is a bedroom community for Worcester and the surrounding region. Although the reservoir disrupted the town's industrial growth, it also allowed West Boylston to preserve much of its rural character, making it an attractive place for recreation and living.

Away from bustling Route 12, West Boylston is dotted with well-kept subdivisions.  An excellent public school system with a school-choice program has attracted students from surrounding community.  Most of West Boylston's residents work in Worcester or Worcester County, but I-190 offers easy access to Boston and the rest of New England. As a suburb of Worcester, West Boylston is convenient to that city's cultural and commercial features.  Thus, West Boylston has the best of both worlds:  a rural/residential environment just a stone's throw from urban offerings.

Government
The Town of West Boylston is governed by Open Town Meeting with a five-member Board of Selectmen who appoint a full-time Town Administrator.  The Town offices are found at 140 Worcester Street.

Location
West Boylston is located in central Massachusetts, 7 miles north of Worcester, 18 miles south of Fitchburg, 41 miles west of Boston and 185 miles from New York City.  The town is bordered by Worcester and Shrewsbury to the south, Holden to the west, Sterling to the north, and Boylston and the Wachusett Reservoir to the east.  West Boylston has three major cross-state highways: I-190 links to the Fitchburg-Leominster area, and I-84 and I-395 connect to Connecticut and points south.

Transportation
Rail: Passenger rail service to Boston, Springfield, Providence and all other points on the AMTRAK network is available through neighboring Worcester.  The Springfield Terminal Railway provides freight rail service.

Bus: West Boylston is a member of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA), which provided fixed route service between West Boylston and Worcester, plus services or the elderly and disabled.

Air:  Worcester Regional Airport is operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority.  It boast a $15.7 million passenger terminal and provides both commercial and private air services.