| Official Name: | Milford, Massachusetts |
| Mapsize: | 260px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Massachusetts |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Worcester |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1662 |
| Established Title2: | Incorporated |
| Established Date2: | 1780 |
| Government Type: | Representative town meeting |
| Leader Name: | Richard A. Villani |
| Leader Name1: | William E. Kingkade Jr. William D. Buckley Michael K. Walsh |
| Area Total Km2: | 38.5 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 14.9 |
| Area Land Km2: | 37.8 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 14.6 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.7 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.3 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Population Total: | 30,379 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Milfordian |
| Elevation M: | 94 |
| Elevation Ft: | 307 |
| Timezone: | Eastern |
| Utc Offset: | −5 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −4 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 01757 |
| Area Code: | 508/774kpl0o |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 25-41165 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0618372 |
Milford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 30,379 according to the 2020 census.[1] First settled in 1662 and incorporated in 1780, Milford became a booming industrial and quarrying community in the 19th century due to its unique location which includes the nearby source of the Charles River, the Mill River, the Blackstone River watershed, and large quantities of Milford pink granite.
Milford was first settled in 1662 as a part of Mendon after Native Americans, including the Sachem, Quashaamit, granted land to the early settlers. King Philip's War destroyed the town in 1676, but settlers returned in 1680.[2] The Mill River flows through Milford and had several conspicuous fords that were familiar to the Native Americans, and used by the early white settlers. These "mill (river) fords" are said to have given Milford its name.[3] Milford was incorporated April 11, 1780, and the first town hall built in 1819; a brick structure later named the Town House School. The current town hall was built in 1854 by architect Thomas Silloway.[2]
Milford is renowned for its Milford pink granite, discovered in 1870.[4] Milford quarries fueled the local economy until about 1940.[5] The granite has been used for local buildings such as Memorial Hall; the Bancroft Memorial Library in Hopedale; Worcester City Hall; and the Boston Public Library. Other notable buildings include the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City; the main post office in New York City; and more recently the Singapore Changi Airport in 2002.[5]
The Milford Hospital was donated in 1903 by Governor Eben Sumner Draper.[2] Today, the health care facility exists as the Milford Regional Medical Center. In January 2008, the Center opened a cancer treatment facility with the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute.[6] The center is affiliated with UMass Medical Center as a teaching hospital.[7] In 2015 the hospital completed a $54-million expansion project that created a new emergency department and updated the intensive care unit, as well as patient rooms.[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land, and, or 1.82%, is water. Milford is drained by the Charles River.
The town is crossed by Interstate 495 and state routes 16, 85, 109, and 140.