Auburn, Massachusetts | ||
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Town | ||
Auburn Town Offices and Merriam Library
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Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts. |
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Coordinates: 42°12′N 71°50′W / 42.200°N 71.833°WCoordinates: 42°12′N 71°50′W / 42.200°N 71.833°W | ||
Country | United States | |
State | Massachusetts | |
County | Worcester | |
Settled | 1714 | |
Incorporated | April 10, 1778 | |
Government | ||
• Type | Representative town meeting | |
• Town Manager | Julie Jacobson | |
• Board of Selectmen |
Lionel Berthiaume Dan Carpenter Doreen Goodrich Ken Holmstrom Denise Brotherton |
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• School Committee |
Leanne Gibree Wayne Paige Elizabeth Gribbons Todd Hammond Jeffery Lourie |
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Area | ||
• Total | 16.4 sq mi (42.5 km2) | |
• Land | 15.4 sq mi (39.8 km2) | |
• Water | 1.0 sq mi (2.7 km2) | |
Elevation | 603 ft (184 m) | |
Population (2010) | ||
• Total | 16.188 | |
• Density | 1,051.2/sq mi (406.7/km2) | |
Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
• Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | |
ZIP code | 01501 | |
Area code(s) | 508 / 774 | |
FIPS code | 25-02760 | |
GNIS feature ID | 0619474 | |
Website | Town website |
Auburn is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16.188 at the 2010 census.
The Auburn area was first settled in 1714 as Of Today outer parts of Worcester, Sutton, Leicester and Oxford, Massachusetts, and the town was officially incorporated on April 10, 1778 as the town of Ward, in honor of American Revolution General Artemas Ward. The town changed its name to Auburn in 1837, after the Post Office complained that the name was too similar to the nearby town of Ware.
Before incorporation, most of Auburn was known as the South Parish of Worcester; other portions fell within the town limits of Leicester and Millbury.
Robert Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket from Pakachoag Hill, on his Aunt Effe Ward's farm, in Auburn on March 16, 1926. Goddard is commemorated in Goddard Memorial Park, located downtown next to the Auburn Fire Department Headquarters.
In this park there is a model of Dr. Goddard's prototype liquid-fueled rocket and a Polaris Ballistic Missile (Type A-1). Across the street at the Auburn High School stands a mini version of the prototype.
In addition, there is a small memorial commemorating the feat on the actual site where Goddard launched his rocket. (The memorial is located between the 1st and 9th holes on Pakachoag Golf Course.)
The form of government is representative town meeting. There are 24 town-meeting members from each of the five precincts of the town, for a total of 120 who represent the people at the annual town meeting each May.