Less than twenty miles west of Boston, the old farming community of Wayland has doggedly maintained its traditional New England character in the face of creeping urbanization. Divided off as East Sudbury in 1780, the village of Wayland has always preserved the rural surroundings which its earliest inhabitants first beheld. Agriculture has always been the primary industry in Wayland, although shoe manufacturing was prominent for a time around 1875. Although most of the operating farms are long gone, the open fields and rolling hills which first attracted farmers to Wayland still make up much of the 15 square miles of land here. With residential land subject to 1 & 1.5-acre zoning regulations for new development, Wayland's beauty and rural atmosphere are guaranteed to remain for years to come. Wayland's deep commitment to preservation of her natural surroundings is evidenced by the large amounts of land the town has put aside for wildlife and conservation. Over 6000 acres of wetlands, woodlands and agricultural fields are now part of a National Wildlife Refuge along the Sudbury River.

Because of its proximity to the suburban employment centers along Routes 495 and 128, Wayland is an ideal residential town for many professionals working there or in Boston. Wayland is still very much a residential community, although the local economy is strong and active. A busy commercial district and several high-technology firms are located along Route 20, the town's main thoroughfare. Retail outlets for Wayland shoppers are good in this area, while larger malls are located just 10 minutes away in Framingham, or west into Sudbury and Marlborough. Wayland is more than an excellent commuter town with lovely rural surroundings. Recreational and educational opportunities found in Wayland rival many of Massachusetts' most respected communities. Lake Cochituate offers swimming, canoeing, and sailing, and the town gives lessons in all these water sports. Seven playgrounds, ten tennis courts, two golf courses, cross-country ski trails, weight-training rooms, and athletic fields are all open to the public.

The Wayland school system offers courses in many subject areas and has an excellent record in sending its graduates to the finer colleges and universities, as 93% of the graduates pursue higher education. The town of Wayland is a rural comfort and splendor in a residential setting only a half hour from Boston. With the fine scenery, location, and services Wayland possesses, it is little wonder that it is fast becoming one of the most popular residential communi ties west of Boston.

Some notable residents include Rev. Edmund H. Sears, author of the Christmas carol "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" and Lydia Maria Child, abolitionist, editor of the first American children's magazine and author of the earliest domestic science text.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts maintains a page of excellent links to further information on Wayland here.