Central Mass Questions (Boston, Worcester, Franklin: area codes, rail, design)

[Bypass10]

1) What counties/towns are considered Central Mass?
2) What is generally the limits/extent of this area?
3) Do a lot of people commute/work in Boston from this area....moreso than any other city (Worcester)?

[ogre]

Not sure there's any official designation for central MA, but personally, if you're going by counties, I would think of Worcester County, and the three counties that run from south to north immediately west of Worcester County as roughly the central part of the state.

Judging by the fact that Worcester and Boston are in the same CSA, but Worcester has its own MSA, that would indicate that more people from the central Mass. area commute to Worcester than to Boston or Boston's inner suburbs. Otherwise, Worcester and vicinity would be part of Boston's MSA, the way the Census Bureau defines metropolitan areas. However, there is some significant commuting to Boston and vicinity from Worcester and towns just to the east of Worcester. An indication of this can be seen in the fact that there is commuter rail service between Worcester and Boston.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by ogre

Not sure there's any official designation for central MA, but personally, if you're going by counties, I would think of Worcester County, and the three counties that run from south to north immediately west of Worcester County as roughly the central part of the state.

The three counties--Hamden, Hampshire, and Franklin--consider themselves to be Western Mass. I'd say the Quabbin reservoir marks the transition.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by missionhill

The three counties--Hamden, Hampshire, and Franklin--consider themselves to be Western Mass. I'd say the Quabbin reservoir marks the transition.

Agree. I'd say Central Mass. is basically Worcester County (largest county in the state by land mass) and the extreme NW part of Middlesex Co. from Pepperell/Groton westward.

[teachertype]

Western mass has always been 413 area code, Boston 617, Central mass 508. They've added a few but it's how I thought of it growing up 50-60 years ago. Otherwise holden and missionhill r correct.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by teachertype

Western mass has always been 413 area code, Boston 617, Central mass 508. They've added a few but it's how I thought of it growing up 50-60 years ago. Otherwise holden and missionhill r correct.

When did 508 come into being? I don't remember it until the early 90s or so but maybe it was always there.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by holden125

When did 508 come into being? I don't remember it until the early 90s or so but maybe it was always there.

You're right, early '90s. Before that, 617 and 413, which date from the Kennedy Administration, when the phone company ended the use of place name exchanges (such as CEdar 5-1235) and introduced direct-dial area codes.