MED'FORD. A city, including the villages of Hillside. Glenwood, South Medford, Welling ton, and West :Medford, in Middlesex County, Mass., five miles north by west of Bosien; on the Mystic River, and on the southern and west ern divisions of Ruston and Maim RailnKill (Map: 31assaehusetts, E 3). The city, which extends four miles in length- and breadth and occupies an area of about nine square miles, is a popular residential suburb of Boston, and the seat of Tufts College (q.v.). it has a public library; several historically interesting build ings, of which the old Cradock House, built. in 1634, is said to he the oldest structure retaining its original form in the United States; Middle sex Fells Park, Mystic Valley Parkway, Brooks Playstead, Salem Street Common, and several smaller parks: and three cemeteries, the largest of which, Wk. Grove. contains about 34 acres. The principal manufactures include carriages.
bricks, machinery, eltemicals, dyes, calico, ruin. etc. The government is administered under the charter of 1892, which provides for a mayor, elected every two years: a bicameral council, the 'board of aldermen being elected at large for terms of two years, and the common council. an nually by wards; and subordinate administra tive officials. The last are elected either by the aldermen and e0111111011 council. or appointed by the Mayor with the confirmation of the hoard of aldermen or of the city council. The school board is independently chosen by popular vote. Population, in 1890, 11,079; in 1900, 18.244. Founded as Mean ford by a company from Salem in 1630, Medford became a town in the following year and was chartered as a city in 1892. Con sult Usher. History of the Town of Medford, Mass. (Boston, 1886).