History of the Community

Overview

First settled in 1642 and known as Cambridge Farms, town land was used by early inhabitants for agriculture. Farmers were attracted by the availability of hay fields, farming acreage, and the possibilities of land speculation. Early settlers formed their own parish in 1691 to avoid traveling into Cambridge and incorporated Lexington in 1713. Their main emphasis was on clearing and draining the land in the tradition of their European forebears. In fact, they were so successful in execution of this pattern that in 1775 when King George III’s troops were retreating from Concord, they used two field pieces arrayed east of Lexington Center as cover. Because the parcels were so bare with no tree cover at all, they provided a clear line of fire to the British soldiers. The events of April 1775 inscribed Lexington forever in the pages of American history. Heralded by the midnight rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes, the Lexington Minutemen confronted the British Regulars in the early morning hours on what is now known as the Battle Green. The annual Patriots’ Day celebration and preserved historic sites pay tribute to that fateful time. Lexington remained a quiet farming community until 1846 when the extension of a railroad line from Boston made commuting possible. East Lexington in the mid-19th century had been the scene of debates on such issues as abolition and temperance. After the Civil War, professionals settled into newly built large Victorian homes on Merriam and Munroe Hills. Railroad access allowed Lexington to flourish as a summer resort, providing a healthy and invigorating atmosphere. Supported by a growing immigrant population, farming would continue to play an important role in the local economy well into the 20th century. Agriculture is no longer the preeminent land use in Lexington, but it remained unsurpassed until the mid20th century. Following the close of World War II, the increased demand for housing sites accelerated the decline of agriculture and loss of open land. The rising cost of land made farming and holding of large tracts of land increasingly costly and drove many farmers out of business. As a result of the Town’s early zoning bylaws and the construction of Route 95/128, residential growth and the Town’s population accelerated. In 1950, the Town down-zoned the residential districts into what they are today – well after the bulk of the land was subdivided. Unlike many Massachusetts communities, Lexington experienced little industrial growth during the industrial revolution. The reason for this was the Town’s lack of feasible sites for producing energy via water. So instead of industry springing up in Lexington, it became a vacation spot for well-off Bostonians. In the late 1800’s, several country hotels opened in town to provide fresh air for Bostonians seeking an escape from the city. Today, Lexington is mostly made up of residential neighborhoods. Commercial and industrial research facilities are located along the transportation corridors of Routes 2, 95/128, 225, and Hartwell Avenue. In over 350 years of settlement, the community has mirrored the political times and the changing technology of each era from subsistence farming to a theater for the opening event of the American Revolution; from wilderness to a vibrant community; and from rural to suburban community.

recently, Comprehensive Watershed Management Plans were completed by consultants to the Town’s Engineering Division for each of the three watersheds: Charles, Shawsheen and Mystic, which identified priority projects involving infrastructure improvements and stream and wetland restoration activities. These studies, plus an infiltration/inflow study and program for the Town’s sewer system, has enabled the Town to manage sewers and drainage and to plan needed improvements with sensitivity to the total problem, as well as the possible impacts on wetlands. A new Stormwater Bylaw was adopted in the spring of 2008, as part of the Town’s NPDES permit, which ensures that a wide array of development projects (both by right and by special permit) receive a complete review of their stormwater impacts.