Massachusetts

Middlesex

1,632,002
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Middlesex

Middlesex, Massachusetts, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 42,737. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 1,632,002.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 40 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Chelmsford Raid, Sudbury Battle, Groton Raid, and 1349 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20201,632,002
20101,503,085
20001,465,396
19901,398,468
19801,367,034
19701,397,268
19601,238,742
19501,064,569
1940971,390
1930934,924
1920778,352
1910669,915
1900565,696
1890431,167
1880317,830
1870274,353
1860216,354
1850161,383
1840106,611
183077,961
182061,472
181052,789
180046,928
179042,737
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Middlesex

Military engagements that took place in Middlesex, Massachusetts.

Chelmsford Raid
1676
Sudbury Battle
1676
Groton Raid
1676
Raid on Chelmsford MA (King Philip's War)
1676
Battle of Sudbury MA April 21 1676
1676
Battle of Lancaster (King Philip's War)
1676
King Philip's War – Raid on Woburn MA 1676
1676
Battle at Sudbury 1676
1676
Raid on Groton MA 1676
1676
King Philip's War – Raid on Chelmsford MA 1676
1676
Attack on Marlborough 1676
1676
Attack on Groton (KPW, 1676)
1676
Raid on Sudbury MA
1676
Battle of Sudbury
1676
Attack on Groton
1676
Marlborough Raid
1676
Raid on Groton
1676
Sudbury Fight — Second Battle (Capt. Wadsworth 1676)
1676
Battle of Sudbury 1676
1676
Sudbury Fight (King Philip's War)
1676
Raid on Groton (MA, 1694)
1694
Raid on Groton 1694
1694
Raid on Groton MA 1694 (King William's War)
1694
Groton MA Raid 1694 (King William's War)
1694
Raid on Billerica MA 1695
1695
Raid on Dunstable MA/NH (King William's War)
1696
Raid on Marlborough 1704
1704
Raid on Dunstable MA
1706
Raid on Groton (MA, 1707)
1707
Raid on Dunstable NH 1724
1724
Powder Alarm
1774
Concord — Barrett's Farm Search
1775
Battle of Menotomy
1775
Battle Road — The Long Retreat
1775
Battle of Lexington – Parker's Stand
1775
Battle of Lexington
1775
Battle of Lexington and Concord — North Bridge
1775
Skirmish at Cambridge (Percy's relief)
1775
Raid on Menotomy (Arlington)
1775
Battle of Concord
1775

Historic places in Middlesex

National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex, Massachusetts.

Hutchinson-Blood House
Winchester
Lowell Locks and Canals Historic District
Lowell
Remick, Joseph, House
Winchester
Elmwood
Cambridge
Farley-Hutchinson-Kimball House
Bedford
Paine, Robert Treat, Jr., House
Waltham
Brooks, Shepherd, Estate
Medford
Crystal Lake and Pleasant Street Historic District
Newton
Gray, Asa, House
Cambridge
Clark Houses
Natick
Mason, W. A., House
Cambridge
Somerville Theatre
Somerville
Loring, George, House
Somerville
House at 26 Francis Avenue
Wakefield
House at 2212 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton
Swan, Henry, House
Arlington
Weeks Cemetery
Marlborough
Sherburne, Warren E., House
Lexington
Jenkins, Franklin B., House
Stoneham
Twitchell, Joseph, House
Sherborn
Old Shephard Farm
Newton
US Post Office
Lowell
US Post Office-Central Square
Cambridge
Kingsbury House
Newton
Browse all Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Other counties in Massachusetts

Explore census history and historic records for more Massachusetts counties.

BarnstableBerkshireBristolDukesEssexFranklinHampdenHampshireNantucketNorfolkPlymouthSuffolkWorcester
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Everything a full report reveals about Middlesex County, Massachusetts

This page charts the census history of Middlesex County, Massachusetts. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Middlesex

When does Middlesex first appear in the US census?
Middlesex, Massachusetts first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 42,737.
What is the population of Middlesex?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Middlesex had a recorded population of 1,632,002.
Were any battles fought in Middlesex?
40 documented military engagements took place in Middlesex, including Chelmsford Raid, Sudbury Battle, Groton Raid.
How many historic places are in Middlesex?
1349 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Middlesex, Massachusetts.
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