Wayland holds a distinguished place in Massachusetts history as home to arguably the first free public library in the state—established in 1848, predating the Massachusetts library law of 1851. This tradition of education, culture, and civic pride continues today, reflected in our consistently top-ranked school system and commitment to preserving natural resources.
Originally settled in 1638 as part of Sudbury Plantation and incorporated as East Sudbury in 1780, our town was renamed Wayland in 1835 to honor Dr. Francis Wayland, president of Brown University and advocate for public libraries and abolition. With a current population of approximately 13,900 residents, Wayland maintains its character as a quiet, peaceful MetroWest community just 18 miles from Boston.