Worcester
strikeout.nu Worcester (/ˈwʊstər/ WUUSS-tər, local pronunciation: [ˈwʊstə] WUUSS-tə) pronunciation (help·info)[2] is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population was 181,045,[3] making it the second most populous city in New England after Boston.[4] Worcester is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of Boston, 50 miles (80 km) east of Springfield and 40 miles (64 km) north of Providence. Due to its location in Central Massachusetts, Worcester is known as the "Heart of the Commonwealth", thus, a heart is the official symbol of the city. However, the heart symbol may also have its provenance in lore that the mass-produced Valentine's Day card was invented in the city.[5]