Hopkinton, Massachusetts

Hopkinton is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, less than 30 miles (48 km) west of Boston. The town is best known as the starting point of the Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots’ Day in April, and also as the home of EMC Corporation. Hopkinton serves as the corporate headquarters of EMC Corporation, a global manufacturer of software and systems for information management and storage. It is the state’s largest technology company, employing approximately 7,000 people.

Incorporated in December 1715, Hopkinton was named for an early colonist of Connecticut, Edward Hopkins, who left a large sum of money to be invested in land in New England, the proceeds of which were to be used for the benefit of Harvard University. The trustees of Harvard purchased land from the Native American residents with money from the fund and incorporated the area, naming it in honor of its benefactor.

Hopkinton boasts 215 properties listed in the State Register of Historic Places. The majority, 187, are located within the Cedar Swamp Archaeological District in Hopkinton and Westborough. The properties are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Hopkinton gains national attention once a year in April, when it hosts the start of the Boston Marathon (a role the town has enjoyed since 1924), at which time runners from all over the world gather in Hopkinton to begin the 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run to Boston.