Worcester’s boosters welcome being New England’s second largest city – again
New England’s second-largest city has a lot going for it: desirable waterfront location, relatively low cost of living, easy access to major highways, top-notch educational institutions, and a hassle-free airport.
Yup, Worcester sure is nice.
If you just shook your head, thinking Providence had to be the city referenced, you’re not alone, according to Tim McGourthy, Worcester’s director of economic development.
“There’s a shock factor,” McGourthy said, when he tells people that Worcester is New England’s second-largest city by population. “Being able to throw that out there as a fact is something that blows some people away and makes them take notice.”
Recent census estimates put Worcester on top of Providence by only 199 people. In 2001, Providence overtook Worcester as New England’s second-largest city behind Boston. Official census figures to be released in 2010 look to put the cities neck and neck.
Patrick Lynch, executive director of Destination Worcester, an organization formed to help attract meeting and convention business to the city, said only good things can come from the second city designation.
“We’ll certainly use it as a marketing tool, and it will be in our literature,” Lynch said. “It shows the validity of the city, of its size, and it further allows us to be able to talk about ourselves as a city that can be a player within the meeting, convention and events industry.”
