Medford, city, Middlesex County, northeastern Massachusetts, on the Mystic River, near Boston; founded 1630, incorporated as a city 1892. The city has industries producing printed materials, paper products, and processed food. Tufts University (1852) is here. A cemetery dating from 1689 and Royall House, rebuilt in 1732 with slave quarters, are of historical interest. Formerly, Medford was a famous rum-making (1715-1905) and shipbuilding (1803-73) center. It is named for a meadow that once bordered a ford in the river here. Population 58,076 (1980); 57,407 (1990); 55,765 (2000).
