Worcester, city in central Massachusetts, seat of Worcester County, on a series of hills overlooking the Blackstone River. Lake Quinsigamond marks the eastern boundary of the city. Worcester is the state's second-largest city after Boston and an important manufacturing, insurance, and transportation center.
Since the late 1980s, biotechnological research has been important to the city's economy. The Massachusetts Biotechnology Research Park opened in 1987 and accommodates research facilities for numerous companies. CenTech Park was later developed nearby specifically for biotechnology-related manufacturing. The Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology (1944), a noted research center, is nearby. Worcester is an inland port of entry for foreign commerce, and major interstate highways and rail lines traverse the city. Air transportation is through Worcester Municipal Airport.
