Worcester ( , locally also ) is a
city and the historic
county seat of
Worcester County,
Massachusetts,
United States until Massachusetts disbanded county government in 1998. Named after
Worcester,
England, as of the
2010 Census the city's population was 181,045, making it the
second largest city in New England after
Boston. Worcester is located approximately west of Boston, and east of
Springfield. Due to its location in
Central Massachusetts, amidst Massachusetts' major metropolitan regions, 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 Valentine's Day cards were invented in the city.