Worth

Book excerpt: The story of Worth is interwoven with generational volunteerism and small-town charm. The Crandall family that came to Lane's Island in 1858, named for early landowner DeWitt Lane, established the legacy of philanthropy that permeates today. Settlers in the town followed suit by donating land to establish the first school and church. The railroad expansion in 1880 brought a business district, residents, and the name Worth. By the early 1900s, Worth saw the opening of the racetrack to the east, construction of a new Cal Sag Channel to the south, and the establishment of the village in 1914. Every step of Worth's transformation, from agrarian life to a bustling blue-collar community, has been met with resistance to modernization, yet the spirit of camaraderie continues to grow. The 1940s and 1950s saw a boom in population and civic organizations. Many of these organizations exist today and add to Worth's reputation as the "Friendly Village."