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92-401: For the first two decades after Lawrence's founding in 1854, the city's only sources of energy were wood and imported fuel. By the late 1860s, however, limited local timber resources had been depleted, and the city faced an energy crisis. Looking to emulate the success of eastern water-driven industrial cities like Lowell, Massachusetts , local leaders entertained plans to build a stone dam across

184-668: A mill town , Lowell was named after Francis Cabot Lowell , a local figure in the Industrial Revolution . The city became known as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution because of its textile mills and factories. Many of Lowell's historic manufacturing sites were later preserved by the National Park Service to create Lowell National Historical Park . During the Cambodian genocide (1975–1979),

276-567: A Cambodia Town. There is a nonprofit organization in Georgia called the Cambodian American Association of Georgia. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul , Minnesota , metropolitan area has been a home to many Southeast Asian refugees, mainly Hmong , but also have thousands of Cambodian American residents. Denver, Colorado , has a growing population of Cambodian Americans with a population of 2,399 and growing as of 2016. Rochester, Minnesota ,

368-444: A Diasporic Community by Nancy J. Smith-Hefner. The book is an anthropological study of Khmer refugee families, largely from the perspective of the parental generation, residing in metropolitan Boston and eastern Massachusetts. This book was one of the early books among the few circulating that talks about this diasporic community. It exhibits some understanding of both traditional Khmer culture and contemporary American society, but it

460-668: A city in Massachusetts , United States. Alongside Cambridge , it is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County . With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020 , it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of the last census, and the third most populous in the Boston metropolitan statistical area . The city is also part of a smaller Massachusetts statistical area , called Greater Lowell , and of New England 's Merrimack Valley region. Incorporated in 1826 to serve as

552-525: A household in the city was $ 51,714, according to the American Community Survey 5-year estimate ending in 2012. The median income for a family was $ 55,852. Males had a median income of $ 44,739 versus $ 35,472 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 22,730. About 15.2% of families and 17.5% of individuals were below the poverty line , including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over. Racial Makeup: In 2010,

644-658: A lasting impact into the 21st century, they would come to face newer adversities and hardships in America. The 2010 census counted 276,667 persons of Cambodian descent in the United States, up from 206,052 in 2000. Of them, 231,616 (84%) are all-Cambodian and 45,051 part-Cambodian. The states with the highest concentration of Cambodian American residents are Rhode Island (0.5%; 5,176), Massachusetts (0.4%; 25,387), Washington (0.3%; 19,101), California (0.2%; 86,244), and Minnesota (0.2%; 7,850). In Southern California , there

736-519: A northeasterly turn there before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport, Massachusetts , approximately 40 miles (64 km) downriver from Lowell. It is believed that in prior ages, the Merrimack continued south from Lowell to empty into the ocean somewhere near Boston . The glacial deposits that redirected the flow of the river left the drumlins that dot the city, most notably, Fort Hill in

828-617: A part of the University of Massachusetts Lowell system, established in 1971 to assure the safekeeping, preservation, and availability for study and research of materials in unique subject areas, particularly those related to the Greater Lowell Area and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Located downtown in the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center at 40 French Street, the center is committed to

920-585: A reemergence of their use. Downtown Lowell includes the UMass Lowell East Campus which consists of university housing, recreation facilities, research and the university's sports arena , as well as the Middlesex Community College . Pawtucketville , the University of Massachusetts Lowell , North Campus; and the Acre make up the 01854 ZIP Code. The northwestern portion of the city includes

1012-544: A significant increase in the number of residents between the ages of 50-69 while the percentages of residents under the age of 15 and over the age of 70 decreased. In 2010 the city's population had a median age of 32.6. The age distribution was 23.7% of the population under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males; while for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males. Median Income: for

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1104-683: Is 1.2% Cambodian American. As of 2010, there were 1,600 Cambodian Americans living in Columbus, Ohio (0.2%), many of whom live in the Hilltop neighborhood. In Chicago , Illinois , there is a Cambodian community in the Albany Park neighborhood. Aside from personal memoirs of coming to America, such as those by Loung Ung , a few books have been dedicated to studying the Cambodian American population, such as Khmer American: Identity and Moral Education in

1196-710: Is a large Cambodian population in Long Beach , and smaller yet significant communities of Cambodians are present in Los Angeles and San Diego metropolitan areas. Four percent of Long Beach's population is of Cambodian descent, mainly concentrated on the city's east section, where there is a Cambodia Town neighborhood. Long Beach, California, has the highest population of people of Cambodian ancestry outside of Cambodia itself. The Pueblo Del Rio housing projects in South Los Angeles were home to around 200 Cambodian families in

1288-780: Is a part of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium . Currently, circulation of materials averages around 250,000 annually, with approximately one-third deriving from the children's collection. In fiscal year 2009, Lowell spent 0.35% ($ 885,377) of its budget on the library—approximately $ 8 per person, per year ($ 9.83 adjusted for inflation in 2021). As of 2012, the Pollard Library purchases access for its patrons to databases owned by: EBSCO Industries ; Gale , of Cengage Learning ; Heritage Archives, Inc. ; New England Historic Genealogical Society ; OverDrive, Inc. ; ProQuest ; and World Trade Press. The Lydon Library

1380-455: Is a part of the University of Massachusetts Lowell system, and is located on the North Campus. The building is named in honor of President Martin J. Lydon, whose vision expanded and renamed the college during his tenure in the 1950s and 1960s. Its current collection concentrates on the sciences, engineering, business management, social sciences, humanities, and health. The O'Leary Library

1472-503: Is a part of the University of Massachusetts Lowell system, and is located on the South Campus. The building is named in honor of former History Professor and then President O'Leary, whose vision helped merge the Lowell colleges during his tenure in the 1970s and 1980s. Its current collection concentrates on music and art. The Center for Lowell History [special collections and archives] is

1564-538: Is a point in the middle of the Concord River where Lowell and Billerica meet Tewksbury and Chelmsford. The ten communities designated part of the Lowell Metropolitan area by the 2000 US Census are Billerica , Chelmsford , Dracut , Dunstable , Groton , Lowell, Pepperell , Tewksbury , Tyngsborough , and Westford , and Pelham, New Hampshire . See Greater Lowell . Lowell has eight distinct neighborhoods:

1656-484: Is an urban area south of downtown, toward the mouth of River Meadow Brook. South Lowell is the area south of the railroad and east of the Concord River. Other minor neighborhoods within this ZIP Code are Ayers City, Bleachery, Chapel Hill, the Grove, Oaklands, Riverside Park, Swede Village, and Wigginville. Although the use of the names of these smaller neighborhoods has been in decline in the past decades, there has been recently

1748-487: Is elected every two years and is composed of eight district seats and three at-large seats. The School Committee is elected for two-year terms and is composed of four district seats, two at-large seats, and the mayor. City Council and School Committee elections are non-partisan. In 1957, Lowell voters repealed a single-transferable-vote system, which had been in place since 1943. The City Council chooses one of its members as mayor , and another as vice-mayor. The role of

1840-611: Is located at 42°38′22″N 71°18′53″W  /  42.63944°N 71.31472°W  / 42.63944; -71.31472 (42.639444, −71.314722). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 14.5 square miles (38 km ) of which 13.8 square miles (36 km ) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km ) (5.23%) is water. Lowell features a four-season Humid continental climate , with long and very cold winters, which typically experience an average 56 in (1,400 mm) of snowfall, with

1932-765: Is not a historical study of Khmer Americans. A more recent book is Buddha Is Hiding , written by Aiwha Ong, an ethnographic study that tells the story of Cambodian Americans and their experiences of American citizenship. The study primarily investigated Khmer refugees in Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area. The experiences portrayed in the book exemplify what most Cambodian refugees face when dealing with American institutions such as health care systems, welfare, law, police force, church, and school. The book reveals, through extensive ethnographic dialogues, how Cambodian refugees interpret and negotiate American culture, often at

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2024-755: Is the official entrance to the Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsborough State Forest , the site of an historic Native American tribe, and in the age of the Industrial Revolution was a prominent source of granite used in canals and factory foundations. Population Density: According to the 2010 Census , there were 106,519 people living in the city. The population density was 7,842.1 inhabitants per square mile (3,027.9/km ). There were 41,431 housing units at an average density of 2,865.5/sq mi (1,106.4/km ). Household Size : 2010, there were 38,470 households, and 23,707 families living in Lowell;

2116-643: Is the section of Centralville east of Bridge Street. The Highlands , ZIP Code 01851, is the most populated neighborhood, with almost a quarter of the city residing here. It is located in the southwestern section of the city, bordered to the east by the Lowell Connector and to the north by the railroad. Lowellians further distinguish the sections of the Highlands as the Upper Highlands and the Lower Highlands,

2208-688: The Atlanta metropolitan area . There is a Cambodian community in the New Orleans metropolitan area , especially in the town of Buras, Louisiana , which is 9% Cambodian. Many Cambodian immigrants in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana , are employed as shrimpers and fishermen. There are some Cambodian Americans in Marietta, Georgia , Stone Mountain, Georgia and in Riverdale, Georgia . In Riverdale, Georgia they have

2300-486: The Boston Manufacturing Company , named the new mill town after their visionary leader, Francis Cabot Lowell , who had died five years before its 1823 incorporation. As Lowell's population grew, it acquired land from neighboring towns, and diversified into a full-fledged urban center. Many of the men who composed the labor force for constructing the canals and factories had immigrated from Ireland , escaping

2392-534: The Catholic Germans , followed by a large influx of French Canadians during the 1870s and 1880s. Later waves of immigrants came to work in Lowell and settled in ethnic neighborhoods, with the city's population reaching almost 50% foreign-born by 1900. By the time World War I broke out in Europe, the city had reached its economic peak. In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike , shutting down

2484-523: The Confederate States of America . Many of the coarse cottons produced in Lowell eventually returned to the South to clothe enslaved people, and, according to historian Sven Beckert, "'Lowell' became the generic term slaves used to describe coarse cottons." The city continued to thrive as a major industrial center during the 19th century, attracting more migrant workers and immigrants to its mills. Next were

2576-642: The National Register of Historic Places including many buildings and structures as part of the Lowell National Historical Park . In the early years of the 1840s when the population quickly exceeded 20,000, Lowell became very active as a cultural center, with the construction of the Lowell Museum , the Mechanics Hall , as well as the new City Hall used for art exhibits, lectures , and for

2668-559: The Pacific Northwest . Since 1994, Cambodians admitted into the United States have entered the country as immigrants and not as refugees, but the number per year is small. Most of the increase in the ethnic Cambodian population can be attributed to American-born children of Cambodian immigrants or of newer people of Cambodian descent. Although the Cambodians were spared from the destruction of their home country, whose tragedies maintained

2760-746: The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area have many residents of Cambodian descent. 480 people of Cambodian descent reside in Utica, New York . In the South, there is a sizable community of Cambodian Americans in Jacksonville, Florida . 1,700 people of Cambodian descent live in Jacksonville. In Spartanburg County , South Carolina , there are 1,123 Cambodian Americans (0.4% of the county). There are very sizable Cambodian American communities in Charlotte, North Carolina , and

2852-646: The genocide at the hands of the Khmer Rouge . The city continued to rebound, but this time, focusing more on culture. The former mill district along the river was partially restored and became part of the Lowell National Historical Park , founded in the late 1970s. Although Wang went bankrupt in 1992, the city continued its cultural focus by hosting the nation's largest free folk festival, the Lowell Folk Festival , as well as many other cultural events. This effort began to attract other companies and families back to

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2944-440: The performing arts . The Lowell Museum was lost in a devastating fire in the early morning of January 31, 1856, but was quickly rehoused in a new location. The Lowell Art Association was founded in 1876, and the new Opera House was built in 1889. Continuing to inspire and entertain, Lowell currently has a plethora of artistic exhibitions and performances throughout a wide range of venues in the city: The first Lowell public library

3036-460: The 139th most dangerous city of over 75,000 residents in the United States, out of 393 communities. Out of Massachusetts cities, nine are larger than 75,000 residents, and Lowell was fifth. For comparison Lowell was still rated safer than Boston (104 of 393), Providence, RI (123), Springfield (51), Lynn (120), Fall River (103), and New Bedford (85), but rated more dangerous than Cambridge (303), Newton (388), Quincy (312), and Worcester (175). Lowell

3128-511: The 1980s, and as of 2010, remains a smaller but sizable Cambodian American community. The Los Angeles Chinatown has more than 600 Cambodian residents. Santa Ana, California , is 0.5% Cambodian American. The City Heights neighborhood in eastern San Diego has a large concentration of Cambodians. In Northern California , Stockton , Modesto , and Oakland have significant Cambodian populations, while San Jose , Santa Rosa and Sacramento have sizable communities as well. Outside of California,

3220-399: The 1990s, Lowell had been locally notorious for being a place of high drug trafficking and gang activity, and was the setting for a real life documentary, High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell . In the years from 1994 to 1999, crime dropped 50 percent, the highest rate of decrease for any city in America with over 100,000 residents. Within one generation, by 2009, Lowell was ranked as

3312-413: The 1990s, and while the likelihood of becoming a victim of violent crime in Massachusetts are 1 in 265, the odds in Lowell are 1 in 289, making Lowell (approximately) 10% safer than the rest of the state, on average. Lowell's violent crime rate is comparable to Honolulu, HI and is less than one-quarter that of Washington, D.C. Among the many tourist attractions, Lowell also currently has 39 places on

3404-462: The 2010 US Census , an estimated 276,667 people of Cambodian descent reside in the United States, with most of the population concentrated in California , Pennsylvania and Massachusetts . After the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge regime in 1975, few Cambodians were able to escape; it was not until after the regime was overthrown in 1979 did large waves of Cambodians begin immigrating to

3496-461: The Acre, Back Central, Belvidere, Centralville, Downtown, Highlands, Pawtucketville, and South Lowell. The city also has five ZIP codes : four are geographically distinct general ZIP codes, and one (01853) is for post-office boxes only. The Centralville neighborhood, ZIP Code 01850, is the northeastern section of the city, north of the Merrimack River and east of Beaver Brook . Christian Hill

3588-740: The American Civil War. In 1981, the library was renamed the Pollard Memorial Library in memory of the late Mayor Samuel S. Pollard. And, in the mid-2000s the century-old National Historic building underwent a major $ 8.5m renovation. The city also expanded the library system to include the Senior Center Branch, located in the City of Lowell Senior Center. In fiscal year 2008, the city of Lowell spent 0.36% ($ 975,845) of its budget on its public libraries, which houses 236,000 volumes, and

3680-552: The Belvidere neighborhood. Other large hills in Lowell include Lynde Hill, also in Belvidere, and Christian Hill, in the easternmost part of Centralville at the Dracut town line. The Concord, or Musketaquid (its original name), forms from the confluence of the Assabet and Sudbury rivers at Concord, Massachusetts . This river flows north into the city, and the area around the confluence with

3772-454: The Cambodian American community lived under the poverty line. That was higher than the American average of people living below the poverty line, which, in 2011, was recorded as 16% of all Americans. In 2014, it was reported that Cambodia Town, Long Beach, California , the only officially recognized ethnic enclave of Cambodian Americans, had a poverty rate of 32.4%. That was a little over twice

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3864-493: The Comprehensive Master Plan, more broad changes were recommended so that the land use and development would be consistent with the current master plan. The most significant revision to the 1966 zoning code is the adoption of an inclusion of a transect-based zoning code and some aspects of a form-based code style of zoning that emphasizes urban design elements as a means to ensure that infill development will respect

3956-602: The HCD Master Plan. The HCD is a major redevelopment project that comprises 13 acres of vacant, underutilized land in downtown Lowell abutting former industrial mills. Trinity Financial was elected as the Master Developer to recreate this district with a vision of making a mixed-use neighborhood. Development plans included establishing the HCD as a gateway to downtown Lowell and enhanced connectivity to Gallagher Terminal . In

4048-536: The Kansas River. The city of Lawrence contracted with engineer Orlando Darling, who founded the Lawrence Land and Water Company (LL&W Co.) to manage the project. Due to structural problems and flood damage, including a destructive ice jam flood in 1873, Darling was unable to fulfill the terms of his contract with the city and resigned his position before the dam could be completed. Although LL&W Co. completed

4140-608: The Lowell High School Red Raiders, also played host to the Boston Patriots during their first season. The Pawtucket Falls , which provided the hydropower for Lowell's industry in the 1800s, also served as an important seasonal fishing site for native people at the time of European colonization in the 1600s. The Pawtucket people are named for this location, literally meaning "at the falls" in Massachusett . In

4232-813: The Mark Twain Neighborhood Library. Smot , a traditional form of Buddhist chanting, has been taught at The Khmer Arts Academy. Two museums in the US are devoted to the story of Cambodians in America: the Cambodian Cultural Museum and Killing Fields Memorial in Seattle and the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial in Chicago, both founded in 2004. The Seattle museum

4324-498: The Merrimack was known as Wamesit. Like the Merrimack, the Concord, although a much smaller river, has many waterfalls and rapids that served as power sources for early industrial purposes, some well before the founding of Lowell. Immediately after the Concord joins the Merrimack, the Merrimack descends another ten feet in Hunt's Falls. There is a ninety-degree bend in the Merrimack partway down

4416-592: The Pacific Northwest is home to another large Cambodian settlement, specifically in cities such as Tacoma , where Cambodians enumerate at thousands, or 1.6% of the population. There are also growing Cambodian American communities in Las Vegas, Nevada ; Phoenix, Arizona ; Salt Lake City, Utah ; and Denver, Colorado . In Utah, there is a community of Cambodians in West Valley City . Lowell, Massachusetts , has

4508-709: The Pawtucket Falls. At this point, the river briefly widens and shallows. Here, Beaver Brook enters from the north, separating the city's two northern neighborhoods, Pawtucketville and Centralville. Entering the Concord River from the southwest is River Meadow, or Hale's Brook. This brook flows largely in a man-made channel, as the Lowell Connector was built along it. Both of these minor streams have limited industrial histories as well. The bordering towns (clockwise from north) are Dracut , Tewksbury , Billerica , Chelmsford , and Tyngsborough . The border with Billerica

4600-513: The US and are now adults. Because of their age, they are not able to remember or understand the history of Cambodia that led to their family's migration. Cambodian history is only rarely taught in American public schools which contributes to that unfamiliarity, which is worsened by the resistance of older refugees to discuss the horrors that they witnessed in Cambodia. Their racial and ethnic identity has also provoked social barriers between them and other immigrant groups and American ethnic groups. It

4692-532: The US as refugees . Between 1975 and 1994, nearly 158,000 Cambodians were admitted. About 149,000 of them entered the country as refugees, and 6,000 entered as immigrants and 2,500 as humanitarian and public interest parolees. To encourage rapid cultural assimilation and to spread the economic impact, the US government dispersed the refugees into various cities and states throughout the country. However, once established enough to be able to communicate and travel, many Cambodians began migrating to certain places where

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4784-418: The United States , by Sucheng Chan, is a collection of oral history interviews. The interviews, mostly collected in the 1990s, describe the challenges faced by the Cambodian community, and the various organizational efforts to assist with refugee resettlement, cultural assimilation, and social services. It also provides a brief history of the Cambodian genocide and diaspora, and a chapter about the Khmer Krom in

4876-422: The United States. According to the 2000 census, Cambodian American populations had a lower level of education compared to other populations in the United States, with 53.4% of Cambodian Americans over the age of 25 not possessing a high school diploma, compared to 19.6% of all Americans. In 2000, Cambodian American families reported a median household income of $ 36,152. A 2008 NYU study reported that 29.3% of

4968-505: The abandonment of many praying towns. By the 1800s, the area that would become Lowell was part of the farming community of East Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Founded in the 1820s as a planned manufacturing center for textiles , Lowell is located along the rapids of the Merrimack River , 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Boston in what was once the farming community of East Chelmsford, Massachusetts . The so-called Boston Associates , including Nathan Appleton and Patrick Tracy Jackson of

5060-445: The adult respondents were current cigarette smokers. When the study was broken down by gender, 24.4% of men included in the study were smokers, and 5.4% of women included in the study were smokers. The prevalence of smoking was found to be higher in Cambodian American males than in other males residing in California. Additionally, smoking rates are estimated to be higher among Cambodian Americans than among other Asian American groups, with

5152-514: The annual New England Golden Gloves tournament, which featured fighters such as Rocky Marciano , Sugar Ray Leonard , and Marvin Hagler . Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund both began their careers in Lowell, the subject of the 2010 film The Fighter . Arthur Ramalho's West End Gym is where many of the city's boxers train. * =current mayor **=former mayor Lowell has a Plan-E council-manager government . There are eleven city councilors and seven school committee members. The City Council

5244-451: The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.31. Of those households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.9% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. Age Distributions: Lowell has also experienced

5336-496: The average of America society as a whole, which was 16% according to a 2011 study by the government. In 2014, a factfinder census, with Americans' per capita income being divided by ethnic groups, Cambodian Americans were revealed to have a per capita income of only $ 20,182, below the American average of $ 25,825. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act , which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, resulted in many legal immigrants losing

5428-484: The character of the neighborhood or district in question. By 2004, the recommended zoning changes were unanimously adopted by the City Council and despite numerous changes to the 2004 Zoning Code, it remains the basic framework for resolving zoning issues in Lowell to this day. The Hamilton Canal District (HCD) is the first district in Lowell in which regulation and development is defined by Form-Based Code (HCD-FBC) and legislated by its own guiding framework consistent to

5520-459: The city (south of the Merrimack River and southeast of the Lowell Connector). Belvidere is the mostly residential area south of the Merrimack River, east of the Concord River, and north of the Lowell and Lawrence railroad. Belvidere Hill Historic District runs along Fairmount Street. Lower Belvidere is the section west of Nesmith Street. Rogers Fort Hill Park Historic District , Lowell Cemetery , and Shedd Park are this side of town. Back Central

5612-492: The city include the Whistler House Museum of Art , the Merrimack Repertory Theatre , the Lowell Memorial Auditorium , and Sampas Pavilion . In sports, the city has a long tradition of boxing, hosting the annual New England Golden Gloves boxing tournament. The city has a baseball stadium, Edward A. LeLacheur Park , and a multipurpose indoor sports arena, the Tsongas Center , both of which have hosted collegiate and minor-league professional sports teams. Cawley Stadium, home of

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5704-413: The city took in an influx of refugees, leading to a Cambodia Town and America's second-largest Cambodian-American population. Lowell is home to two institutions of higher education . UMass Lowell , part of the University of Massachusetts system, has three campuses in the city. Middlesex Community College 's two campuses are in Lowell and in the town of Bedford, Massachusetts . Arts facilities in

5796-401: The city. In 2011, BMPC broke ground on a new powerhouse on the north end of the dam, substantially increasing its power output. The new north powerhouse was completed in 2013, and brought the dam to a 7MW capacity. 38°58′31″N 95°14′07″W  /  38.9753°N 95.2353°W  / 38.9753; -95.2353 Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell ( / ˈ l oʊ ə l / ) is

5888-413: The climate was more like home, they knew friends and relatives had been sent, or there were rumored to be familiar jobs or higher government benefits. Consequently, large communities of Cambodians took root in cities such as Long Beach , Fresno and Stockton in California; Providence, Rhode Island ; Philadelphia ; Cleveland, Ohio ; Lynn and Lowell in Massachusetts ; and Seattle and Portland in

5980-464: The dam was initially directly distributed in Lawrence, the current operator of the dam, Bowersock Mills and Power Company (BMPC), sells power to the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities . Later in 20th century, changes in electrical infrastructure led to decreased demand for hydroelectric power from the dam, and the structure fell on hard times until a 1977 agreement between the BMPC and the city of Lawrence conferred responsibility for dam maintenance on

6072-542: The design and implementation of historical, educational, and cultural programs that link the university and the community in developing an economically strong and multi-culturally rich region. Its current collections and archives focus on historic and contemporary issues of Lowell (including: industrialization, textile technology, immigration, social history, regional history, labor history, women's history, and environmental history). Boxing has formed an important part of Lowell's working-class culture. The city's auditorium hosts

6164-410: The educated and professional classes were targeted during the genocide. That contributed to the difficulty in learning to speak English and in assimilating to the American educational system. Another common phenomenon experienced by some Cambodian American refugees is a lack of familiarity with the history of their homeland. That is prevalent among refugees who were young children when they emigrated to

6256-420: The ethnic diversity of the city was 60.3% White (49.3% Non-Hispanic White ), 20.2% Asian American (12.5% Cambodian, 2.0% Indian, 1.7% Vietnamese, 1.4% Laotian), 6.8% African American , 0.3% Native American , 8.8% from other races , 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.3% of the population. The largest Hispanic group was those of Puerto Rican ancestry, constituting 11.3% of

6348-491: The expense of their own Theravada Buddhist cultural upbringing. Survivors: Cambodian Refugees in the United States , written by Sucheng Chan , is a multidisciplinary study of Cambodian Americans drawing on interviews with community leaders, government officials, and staff members in community agencies as well as average Cambodian Americans to capture perspectives from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Not Just Victims: Conversations with Cambodian Community Leaders in

6440-403: The federal aid that they had been receiving from the Social Security Administration . That especially affected Cambodian immigrants and other Southeast Asians, who were the largest per capita race or ethnic group receiving public assistance in the United States. Under the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1975, many Southeast Asian refugees were placed on federal welfare rolls. That

6532-409: The first Cambodian-American mayor in the United States, Sokhary Chau . According to current FBI Crime Data Analysis, Lowell is the 46th most dangerous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for all sizes. In 2018, the violent crime rate for Lowell was less than half of the violent crime rate in Boston, with no murders compared to 49 in Boston. Lowell's crime rate has dropped tremendously since

6624-410: The first major wave of Cambodian refugees emigrated to the United States in 1975. Cambodians faced many difficulties upon settling in the United States, such as having few transferable job skills, lack of English, and having experienced trauma as refugees and genocide survivors. The factors greatly impacted overall household income after resettlement. Many refugees arrived without formal education since

6716-405: The highest ever recorded seasonal snowfall being 120 in (3,000 mm) in the winter of 2014–2015. Summers are hot and humid, and of average length, while autumn and spring are brief transition periods between the two. On average, temperature in Lowell ranges from 64 to 84 °F (18 to 29 °C) in the summer months, and between 2 and 33 °F (−17 and 1 °C) in the winter months, with

6808-529: The late 19th century. After another ice jam severely damaged the original water mill in 1888, Bowersock improved the structure and installed four dynamos , which introduced electricity to Lawrence for the first time. After a severe flood in 1903 destroyed the original mill, Bowersock constructed a new powerhouse designed primarily to generate hydroelectricity, although some businesses in Lawrence still used mechanical waterpower until 1972. While electricity produced by

6900-403: The latter being the area closer to downtown. Middlesex Village, Tyler Park, and Drum Hill are in this ZIP Code. The Upper Highlands also includes the University of Massachusetts Lowell, South Campus (Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Health Sciences & Education). Downtown , Belvidere , Back Central , and South Lowell make up the 01852 ZIP Code, and are the southeastern sections of

6992-624: The mayor is primarily ceremonial. The mayor runs the weekly meetings under the guidance of the City Clerk. In addition, the mayor serves as the Chairperson of the School Committee. The administrative head of the city government is the City Manager , who is responsible for all day-to-day operations, functioning within the guidelines of City Council policy, and is hired by and serves indefinitely at

7084-530: The mid-1600s, English efforts to convert native people to Christianity led to the founding of the " praying town " of Wamesit at the confluence of the Concord and Merrimack Rivers in what is today Lowell, however the population of Wamesit was reckoned at only 75 people just prior to King Phillip's War , which significantly altered relations between English colonists and indigenous groups in New England, and led to

7176-554: The mills in the city over an attempted wage cut. The Mill Cities' manufacturing base declined as companies began to relocate to the South in the 1920s. The city fell into hard times, and was even referred to as a "depressed industrial desert" by Harper's Magazine in 1931, as the Great Depression worsened. At this time, more than one third of its population was "on relief" (government assistance), as only three of its major textile corporations remained active. Several years later,

7268-480: The mills were reactivated, making parachutes and other military necessities for World War II . However, this economic boost was short-lived and the post-war years saw the last textile plants close. In the 1970s, Lowell became part of the Massachusetts Miracle , being the headquarters of Wang Laboratories . At the same time, Lowell became home to thousands of new immigrants, many from Cambodia , following

7360-530: The neighborhood where Jack Kerouac resided around the area of University Avenue (previously known as Moody Street). The North Campus of UMass Lowell (Colleges of Engineering, Sciences and Business) is in Pawtucketville near the Lowell General Hospital. The older parts of the neighborhood are around University Avenue and Mammoth Road , whereas the newer parts are around Varnum Avenue. Pawtucketville

7452-554: The period of time when Lowell was part of the Massachusetts Miracle, the Lowell City Development Authority created a Comprehensive Master Plan which included recommendations for zoning adaptations within the city. The city's original zoning code was adopted in 1926 and was significantly revised in 1966 and 2004, with changes included to respond to concerns about overdevelopment. In 2002, in lieu of updating

7544-533: The pleasure of at least 5 of 9 City Councilors. As of April 2017, the City Manager is Eileen M. Donghue replacing Kevin J. Murphy . Cambodian-American Cambodian Americans , also Khmer Americans , are Americans of Cambodian or Khmer ancestry. In addition, Cambodian Americans are also Americans with ancestry of other ethnic groups of Cambodia, such as the Chams and Chinese Cambodians . According to

7636-574: The population. Cambodian-American Population: In 2010, Lowell had the highest proportion of residents of Cambodian origin of any place in the United States at 12.5% of the population. The Government of Cambodia opened up its third U.S. Consular Office in Lowell, on April 27, 2009, with Sovann Ou as current advisor to the Cambodian Embassy . The other consular offices are in Long Beach, California , and Seattle , Washington , which also have large Cambodian communities. In 2022, Lowell elected

7728-487: The poverty and Great Famine of the 1830s and 1840s. The mill workers, young single women called Mill Girls , generally came from the farm families of New England. By the 1850s, Lowell had the largest industrial complex in the United States. The textile industry wove cotton produced in the Southern United States . In 1860, there were more cotton spindles in Lowell than in all eleven states combined that would form

7820-653: The prevalence of cigarette smoking among the aggregate Asian population in the US around 9.6%, with men and women combined. Cambodian culture is preserved in the various Cambodia Towns throughout the United States, in Cambodian owned restaurants, businesses, and pharmacies. In Cambodia Town in Long Beach, California , the Homeland Cultural Center offers classes in Khmer martial arts. Khmer language classes are offered at

7912-656: The second highest population of Cambodian Americans in the U.S., and is a center of Cambodian population on the east coast . 13% of its population is of Cambodian descent. Cambodian immigrants settled in Lowell during the mid-1980s, where they opened dozens of small businesses. Lynn, Massachusetts , which is nearby Lowell, has the third largest Cambodian American population. Within New England , Providence, Rhode Island , and Portland, Maine (647 residents; 1%), also contain sizable Cambodian American populations. Outside of New England, New York City , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , and

8004-466: The structure without Darling, floods and slow development continued to plague the company, and it went into receivership in 1878. The property was then purchased by James H. Gower, who conferred it upon his son in law, Justin De Witt Bowersock . Apart from a small break in 1885, the dam withstood floods under Bowersock's leadership, and water power fueled substantial industrial growth in Lawrence in

8096-516: The urban center. Additional historic manufacturing and commercial buildings were adapted as residential units and office space. By the 1990s, Lowell had built a new ballpark and arena, which became home to two minor league sports teams, the Lowell Devils and Lowell Spinners . The city also began to have a larger student population. The University of Massachusetts Lowell and Middlesex Community College expanded their programs and enrollment. During

8188-599: The yearly average being 49 °F (9 °C). Lowell is located at the confluence of the Merrimack and Concord rivers. The Pawtucket Falls , a mile-long set of rapids with a total drop in elevation of 32 feet, ends where the two rivers meet. At the top of the falls is the Pawtucket Dam, designed to turn the upper Merrimack into a millpond , diverted through Lowell's extensive canal system. The Merrimack, which flows southerly from Franklin, New Hampshire to Lowell, makes

8280-525: Was established in 1844 with 3,500 volumes, and was set up in the first floor of the Old City Hall, 226 Merrimack St. In 1872, the expanding collection was relocated down the street to the Hosford Building at 134 Merrimack St. In 1890–1891, the City of Lowell hired local Architect Frederick W. Stickney to design the new Lowell City Library, known as "Memorial Hall, in honor of the city's men who died in

8372-411: Was estimated in 1990, five years after most arrived to the US, nearly 81% of Cambodians in America met the criteria for major affective disorder, which encompasses depression and generalized anxiety, accounting for the largest subgroup of Southeast Asians afflicted by mental health problems at the time. One study conducted among Cambodian Americans residing in Long Beach, California, found that 13.0% of

8464-430: Was intended as a temporary measure until they integrated, but by 1996, they had been stripped of their refugee status. However, nearly 80 percent of California's Southeast Asian population was living in poverty and/or welfare-dependent. That made the law have a large impact on Cambodian Americans and other citizens of Southeast Asian descent. That is a contributing factor to the high poverty rates of Cambodian Americans since

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