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37-578: The North Nashua River rises west of Fitchburg and Westminster . It flows about 30 miles (48 km) generally southeast past Fitchburg, and joins the South Nashua River, shown on USGS topographic maps as the main stem of the Nashua River, about 5 miles (8 km) below its issuance from the Wachusett Reservoir. The river's name derives from an Algonkian word meaning "beautiful river with

74-593: A brownfield site due to contamination of the site soil and groundwater with metals and inorganic contaminants. The EPA provided the City of Fitchburg $ 50,500 in grant money to help clean up hazardous substances on the site. Cleanup of the Central Steam Plant started in 2010 and is ongoing as of July 2011. As of December 2015, the Fitchburg Central Steam Plant has been razed. The last structure to fall

111-593: A railroad line. The original Fitchburg Railroad ran through the Hoosac Tunnel , linking Boston and Albany, New York . The tunnel was built using the Burleigh Rock Drill, designed and built in Fitchburg. Fitchburg was a 19th-century industrial center. Originally operated by water power , large mills produced machines, tools, clothing, paper, and firearms. The city is noted for its architecture , particularly in

148-407: A campaign to restore the Nashua River and its tributaries. She built coalitions with labor leaders and business leaders, in particular the paper companies who were the worst polluters of the river. With federal help, eight treatment plants were built or upgraded along the river. A broad conservation buffer was created along about half the river and its two main tributaries. By the early-1990s, most of

185-471: A female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08. In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

222-470: A pebbly bottom." The Nashua River was heavily used for industry during the colonial period and the early years of the United States. During the late 18th century and early 19th century, the heavy concentration of paper mills and the use of dyes near Fitchburg resulted in pollution that notoriously turned the river various colors downstream from the factories. In the mid-1960s, Marion Stoddart started

259-418: A small triangular public park. The boulder was a feature of the summit of Rollstone Hill; it was exploded and reassembled on the green in 1929 and 1930. The Fitchburg Historical Society houses more than 200,000 items related to the history of Fitchburg, including Sentinel newspapers from 1838 to 1976, city directories, photographs, scrapbooks, manuscripts, family genealogies, postcards, files on industries in

296-725: A total drainage area of approximately 538 square miles (1,390 km), with 454 square miles (1,180 km) of the watershed occurring in Massachusetts and 74 square miles (190 km) in New Hampshire. The Nashua River flows for approximately 56 miles (90 km), with approximately 46 of those miles (74 km) flowing through Massachusetts. The Squannacook , Nissitissit , Stillwater , Quinapoxet , North Nashua, and South Nashua rivers feed it. The watershed encompasses all or part of 31 communities, 7 in southern New Hampshire and 24 in central Massachusetts. The watershed's largest water body

333-554: Is July, with an average high temperature of about 84 °F and an average low temperature of about 63 °F. The coldest month is January, with an average high temperature of about 35 °F and an average low temperature of about 17 °F. As of the census of 2010, there were 40,318 people, 15,165 households, and 9,362 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,450.3 inhabitants per square mile (560.0/km ). There were 17,117 housing units at an average density of 615.7 per square mile (237.7/km ). The racial makeup of

370-459: Is a town in Worcester County , Massachusetts , United States. The population was 11,782 at the 2020 census . Lunenburg was first settled by Europeans in 1718 and was officially incorporated in 1728. The name stems from one of the titles of King George II of Great Britain , Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg . During King George's War (1744–1748), French-allied First Nations, such as warriors of

407-547: Is bordered by Townsend to the north, Shirley to the east, Lancaster to the southeast, Leominster to the south, Fitchburg to the west, and Ashby to the northwest. Three state highways pass through Lunenburg. Route 2A follows Mass Ave from the Shirley line to the Fitchburg line. Rt 13 follows Electric Ave from the Leominster line to Mass Ave. Rt 13 then follows Mass Ave/Rt 2a for 0.3 miles. Rt 13 then follows Chase Rd to

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444-475: Is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km ), or 1.07%, is water. The city is drained by the Nashua River . The highest point in Fitchburg is the summit of Brown Hill near the northwestern corner of the city, at 1,210 feet (370 m) above sea level. Fitchburg is bordered by Ashby to the north, Lunenburg to the east, Leominster to the south, Westminster to the west, and a small portion of Ashburnham to

481-562: Is the Wachusett Reservoir , which provides drinking water to two-thirds of the Commonwealth's population. Fitchburg, Massachusetts Fitchburg is a city in northern Worcester County, Massachusetts , United States. The third-largest city in the county, its population was 41,946 at the 2020 census . Fitchburg State University is located here. Fitchburg was first settled in by Europeans in 1730 as part of Lunenburg , and

518-468: The M'iq Maq or Abenaki Confederacy , raided the village and took settlers captive to Quebec . Areas of neighboring Fitchburg were once part of Lunenburg, but broke away around 1764. The settlers found the walking distance to church and town meetings too great and needed their own town center. Whalom Park on Whalom Lake had long been a noted amusement park in Lunenburg during the 20th century. It

555-770: The Montachusett Region . It also provides two connections to the MBTA Commuter Rail line at Fitchburg Station and Wachusett Station . The Fitchburg Station is the second to last stop on the Fitchburg Line from the North Station in Boston and the Wachusett Station is the last stop. The Fitchburg Municipal Airport occupies 335 acres (136 ha) off Airport Road in Fitchburg near the Leominster border. In 1940,

592-569: The Victorian style, built at the height of its mill town prosperity. A few examples of these 19th century buildings are the Fay Club , the old North Worcester County Courthouse and the Bullock house. In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike , shutting down the mills in the city over an attempted wage cut. As the city is one of Worcester County's two shire towns, it has hosted

629-976: The poverty line , including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over. The Lunenburg public library began in 1853. The public schools in town are the Lunenburg Primary School, Turkey Hill Elementary School, and Lunenburg Middle-High School. The high and middle schools are in the same building, beside the Turkey Hill building. Private schools include Applewild School , an independent coeducational day school for pre-schoolers to eighth graders, established in 1957 in Fitchburg. Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School serves Lunenburg and Fitchburg. The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority supplies Councils-On-Aging service for elderly and disabled residents. Portions of Lunenburg are also on its regular bus routes. The nearest rail stations are Shirley, Fitchburg and North Leominster on

666-501: The City, books and pamphlets on Fitchburg's history from the 1700s to the present, a Civil War collection, and a collection on the railroad. The Fitchburg Public Library was established in 1859. In 1899, a child-specific library service began in one of the country's first children's rooms. Fitchburg Public Library became the first regional library in the Massachusetts Regional Library System in 1962. In 2008,

703-507: The Nashua River would be dyed the color the paper mills had been coloring the paper that day. The Fitchburg Central Steam Plant (locally known by its nickname: the PLT) was built in 1928 to provide steam and electricity to the many local paper mills. As the paper mills were abandoned or improved the Central Steam Plant fell into disuse and was abandoned. In 2008, the EPA designated the Central Steam Plant

740-575: The North Nashua River in Lancaster . The North Nashua River flows southeast from Fitchburg and Leominster to Lancaster. The Nashua River flows northward from Lancaster, meandering its way through the north-central Massachusetts towns of Harvard , Groton , Dunstable , and Pepperell , before eventually emptying into the Merrimack River at Nashua, New Hampshire . The Nashua River watershed has

777-559: The Northern Worcester County Registry of Deeds, established in 1903, and the county jail on Water Street. In 1961, two films Return to Peyton Place and By Love Possessed filmed exterior street scenes, town squares and public buildings in Fitchburg. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 28.1 square miles (73 km ), of which 27.8 square miles (72 km )

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814-533: The Townsend Line. Rt 225 begins in Lunenburg, at an intersection with Rt 2a/Mass Ave near the Shirley line. Rt 225 follows West Groton Rd from Rt 2a to the Shirley line. As of the census of 2000, there were 9,401 people, 3,535 households, and 2,668 families residing in the town. The population density was 355.8 inhabitants per square mile (137.4/km ). There were 3,668 housing units at an average density of 138.8 per square mile (53.6/km ). The racial makeup of

851-402: The age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.10. In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under

888-463: The age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 47,019, and the median income for a family was $ 57,245. Males had a median income of $ 47,350 versus $ 37,921 for females. The per capita income for

925-606: The airport land was donated to the City of Fitchburg and serves the greater Fitchburg area. In Harry Potter universe , Fitchburg is the hometown of the professional Quidditch team the Fitchburg Finches. The children's book Henry Hikes to Fitchburg by D.B. Johnson is set in Fitchburg. In 2012, Dark Horse Comics published a comic book series entitled Falling Skies: The Battle of Fitchburg . Fitchburg has four sister cities , as designated by Sister Cities International : Lunenburg, Massachusetts Lunenburg

962-482: The city was $ 22,972. About 14.6% of families and 19.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over. Throughout the early twentieth century, Fitchburg was known for its paper industry, which occupied the banks of the Nashua River and employed a large segment of the European immigrant population. It has been noted by many residents in Fitchburg that

999-658: The city was 78.2% White , 5.1% African American , 0.3% Native American , 3.6% Asian , 0.0% Pacific Islander , 9.1% from other races , and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.6% of the population (14.6% Puerto Rican , 1.8% Dominican , 1.6% Uruguayan , 1.4% Mexican , 0.3% Ecuadorian , 0.2% Colombian , 0.2% Honduran , 0.1% Guatemalan , 0.1% Salvadoran , 0.1% Spanish , 0.1% Peruvian ). 76.9% spoke English , 15.1% Spanish , 4.2% Other Indo-European Language and 2.6% Asian and Pacific Islander Languages as their first language. There were 15,165 households, out of which 29.0% had children under

1036-547: The condition of the river. In 2013, Public Law 116–9 designated 27 mi (43 km) of the Nashua River as a National Wild and Scenic River . The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Niki Tsongas (D, MA-3), supported by the Nashua River Watershed Association and The Wilderness Society . From its impoundment at the Wachusett Reservoir in Clinton, Massachusetts , the South Nashua River flows north and joins

1073-504: The industry was still located along the river, but many parts of the river were once again safe for swimming. Her work is the subject of a 30-minute documentary movie titled Marion Stoddart: Work of 1000 . Recovery has sparked recreational use of the river at places like Mine Falls Park in Nashua. The largely volunteer Nashua River Watershed Association, based in Groton, Massachusetts , oversees

1110-654: The library had a budget of $ 1,111,412. In 2014, the Fitchburg Law Library opened. Other cultural features include: St. Anthony of Padua School opened c.  1951 and closed in 2017. In its final year it had 144 students. Its closure meant that Fitchburg now has only one remaining Roman Catholic grade school. Established in 1894 by an act of the Massachusetts Legislature, the State Normal School in Fitchburg opened in temporary quarters in

1147-439: The northwest. Fitchburg is divided into multiple different neighborhoods/villages, including: Fitchburg's climate is humid continental , which is the predominant climate for Massachusetts and New England . Summers are typically warm, rainy, and humid, while winters are cold, windy, and snowy. Spring and fall are usually mild, but conditions vary widely and depend on wind direction and jet stream positioning. The warmest month

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1184-549: The old high school building on Academy Street. The Fitchburg Fire Department employs 81 firefighters, operating out of three stations. It responds to approximately 12,000 emergency calls annually. UMass Memorial Health operates a hospital in Fitchburg. Transportation for Fitchburg is largely supplied by the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART). MART operates fixed-route bus services, shuttle services, as well as paratransit services within

1221-412: The town was 97.01% White , 0.69% Black or African American , 0.20% Native American , 0.78% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.26% from other races , and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population. There were 3,535 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 8.7% had

1258-408: Was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 56,813, and the median income for a family was $ 63,981. Males had a median income of $ 47,451 versus $ 31,934 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 26,986. About 3.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below

1295-467: Was home of the famous Flyer Comet , now demolished. The park closed in 2000, unable to survive the competition with the newer and increasingly popular Six Flags New England in Agawam . According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 27.7 square miles (72 km ), of which 26.4 square miles (68 km ) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km ), or 4.59%, is water. Lunenburg

1332-458: Was its massive smokestack. The Fitchburg Art Museum was founded in 1925 and includes over 20,000 square feet (1,900 m ) of gallery and educational space which features a "cross barn" built in 1883, the Simond's building completed in 1989, and 12 galleries feature American, African, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. The Rollstone Boulder is a 110-ton specimen of porphyritic granite located in

1369-457: Was officially set apart from that town and incorporated in 1764. The area was previously occupied by the Nipmuc tribe. It is named for John Fitch, one of the committee that procured the act of incorporation. In July 1748 Fitch and his family, living in this isolated spot, were abducted to Canada by Native Americans , but returned the next year. Fitchburg is situated on both the Nashua River and

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