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Lowell, Massachusetts
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Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 105,167. It is the fourth largest city in the state. It and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County.
Founded as a planned manufacturing center for textiles along the Merrimack River northwest of Boston on land sectioned from neighboring Chelmsford, it was a thriving industrial center during the 19th century, attracting many immigrants and migrant workers to its mills.
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Encyclopedia
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 105,167. It is the fourth largest city in the state. It and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County.
History
Founded as a planned manufacturing center for textiles along the Merrimack River northwest of Boston on land sectioned from neighboring Chelmsford, it was a thriving industrial center during the 19th century, attracting many immigrants and migrant workers to its mills. With the decline of its manufacturing in the 20th century, the city fell into deep hard times but has begun to rebound in recent decades. The former mill district along the river is partially restored and is a part of the Lowell National Historical Park.
Geography
Lowell is located at (42.639444, -71.314722). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.7 km²).13.8 square miles (35.7 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it (5.23%) is water.
Lowell has 5 zip codes, 4 are geographically distinct general zip codes and 1 is for PO-boxes only (01853).
The zip code 01850 is the northeastern section of the city, north of the Merrimack River and east of Beaver Brook. This area is known as Centralville. Christian Hill is located here in the area east of Bridge Street. Lower Centralville refers to the section closest to the Merrimack River.
The zip code 01851 is the southwestern section of the city, bordered to the east by the Lowell Connector and to the north by the railroad. This area is commonly referred to as the Lowell Highlands. The Lower Highlands refers to the portion of this area closest to downtown. Middlesex Village, Tyler Park and Drum Hill are in this zip code.
The zip code 01852 is the southeastern section of the city. It is south of the Merrimack River and bordered to the west by the Lowell Connector, towards the south. This zip code includes Lowell's city offices, downtown, Belvidere, Back Central and South Lowell. 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 is an Historic District along Fairmount St. Lower Belvidere refers to the section west of Nesmith Street. Back Central is an urban area south of downtown towards the mouth of River Meadow Brook. South Lowell is the area south of the railroad and east of the Concord River. Other neighborhoods in this zip code are Ayers City, Bleachery, Chapel Hill, the Grove, Oaklands, Riverside Park, Swede Village and Wigginsville, but their use is mostly antiquated.
The zip code 01854 is the northwestern portion of the city and includes Pawtucketville, the University of Massachusetts, Lowell and the Acre. Pawtucketville is where famous writer Jack Kerouac resided around the area of University Ave (previously known as Moody st.). North campus of UMASS Lowell is located in Pawtucketville. The older parts of the neighborhood are located around University Ave. and Mammoth Road whereas the newer parts are located around Varnum Ave. Middle and elementary schools for this area include Wang Middle School, Pawtucketville Memorial, Mccavinue elementary school and private school St. Jeanne D'arc.
The bordering towns (clockwise from north) are Dracut, Tewksbury, Billerica, Chelmsford, and Tyngsboro. The border with Billerica 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, Tyngsboro, and Westford, and Pelham, NH. See Greater Lowell.
Lowell received an "All-America City" award in 1999, and was a finalist in 1997 and 1998.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 105,167 people, 37,887 households, and 23,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,635.6 people per square mile (2,948.8/km²). There were 39,468 housing units at an average density of 2,865.5/sq mi (1,106.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.60% European American, 16.52% Asian American, 4.21% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.48% from other races, and 3.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.01% of the population. Lowell is home to the second largest Cambodian population in the United States after Long Beach, California. There are an estimated 25,000 Cambodians living in the city of Lowell, but local community leaders estimate the number to be around 35,000 . Lowell had the highest percentage of Cambodians of any place in the United States however, with 10.37% of its population being Cambodian.
There were 37,887 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,192, and the median income for a family was $45,901. Males had a median income of $33,554 versus $27,399 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,557. About 13.6% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government
| Lowell City Council 2008-2009 |
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- Edward C. Caulfield, Mayor
- Rita M. Mercier, Vice Mayor
- Kevin P. Broderick
- Rodney M. Elliott
- Alan W. Kazanjian
- Michael J. Lenzi
- William F. Martin
- Armand P. Mercier
- James L. Milinazzo
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Lowell has a "Plan E form" Council-manager government. There are nine city councilors and six school committee members, all elected at large in a non-partisan election. The City Council chooses one of its members as mayor, and another as vice-mayor; the mayor serves as chair of the council, serves as the seventh member of the school committee, and performs certain ceremonial duties. 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 at the pleasure of the City Council as whole. As of January 2008, the City Manager is Bernard F. Lynch and Edward "Bud" Caulfield is the Mayor.
As of August 2005, Lowell is part of one Massachusetts Senate district (First Middlesex, represented by Steven C. Panagiotakos (D)) and three Massachusetts Representative Districts (Sixteenth Middlesex, represented by Thomas A. Golden, Jr. (D), Seventeenth Middlesex, represented by David M. Nangle (D), and Eighteenth Middlesex, represented by Kevin J. Murphy (D)). It is part of the Fifth Massachusetts Congressional District, represented by Niki Tsongas (D).
The city of Lowell is primarily policed and protected by the Lowell Police Department and secondarily by the Massachusetts State Police.
Transportation
Lowell can be reached by automobile from Interstate 495, US Route 3, the Lowell Connector, and Massachusetts Routes 3A, 38, 110, 113, and 133.
For public transit, Lowell is served by the Lowell Regional Transit Authority, which provides fixed route bus services and paratransit services to the city and surrounding area. These connect at the Gallagher Transit Terminal to the Lowell Line of the MBTA commuter rail system, which connects Lowell to Boston. The terminal is also served by several intercity bus lines.
The Lowell National Historical Park provides a free streetcar shuttle between its various sites in the city center, using track formerly used to provide freight access to the city's mills.
Media
Newspapers
- The Sun (Lowell) - Daily Newspaper
Radio
- WCAP AM 980, talk radio
- WUML FM 91.5, UMass Lowell-owned station
Points of interest
,_lowell,_massachusetts.jpg) - Lowell National Historical Park - Maintains Lowell's history as an early manufacturing and immigrant city. Exhibits include weave rooms, a waterpower exhibit, and paths along the 5.6 miles of largely restored canals.
- Lowell-Dracut-Tyngsboro State Forest - Hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing trails in an urban state forest
- University of Massachusetts Lowell - Multi-campus State University
- Vandenberg Esplanade - Walking, biking, swimming, and picnicking park along the banks of the Merrimack River, also contains the Sampas Pavilion.
- Lowell High School - The first desegregated & co-ed high school in the United States.
- Jack Kerouac's Birthplace - Located in the Centralville section of the city at 9 Lupine Road.
- Bette Davis's birthplace - Located in the Highlands section of the city at 22 Chester Street.
- Jack Kerouac Burial Site - Edson Cemetery.
- The Worthen House - Former stop along the Underground Railroad. Edgar Allan Poe occupied the second floor, and it was here where he allegedly wrote "The Raven."
- The Acre - Lowell's Gateway Neighborhood where, during the course of the city's existence, waves upon waves of immigrants have flocked to & established their communities.
Culture
 - - Cambodian classical and folk dance company and youth program
- Brush With History Artist Gallery
- - local history library and archive
- - Lowell nightlife and entertainment web site
- (LTC) - a community media and technology center
- - Professional equity theater
- Play by Player's Theatre Company - critically acclaimed community theater
- - Community orchestra presenting free concerts and offering youth programs
- Standing Room Only Players - musical review troupe
- The Lowell Chapter of The Barbershop Harmony Society -Causing Harmony In The Merrimack Valley.
- Western Avenue Studios - a converted mill on Western Avenue which houses over 160 working artists and musicians. These studios are open to the public on the 1st Saturday of each month from 12-5 PM.
- Whistler House Museum of Art - art museum in birthplace of James McNeil Whistler
- WUML - Noncommercial free-format college radio station (A student organization has operated the station since 1952; currently this organization controls the entire broadcast day except the hours from 5:00 to 10:00 am M-F, which are controlled by the University itself).
- - A network of area poets and appreciators of poetry who host readings, receptions, and open mics.
- The New England Quilt Museum
- "Making Space for Art and Community."
Sports
On April 1, 2006, Lowell held the 2006 World Curling Championships for the men's teams at the Tsongas Arena.
Venues
Annual events
- Bay State Marathon - October marathon and half marathon
- Lowell Folk Festival - three day free folk festival attended by on average 250,000 people on the last weekend in July
- - annual summer event that celebrates Southeast Asian culture
- Winterfest - celebration of winter in February
- - an annual event that celebrates poets and poetry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Businesses started and/or products invented in Lowell
Hospitals
Education
Public schools
High School
Grades 5-8
- Benjamin F. Butler Middle School
- Dr. An Wang Middle School
- E.N. Rogers Middle School
- H.J. Robinson Middle School
- James S. Daley Middle School
- Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle School
- James Sullivan Middle School
Grades K-4
- Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
- Charlotte M. Murkland Elementary School
- Greenhalge Elementary School
- Pawtucketville Memorial Elementary School
- S. Christa McAuliffe Elementary School
- John J. Shaughnessy Elementary School
- Washington Elementary School
- C.W. Morey Elementary School
- Dr. Gertrude M. Bailey Elementary School
- Joseph A. McAvinnue Elementary School
- Moody Elementary School
- Peter W. Reilly Elementary School
Private schools
- Lowell Catholic High School
- Hellenic American Academy
- Franco-American School
- St. Louis School
- Ste. Jeanne D'Arc School
- St. Margaret School
- St. Patrick School
- St. Michael Elementary School
Higher education
Music
The city is the subject of Death Cab for Cutie's song, "Lowell, MA," from their album We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes
The city was also featured in the song "Lowell Man" by Tom Doyle. Doyle, of WROR-FM 105.7 in Boston, does many songs like this spoofing classic rock by rewording them to make fun of various things about New England (Lowell Man is a spoof of "Soul Man" by the Blues Brothers).
The Dropkick Murphys' Warrior's Code tells story of Lowell Boxer Micky Ward, mentioning Lowell and several city facts in the song.
Novels
Lowell has also been the subject of a number of novels. Some of the better known ones are:
- Jack Kerouac, who was born in Lowell, set several biographical novels there, including Visions of Gerard and Doctor Sax.
- Katherine Paterson's novel "Lyddie" tells the fictional story of a Lowell Mill Girl in the nineteenth century who fights for better working conditions in the hot, crowded and dangerous mills. She also discovers true friendship, love, and how to handle the hardballs of life. Lyddie is a brave and intelligent young girl searching for a way to make money in order to save her farm. She and her brother eventually get separated and work for their dream. While they work, their mother and their small family fight to survive.
- In Avi's "Beyond The Western Sea Book 2: Lord Kirkle's Money" Lowell is the destination of immigrants hoping to reach America and begin new lives.
- Nancy Zaroulis' "Call The Darkness Light," a novel about a young woman left alone in the world following the death of her father, tells the story of the mid-19th century Lowell Mill Girls and the realities of the textile industry.
Films
- School Ties - Robert Mandel’s 1992 film starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Chris O’Donnell, Randall Batinkoff, & Andrew Lowery. Some of the opening scenes were filmed in Lowell.
- High on Crack Street - An HBO film made in 1995 documenting the lives of three crack cocaine addicts.
- Monkey Dance - 2004 documentary film by Julie Mallozzi on the lives of three Cambodian-American teenage adolescents in Lowell and how they were affected positively by traditional Cambodian dance, especially with Lowell's Angkor Dance Troupe.
- This Side of the Truth, a new film by director/writer/star Ricky Gervais was filmed principally in Lowell. The film also stars Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, and Tina Fey.
- The Fighter, a new film by director Darren Aronofsky starring Mark Wahlberg based upon the life of Irish Mickey Ward. Shooting was to begin October 2008 in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Notable residents
- Charles Herbert Allen, Governor of Puerto Rico
- James Taylor Ames, born in Lowell, noted manufacturer
- Michael Ansara, actor
- Dr. James Cook Ayer, Industrialist, Patent Medicine Tycoon
- Frederick Ayer, Industrialist, Investor, first president of the American Woolen Company
- Benjamin Franklin Butler, Congressman, Union general in the Civil War, Governor of Massachusetts, and Greenback Party presidential candidate
- Michael Casey, poet
- Michael Chiklis, actor
- George Bassett Clark, astronomer
- Bette Davis, Academy Award-winning actress.
- Benjamin Dean, lawyer and politician
- George Washington Dixon, entertainer and newspaper editor
- Olympia Dukakis, actress
- Rosalind Elias, opera singer
- , President, Providence College
- Gustavus Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War
- James B. Francis, pioneer of American civil engineering
- Mark Goddard, actor (Lost in Space)
- Maurice K. Goddard, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a driving force in creating 45 Pennsylvania state parks in his 24 years in office.
- Ray Goulding, radio comedian (Bob & Ray)
- Frederic Thomas Greenhalge, Congressman
- Mary Hallaren, Director Women's Army Corps
- Deborah Hopkinson, children's author
- Boney James, Smooth Jazz Saxophonist
- Jack Kerouac, writer
- Ted Leonsis, founder AOL
- Walker Lewis, African American abolitionist and early Mormon Elder
- Richard M. Linnehan, NASA astronaut and veterinarian
- Elinor Lipman, writer, columnist The Boston Globe
- Francis Cabot Lowell, businessman for whom the town is named
- Brooke Lyons, eastern culture expert, philosopher
- Christopher Makos, photographer, artist
- Ed McMahon, entertainer
- Marty Meehan, Congressman, current Chancellor of UMass/Lowell
- F. Bradford Morse, Republican; Congressman
- David Neeleman, Chairman and CEO of JetBlue Airways
- William Henry O'Connell, Cardinal, Archdiocese of Boston
- , co-founder Accutronics
- Leonard Pollard, decorated police officer and TOP COP award recipient
- John Jacob Rogers, Republican; Congressman
- Tom Sexton, writer
- Ezekiel A. Straw, Governor of New Hampshire
- Paul Sullivan, sports radio personality WBZ and columnist Lowell Sun
- Robert Tessier, Actor and Stuntman
- Paul Tsongas, Congressman, United States Senator, and Democratic presidential candidate
- Vince Vouyer, male pornographic actor
- An Wang, inventor and businessman
- Micky Ward, boxer
- James McNeill Whistler, painter and etcher
External links
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