Lunenburg, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County
, Massachusetts
, United States
. The population was 10,086 at the 2010 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place
Lunenburg, please see the article Lunenburg (CDP)
, Massachusetts
.
. Areas of neighboring Fitchburg
were once part of Lunenburg, but broke away around this time because the walking distance to church and town meeting
s was too great for many. Closed in 2000, Whalom Park
on Whalom Lake was a famous amusement park in Lunenburg. It closed with the rising popularity of Six Flags New England
in Agawam
. It was home of the famous Flyer Comet
, now demolished.
, the town has a total area of 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²), of which 26.4 square miles (68.4 km²) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), or 4.59%, is water.
Lunenburg 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.
of 2000, there were 9,401 people, 3,535 households, and 2,668 families residing in the town. The population density
was 355.8 people per square mile (137.4/km²). There were 3,668 housing units at an average density of 138.8 per square mile (53.6/km²). The racial makeup of 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 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 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 the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
.
(MART). MART operates fixed-route bus services, shuttle services, as well as paratransit services within the Montachusett Region.
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 10,086 at the 2010 census.
For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
Lunenburg, please see the article Lunenburg (CDP)
Lunenburg (CDP), Massachusetts
Lunenburg is a census-designated place in the town of Lunenburg in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,760 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lunenburg is located at ....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
History
Lunenburg was first settled 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-LüneburgBrunswick-Lüneburg
The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , or more properly Duchy of Brunswick and Lüneburg, was an historical ducal state from the late Middle Ages until the late Early Modern era within the North-Western domains of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, in what is now northern Germany...
. Areas of neighboring Fitchburg
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
were once part of Lunenburg, but broke away around this time because the walking distance to church and town meeting
Town meeting
A town meeting is a form of direct democratic rule, used primarily in portions of the United States since the 17th century, in which most or all the members of a community come together to legislate policy and budgets for local government....
s was too great for many. Closed in 2000, Whalom Park
Whalom Park
Whalom Park was an amusement park located on Lake Whalom in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, that operated from 1893 to 2000.Whalom Park was established in 1893 by the Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railway as a traditional, English-style park of gardens and walking paths...
on Whalom Lake was a famous amusement park in Lunenburg. It closed with the rising popularity of Six Flags New England
Six Flags New England
Six Flags New England , formerly Riverside Amusement Park, is a Six Flags theme park, named for the New England region, in which it is located. Located off of Massachusetts State Route 159, Six Flags New England is located less than from the major City of Springfield, Massachusetts, in the nearby...
in Agawam
Agawam, Massachusetts
The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts...
. It was home of the famous Flyer Comet
Flyer Comet (Whalom Park)
The Flyer Comet was a wooden roller coaster located at Whalom Park in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, USA. Built in 1940, it was torn down in 2006.-History:...
, now demolished.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²), of which 26.4 square miles (68.4 km²) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), or 4.59%, is water.
Lunenburg is bordered by Townsend
Townsend, Massachusetts
Townsend is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,926 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Townsend, please see the article Townsend , Massachusetts....
to the north, Shirley
Shirley, Massachusetts
-Demographics:This article describes the town of Shirley as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available which describes only the central settlement or village within the town, although that detail is included in the aggregate values reported here...
to the east, Lancaster
Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Incorporated in 1653, Lancaster is the oldest town in Worcester County...
to the southeast, Leominster
Leominster, Massachusetts
Leominster is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 40,759 at the 2010 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and west of Boston. Both Route 2 and Route 12 pass through Leominster. Interstate 190,...
to the south, Fitchburg
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
to the west, and Ashby
Ashby, Massachusetts
Ashby is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,120 as of the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water....
to the northwest.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,401 people, 3,535 households, and 2,668 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 355.8 people per square mile (137.4/km²). There were 3,668 housing units at an average density of 138.8 per square mile (53.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.01% White, 0.69% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.20% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.7% had 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 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $26,986. About 3.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Library
The Lunenburg public library began in 1853. In fiscal year 2008, the town of Lunenburg spent 1.13% ($290,801) of its budget on its public library—some $29 per person.Education
The public schools in town are Lunenburg Primary School, T.C. Passios Elementary School, Turkey Hill Middle School, and Lunenburg High SchoolLunenburg High School
Lunenburg High School is the high school of the town of Lunenburg, Massachusetts in north-central Worcester County. The school encompasses grades 9-12, and educates students from Lunenburg, Shirley, and Fitchburg.-Administration:...
.
Transportation
Transportation for Lunenburg is largely supplied by the Montachusett Regional Transit AuthorityMontachusett Regional Transit Authority
The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority is one of Massachusetts' regional transit authorities. It is a public, non-profit organization in Massachusetts, charged with providing public transportation to an area consisting of the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, and the adjoining...
(MART). MART operates fixed-route bus services, shuttle services, as well as paratransit services within the Montachusett Region.
Notable residents
- Zabdiel AdamsZabdiel AdamsZabdiel Adams , minister of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, was born in Braintree, now Quincy, November 5, 1739. His father was the uncle of John Adams, late president of the United States...
, minister - William AustinWilliam Austin (author)William Austin was an American author and lawyer, most notable as the creator of the Peter Rugg stories published in the New England Galaxy in 1824–1827...
, author - Earle BrownEarle BrownEarle Brown was an American composer who established his own formal and notational systems...
, composer - Frederick Cushing Cross, Jr.Frederick Cushing Cross, Jr.-Navy career:Cross enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve 22 March 1941, and after aviation training was ordered to a bombing squadron at DeLand, Florida.-Awarded the Navy Cross:...
, naval officer - Gordon EdesGordon EdesGordon Edes is an American sportswriter and covers baseball for . He is best known for his long time coverage of the Boston Red Sox baseball beat for the Boston Globe. He is a voter for the Baseball Hall of Fame....
, ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
baseball writer - Derek KerswillDerek KerswillDerek Kerswill is an American musician best known for his drumming in the bands Unearth, Seemless, Kingdom of Sorrow, and multiple fill-ins/studio projects.-Biography:Derek has been playing drums since the age of 9...
, musician - Josiah LitchJosiah LitchDr. Josiah Litch was a Methodist Episcopal preacher in the New England region of the United States, who was best known for his connections with the Millerite movement, and for using Bible prophecy to predict a loss of power for the Ottoman Empire....
, preacher - David PelletierDavid Pelletier (American figure skater)David Pelletier is an American pair skater. With Andrea Varraux, Pelletier won the 2003 Junior Grand Prix event in Croatia and placed fourth in Ostrava. They went on to place seventh at the Junior Grand Prix Final...
, figure skater - James ReedJames Reed (soldier)James Reed was a military officer in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, rising to the rank of brigadier general in the latter conflict....
, soldier - Abel Stearns, trader, landowner and cattle rancher
- Asahel StearnsAsahel StearnsAsahel Stearns was a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.Born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, Stearns graduated from Harvard University in 1797. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He served as member of the Massachusetts Senate...
, congressman - Eleazer D. WoodEleazer D. WoodEleazer Derby Wood was an American Army officer in the War of 1812.Wood was born in Lunenburg, Massachusetts...
, army officer - Luther BurbankLuther BurbankLuther Burbank was an American botanist, horticulturist and a pioneer in agricultural science.He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 54-year career. Burbank's varied creations included fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables...
, botanist-agricultural science
External links
- http://www.lunenburgma.gov
- http://www.lunenburg.com/ Lunenburg.com], community website
- Satellite image from Google maps