Fitchburg, Massachusetts
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Image:Fitchburg, MA Seal.jpg Fitchburg is a city located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 39,102. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State College.
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History
Image:Main Street, Looking East, Fitchburg, MA.jpg Fitchburg was first settled in 1730 and was officially incorporated in 1764. It is named for John Fitch, a settler. In 1748, Fitch and his family were abducted to Canada by Native Americans, but returned the next year.
Situated on both the Nashua River and the railroad line which runs through the Hoosac Tunnel between Boston and Albany, NY, Fitchburg was a 19th century industrial center. Operated by water power, large mills produced machines, tools, clothing and paper. The city is noted for its architecture, particularly in the Victorian style, built at the height of its mill town prosperity. The Northern Worcester County Registry of Deeds, established in 1903, was the only county function located in Fitchburg; all other functions were housed in Worcester, until the abolishment of the county government system in Massachusetts in 1998.
Geography
Image:Fitchburg ma highlight.png Fitchburg is located at 42°34'43" North, 71°48'12" West (42.578689, -71.803383)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 72.7 km² (28.1 mi²). 71.9 km² (27.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.07% water. The city is drained by the Nashua River. Fitchburg is the second hilliest city in the United States following San Francisco.
Demographics
Image:The L.J. Brown Block, Main Street, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, 1885 - Project Gutenberg eText 14689.png As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 39,102 people, 14,943 households, and 9,369 families residing in the city. The population density was 543.9/km² (1,408.5/mi²). There were 16,002 housing units at an average density of 222.6/km² (576.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.86% White, 3.65% African American, 0.35% Native American, 4.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 6.78% from other races, and 3.06% from two or more races. 14.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 14,943 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.
Image:Post Office, Fitchburg, MA.jpg In the city the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,004, and the median income for a family was $43,291. Males had a median income of $35,855 versus $26,558 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,256. 15.0% of the population and 12.1% of families were below the poverty line. 21.1% of those under the age of 18 and 11.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Education
Image:State Normal School, Fitchburg, MA.jpg
- Applewild School
- Fitchburg State College
- Fitchburg High School
- Crocker Elementary
- Reingold Elementary
- McKay Elementary
- South Street School
- South Fitchburg School (kindergarten)
- Goodrich Kindergarten
- B.F. Brown Middle School
- Memorial Middle School
- Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, also called Monty Tech
Museums
External links
- Fitchburg official website
- Fitchburg State College
- Sentinel & Enterprise
- Fitchburg in 1885, article in the Bay State Monthly, from Project Gutenberg
