Lowell is a city of about 103,000 people located in north central Massachusetts. It is located on the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. The city enjoys four very distinct seasons, with the summers being warm and humid, and the winter averaging 42 inches of snow. The city has one of the lowest crime rates of cities its size. Anyone moving to Lowell will love its mix of history and modern neighborhoods. The city is working hard on revitalization.
Economy:
Lowell has seen some hard times in the late 1990s which it is still recovering from. The median household income is quite a bit lower than the state average. The cost of living is quite a bit higher than the national average.The city is working hard to expand its economic base away from manufacturing to other business possibilities. It has succeeded in attracting such business as Coca-Cola, Raytheon and Textron in addition to its established businesses such as Joan Fabrics Corporation. It is working on transforming areas into affordable communities for people working in Boston.
History:
In 1686, the Indian confederacy of Pennacook Indians sold some land to English farmers. The farmers named their community East Chelmsford. In 1796, the Pawtucket canal was completed on the Merrimack River and this created an era of shipbuilding. The demand for ships had waned by 1812, and shortly after, President Jefferson was looking for an area to establish manufacturing for the growing nation. In 1821, the Merrimack Manufacturing Company was built there. It was a mill for the production of cotton and calico cloth. In 1829 the town was renamed for Francis Cabott Lowell, the inventor of the power loom. By 1836, Lowell had eight large textile Mills. As time went on, the city grew and diversified, but has fallen on some hard times economically. It is still a city filled with history.
Tourism:
The American Textile History Museum has exhibits showing the history of the country through textiles. The Boott Cotton Mill Museum is a fully-restored mill that is over 150 years old. The National Streetcar Museum shows the history of public transportation. The New England Quilt Museum preserves and exhibits the artistry of quilts. The Whistler House Museum of Art is the birthplace of the famous artist James McNeill Whistler and has an extensive collection of art. The three day Lowell Folk Festival takes place in July and is the largest free folk festival in the country. The Lowell Summer Music Festival takes place on weekends from April until September. Also in September is the Irish Festival. Winterfest is in February. The Vandenburg Esplanade along the Merrimack River has biking, swimming and picnicking. There are many more galleries, tours and activities to enjoy in Lowell.