Greater Lowell | |
|---|---|
Region ofMassachusetts | |
 Red represents the City of Lowell, Dark Blue represents the Greater Lowell area, Light Blue represent the New England city and town area Division Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, Purple represents both. | |
 Interactive map of Greater Lowell | |
| Coordinates:42°40′00″N71°20′00″W / 42.66667°N 71.33333°W /42.66667; -71.33333 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Massachusetts |
| Towns and cities | Billerica,Chelmsford,Dracut,Dunstable,Groton,Lowell,Pepperell,Tewksbury,Tyngsborough,Westford |
| Largest city | Lowell, Massachusetts (108,522) (2010 census) |
| Population (2010 census) | |
• Total | 299,550 |
Greater Lowell is the region comprising the city ofLowell,Massachusetts, and itssuburbs. These lie in northernMiddlesex County,Massachusetts; in theMerrimack Valley; and in southernNew Hampshire.
The Greater Lowell area as defined as the LowellMetropolitan area consists of the towns ofBillerica,Chelmsford,Dracut,Dunstable,Groton,Lowell,Pepperell,Tewksbury,Tyngsborough, andWestford.[1] The town ofPelham,New Hampshire, may also be included in Greater Lowell.[2]
TheNew England city and town area Division Lowell–Billerica–Chelmsford contains some towns that can be considered part of Greater Lowell: inMassachusetts, these areAshby,Ayer,Billerica,Chelmsford,Dracut,Groton,Harvard,Littleton,Lowell,Shirley,Tewksbury,Townsend,Tyngsborough, andWestford; inNew Hampshire, the town ofPelham.[3]
The towns of Greater Lowell in Massachusetts have a combined population of 299,550 based on the 2010 census.[4] Including the town of Pelham, Greater Lowell has 312,447 inhabitants.[4]
The city of Lowell is a cultural and institutional center for the region. It is home to theTsongas Center at UMass Lowell and theLowell National Historical Park, which preserves the region's legacy as an early textile manufacturing center during theIndustrial Revolution. TheUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell and a campus ofMiddlesex Community College are located in the city as well, as areLowell General Hospital andSaints Medical Center, the regional hospitals.Greater Lowell Technical High School serves many of the towns in the region.
Lowell is home to the Superior and District Court for Northern Middlesex County and is technically acounty seat, although Massachusetts counties are largely historical in function. Culturally, many residents of Greater Lowell have deep roots in the city itself, tend to be moreblue collar, and speak with an urbanBoston accent. Greater Lowell is split politically while the region as a whole is more likely to vote for a conservative candidate than other parts of the state whereas the city of Lowell is more likely to vote liberally.[5][6][7]
The economy of Greater Lowell is closely tied to that ofGreater Boston. Outside of the services, health, and retail sectors, major employers are in high technology and defense, with a still-shrinking manufacturing sector.
Suburban sprawl and serious economic hardships have reduced the role Lowell plays in its suburbs over the decades. The entire region is often considered a component of the much largerGreater Boston area, as Lowell is only 25 miles from downtownBoston. Suburban office parks, shopping malls, and the severe decline ofheavy industry inNew England have pulled the economic focus away from the once great industrial and commercial base in Lowell itself. Additionally, the population of Lowell is at 1900 levels despite large growth among the suburban population.