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City of Lowell
—  City  —
Lowell on the Merrimack river with Cox Bridge
Seal
Nickname(s): Mill City, Spindle City
Motto: Art is the Handmaid of Human Good
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°38′22″N 71°18′53″W / 42.63944°N 71.31472°W / 42.63944; -71.31472Coordinates: 42°38′22″N 71°18′53″W / 42.63944°N 71.31472°W / 42.63944; -71.31472
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Middlesex
Settled	1653
Incorporated	1826
A city	1836
Government
- Type	Manager-City council
- Mayor	James L. Milinazzo
- City Manager	Bernard F. Lynch
Area
- Total	14.5 sq mi (37.7 km2)
- Land	13.8 sq mi (35.7 km2)
- Water	0.8 sq mi (2.0 km2)
Elevation	102 ft (31 m)
Population (2007)
- Total	103,512
- Density	7,500.9/sq mi (2,899.5/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	01850, 01851, 01852, 01853, 01854
Area code(s)	978 / 351
FIPS code	25-37000
GNIS feature ID	0611832
Website	http://www.lowellma.gov/

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 fifth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County.^[1]

History

The Massachusetts Mill at the confluence of the Merrimack and Concord Rivers

Founded in the 1820s as a planned manufacturing center for textiles, Lowell is located along the rapids of the Merrimack River, 30 miles northwest of Boston in what was once the farming community of East Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The so-called Boston Associates, including Nathan Appleton and Patrick Tracy Jackson of the Boston Manufacturing Company, named the new mill town after their visionary leader, Francis Cabot Lowell, who had died five years before its 1823 incorporation. As Lowell's population grew, it acquired more land from neighboring towns, and diversified into a full-fledged urban center, with many of canal & factory construction labor force immigrating from Ireland, escaping the Potato Famines of the 1830s & 1840s, as well as, the mill workers or Mill Girls coming from the farms of New England. By the 1850s it was the largest industrial complex in the United States. The city continued to thrive as a major industrial center during the 19th century, attracting more migrant workers and immigrants to its mills. Next were the Catholic Germans, then a large influx of French Canadians during the 1870s & 1880s, then other waves of immigrants, such as, Portuguese, Polish, Lithuanians Swedes, and Jews came to work in Lowell and settled their own neighborhoods, with the cities' population reaching almost 50% foreign-born by 1900.^[2] By the time World War I broke out in Europe, the city had reached its economic and population peek of over 110,000 people.

With the decline of the Mill Cities' manufacturing base, with many companies moving to the South in the 1920s,^[2] the city fell into deep hard times, and was called a "depressed industrial desert" by Harper's Magazine in 1931, and over a third of its population was "on relief" as only three of its major textile corporations remained active.^[2] A few short years later, the mills were reactivated, making parachutes and other military necessities for the War effort. However, this economic boost was short-lived and the post-war years saw the last textile plants close. Over the next few decades the city was just a shadow of itself, until the 1970s, when Lowell became part of the Massachusetts Miracle, being the headquarters of Wang Laboratories. At the same time, Lowell became home to thousands of new immigrants, many from Cambodia, following the genocide at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. The city continued to rebound, but this time, focusing more on culture. The former mill district along the river was partially restored and became part of the Lowell National Historical Park, founded in the late 1970s. Even though Wang went bankrupt in 1992, the city continued its cultural focus by hosting the nations largest free folk festival, Lowell Folk Festival, as well as many other cultural events. This effort began to attract other companies and families back to the urban center with other historic manufacturing and commercial buildings being repurposed as residential units and office space. By the 1990s, Lowell built a new ballpark and arena, which became home to two minor league sports teams, the Lowell Devils and Lowell Spinners. The city also began to include a larger student presence as well, through expansions of the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Middlesex Community College.

Geography

Lowell is located at 42°38′22″N 71°18′53″W / 42.63944°N 71.31472°W / 42.63944; -71.31472 (42.639444, -71.314722).^[3] 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.

Physical

Lowell is located at the confluence of the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. The Pawtucket Falls, a mile-long set of rapids with a total loss in elevation of 32 feet, ends where the two rivers meet. At the top of the falls is the Pawtucket Dam - designed to turn the upper Merrimack into a millpond, diverted through Lowell's extensive canal system.

The Merrimack, which flows southerly from Franklin, New Hampshire to Lowell, makes a northeasterly turn there before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport, Massachusetts, approximately 40 miles downriver from Lowell. It is believed that in prior ages, the Merrimack continued south from Lowell to empty into the ocean somewhere near Boston. The glacial deposits that redirected the flow of the river are also responsible for the drumlins that dot the city, most notably, Fort Hill in the Belvidere neighborhood. Other large hills in Lowell include Lynde Hill, also in Belvidere, and Christian Hill, in the easternmost part of Centralville.

The Concord, or Musketaquid (its original name), forms from the confluence of the Assabet and Sudbury Rivers at Concord, Massachusetts. This river flows north into the city, and the area around the confluence with the Merrimack was known as Wamesit. Like the Merrimack, the Concord, although a much smaller river, has many waterfalls and rapids that served as power sources for early industrial purposes, some well before the founding of Lowell. Immediately after the Concord joins the Merrimack, the Merrimack descends another ten feet in Hunt's Falls.

There is a ninety-degree bend in the Merrimack partway down the Pawtucket Falls. At this point, the river briefly widens and shallows. Here, Beaver Brook enters from the north, separating the City's two northern neighborhoods - Pawtucktville and Centralville. Entering the Concord River from the southwest is River Meadow, or Hale's Brook. This brook flows largely in a man-made channel, as the Lowell Connector was built along it. Both of these minor streams have limited industrial histories as well.

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.[1]

Neighborhoods

Lowell currently has eight distinct neighborhoods; the Acre, Back Central, Belvidere, Centralville, Downtown, Highlands, Pawtucketville, and South Lowell.^[4] The City also has 5 zip codes, 4 are geographically distinct general zip codes and 1 is for PO-boxes only (01853).

The Centralville neighborhood, zip code 01850, is the northeastern section of the city, north of the Merrimack River and east of Beaver Brook. Christian Hill is the section of Centralville, located east of Bridge Street.

Lowell's canal system (1975)

The Highlands is the most populated neighborhood with almost a quarter of the city residing here, zip code 01851, and is the southwestern section of the city, bordered to the east by the Lowell Connector and to the north by the railroad. Lowellians further distinguish the sections of the Highlands as the Upper Highlands and the Lower Highlands referring to the area closer to downtown. Middlesex Village, Tyler Park and Drum Hill are in this zip code.

Belvidere, Back Central and South Lowell make up the 01852 zip code, and are the southeastern sections of the city (south of the Merrimack River and south east of the Lowell Connector). 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. Pawtucketville is the official entrance to the Lowell-Dracut-Tynsborough State Forrest. Pawtucketville's Lowell-Dracut-Tynsborough State Forrest is the probable site of a notable Native American tribe, and in age of the Industrial Revolution was a prominent source where granite for canals and factory foundations were obtained ^[5].

Demographics

According to the 2000 Census^[6], there were 105,167 people 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% White (U.S. Average: 75.1%)

• 16.52% Asian American (U.S. Average: 3.6%)

• 4.21% African American (U.S. Average: 12.3%)

• 0.24% Native American (U.S. Average: 0.1%)

• 0.04% Pacific Islander (U.S. Average: 0.1%)

• 6.48% from other races (U.S. Average: 5.5%)

• 3.92% from two or more races. (U.S. Average: 2.4%)

Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.01% of the population. (U.S. Average: 12.5%)

Lowell had the highest percentage of Cambodians of any place in the United States, with 10.37% of its population being Cambodian,^[7] and is only second in population to Long Beach, California. There are an estimated 11,000 Cambodians living in the city of Lowell, but local community leaders estimate the number to be around 35,000 [2]. The Government of Cambodia had opened up its third U.S. Consular Office in Lowell, on April 27, 2009, with Sovann Ou as current advisor to the Cambodian Embassy.^[8] The other two are in Seattle and Long Beach.

In 2000, there were 37,887 households, and 23,982 families living in Lowell; with the average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.35.

• 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them.(U.S. Average: 32.8%)
• 40.1% were married couples living together. (U.S. Average: 51.7%)
• 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present. (U.S. Average: 12.2%)
• 36.7% were non-families. (U.S. Average: 31.9%)
• 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals.(U.S. Average: 25.8%)
• 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. (U.S. Average: 9.2%)

In 2000, the city's population had a median age of 31 (U.S. Average: 35.3).

• 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
• 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older.

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 (U.S. Average: $41,994). The median income for a family was $45,901. (U.S. Average: $50,046) 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 (U.S. Average: 9.2%) and 16.8% of individuals (U.S. Average: 12.4%) 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 Hall

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 2010, the City Manager is Bernard F. Lynch and James L. Milinazzo is the Mayor.

The city of Lowell is primarily policed and protected by the Lowell Police Department and secondarily by the Massachusetts State Police.

As of August 2005, Lowell became part of one Massachusetts Senate district.

State Representatives

United States Congress

The City of Lowell is part of the Massachusetts Fifth Congressional District, represented by Niki Tsongas (D), as well as the Third Governor's Council District represented by Marilyn Petitto Devaney.

The two U.S. Senators from Massachusetts, representing at large, are John Kerry (D) and Scott Brown (R).

Massachusetts General Court

In the Massachusetts General Court Lowell's State Senator to the Massachusetts Senate is currently:

• First Middlesex, represented by Steven C. Panagiotakos (D)

Lowell's State Representatives are currently

• Sixteenth Middlesex, represented by Thomas A. Golden,Jr.(D)
• Seventeenth Middlesex, represented by David M. Nangle (D)
• Eighteenth Middlesex, represented by Kevin J. Murphy (D))

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.^[10]

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.^[10]

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

The Boott Mill complex now converted to a museum.

• 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 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: State university
• Vandenberg Esplanade: Walking, biking, swimming, and picnicking park along the banks of the Merrimack River. Contains the Sampas Pavilion.
• Lowell High School: The first desegregated and co-educational high school in the United States
• Jack Kerouac's birthplace: In the Centralville section of the city at 9 Lupine Road.
• Bette Davis's birthplace: In the Highlands section of the city at 22 Chester Street.
• Edson Cemetery: burial site of Jack Kerouac, John McFarland, and William Preston Phelps. 1375 Gorham Street.
• The Worthen House: Edgar Allan Poe purportedly visited this tavern and local lore suggests he wrote some of "The Raven" here.
• The Acre: Lowell's gateway neighborhood where waves of immigrants have established their communities
• University of Massachusetts Lowell Radiation Laboratory: The site of a small nuclear reactor at the school

Culture

Birthplace of painter James McNeill Whistler.

• Angkor Dance Troupe - Cambodian classical and folk dance company and youth program^[11]
• Ayer Lofts Artist Live-work Lofts
• Brush Art Gallery and Studios
• Center for Lowell History, University of Massachusetts Lowell - local history library and archive
• Lowell Rocks - Lowell nightlife and entertainment web site
• Lowell Telecommunication Corporation (LTC) - a community media and technology center
• Merrimack Repertory Theater - Professional equity theater
• Play by Player's Theatre Company - critically acclaimed community theater
• Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra - Community orchestra presenting free concerts and offering youth programs
• RRRecords - Internationally known record label and store
• Standing Room Only Players - musical review troupe
• The Gentlemen Songsters 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 McNeill 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).
• Lowell Poetry Network - A network of area poets and appreciators of poetry who host readings, receptions, and open mics.
• The New England Quilt Museum The New England Quilt Museum
• The Revolving Museum "Making Space for Art and Community."
• The United Teen Equality Center A by teens, for teens youth center promoting peace, positivity and empowerment for young people in Lowell.

Sports

On April 1, 2006, Lowell held the 2006 World Curling Championships for the men's teams at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.

• University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks, NCAA Division I Hockey, and Division II Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Cross Country, Volleyball
• Lowell Spinners - Class A short-season professional baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox
• Lowell All-Americans - NECBL (Collegiate Summer Baseball)
• New England Riptide - National Pro Fastpitch League (Major League Softball)
• Lowell Devils - AHL hockey team (formerly Lowell Lock Monsters). Affiliate of the New Jersey Devils
• Lowell Nor'easter - Semi-Professional football team (New England Football League)

Venues

LeLacheur Park

• Edward A. LeLacheur Park Baseball Stadium, shared by Lowell Spinners and the University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Lowell Memorial Auditorium - performance and boxing venue.
• Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell - multi-use sports and concert venue (6500 seats hockey, 7800 concerts)- the University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks, Lowell Devils, and various arena shows
• Cawley Memorial Stadium- Stadium for Lowell High School and other sporting events around the Merrimack Valley. Uses FieldTurf
• Sampas Pavilion - Outdoor amphitheater on the banks of the Merrimack River
• Stoklosa Alumni Field - Baseball stadium, used by Lowell All-Americans (4,000 seats)

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
• Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival - annual summer event that celebrates Southeast Asian culture
• Winterfest - celebration of winter in February
• The Massachusetts Poetry Festival - an annual event that celebrates poets and poetry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Businesses started and/or products invented in Lowell

• CVS/pharmacy
• Moxie - the first mass-produced soft drink in the U.S.
• Father John's Medicine^[12]
• Wang Laboratories - Massachusetts Miracle computer company
• Telephone numbers, 1879, Lowell is the first U.S. city to have phone numbers, two years after Alexander Graham Bell demonstrates his telephone in Lowell.^[13]
• Francis Turbine - A highly efficient water-powered turbine
• Market Basket - Chain of approximately 60 grocery stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire
• Cash Carriers

Hospitals

• Lowell General Hospital
• Saints Medical Center

Education

Lowell Schools

High Schools

• Lowell High School, est. 1831 (4,000+ Students, second largest in the state)
• Lowell Catholic High School, est. 1989 (369 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:10 (Private)
• Greater Lowell Technical High School, (2100 Students) Serving the communities of Lowell, Dracut, Tyngsborough and Dunstable.^[14]
• Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School, est.1996 (120 Students) serving the communities of Greater Lowell^[15].

Grades 5-8

^[16]

• Benjamin F. Butler Middle School, est. 1992 (500 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio N/A
• Dr. An Wang Middle School, est. 1993 (620 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:29
• H.J. Robinson Middle School, est. 1969 (660 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:25
• James S. Daley Middle School, est. 1956 (600 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:24
• Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle School, est. 2005 (485 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:25
• James F. Sullivan Middle School of Communications, est. 1992 (586 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:30

• E.N. Rogers Middle School (Closed in 2009)

Grades K-8

• J. G. Pyne Arts Magnet (500 Students) ^[17]
• Bartlett Community Partnership School (460 Students) est. 2005^[18]
• Lowell Community Charter Public School est. 1999^[19]

Grades K-4

^[16]

• Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, est. 1993 (505 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:24
• Charlotte M. Murkland Elementary School, est. 1993 (460 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:23
• Greenhalge Elementary School, re-est. 1994 (450 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:20
• Pawtucketville Memorial Elementary School, est. 1990 (493 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio N/A
• S. Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, est. 1993 (500 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio N/A
• John J. Shaughnessy Elementary School, est. 1991 (500 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:22
• Washington Elementary School, (220 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:19
• C.W. Morey Elementary School, (420 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:21
• Dr. Gertrude M. Bailey Elementary School, est. 1992 (460 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:21
• Joseph A. McAvinnue Elementary School, est. 1994 (489 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:24
• Moody Elementary School, est. 1841 (187 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:28
• Peter W. Reilly Elementary School, est. 1959 (530 Students) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:21

Private Grade Schools

^[20]

• Hellenic American Academy, est. 1908 as the first Greek Orthodox day school in the United States (135 Students) (Grades K-6) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:12^[21]

• Franco-American School, est. 1963 (Grades K-8) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:13^[22]
• St. Louis School, (457 Students) (Grades K-8) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:19
• Ste. Jeanne D'Arc School, (472 Students) (Grades K-8) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:17
• St. Margaret School, (357 Students) (Grade K-8) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:20
• St. Patrick School, (181 Students) (Grade K-8) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:15
• St. Michael Elementary School, (407 Students) (Grade K-8) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:16
• Immaculate Conception School, (324 Students) (Grade K-8) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:17
• St. Stanislaus School, est. 1906 (124 Students) (Grade K-8) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:12^[23]

• Community Christian Academy, (185 Students) (Grade K-12) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:9

• Riverside School, Nonsectarian, Special Education School (25 Students) (Grades 4-11) Teacher/Student Ratio 1:5

Higher education

• University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Middlesex Community College

References to Lowell

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 Sam & Dave).

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:

Memorial stone of Jack Kerouac in Lowell, Mass. (USA)

• 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.
• In Avi's Beyond the Western Sea: 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.
• Lloyd L. Corricelli's Two Redheads & A Dead Blonde, a mystery novel which follows Iraqi war veteran and private investigator Ronan Marino's quest to find his girlfriend's murderer.

Films

• School Ties - 1992: A Robert Mandel’s 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 - 1995: An HBO film 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.
• The Invention of Lying - 2009: 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 began July 9 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Notable residents

Politicians

• Paul Tsongas, Congressman 1975-1979, United States Senator 1979-1985, and Democratic presidential candidate 1992, for whom the Tsongas Arena is named
• Benjamin Franklin Butler, Congressman 1867-1879, Union general in the Civil War, Governor of Massachusetts 1883-1884, and Greenback Party presidential candidate 1884, for whom the Butler School is named
• Marty Meehan, Congressman 1993-2007, current Chancellor of UMass/Lowell
• Frank B. Morse, Republican; Congressman 1961–1972 for whom the Morse Elementary School is named
• Frederic Thomas Greenhalge, Congressman 1889-1891 for whom the Greenhalge Elementary School is named.
• John Jacob Rogers, Republican; Congressman 1913-1925
• Adelbert Ames, Governor 1868-1870,1874–1876 and Senator from Mississippi 1870-1874, Union general in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, son-in-law of Benjamin Franklin Butler
• Charles Herbert Allen, Secretary of the Navy 1898-1900, Governor of Puerto Rico 1900-1902
• Ezekiel A. Straw, Governor of New Hampshire 1872-1874
• Benjamin Dean, Congressman 1878-1879

Inventors & Business Founders

• Francis Cabot Lowell, businessman for whom the town is named.
• Kirk Boott (1790–1837) was an American Industrialist for whom the Boott Mills are named & Kirk Street in named.
• Dr. James Cook Ayer, (1818) Industrialist, Patent Medicine Tycoon
• James Taylor Ames, born in Lowell, noted manufacturer^[24]
• Frederick Ayer (1822), Industrialist, Investor, first president of the American Woolen Company
• An Wang, inventor and businessman, for whom the Wang Middle School is named
• James B. Francis, pioneer of American civil engineering for whom the Francis Locks are named
• Ted Leonsis, founder AOL
• David Neeleman, Chairman and CEO of JetBlue Airways
• Luis Pedroso,^[25] co-founder Accutronics 2002
• Mark Saab,^[26] co-founder Advanced Polymers, Inc. 1989

Astronauts & Astronomers

• Richard M. Linnehan,^[27] NASA Astronaut 1992-Current (five space missions to date including Hubble Space Telescope upgrades and repairs)
• George Bassett Clark, astronomer (reflective telescope)

Authors & Entertainers

• Jack Kerouac, writer (On the Road) , for whom the downtown park is named
• Ed McMahon, entertainer
• Bette Davis, Academy Award-winning actress.
• Michael Chiklis, Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winning actor
• Nancy Kelly, Tony Award winning actress, nominated Academy Award and Emmy Awards (36 Movies)
• Olympia Dukakis, Academy Award-winning actress. (Moonstruck)
• Michael Ansara, actor
• Michael Casey, poet
• George Washington Dixon, entertainer and newspaper editor
• Mark Goddard, actor (Lost in Space)
• Ray Goulding, radio comedian (Bob & Ray)
• Deborah Hopkinson, children's author
• Elinor Lipman, writer, columnist The Boston Globe
• Paul Sullivan, sports radio personality WBZ and columnist Lowell Sun
• Robert Tessier, actor and stuntman
• Vince Vouyer,porn star
• Steve Perez AKA D-Tension, music producer and radio personality on Boston alternative radio station WFNX.
• Tom Sexton, writer

Musicians

• Calixa Lavallée, composer of Canadian National Anthem, O Canada
• George Whitefield Chadwick composer
• Boney James, Smooth Jazz Saxophonist
• Rosalind Elias, opera singer

Designers & Artists

• James McNeill Whistler, painter and etcher (1834–1903)
• Willard Leroy Metcalf, Impressionist painter (1858–1925)
• Christopher Makos, photographer, artist (1948- )
• Frederick W. Stickney, Architect (1854–1918)^[28] master of stone architecture
• David Dalhoff Neal, portrait painter (1838–1915)
• Thomas B. Lawson, landscape painter (1807–1888)
• William Preston Phelps, landscape painter (1848–1917)
• Sarah W. Whitman, artist, illustrator, stained glass designer, and author (1842–1904)
• Alfred Ordway, landscape painter (1821–1897)
• Margaret Foley, sculptor (1820–1877)

Sports

Football

• Billy Sullivan (American football) Owner of New England Patriots from 1960–1988
• Ray McLean,^[29] Halfback for Chicago Bears 1940-1948, Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers 1953,1958
• Ray Riddick,^[29] End for the Green Bay Packers from 1940-1946 for whom the High School Gymnasium is named
• Robert Joseph Sullivan ^[29] Running Back for 49ers 1948
• Menil Mavraides ^[29] Offensive Lineman for Philadelphia Eagles 1954, 1957
• John Miller ^[29] Lineman for Washington Redskins 1956-1960
• Steve Alexakos ^[29] Lineman for Denver Broncos 1970, New York Giants 1971
• Bill Cooke ^[29] Defensive Line for Green Bay Packers1975, 49ers1976-77, Detroit Lions1978, and Seattle Seahawks1978-1980
• Bruce Laird ^[29] Pro Bowl Cornerback for Baltimore Colts 1972-1983
• John Blake Galvin, Jr. ^[29] Linebacker for New York Jets 1988-1991

Baseball

Many professional baseball players came out of Lowell in the late 1800s, including; Charlie Snow (1874), Denny Driscoll (1880–1884),Frank McLaughlin (1882–1884), John Grady (1884), Jack Corcoran (1884), John Firth (1884), Art Sladen (1884), brothers Bill Conway (1884–1886) & Dick Conway (1886–1888), Marty Sullivan (1887–1891), Ed "Sleepy" Flanagan (1887–1889), Frank Bonner (1894–1903), Bill Merritt (1891–1899) and Bob Ganley (1905–1909)^[30]

Modern Era:

• Mike Balas, Pitched one game for the Boston Bees in 1938^[31]
• Johnny Barrett Outfielder for the Pittsburg Pirates from 1942–1946
• Skippy Roberge Infielder for the Boston Braves from 1941–1942,1946

Hockey

• Jon Morris Center for New Jersey Devils 1984-1992 Boston Bruins 1993

Boxing

• Micky Ward, Pro Boxer 1985-2003, Junior welterweight
• Dickie Ecklund, Pro Boxer 1975-1985 welterweight

Olympic Athletes

• Shelagh Donohoe 1992 Barcelona took Silver metal in rowing (Women's Coxless Fours),^[32] current URI head coach
• Ernest N. Harmon, 1924 Paris finished 31st in Modern Pentathlon (5th in shooting) also U.S. Army Major General WWII & President of Norwich University 1950-1956.
• Alfons Mello Travers 1924 Paris finished 5th in the Men's Welterweight, turned pro and finished 37/10 with 18KOs retired as a restaurant owner in Lowell^[33]
• Albert J. Mangan, 1936 Berlin finished 21st in 50k Walk^[34] coached and taught at Lowell High School for almost 50yrs.
• Michael Mastrullo 1984 Sarajevo played for the Italian Men's Ice Hockey team, which finished 9th overall.^[35]
• Ethan Thomas Brown, 2007 & 2008 U23 National Champion^[36] 2012 USA Olympic development team roster^[37]
• Nathaniel Jenkins, 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics Berlin 2009, 7th in 2008 USA Olympic Team trials^[38]

Other Notables

• 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.
• Miss Alice Parker, 1880's-1900 lawyer that published many articles, and procured legislation for the property owning rights of women.^[39]
• John McFarland, Medal of Honor recipient, Civil War for whom the USS McFarland in named.
• Reverend Frederick Foley,^[40] President, Providence College 1945-1947
• Gustavus Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy during the Civil War
• Mary Hallaren, Director Women's Army Corps
• Walker Lewis, African American abolitionist and early Mormon Elder
• William Henry O'Connell, Cardinal, Archdiocese of Boston
• Henry Rogerson, Killed in Action WWII in the Aleutian Islands Campaign for whom the Rogerson school is named.
• Dr. Benjamin Franklin Simpson (1799-1883), prominent medical doctor and real estate developer for whom Simpson Street is named^[41]
• L. G. Howe instrumental in the annexing of Centralville as part of Lowell^[42]

References

Further reading

• "Waterpower in Lowell: Engineering and Industry in Nineteenth-Century America (Johns Hopkins Introductory Studies in the History of Technology)" by Patrick M. Malone (2009)
• "The Lowell Experiment: Public History in a Postindustrial City" by Cathy Stanton (2006)
• "Lowell: The Mill City (MA) (Postcard History Series)" by The Lowell Historical Society (2005)
• "So Far From Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, An Irish Mill Girl, Lowell, Massachusetts 1847 (Dear America Series)" by Barry Denenberg (2003)
• "The Lowell Mill Girls: Life in the Factory (Perspectives on History Series)" by Joanne Weisman Deitch (1998)
• "The Lowell Offering: Writings by New England Mill Women (1840-1945)" by Benita Eisler (1997)
• "Living on the Boott: Historical Archaeology at the Boott Mills Boardinghouses, Lowell, Massachusetts" by Stephen A. Mrozowski, Grace H. Ziesing, and Mary C. Beaudry (1996)
• "Women at Work: The Transformation of Work and Community in Lowell, Massachusetts, 1826-1860" by Thomas Dublin (1981)

External links

• City of Lowell official web site
• Merrimack Valley Region tourist information
• Lowell Sun newspaper
• University of Massachusetts Lowell, Center for Lowell History
• Lowell City Guide

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From LoveToKnow 1911