Lowell, Massachusetts

History Lowell was named after Francis Cabot Lowell[?], an inventor of weaving machines, in 1817. Lowell is considered to have been one of the most important cities in the industrial revolution in the United States. Its textile mills, which line the Merrimac River[?], were the largest, most modern mills of their time. Lowell's historical mills, locks, and canals have been designated as a National Historical Park.

Lowell was the international headquarters for Wang Laboratories until the late 1980s. After Wang folded during an economic depression, Lowell had its ups and downs. Lowell was featured in a 1995 HBO documentary called High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell'. However, Lowell's prosperity grew throughout the 1990s and today its reputation has improved dramatically. It offers a campus of the University of Massachusetts, several theaters, and an amateur baseball team called The Spinners (http://www.lowellspinners.com/) (with its own stadium), and there is a thriving new generation of Cambodian Americans who have put down roots there.

Geography Lowell is located at 42°38'22" North, 71°18'53" West (42.639515, -71.314588)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.7 km² (14.5 mi²). 35.7 km² (13.8 mi²) of it is land and 2.0 km² (0.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.23% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 105,167 people, 37,887 households, and 23,982 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,948.8/km² (7,635.6/mi²). There are 39,468 housing units at an average density of 1,106.7/km² (2,865.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 68.60% White, 4.21% African American, 0.24% Native American, 16.52% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.48% from other races, and 3.92% from two or more races. 14.01% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 37,887 households out of which 34.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% are married couples living together, 17.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% are non-families. 29.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.35.

In the city the population is spread out with 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, and 10.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $39,192, and the median income for a family is $45,901. Males have a median income of $33,554 versus $27,399 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,557. 16.8% of the population and 13.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 23.2% are under the age of 18 and 14.0% are 65 or older.

Famous people from (or associated with) Lowell

• Bette Davis, entertainer
• Jack Kerouac, author
• Francis Cabot Lowell[?], inventor
• Paul McKinnon[?], Drummer
• Ed McMahon[?], entertainer
• Paul Tsongas[?], former state Senator and Democratic presidential candidate
• James McNeill Whistler, painter
• An Wang, inventor and businessman
• "Irish" Mickey Ward, boxer

External Links

• Official web site (http://www.ci.lowell.ma.us/)
• University of Massachusetts, Lowell (http://www.uml.edu/)
• Lowell Sun (http://www.lowellsun.com/) (newspaper)
• Lowell National Historical Park (http://www.nps.gov/lowe/)