Dracut

Town of Dracut
—  Town  —
Dracut Town Hall at 62 Arlington Street (Route 113)
Seal
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°40′13″N 71°18′09″W / 42.67028°N 71.3025°W / 42.67028; -71.3025
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Middlesex
Settled	1653
Incorporated	1701
Government
- Type	Open Town Meeting
Area
- Total	21.4 sq mi (55.3 km2)
- Land	20.9 sq mi (54.1 km2)
- Water	0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2)
Elevation	~156 ft (~48 m)
Population (2007)
- Total	29,498
- Density	1,411.4/sq mi (545.2/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	01826
Area code(s)	978
FIPS code	25-17475
GNIS feature ID	0618221
Website	http://www.dracut-ma.us/

Dracut (pronounced /ˈdreɪkət/) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 28,562. Dracut is primarily a suburban community, belonging to Greater Lowell and bordering southern New Hampshire. Additionally, it is in the northern portion of the Greater Boston metropolitan area, and geographically part of the Merrimack Valley. It is also the only town in the world with the name "Dracut".

History

Dracut was the site of important Pennacook Indian settlements, due to the fishing grounds at Pawtucket Falls on the Merrimack River. The legendary sachem Passaconaway spent much of his life in land that became Dracut (although given to Lowell in the latter half of the 19th century).

Dracut was first settled by Europeans in 1653, from Chelmsford, across the Merrimack. Parts of the community were part of the Wamiset Praying Town, one of the preserves set aside by the colonists for Christianized Indians. Dracut was officially incorporated as a town on February 26, 1701.

The town has several large ponds, bogs and swamps, and numerous brooks (most notably Beaver Brook). Dracut's early economy relied on fishing, lumbering and milling, which led in turn to the 19th century industries of paper making and cotton textile manufacturing. These mills attracted Irish and French-Canadian immigrants.

There has been intense modern development in Dracut with suburban residential pressures from Lowell. Twice in the nineteenth century, Lowell annexed large sections of Dracut into its borders. However, some rural landscapes remain intact, as do some handsome historic houses. One of the better known is the 290 year old Colburn/Cutter House, with its massive beams, huge center chimney and fireplaces. The building, dating back from about 1717, has served as the site of the annual Dracut Craft Fair. As well, Dracut holds an annual Old Home Day every September since 2001[1].

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.4 square miles (55.3 km²), of which, 20.9 square miles (54.1 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.2 km²) of it (2.15%) is water.

Dracut is located in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts, and is approximately 25–30 miles northwest of the state capital, Boston.

The southeastern end of Dracut is on the Merrimack River, and the town is bisected by Beaver Brook.

Dracut is sometimes referred to by its sections. They are:

• Collinsville
• East Dracut
• Dracut Center
• Kenwood
• Navy Yard

Adjacent towns

Dracut is bordered by Tyngsboro to the west, the City of Lowell to the south, Methuen to the east, and Pelham, NH to the north. Tewksbury and Andover border the town to the southeast, but are unreachable across the Merrimack.

Demographics

Farmland along Route 113 (Broadway Road)

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 28,562 people, 10,451 households, and 7,733 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,366.7 people per square mile (527.6/km²). There were 10,643 housing units at an average density of 509.3/sq mi (196.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.13% White, 0.78% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.58% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.

There were 10,451 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,676, and the median income for a family was $65,633. Males had a median income of $41,873 versus $31,396 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,750. About 2.7% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The historic "Old Yellow Meeting House" which now serves as a United Church of Christ in Dracut center. (Route 113)

Information about the government of the Town of Dracut can be found on the town's official website, www.dracut-ma.us.

Education

Public schools

The Dracut School Department consists of 7 public schools: one high school, one junior high (grades 7+8), one intermediate school (grades 5+6), and 4 elementary schools (grades K-4) They are¹:

• Dracut High School (1,600 students)
• Lakeview Junior High School (800 students)
• Englesby Intermediate School (750 students)
• Brookside Elementary School (617 students)
• Campbell Elementary School (583 students)
• Greenmont Elementary School (267 students)
• Parker Elementary School (163 students)

Transportation

Dracut is in proximity to many major area highways. I-93, I-495, and US Route 3 are among the largest. Route 128 (which is concurrent with part of I-95) is not far from Dracut either (roughly 15–20 miles to the south), and the Massachusetts Turnpike is only about 30–35 miles to the south in Boston. Massachusetts state highways Route 38, Route 110, and Route 113 actually run directly through the town. The Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline terminates in Dracut connecting to the North American natural gas pipeline grid. The Portland Natural Gas Transmission System (PNGTS)),Tennessee Gas and the TransQuebec interconnect here .

Notable residents

Beaver Brook along Lakeview Ave.

• Wendell Corey, actor
• Scott Grimes, actor
• John Ogonowski, airline pilot
• Jim Ogonowski, politician
• James Mitchell Varnum, lawyer
• Joseph Bradley Varnum, politician

See also

• Merrimack Valley
• Greater Lowell
• Greater Boston
• Beaver Brook

References

Further reading

• 1871 Atlas of Massachusetts. by Wall & Gray. Map of Massachusetts. Map of Middlesex County.
• History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1 (A-H), Volume 2 (L-W) compiled by Samuel Adams Drake, published 1879-1880. 572 and 505 pages. Dracut article by Rev. Elias Nason in volume 1 pages 406-416.

1. Dracut School Data

External links

• Dracut official website
• Dracut Public Library (Moses Greeley Parker Memorial Library)
• Dracut Fire Department
• Dracut Police Department
• Dracut Public Schools
• The Valley Dispatch (Dracut's Newspaper, which serves Dracut, Methuen, and Pelham)
• Dracut High School Alumni Website
• Saint Francis Parish
• Ste. Marguerite d'Youville Parish

• Dracut, Massachusetts is at coordinates 42°40′13″N 71°18′09″W / 42.670277°N 71.3025°W / 42.670277; -71.3025 (Dracut, Massachusetts)Coordinates: 42°40′13″N 71°18′09″W / 42.670277°N 71.3025°W / 42.670277; -71.3025 (Dracut, Massachusetts)

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