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Leominster, Massachusetts

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{{Infobox City |official_name = Leominster, Massachusetts |nickname=Pioneer Plastics City |image_skyline = 100 0494X.jpg |image_flag = Leominster_flag.jpg |image_seal = Leominster_logo.gif |image_map = Leominster_ma_highlight.png |mapsize = 300px |map_caption = Location of Leominster within Massachusetts. |subdivision_type = Countries of the world Country
Political divisions of the United States State
List of counties in Massachusetts County |subdivision_name = United States
Massachusetts
Worcester County, Massachusetts Worcester |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Dean J. Mazzarella |area_magnitude = 1 E8 |area_total = 29.8 sq. miles / 77.1 |area_land = 28.9 sq. miles / 74.7 |area_water = 0.9 sq. miles / 4.3 |population_as_of = 2000 |population_note = |population_total = 41,303 |population_metro = |population_density = 552.2 |timezone = Eastern Standard Time Zone EST |utc_offset = -5 |timezone_DST = Eastern Standard Time Zone EST |utc_offset_DST = -4 |latd=42|latm=31|lats=35|latNS=N |longd=71|longm=45|longs=13|longEW=W |elevation = |website = http://www.leominster-ma.gov |footnotes = }} '''Leominster''' is a city located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 41,303. Leominster is located north of Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester and west of Boston, Massachusetts Boston.

History
Leominster was first settled in 1653 and was officially incorporated in 1740. Leominster is now known as "The Pioneer Plastics City" because of its thriving plastics industry from the early part of the twentieth century to present day. Leominster and Fitchburg, Massachusetts Fitchburg are commonly known as the twin cities in the area because of their similar populations and shared history of industry, and also because they are on opposite sides of the Nashua River.

Villages
The city is divided into a few "villages" such as French Hill, a large hill covered in planned blocks of "triple decker" apartments apartment houses on first through twelfth streets. It is called French Hill because this is where the large immigrant French population took root. In the early 1900's, on Lincoln Terrace, the Italians moved in as a group and built up a semi-closed society which existed for many years. The French had built a new church and moved closer to it. Other areas are Morse Hollow, the Village of North Leominster, Rice Hill, The Flats, The West Side, and The Car Barn area along the Fitchburg border.

Nicknames
Leominster is commonly referred to as "Frenchtown" because of its large French Canadian population. This name was coined by author Robert Cormier who grew up on French Hill in his book, ''Frenchtown Summer''. Leominster is also called the "Pioneer Plastics City" because of its early role in plastics manufacturing. It was also called the "Comb City". The National Plastics Center & Museum is located in Leominster. You'd be hard pressed to walk through a large department store or supermarket today and not find some plastic product from Leominster. The city name is often pronounced as spelt, "Leo" followed by "minster" but locals refer to the city as ''Lemsta'' or ''Lemonstah'' in the Eastern New England dialect, but is commonly also referred to in standard pronunciation as ''Lemon-stir''.

Demographics
As of the census{{GR.html">population density was 552.2/km² (1,430.3/mi²). There were 16,976 housing units at an average density of 227.0/km² (587.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.12% White.html">White (U.S. Census)|White, 3.70% African American (U.S. Census) African American, 0.15% Native American (U.S. Census) Native American, 2.44% Asian (U.S. Census) Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander (U.S. Census) Pacific Islander, 4.32% from Race (U.S. Census) other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. 11.00% of the population were Hispanic (U.S. Census) Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Census) Latino of any race. There were 16,491 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were Marriage married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05. In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males. The median income for a household in the city was $44,893, and the median income for a family was $54,660. Males had a median income of $41,013 versus $30,201 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,769. 9.5% of the population and 7.2% of families were below the poverty line. 12.0% of those under the age of 18 and 9.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Landmarks
[http://www.leominster-ma.gov/images/images_fire_dept/apparatus/kendall-6.jpg Kendall Hall] (currently a houses a branch of the local fire department) and [http://www.leominster-ma.gov/images/images_mayor_dept/city_hall.jpg City Hall] are two major landmarks in the city. Others can be seen in [http://franklinrealtyco.com/Wellington/SlideShow/LeomJpegs/JohnnyAppleseed.htm#About this slide show] of local places.

Sholan Farms
Image:Red apple.jpg right|thumb|Red Apple [http://www.sholanfarms.com/ Sholan Farms] is the latest tourist attraction to the city. This apple orchard offers a large variety of apples, a great view, and a historic and scenic look into the areas agricultural history. This orchard is home to festivals and functions. It is one of the largest sources of local pride. Sholan Farms is 123 years old, purchased from Chief Sholan of the Nashaway (Nashua) tribe in 1701.

Education
'''Public Schools:''' *Bennett *Fall Brook *Johnny Appleseed *Leominster Ctr Tech Educ *Leominster Senior High *Lincoln School *Northwest *Priest Street School *Samoset School *Sky View Middle School *Southeast Middle School '''Private Schools:''' *Julie Country Day *St Anna School *St Leo School '''Approved Special Education School:''' *Lipton Academy

Parks
Other than the triangle-shaped Common land common in downtown, and the various parks like Barett and Carter, Leominster is home to two large forest parks. One, The Doyle Reservation, is home to the [http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/781_doyle_conservation_center.cfm local branch] of the Trustees of The Reservation. The other large forest park is the [http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/lmsf.htm Leominster State Forest]. This is a very large state forest and is home to a plethora of paths and trails, some of which eventually hook up to the Mid State Trail. Leominster is a very hilly city and provides plenty of hiking with great views.

Trivia
Image:Japple.gif thumb|Johnny Appleseed, Harper’s Magazine, 1871 *Johnny Appleseed was born in Leominster, MA. The city holds an annual autumn fair and parade in his honor, and a local elementary school bears his name. *The plastic flamingo traces its origins to Leominster. *Leominster High School's football rivalry with Fitchburg High School is the oldest Thanksgiving Day rivalry in the state of Massachusetts (although Boston Public and Boston Latin hold the record for most ''consecutive'' Thanksgiving Day meetings). *Noted fantasy/science-fiction author R.A. Salvatore resides in Leominster.

External links

- Leominster official website
- Blog about Leominster
- The National Plastics Center & Museum
- History and Geneology of Leominster, MA
- Leominster city profile
- Sentinel & Enterprise {{Mapit-US-cityscale|42.526523|-71.753582}} {{Massachusetts}} Category:Cities in Massachusetts Category:Worcester County, Massachusetts

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