Billerica, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billerica, Massachusetts
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Billerica Public Library
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| Motto(s):
America's Yankee Doodle Town
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Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
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 Billerica, Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | Massachusetts | ||||
| County | Middlesex | ||||
| Region | New England | ||||
| Settled | 1652 | ||||
| Incorporated | May 29, 1655 | ||||
| Named for | Billericay | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Representative town meeting | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 26.4 sq mi (68.3 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 25.9 sq mi (67.1 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 250 ft (76 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 42,119 | ||||
| • Density | 1,595.4/sq mi (616.7/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | ||||
| ZIP code |
01821 (Billerica), 01862 (North Billerica)
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| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 | ||||
| FIPS code | 25-05805 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618217 | ||||
| Website | www.town.billerica.ma.us | ||||
Billerica (pronounced bill-RICK-uh) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. In 2020, about 42,119 people lived there. The town got its name from Billericay, a town in England.
Contents
History of Billerica
In the early 1630s, a Native American village called Shawshin was located where Billerica is today. You might see it spelled Shawsheen, like the Shawsheen River.
In 1638, important leaders like Governor John Winthrop were given land in this area. By 1652, about 12 families from nearby towns like Cambridge started living in Shawshin. They named the new settlement Billerica after a town in Essex, England, where some of them had originally come from.
Billerica officially became a town in 1655. This happened on the same day as its neighbors, Chelmsford and Groton. Over time, the original area of Billerica was divided into several towns, including Billerica, Bedford, Wilmington, and Tewksbury.
The oldest house still standing in Billerica is the Manning Manse, built in 1696. William Manning, who wrote The Key of Liberty, lived there. This book criticized the government's policies back then.
Other famous people from the Revolutionary War era lived in Billerica. Asa Pollard was the first soldier killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Thomas Ditson was treated badly in 1775 for trying to buy a gun from a soldier. It's believed that the song "Yankee Doodle" became a symbol of American pride because of this event. Today, Billerica celebrates "Yankee Doodle Weekend" every September.
Geography of Billerica
Billerica covers about 26.4 square miles (68.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The town is located about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Boston. This means it's between Boston's inner suburbs and the Merrimack Valley region. Billerica is also close to major highways like Route 128 and Interstate 495.
Billerica has several smaller areas or "villages" within it. These include Billerica Center, East Billerica, North Billerica, Nutting Lake, Pinehurst, West Billerica, River Pines, Riverdale, and South Billerica.
Billerica shares its borders with several other towns: Chelmsford, Lowell, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Burlington, Bedford, and Carlisle. There's even a spot in the middle of the Concord River where Billerica, Chelmsford, Lowell, and Tewksbury all meet!
Environment
The Shawsheen River and Concord River are the two main rivers in Billerica. Nuttings Lake is a popular spot for fun water activities like swimming, canoeing, and sailing.
People of Billerica
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,646 | — |
| 1860 | 1,776 | +7.9% |
| 1870 | 1,833 | +3.2% |
| 1880 | 2,000 | +9.1% |
| 1890 | 2,380 | +19.0% |
| 1900 | 2,775 | +16.6% |
| 1910 | 2,789 | +0.5% |
| 1920 | 3,646 | +30.7% |
| 1930 | 5,880 | +61.3% |
| 1940 | 7,933 | +34.9% |
| 1950 | 11,101 | +39.9% |
| 1960 | 17,867 | +60.9% |
| 1970 | 31,648 | +77.1% |
| 1980 | 36,727 | +16.0% |
| 1990 | 37,609 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 38,981 | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 40,243 | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 42,119 | +4.7% |
| 2022* | 41,319 | −1.9% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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In 2000, there were about 38,981 people living in Billerica. The population density was about 1,506 people per square mile.
The population includes people of many different backgrounds. Most residents were White, with smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian people. About 1.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In 2000, about 25.7% of the people in Billerica were under 18 years old. The average age was 36 years.
Billerica was considered for CNN Money's "Best Places to Live" list in 2009. In 2016, it was named one of "America's Top 100 Safest Cities" by NeighborhoodScout.
Education in Billerica
Public schools
The Billerica Public Schools system manages the elementary, middle, and high schools. There are five elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. There is also a regional technical high school.
Elementary schools
- Thomas Ditson Elementary School
- Frederick J. Dutile Elementary School
- S. G. Hajjar Elementary School
- John F. Kennedy Elementary School
- Parker Elementary School
Middle schools
- Orland S. Marshall Middle School
- Cyril D. Locke Middle School
High school
- Billerica Memorial High School
Vocational school
- Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
- Shawsheen Tech serves students from Billerica and four nearby towns: Bedford, Burlington, Tewksbury, and Wilmington.
Private schools
Billerica does not have any private schools within the town itself. However, there are several in neighboring towns.
Catholic schools
- Academy of Notre Dame, Tyngsboro (grades Pre-K–12)
- Arlington Catholic High School, Arlington (grades 9–12)
- St. Agnes School, Arlington (grades K–8)
- Lowell Catholic High School, Lowell (grades 9–12)
- Austin Preparatory School, Reading (grades 6–12)
Sports and Recreation
Sports Illustrated magazine celebrated its 50th anniversary by naming Billerica one of the top fifty towns in the country for sports and recreation. They even called it the "Sportstown for the Bay State" (Massachusetts).
Transportation
You can travel to Billerica by train! The MBTA Commuter Rail offers service from Boston's North Station to the North Billerica station. This station is on the Lowell Line. Parts of Billerica are also close to the Wilmington (MBTA station) and the Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn.
The Lowell Regional Transit Authority provides bus service in some areas of Billerica.
- Route #3 (South Lowell) goes to the North Billerica MBTA station and the North Billerica Business Center.
- Route #13 (Billerica via Edson) travels along Boston Road from North Billerica to Pinehurst. It stops at places like the North Billerica MBTA Station, Billerica Center, and the Billerica Mall.
- Route #14 (Burlington Mall/Lahey Hospital & Medical Center) follows Route 3A to Billerica Center, then continues onto Concord Road.
The Middlesex Canal used to flow through Billerica between 1795 and 1852. It was used to move goods between Lowell and Boston.
In the 1840s, the main train line of the Boston and Lowell Railroad was built. It passed through North Billerica and East Billerica. Stations were built in both places. The North Billerica station is still used today by the MBTA Commuter Rail. Trains stopped picking up passengers at East Billerica in 1965, and that station is now a private home.
Economy
Billerica is home to many important companies:
- E Ink Corporation: This company makes special screens used in e-readers like the Amazon Kindle.
- Raytheon: A large company that makes weapons and electronics for military and commercial use. They have two big offices in Billerica.
- EMD Serono, Inc: This is the US part of a global pharmaceutical company. They are expanding their research and development facility in Billerica.
- GE Measurement & Control: A part of General Electric that focuses on energy technology. Their main office recently moved to Billerica.
- Cabot Corporation: A company that makes special chemicals and materials. Their main research facility is in Billerica.
- Avaya Inc: A company that provides business communication systems. Their New England office is in Billerica.
- L3 Technologies: This company makes systems for command, control, communication, and intelligence. They have an office in Billerica.
- Pan Am Railways: The largest railroad company in New England, with its main office in North Billerica, Massachusetts.
- American Science & Engineering: This company, based in Billerica, received a large order for its X-ray detection technology, used by the US government for safety missions.
- Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc.: A medical imaging company from Billerica that works with a rare imaging material.
- Seahorse Bioscience: A company that makes lab products, also based in North Billerica.
- Entegris: A company that provides solutions for handling semiconductors (parts used in electronics).
- Bruker: A company that makes scientific instruments for research.
- FLIR Systems: This company has a large facility in Billerica.
Notable people
- Gary DiSarcina, former professional baseball player
- Tom Fitzgerald, former professional hockey player
- Tom Glavine, former professional baseball player, in the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Dean Jenkins, former hockey player
- Marc McLaughlin, professional hockey player
- Bob Miller, former professional hockey player
- Julius Sumner Miller, science teacher
- Paul Miller, former professional hockey player
- Giuseppina Morlacchi, dancer who brought the can-can to America
- Azel W. Patten, Wisconsin politician
- Asa Pollard, first soldier killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill
- Johnny Stearns, actor and producer
- Ian Wilcox, artist for The Simpsons
Historic places
- Abraham Jaquith House
- Bennett Public Library
- Billerica Town Common District
- Billerica Mills Historic District
- Dutton–Holden Homestead
- Deacon Samuel Hill House
- Billerica Memorial High School
- Manning Manse
- Middlesex Canal
- Thomas Ditson Elementary School
Sister city
Billerica is a "sister city" with Billericay, England. This means they have a special friendly relationship.
See also
In Spanish: Billerica (Massachusetts) para niños
