Devens, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Devens, Massachusetts
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Devens Charity Chili Cookoff
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| Motto(s):
"More Than a Home. A Community"
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Location in Worcester County and the state of Massachusetts.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| Counties | Middlesex, Worcester |
| Towns | Ayer, Shirley, Harvard |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.87 sq mi (17.80 km2) |
| • Land | 6.78 sq mi (17.57 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,697 |
| • Density | 250.15/sq mi (96.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | |
| Area code(s) | 978 |
| FIPS code | 25-16840 |
Devens is a special area in Massachusetts, located across parts of three towns: Ayer, Shirley, and Harvard. It used to be a large military base called Fort Devens, which was active from 1917 to 1996. In 2020, about 1,697 people lived in Devens.
Contents
History of Devens
Devens is named after Charles Devens, a judge and Civil War general. In 2011, people in Devens tried to make it its own town, separate from Ayer, Shirley, and Harvard. However, the idea did not pass a vote. Some residents still hope Devens can become an independent town one day.
Military Past
The area was known as Camp Devens and later Fort Devens. It was a military base from 1917 until 1996. The U.S. Army chose this spot because it was a major center for train lines in New England. The base officially closed in 1996 after 79 years. However, some parts of the land are still used by the military as the Devens Reserve Forces Training Area. A smaller Fort Devens was reopened in 2007.
Devens Today: Civilian Use
After the military base closed, the land was given to different groups. The Federal Bureau of Prisons built a prison hospital there called the Federal Medical Center, Devens. Most of the land was bought by MassDevelopment. This group works to turn Devens into a place for homes and businesses.
Many old buildings have been fixed up or rebuilt. Now, Devens has new housing, a growing business park, a hotel, restaurants, and two disc golf courses. There is also a regular golf course. Veterans from the United States Army Security Agency want to build a museum here. Fort Devens was their main training place for over 20 years.
Devens is home to New England Studios, a film studio that opened in 2014. It also has Commonwealth Fusion Systems. This company, which started from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is building a special device called a tokamak. This device aims to create clean energy through nuclear fusion. The company plans for it to be working by 2025.
Where is Devens?
Devens is located where Middlesex and Worcester counties meet. Part of it is in Harvard, and the rest is in Shirley and Ayer.
Massachusetts Route 2 runs along the southern edge of Devens. You can get to Devens from Exit 106. Route 2 goes west about 7 miles to the Leominster/Fitchburg area. It goes east about 16 miles to Concord.
Devens covers about 6.87 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. The Nashua River flows north through the western part of Devens. This river is part of the Merrimack River system.
Population of Devens
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 1,840 | — | |
| 2020 | 1,697 | −7.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, the population of Devens was 1,840 people. By 2020, the population had slightly decreased to 1,697 people.
How Devens is Governed
People living in Devens have two ways they are represented:
- A group called the Devens Committee. This elected committee has five members and gives advice to MassDevelopment.
- Some residents live in parts of Devens that are still part of Ayer or Harvard. These residents are also represented by the town governments of Ayer or Harvard.
MassDevelopment manages important services in Devens. This includes things like gas, electricity, and water. They also hire companies to provide public safety services, such as firefighters and police.
Nuclear Fusion Research
Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a company that came from MIT, is building a special fusion device in Devens. This device is called SPARC. It is designed to create more energy than it uses, which is called "net energy." This project aims to produce clean energy using nuclear fusion. The company plans for the full-size machine to be working by 2025.
Education in Devens
Devens does not have its own school district. Instead, it pays the town of Harvard to educate its children. However, Devens is home to the Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School. This is a public charter school that welcomes students from about 30 towns in central Massachusetts.
Places to Visit
Most of the old Fort Devens area is now open for public use. Only a few parts, like the U.S. Army training area and the prison, are still restricted.
Here are some interesting places to visit in Devens:
- Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge: This nature area is located south of the former Fort Devens base.
- Fort Devens Historic District: This area, north of the old fort, has historical importance.
- The Fort Devens Museum: Located at 94 Jackson Rd, #305, this small museum shares the history of Fort Devens from 1917 to today.
See also
In Spanish: Devens (Massachusetts) para niños
