Harvard, Massachusetts

Harvard, Massachusetts is a town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, approximately 25 miles west of Boston and 45 miles east of Amherst. The town is situated near the Nashua River and is bordered by the towns of Ayer, Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow. Harvard is also close to the cities of Fitchburg and Leominster, and is part of the Boston-Worcester-Manchester combined statistical area, which includes Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill.

Geography

The town of Harvard, Massachusetts has a total area of 27.0 square miles, of which 25.9 square miles is land and 1.1 square miles is water, according to the United States Census Bureau. The town is located in the Nashua River Valley and is bordered by the Nashua River to the north, and the towns of Ayer and Bolton to the east, Lancaster to the west, and Stow to the south. Harvard is also near the Wachusett Mountain and the Wachusett Reservoir, which are popular destinations for outdoor recreation, including Worcester and Clinton. The town's geography is also influenced by its proximity to the Assabet River and the Sudbury River, which are both tributaries of the Concord River and ultimately flow into the Merrimack River, passing through Concord and Lawrence.

History

The area that is now Harvard, Massachusetts was first settled in 1658 by a group of colonists from Watertown and was officially incorporated as a town in 1732, during the reign of King George II. The town was named after John Harvard, a Cambridge graduate who left his library and half of his estate to the Massachusetts Bay Colony to establish a college, which would eventually become Harvard University, located in Cambridge. During the American Revolution, Harvard was a key location for the Continental Army, with George Washington and his troops passing through the town on their way to Lexington and Concord to engage the British Army in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which also involved the towns of Arlington and Bedford. The town also played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution, with the establishment of textile mills along the Nashua River, which also affected the nearby towns of Fitchburg and Leominster.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the town of Harvard, Massachusetts had a population of 6,851 people, with a median age of 42.4 years, according to the United States Census Bureau. The town has a diverse population, with a mix of young families, retirees, and commuters who work in nearby cities such as Boston, Worcester, and Lowell. The town is also home to a number of Fruitlands residents, who are part of a Transcendentalist community that was established in the 19th century by Amos Bronson Alcott and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and is also near the Walden Pond made famous by Henry David Thoreau, located in Concord. The town's demographics are also influenced by its proximity to the cities of Marlborough and Hudson.

Economy

The economy of Harvard, Massachusetts is diverse, with a mix of small businesses, farms, and commuters who work in nearby cities, including Acton and Maynard. The town is home to a number of small businesses, including restaurants, shops, and services, as well as a number of farms that produce a variety of crops, including apples and maple syrup, which are also produced in the nearby towns of Shirley and Lunenburg. The town is also close to the Devens industrial park, which is home to a number of businesses, including IBM and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and is also near the Hanscom Air Force Base, located in Bedford and Lincoln.

Education

The town of Harvard, Massachusetts is served by the Harvard Public Schools district, which includes the Harvard Elementary School, the Harvard Middle School, and the Bromfield School, a public high school that is ranked as one of the top high schools in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report. The town is also home to a number of private schools, including the Harvard Academy and the Fayerweather Street School, and is close to a number of colleges and universities, including Harvard University, MIT, and Tufts University, located in Medford and Somerville. The town's education system is also influenced by its proximity to the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the Merrimack College, located in North Andover.

Transportation

The town of Harvard, Massachusetts is located near a number of major highways, including I-495 and Route 2, which provide easy access to nearby cities such as Boston and Worcester. The town is also served by the MBTA Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line, which provides service to North Station in Boston and Wachusett, with stops in Ayer and Shirley. The town is also close to the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and the Logan International Airport, which provide air service to destinations around the world, including New York City and Chicago. The town's transportation system is also influenced by its proximity to the Port of Boston and the Port of New Hampshire, located in New Hampshire. Category:Massachusetts