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'Dracut' (Pronounced "Dray-Kit") is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 28,562.

Contents

History

Geography

Adjacent towns

Demographics

Government

Education

Public schools

Transportation

Points of interest

Notable residents

See also

External links

History

The 'Town of Dracut' is a suburban community of Greater Lowell, bordering southern New Hampshire. It is in the northern portion of the Greater Boston. Originally, in 1653, the community was part of the Wamiset Praying Town, one of the preserves set aside by the colonists for Christianized Indians. The town has several large ponds, bogs and swamps, and numerous brooks. 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. Dracut was officially incorporated as a town on February 26, 1701.
There has been intense modern development in Dracut with suburban residential pressures from Lowell. 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.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 55.3 km² (21.4 mi²). 54.1 km² (20.9 mi²) of it is land and 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) 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 the city of Lowell to the south, Tyngsboro to the west, Methuen to the east, and Pelham, New Hampshire to the north. Tewksbury and Andover border the town to the southeast, but are unreachable across the Merrimack.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 28,562 people, 10,451 households, and 7,733 families residing in the town. The population density was 527.6/km² (1,366.7/mi²). There were 10,643 housing units at an average density of 196.6/km² (509.3/mi²). 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

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 are:

★ Dracut High School (1,817 students)

★ Lakeview Junior High School (754 students)

★ Englesby Intermediate School (741 students)

★ Brookside Elementary School (601 students)

★ Campbell Elementary School (609 students)

★ Greenmont Elementary School (268 students)

★ Parker Elementary School (170 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.

Points of interest

Notable residents

★ Wendell Corey, actor

★ Scott Grimes, actor

★ John Ogonowski, airline pilot

★ James Mitchell Varnum, lawyer

★ Joseph Bradley Varnum, politician

See also

★ Merrimack Valley

★ Greater Lowell

★ Greater Boston

★ Beaver Brook

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