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28-420: The terms, which are used interchangeably, are usually understood to refer to the area economically tied with the cities of Gardner , Fitchburg and Leominster . The "North County" label—the county referred to is Worcester County —is often used to emphasize the area's distance and separate political identity from the county seat at Worcester . The region is sometimes defined as including Fitchburg suburbs in

56-478: A barn near their family farm. In the early years, Walter fashioned chairs by hand, also using a foot lathe. He was soon joined by Levi and Benjamin on a part-time basis, while running a nearby country store. In 1831, Levi moved to Boston , where he established an outlet store to sell the chairs, while Benjamin and William remained in Gardner to manufacture them. A fire destroyed their chair shop in 1834. A year later,

84-478: A household in the city was $ 37,334, and the median income for a family was $ 47,164. Males had a median income of $ 35,804 versus $ 26,913 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 18,624. About 7.0% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over. Throughout its history, Gardner has been known for its furniture industry, earning its nickname as "The Chair City". While

112-612: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Gardner, Massachusetts Gardner is a city in Worcester County in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts , United States. The population was 21,287 in the 2020 census . Gardner is home of such sites as the Blue Moon Diner , Dunn State Park , Gardner Heritage State Park , and Mount Wachusett Community College . Named in honor of Thomas Gardner ,

140-503: Is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts , United States. At the 2020 census , the town population was 8,213. Westminster was first settled by Europeans in 1737, and was officially incorporated in 1759. Westminster has four entries in the National Register of Historic Places : Ahijah Wood House , Nathan Wood House , Ezra Wood-Levi Warner Place , and Westminster Village-Academy Hill Historic District . Westminster

168-469: Is bordered by Ashburnham to the north, Gardner to the west, Hubbardston to the southwest, Princeton to the south, and Leominster and Fitchburg to the east. As of the census of 2000, there were 6,907 people, 2,529 households, and 1,954 families residing in the town. The population density was 194.5 inhabitants per square mile (75.1/km ). There were 2,694 housing units at an average density of 75.9 per square mile (29.3/km ). The racial makeup of

196-483: Is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km ), or 3.52%, is water. The city is situated on Crystal Lake. Its highest point is the summit of Reservoir Hill, close to the city center, with an elevation of over 1,280 feet (390 m) above sea level. Gardner is bordered by Winchendon and Ashburnham to the north, Westminster to the east, Hubbardston to the south, and Templeton to the west, all in Massachusetts. As of

224-734: Is part of the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District along with Ashburnham . The town has two schools. The Meetinghouse School serves students in grades K–1; the Westminster Elementary School, grades 2–5. Middle school students attend Overlook Middle School, and high school students attend Oakmont Regional High School . Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School is a vocational/technical high school) in nearby Fitchburg also serving Westminster students. Public transportation for northern Worcester County

252-599: Is the city's high school and serves grades 8-12. There is also Gardner Academy (alternative school) The Gardner Public Library opened in 1885. The original building is now a museum of the city's history. In 2008, Gardner spent 1.84% ($ 734,164) of its budget on the public library. Public transportation for Gardner is largely supplied by the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART). It operates local fixed-route bus services, shuttle services, as well as para-transit services within

280-536: The IBM Time Recorder Division, which also included the fire protection division. This purchase helped propel Simplex to become a leader in fire alarms and business systems. Simplex would be owned and operated under the Watkins family for over a century with family including son, Curt, from 1942 to 1967, and grandson, Chris, from 1967, until it was sold in 2000, to Tyco International . In 2009,

308-728: The Montachusett Region . Beginning in 1871, the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad provided rail service to the town. Gardner Station was the terminus of the Fitchburg Line for the MBTA from 1980 to 1986, but was cut back to Fitchburg at the beginning of 1987. MART began weekday van service from Gardner to the new Wachusett terminus of the Fitchburg line in 2016. Westminster, Massachusetts Westminster

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336-601: The United States Census of 2000, there were 20,770 people, 8,282 households, and 5,085 families residing in Gardner. The population density was 931.0 people per square mile in 2018. There were 8,838 housing units at an average density of 398.3 per square mile (153.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 93.13% White , 2.29% African American , 0.34% Native American , 1.37% Asian , 0.08% Pacific Islander , 1.22% from other races , and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of

364-697: The Annual Chair Luge began and takes place on the last Saturday in September in downtown Gardner and features teams of two racing down the streets in homemade chairs on wheels. The city is also home of the largest American Cancer Society Relay For Life event in New England . According to the United States Census Bureau , Gardner has a total area of 23.0 square miles (60 km ), of which 22.2 square miles (57 km )

392-560: The Town" which detailed the event and local floats. The town achieved national news in November 2014 when the Board of Health proposed banning all sales of tobacco. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 37.3 square miles (97 km ), of which 35.5 square miles (92 km ) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km ), or 4.90%, is water. Westminster

420-420: The age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% 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 3.09. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under

448-462: The age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males. The median income for a household in the town was $ 57,755, and the median income for a family was $ 61,835. Males had a median income of $ 45,369 versus $ 31,818 for females. The per capita income for

476-436: The design rights were purchased by L. and J.G. Stickley of Manlius, New York . Gardner is also home to the first practical time clock . It was invented in 1894 by Edward G. Watkins, while he was an engineer at Heywood-Wakefield when he was asked to make a better time clock to keep track of employees. After recognizing growing nationwide need for a better time clock, Watkins opened Simplex Time Recorder. In 1958, Simplex bought

504-552: The furniture industry to city economy, as well as the letters W, W, A, and T, representing the surrounding towns of Westminster, Winchendon, Ashburnham, and Templeton, which all contributed land to the city at its founding. Gardner was incorporated as a city in 1923. Gardner is the birthplace of the Heywood-Wakefield Company , dating from 1826 when the five Heywood brothers, Walter, Levi, Seth, Benjamin, and William, began to fashion wooden chairs and furniture in

532-531: The land was first settled by Europeans in 1764 and was officially incorporated as a town in 1785, after receiving land grants from the surrounding towns of Ashburnham , Templeton , Westminster , and Winchendon . In circa 1805, Gardner became a center for lumber and furniture industries, and is now known as "The Chair City" and "The Furniture Capital of New England", due to its long history of production in that industry. By 1910, there were twenty chair factories, which produced four million chairs per year. It

560-534: The location has undergone deindustrialization in recent decades, a handful of manufacturers remain in Gardner and its neighboring towns, including Standard Chair of Gardner and the Saloom Furniture Company. The city is also home to a multinational paper and packaging manufacturer, Seaman Paper . There is one elementary school in Gardner, Gardner Elementary School it serves grades K-4. Gardner Middle School serves grades 5-7. Gardner High School

588-957: The northwestern corner of Middlesex County, Massachusetts . The region's leading daily newspaper , the Sentinel & Enterprise , is published in Fitchburg . Another, the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, publishes a "North County" daily edition and Montachusett T&G semiweekly insert, both of which cover most of the areas usually considered parts of the North County and Montachusett regions. Montachusett–North County towns include (towns in Middlesex County marked with *): 42°33′N 71°53′W  /  42.55°N 71.89°W  / 42.55; -71.89 This Worcester County, Massachusetts geography–related article

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616-582: The partnership of B. F. Heywood and Company was formed, composed of Benjamin, Walter, and William, as well as Moses Wood and James Gates. Gardner was also the home of the Conant Ball Company. Nichols and Stone Chair Company traces their origin to 1762 in Westminster, Massachusetts . The company moved to Gardner at the turn of the twentieth century. As of July 2008, it was announced production would terminate. The name, intellectual property, and

644-461: The population, while 19.6% were of French Canadian , 17.6% French, 12.7% Irish, 6.7% English, 6.3% Polish and 6.2% Italian ancestry. There were 8,282 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. Of all households, 32.4% were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who

672-546: The town was $ 24,913. About 3.0% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over. From 1828 to 1970, Westminster was home to the Westminster Cracker Company . Westminster is currently home to: The Forbush Memorial Library was established in 1868. In fiscal year 2022, the town of Westminster spent 1.88% ($ 459,679) of its budget on its public library. Westminster

700-456: The town was 97.50% White , 0.46% African American , 0.14% Native American , 1.14% Asian , 0.14% from other races , and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population. 17.6% were of French , 15.0% Irish , 13.2% French Canadian , 9.0% English , 9.0% Italian , 8.5% Finnish and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000 . There were 2,529 households, out of which 36.9% had children under

728-451: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males. The median income for

756-406: Was also noted for silversmithing . The Gardner State Hospital pioneered the use of cottage residences. In 1922, the seal of Gardner was designed by the native-born illustrator Harrison Cady . According to city code, the seal portrays Thomas Gardner standing in front of Crystal Lake with Mount Monadnock in the distance. Within five smaller circles there is a chair, representing the importance of

784-555: Was the site of Westminster Academy, incorporated in 1833. On August 25, 1909, a large parade was held in honor of the 150th anniversary of the town's establishment. A civic parade begun at 10 o'clock which featured an array of floats and music provided by the Fitchburg Military and Gardner bands. That year, Wilbur F. Whitney published the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the Town of Westminster, Massachusetts , containing "Historical & Legendary Reminiscences Connected with

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