History and Location

Downtown is at the center of the city, with Merrimack River to its north, Back Central to its south and the Acre to its west and Belvidere to its east. Many of the canals go through Downtown, highlighting the desire for many industrialists to move to Lowell in the industrial times of the early 1800s and feed off the energy of these canals. The layout of the canal system and the major roads within Downtown such as Merrimack Street, Market Street, Dutton Street and Jackson Street were developed during that time.

After the collapse of the New England textile industry, in the early 1900s, buildings and mills Downtown became vacant and businesses closed down. As a result, Downtown Lowell has undergone a radical transformation in the past thirty years. The Downtown has slowly shifted from being a center of industry and commerce of the region to where now, it has become a regional source for culture, education, recreation and tourism - a "Destination City."

Demographics

• Population:  3,881 (Census 2000)
• Median Household Income: $18,468 (1999 Dollars)

Parks and Recreation

• Derby Park
• Lucy Larcom Park
• Mack Plaza
• Kerouac Park

Historic Landmarks

• Downtown Historic District

Neighborhood Group:

• Downtown Neighborhood Association. Meets the 4th Monday of the month. Location varies.

Projects

• Mack Plaza Playground

• Downtown Revitalization Project

• Hamilton Canal

• JAM Parking Garage