Lunenburg

History

Lunenburg was first settled by Europeans in 1718 and was officially incorporated in 1728. The name stems from one of the titles of King George II of Great Britain, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. During King George's War (1744–1748), French-allied First Nations, such as warriors of the Mi'kmaq or Abenaki Confederacy, raided the village and took settlers captive to Quebec. Areas of neighboring Fitchburg were once part of Lunenburg, but broke away around 1764. The settlers found the walking distance to church and town meetings too great and needed their own town center. Whalom Park on Whalom Lake had long been a noted amusement park in Lunenburg during the 20th century. It was home of the famous Flyer Comet, now demolished. The park closed in 2000, unable to survive the competition with the newer and increasingly popular Six Flags New England in Agawam.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 4.59%, is water. Lunenburg is bordered by Townsend to the north, Shirley to the east, Lancaster to the southeast, Leominster to the south, Fitchburg to the west, and Ashby to the northwest. Three state highways pass through Lunenburg. Route 2A follows Mass Ave from the Shirley line to the Fitchburg line. Rt 13 follows Electric Ave from the Leominster line to Mass Ave. Rt 13 then follows Mass Ave/Rt 2a for 0.3 miles. Rt 13 then follows Chase Rd to the Townsend Line. Rt 225 begins in Lunenburg, at an intersection with Rt 2a/Mass Ave near the Shirley line. Rt 225 follows West Groton Rd from Rt 2a to the Shirley line.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical
  High · Fitchburg · 1,409 students · 11.7:1 ratio
• Fitchburg High
  High · Fitchburg · 1,246 students · 13:1 ratio
• Leominster High School
  High · Leominster · 1,034 students · 11:1 ratio
• Sky View Middle School
  Middle · Leominster · 886 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Center For Technical Education Innovation
  High · Leominster · 800 students · 25:1 ratio
• McKay Elementary School
  Elementary · Fitchburg · 727 students · 11:1 ratio
• Northwest
  Elementary · Leominster · 727 students · 14:1 ratio
• Johnny Appleseed
  Elementary · Leominster · 661 students · 14.1:1 ratio