Shirley

History

The inhabitants at the time of European encounter were Nipmuc (or Pennacook) Indians, who called the area Catacunemaug. Once part of "The Plantation of Groton," Shirley was first settled by English pioneers about 1720. In 1753 it separated from Groton and was incorporated, named in honor of William Shirley, governor of Massachusetts (1741–1757). The town established a paper mill around 1790, and the first of seven cotton mills in 1812. Other local products included iron, nails, textiles, rope, belts, suspenders, and athletic equipment. Two of the large 19th-century mill buildings have been subdivided and adapted for use by 21st-century businesses. A utopian religious community, Shirley Shaker Village, was established in Shirley in 1793. The Shakers advocated pacifism, common property, celibacy, and communal living. They are renowned for their plain architecture and furniture. The Shaker movement peaked in the 1840s, but gradually dwindled, perhaps because of greater employment opportunities offered by the Industrial Revolution, or because succeeding generations grew less tolerant of the Shaker church's insistence on self-abnegation. Shirley Shaker Village closed in 1908. A medium-security state prison was built on land surrounding the remains of the Shaker village in Shirley, and continues to operate. The town also operates a Senior Center located at 9 Parker Road, which previously was a preschool/kindergarten.

Geography

The town has a total area of 15.9 square miles (41.2 km), of which 15.8 square miles (41.0 km) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km) (0.50%) is water. It is bounded by the Squannacook and Nashua rivers and contains Mulpus Brook and Catecunemaug Brook. Significant wetlands are Spruce Swamp (drained by Spruce Swamp Brook) and Tophet Swamp.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  34,876
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  33,223
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  30,649
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29,794
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  27,383
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  26,937
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  25,274
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  24,410

Largest nearby schools

• North Middlesex Regional
  High · Townsend · 779 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• Groton Dunstable Regional Middle
  Middle · Groton · 723 students · 12.1:1 ratio
• Varnum Brook
  Elementary · Pepperell · 633 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• Page Hilltop Elementary School
  Elementary · Ayer · 532 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• Florence Roche School
  Elementary · Groton · 526 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• Blanchard Memorial School
  Elementary · Boxborough · 506 students · 13.7:1 ratio
• Littleton High School
  High · Littleton · 480 students · 13.3:1 ratio
• Hawthorne Brook
  Middle · Townsend · 464 students · 11.3:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.7 — 2023-12-23
  5 km SW of Chichester, New Hampshire
• M 2.7 — 2018-02-15
  0 km SE of East Kingston, New Hampshire
• M 2.8 — 2016-03-21
  4 km ESE of Warner, New Hampshire
• M 2.6 — 2015-01-13
  2 km E of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 3.3 — 2015-01-12
  0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut
• M 2.61 — 2013-10-11
  New Hampshire