Shirley is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is approximately thirty miles west-northwest of Boston. The population was 7,431 at the 2020 census. It contains census-designated place of Shirley and part of Devens. The town has a well-preserved historic New England town center.

It is home to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Shirley, a medium-security state prison. (The neighboring maximum-security Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center lies just outside the town limits in the town of Lancaster.) The remains of a Shaker village have been preserved within the grounds of the prison.

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. , Phoenix Park Online

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.United States Census Bureau 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.U.S. Geological Survey, Ayer, Massachusetts, 7.5 × 15 minute quadrangle, 1988.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,373 people, 2,067 households, and 1,426 families residing in the town.This article describes the town of Shirley as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available which describes only the central settlement or village within the town, although that detail is included in the aggregate values reported here. See: Shirley (CDP), Massachusetts. The population density was . There were 2,156 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 83.90% White, 6.72% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 5.12% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.86% of the population.

There were 2,067 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 39.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 137.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 151.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,344, and the median income for a family was $66,250. Males had a median income of $42,078 versus $32,130 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,556. About 1.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Schools Lura A. White Elementary SchoolLura A. White Elementary School. Retrieved March 24, 2014. Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School. Retrieved October 29, 2014. Ayer Shirley Regional High School. Retrieved October 29, 2014. A new regional school system shared with the neighboring Town of Ayer officially launched in 2011

Parks Benjamin Hill Recreation AreaBenjamin Hill Recreation Area . Retrieved April 4, 2017. Fredonian Nature CenterFredonian Nature Center . Retrieved April 4, 2017. Whitley Park Farandnear Reservationthetrustees.org/place/farandnear/

Points of interest Shirley Historical Society MuseumShirley Historical Society Museum . Retrieved March 24, 2014. Shirley Shaker Village Massachusetts Correctional Institution – Shirley, a medium/minimum security state prison. Shirley Senior Center Shirley Meeting House Hazen Memorial Library

Transportation Commuter rail service from Boston's North Station is provided by the MBTA with a stop in Shirley on its Fitchburg Line.MBTA website . mbta.com. Retrieved May 25, 2008. The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) supplies Councils-On-Aging service for elderly and disabled residents.

Media Newspapers Nashoba Valley Voice (previously Shirley Oracle)Shirley Oracle . Retrieved March 24, 2014. Fitchburg Sentinel & EnterpriseSentinel & Enterprise . Retrieved March 24, 2014. The Lowell SunSun . Retrieved March 24, 2014. Worcester Telegram & GazetteTelegram & Gazette . Retrieved March 24, 2014. The Shirley Volunteer (no longer published)

Cable Shirley Public Access Corporation

Notable people Simon Atherton, Shaker Clara Bancroft Beatley, educator, lecturer and author Oliver Holden, hymn writer Benton MacKaye, forester who proposed the Appalachian Trail Sarah Carter Edgarton Mayo, writer and editor Daniel Parker, inspector general, adjutant general and postmaster general Earl Tupper, founder of Tupperware company Jerry White, former Major League Baseball player

See also Shirley Center Historic District Shirley Village Historic District

Citations

General and cited references The source for Shirley's coordinates is The 1990 Gazetteer was consulted and the value given for the zip code 01464 was used: 42.558653 N, 71.646444 W.

Further reading History of the Town of Shirley, Massachusetts, by Seth Chandler, published 1883, 744 pages.

Seth Chandler Biography, by Alan Seaburg, Published 2011, Anne Miniver Press

Maps 1871 Atlas of Massachusetts. by Wall & Gray. Map of Massachusetts. Map of Middlesex County.

External links

Town of Shirley official website Massachusetts official website – Town of Shirley