North Chelmsford, Massachusetts

A.W. Vinal statue in Vinal Square, or North Chelmsford Center

North Chelmsford is an unincorporated village in the town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, United States. Although North Chelmsford has its own zip code (01863), library, post office, police station, fire station, and local calling area, it is run by the same local town government and is part of the same school district as Chelmsford.

North Chelmsford is more industrial, more densely populated, and generally less affluent than the rest of Chelmsford. North Chelmsford's separate identity and the town government's perceived bias one way or the other is a political issue - the Lowell Sun ran an article on August 7, 2005 describing the situation as "Chelmsford's Civil War Still Raging On." Bumper stickers such as "I'm from North Chelmsford - Don't Tread On Me" can be seen around town.

When it comes to Chelmsford's rivalry with neighboring Billerica though, Chelmsford and North Chelmsford stand firmly united.

Education

Chelmsford High School is located in North Chelmsford. The students who live in North Chelmsford go to Harrington Elementary School or Westlands Elementary School, and Parker Middle School.

Geography

North Chelmsford is along the Merrimack River and Stony Brook. Freeman Lake, originally on maps as Newfield Pond, or as it used to be known, Crystal Lake due to an ice company named the same that used to be located where the dam is today, is located on Route 40, a short distance from Vinal Square. It is also the site of the Chelmsford Senior Center.

North Chelmsford is centered around the intersection of 3A, 40, and a few local roads. This intersection is known as Vinal Square, after local World War I Private Alberton W. Vinal, who was killed in France.^[1] A stone monument is dedicated to him and Chelmsford's other World War I fatalities on the Square's common.

Transportation

U.S. Route 3 has two signed North Chelmsford exits - one for Route 40 (Exit 33), the other for Drum Hill (Exit 32).

A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail station will be located in North Chelmsford if/when the proposed extension of the Lowell Line to Nashua, New Hampshire is completed.

References

1. ^ http://wwc.townofchelmsford.us/CHCwebsite/HTML/VinalWW1Monument/Image1.htm

External links

• Chelmsford official website
• Lowell Line Extension (PDF)

Coordinates: 42°38′20″N 71°22′58″W / 42.63889°N 71.38278°W / 42.63889; -71.38278