Decorative drawing: a small American settlement seen from a low hill. Not a photograph of this place.

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

42 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1887 and the latest in 1988. It stands in Fitchburg City. It lies in ZIP code area 01420. It stands on Rollstone Hill. The Survey maps it on the Fitchburg quadrangle. 41,946 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 469 feet above sea level.

Fitchburg within Worcester County

Population over time

2 figures

Fitchburg grew from 40,318 to 41,946 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

Year	People	Change
2010	40,318
2020	41,946	+1,628 (+4%)

Then and now

1887 to 1988

The same ground, surveyed 101 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.

Topographic sheet of Fitchburg, surveyed 1988

Topographic sheet of Fitchburg, surveyed 1887

Topographic sheets covering this place

42 sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Photographs

8 photographs, 1936 to 1942

Taken for the Office of War Information and the Farm Security Administration, who photographed the country between 1935 and 1944. Works of United States government photographers, with no known restriction on use. Each opens its catalogue record.

Bottling machine. United Cooperative Society. Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Carter, Paul, 1936. Library of Congress

United Cooperative Society store. Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Rothstein, Arthur, 1936. Library of Congress

Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Borowsky, photographer, 1942. Library of Congress

Finnish members of the United Cooperative Society of Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Carter, Paul, 1936. Library of Congress

Milk storage room at the United Cooperative Society at Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Carter, Paul, 1936. Library of Congress

United Cooperative Society fuel oil truck. Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Rothstein, Arthur, 1936. Library of Congress

Fires nearby

167 since 2015

The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 167 fires within 5 miles of Fitchburg between 2015 and 2020, burning about 110 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	71
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	60
Smoking	23
Recreation and ceremony	5
Power generation/transmission/distribution	3
Fireworks	3
Arson/incendiarism	1
Natural	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
8 September 2015	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1.0 acres	Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control	not named
7 September 2016	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control	not named
5 September 2016	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control	not named
5 September 2015	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control	not named
4 September 2015	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control	not named
4 September 2015	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control	not named
3 September 2017	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control	not named
24 September 2020	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	3.4 acres	Massachusetts Bureau of Forest Fire Control	MONOOSNOC HILL

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Worcester County

Specimens collected nearby

12 of 718 shown

Museums hold 718 specimens collected within 10 miles of Fitchburg between 1870 and 1974: 297 Animalia, 248 Plantae, 156 Fungi, 8 Unrecorded, 6 Chromista, 3 Protozoa. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by A. B. Seymour, A. Ferrett, A. H. Allen and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.

Species	Year	Collected by	Where, as recorded
Porella platyphylla (L.) Pfeiff.	1895	James F. Collins	South spur, Mount Wachusett
Athyrium filix-femina subsp. angustum (Willd.) R.T.Clausen	1900	Davenport	Pine Hill; Medford
Carex maritima Gunnerus	1870	J. W. Congdon	Wellville
Hylesinus aculeatus Say & T., 1824	1872	unknown	Fitchburg
Carex foenea Willd.	1878	W. Boott	Wachusett Mountain
Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (Aiton) Rydb.	1879	Bailey, W.W.	summit of Mt. Wachusett
Papaver orientale L.	1880	unknown	Townsend.
Hypericum gentianoides (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.	1881	Fredrick L Sargent	Lunenburg
Nitella megacarpa (T.F.A.) R.D.W.	1881	T. F. Allen	Nashua River
Arthuriomyces peckianus (Howe) Cummins & Y.Hirats.	1892	W. B. Hosmer
Moneses uniflora (L.) A.Gray	1893	J. F. Collins
Phyllosticta kalmicola (Schwein.) Ellis & Everh.	1894	H. L. Jones

All 718 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Mines and quarries nearby

6 within 5 miles

The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of Fitchburg: 4 past producers, 1 producer, 1 occurrence. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Tin, Lithium, Geothermal. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
Fitchburg Area	Tin, Lithium	Occurrence
Leominster Pit	Geothermal	Past Producer
Luenburg Plant	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
P J Keating	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer	Sedimentary
Szocik Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Tanzio Road Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Worcester County

Storms nearby

26 since 1995

The National Weather Service names Fitchburg in 26 storm reports between 1995 and 2024: 16 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 2 hail, 2 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
April 2007	Flood	Fitchburg	$500,000	Major flooding occurred along the North Nashua River in Fitchburg. A crest of 8.6 feet was recorded at 530 am on the 16th (flood stage is 6.5 feet). This may have surpassed the previous record high crest which occurred in April, 2007. Widespread flooding was reported along the river in Fitcburg, where several roads were impassable. Minor flooding occurred along the Blackstone River in Northbridge, where the river crested at 10.3 feet at 315 pm on the 16th (flood stage is 9 feet).
October 2016	Flash Flood	Fitchburg	$75,000	Three to five inches of rain fell within the matter of a few hours during the evening of October 21 which resulted in prolific urban flash flooding in Worcester and surrounding areas. \|\|In Worcester, flash flooding made roads impassable and there were many reports of cars stuck in floodwaters and people needing rescue. Roads flooded included Cambridge, Chandler, Bancroft, Park, Harding, Hammond, Highland, Summer, Lincoln, Green, Grove, Bridge, Irving and Ellsworth Streets, as well as Goldthwaite Road, Pleasant Terrace, Major Taylor Boulevard, Shore Drive, and Park Avenue. One portion of Cambridge Street near Kansas Street was reported to be flooded with water 7 feet deep! MLK Boulevard flooded up to an underpass bridge in a low lying area. Several other streets were reported to have floodwaters over 4 feet deep, including Country Club Boulevard. Over 20 cars were reported stuck in floodwaters at the intersection of Highland Street and Park Avenue. Plantation Street from Oakhurst Street to I-290 was flooded with water up to 4 feet deep. Significant flooding was also reported on 122A as well as I-290, with floodwaters up to SUV tire height reported. Several vehicles were stuck in floodwaters on I-290.\|\|In Fitchburg, flash flooding closed a section of the John Fitchburg Highway and a car was stuck in flood waters on Shelley Avenue. In Leominster, flash flooding closed the intersection of Washington Street and Grove Avenue as well as McKay Street entering the hospital. In Lancaster, Main Street was flooded and impassable while in Shrewsbury, Route 9 at Oak Street was flooded up to the tops of car tires.\|\|No injuries were reported due to the flash flooding.\|\|Due to the ongoing drought conditions, stream and river flows were well below average and the excessive amount of rainfall did not produce flooding.
September 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$50,000	Trees on Myrtle Avenue, Ross, Arcadia, and Townsend Streets were downed by thunderstorm winds. A downed tree on Myrtle Avenue was downed onto a house.
March 2006	Lightning	Fitchburg	$50,000	no account filed
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$40,000	Multiple trees in Fitchburg and Leominster were downed by thunderstorm winds. Ringer and Prospect Streets in Leominster were blocked by fallen trees and one tree fell on a car in Fitchburg.
July 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$20,000	Wires were blown down on Mount Elaf Road.
August 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$15,000	no account filed
August 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$6,000	In Fitchburg, a tree was down on a house at Brigham Park. Trees and poles were down on Ashby State Rd.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$5,000	A tree on High Street was downed by thunderstorm winds, blocking the street.
September 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$5,000	Power lines on South Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$5,000	Trees near Route 2 East Exit 27 were downed by thunderstorm winds.
September 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$3,000	A large branch was downed onto a car, blocking Hope Street.
October 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$1,300	In Fitchburg, a tree and wires were down on Ash Street and a one foot diameter branch was down on Milk Street, with wires down.
December 2022	Flood	Fitchburg	$1,000	In Fitchburg at 1219 PM, a Twitter video showed substantial street flooding on John Fitch Highway.
June 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	$500	In Fitchburg, a tree landed on a roof at the 50 Block of Central St.
July 2023	Flash Flood	Fitchburg	-	In Fitchburg there was structural damage to Birch St. Large sections of asphalt were lying on the road with rushing water.
August 2017	Flash Flood	Fitchburg	-	Water two feet deep was reported on State Route 31 north of Fitchburg.
August 2015	Hail	Fitchburg	-	Penny to quarter size hail fell in Fitchburg.
June 2007	Hail	Fitchburg	-	Nickel to quarter size hail reported in Fitchburg.
February 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	-	A peak wind gust to 62 mph was recorded by the automated weather station at Fitchburg during a severe thunderstorm. Quite a few power lines were reported down throughout the city of Fitchburg, but power outages were brief.
July 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	-	no account filed
September 2001	Flash Flood	Fitchburg	-	no account filed
May 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	-	no account filed
March 1998	Flash Flood	Fitchburg	-	no account filed
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	-	no account filed
July 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Fitchburg	-	no account filed

Every storm recorded in Worcester County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Place	Distance	Sheets
South Fitchburg	1.7 miles	42
West Fitchburg	2.1 miles	42
Wachusett Station	2.9 miles	42
Waites Corner	2.9 miles	42
Whalom	3.0 miles	44
West Leominster	3.4 miles	42
Lunenburg	4.2 miles	44
North Leominster	4.5 miles	44

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Fitchburg	An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q54182	The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 617121. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Specimens. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), https://www.gbif.org/. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY are used. Records licensed CC BY-NC are excluded because this site carries advertising. Images are checked individually and any whose licence is non-commercial, no-derivatives or unreadable is refused.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.