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1987 Map of Lowell

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of Lowell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

The Merrimack River snakes through this 1980s landscape, anchoring the industrial and residential growth of Lowell and its surrounding townships across the New Hampshire Massachusetts border. This survey captures a transitional period of suburban development and civic expansion, visible in the cluster of institutions such as Lowell Tech Sch, Rivier College, and Lowell Gen Hosp. While the urban core of Lowell is densely packed, the map reveals the persistent rural character of the outlying areas, marked by numerous family-named corners like Perhams Four Corners, Frederick Corner, and Whidden Corner.

Significant wooded tracts and water bodies define the northern reaches, including the Lowell Dracut State Forest and Mascuppic Lake. The transportation network is dominated by the Everett Turnpike and the historic Boston and Maine railroad line, which served the region's long-standing industrial base. Local history is well-preserved through numerous cemeteries such as Evergreen Cem and Sherburne Cem, alongside smaller settlements like Varnumtown and Collinsville that maintain their distinct identities despite the encroaching sprawl.