Shirley Massachusetts Map

About Shirley, Massachusetts

Shirley is a locality in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It has a population of approximately 7,700. The population density is 280.0 people per km². Shirley is located at 42.5437°N, 71.6495°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 1464.

Shirley unfolds across a landscape of rolling hills and scattered woodlands, where the Nashua River’s gentle winding shapes the contours of the land. It lies 5.8 miles east-north-east of Leominster, MA (from Leominster, MA: bearing 77°T), and is situated 8.2 miles east-south-east of Fitchburg. The air here carries the clean scent of pine and damp earth, especially in the early mornings when a pale, diffused light softens the edges of the familiar farms and scattered homes. Open fields, some still tilled and others returning to meadow, offer glimpses of the sky, a vast, ever-changing canvas of blues and grays that presides over the quiet dignity of this place. The terrain, a mix of fertile bottomland and higher, more wooded ridges, lends a sense of enduring stability to Shirley, a feeling that the land itself remembers seasons past and anticipates those yet to come. The history of Shirley is etched into its very foundation, a narrative woven from agricultural roots and a quiet industrial past. Once a significant hub for textile manufacturing, the echoes of that era can still be felt, though the landscape has largely reclaimed its natural character. Today, the local economy is a more diverse tapestry, with small businesses and artisanal crafts contributing to the town's character, alongside the continued presence of agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of crops like corn and hay that stretch across the sun-drenched fields. The annual agricultural fair, a cherished tradition, draws residents from Shirley and surrounding towns, a vibrant testament to the enduring connection between the people and the land that sustains them, a time when the scent of fried dough and livestock mingles with the crisp autumn air.

About This Shirley Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Shirley, Massachusetts — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 42.543702, -71.649513. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Shirley and Middlesex County.

Detailed location data for Shirley includes the ZIP code (01464), telephone area code (339, 351, 413, 508, 617, 774, 781, 857, 978), county seat of Middlesex County (Cambridge), and school district assignment (Ayer-Shirley School District). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Shirley is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.