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Townsend Massachusetts Map

Explore Townsend, Massachusetts, with this interactive street and satellite map.

This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.

Interactive Map of Townsend, Massachusetts

How to Use This Townsend, Massachusetts Map

This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Townsend, Massachusetts. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of Massachusetts or beyond.

Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).

TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Townsend.

Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.

Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.

City	Townsend
State	Massachusetts (MA)
County	Middlesex County
Country	United States of America
Timezone	Eastern Time (America/New_York)

Latitude	42.676668
Longitude	-71.70977
Population	1,213
Density	276.5 /km²
Incorporated	N/A
ZIP Code	01469
Area Code	339, 351, 413, 508, 617, 774, 781, 857, 978
County Seat	Cambridge
School District	North Middlesex School District

🌦 Goto Townsend Weather Page: Townsend, Massachusetts — Weather Warnings, Forecast, Radar, Satellite & Current Conditions

About Townsend, Massachusetts

Townsend is a locality in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It has a population of approximately 1,213. The population density is 276.5 people per km². Townsend is located at 42.6767°N, 71.7098°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 01469.

Townsend presents a landscape defined by the steady, winding passage of the Squannacook River as it carves through the quiet terrain. It lies 5.1 miles north of Lunenburg, MA (from Lunenburg, MA: bearing 11°T), and is situated 7.6 miles northeast of Fitchburg. The land here retains a rugged, inland character, far removed from the saline air of the coast, where the morning mist clings to the dense growth of the Townsend State Forest. Only a mile away, the surface of Walker Pond mirrors the changing sky, offering a place of stillness amidst the surrounding woodlands. Toward the horizon, the distant Wapack Range rises as a faint, jagged silhouette against the darkening afternoon light. Beyond the immediate canopy, the terrain dips into the quiet seclusion of Lost Valley, where the air feels heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine.

Townsend grew from early colonial roots, its economy once sustained by the grit of sawmills and cooperages that harnessed the power of local waterways. These industries shaped the rhythm of daily labor, leaving behind a legacy of hard-won self-sufficiency that informs the character of the inhabitants today. Over time, the focus shifted from heavy timber production to smaller, specialized enterprises, reflecting a slow adaptation to modern industrial needs. The architecture of the older sectors remains a testament to this period, with sturdy structures serving as reminders of a time when the output of the mills dictated the prosperity of the region. Even as modern commerce evolves, the area maintains a grounded, industrious spirit that honors its foundational years.

Townsend finds its center within the protected grounds of the Town Common, a space that anchors the social life of the region through communal gatherings and seasonal events. This area serves as a focal point for public life, where the pace of the day slows to match the movement of the seasons. While the quietude of the surroundings defines the experience of living here, the local identity is bolstered by a deep appreciation for the natural landscape. Residents often traverse the paths near Mitchell Hill Road, where the elevation provides a clearer vantage of the forested expanse. The culture remains one of modest endurance and quiet reflection, far from the clamor of dense urban centers.

Nearby Outdoor Places

Dudley Meadows (Local Conservation Area) — 0.1 mi, 018° N
Howard Park (Local Park) — 0.1 mi, 155° SE
Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area (State Conservation Area) — 0.1 mi, 234° SW
Townsend State Forest (State Conservation Area) — 0.2 mi, 164° S
Town Common (Local Park) — 0.7 mi, 157° SE
Pheasant Ridge (Conservation Area) — 1.3 mi, 178° S
Observatory (Public Artwork) — 3.9 mi, 030° NE
Groton Leatherboard Memorial (Monument) — 4.0 mi, 138° SE
Peter E. Bertozzi Memorial (Monument) — 4.1 mi, 138° SE
Peter Bertozzi and Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area Memorial (Monument) — 4.1 mi, 133° SE
Wildlife Pond Overlook (Viewpoint) — 6.4 mi, 046° NE
The Alumni Center for the Performing Arts (Theatre) — 7.7 mi, 220° SW
Gallery Marquee (Gallery) — 8.0 mi, 217° SW
Silver Lake State Park (State Park) — 8.1 mi, 045° NE
Painted Rock (Attraction) — 8.3 mi, 218° SW
Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 8.5 mi, 146° SE · 3,392 acres
Wallingford House (Historic Ruins) — 8.9 mi, 033° NE
Historic Monson Village (Historic Ruins) — 9.1 mi, 030° NE
Whale Rock (Attraction) — 9.2 mi, 209° SW
Art on the Rocks (Gallery) — 9.2 mi, 202° S
Coggshall Rock Ledges & Cliffs (Attraction) — 9.2 mi, 211° SW
Moses' Rock (Attraction) — 9.3 mi, 210° SW
St. Leo's Auditorium (Theatre) — 10.4 mi, 194° S
The Painted Goat (Gallery) — 10.6 mi, 254° W
New Dawn Arts Center (Arts Centre) — 10.7 mi, 255° W
Johnny Appleseed State Park (State Park) — 10.9 mi, 185° S
The Cabinet Press Printing Museum (Museum) — 11.5 mi, 016° N
Wapack National Wildlife Refuge (National Wildlife Refuge) — 15.5 mi, 332° NW · 3,288 acres

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