Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA

Townsend is a town in northwestern Middlesex County, Massachusetts, near the New Hampshire border. A compact center, residential neighborhoods, forests and former mill areas follow the Squannacook River through a largely rural landscape. The town was incorporated in 1732 and developed through farming, timber, water-powered industry and local trade. Historic buildings and conserved land continue to distinguish it from the denser suburbs closer to Boston. Townsend also has strong regional ties to Fitchburg, Nashua and other nearby employment and service centers.