Downtown Fitchburg has served as the City's commercial and industrial core for more than a century.  The Nashua River was the City's first source of industrial power, fueling development and contributing to rapid urban growth in the late nineteenth century.  The paper mills and other industries that thrived in Fitchburg generated tremendous wealth, which is still reflected in the City's outstanding civic, commercial, and residential architecture.  In addition to its industrial and commercial vitality, downtown Fitchburg was historically defined by its beautiful public open spaces, including Crocker Field, designed by the firm of Frederick Law Olmsted in the late nineteenth century, and Monument Park, dedicated in 1874.

The City's industrial base was transformed in the twentieth century with the emergence of new technologies.  The manufacturing of plastics and medical supplies are now the dominant industries, with facilities located thorughout the city and surrounding region.  Education has also become an important component of the local economy; Fitchburg State College, founded in 1894, recently became the City's single largest employer.  The College, located approximately one-half mile north of Main Street, now plays a key role in downtown development.

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