Fitchburg

As a relatively large and prosperous city in a mainly rural area, Fitchburg developed into the primary commercial center for the region during the first half of the 20th century, with the downtown area growing into a popular shopping and entertainment zone. The demand for housing located within walking distance of Fitchburg's places of employment led to the development of a dense multifamily housing stock in the center of the city. Just over half of Fitchburg's housing units were built prior to World War II.