Shirley

Town in northeastern Massachusetts, in Middlesex County, 11 km/7 mi southeast of Fitchburg, on the Nashua River; population (2000 est) 1,400. Hilly and rural, it has had various light industries and is a residential suburb. The town is near the Fort Devens army base. It was incorporated in 1786.

Colonists arrived at the town's site in 1720. Water-powered mills were built from 1739 onwards and were followed by iron works and textile factories. English religious leader Ann Lee visited the town in 1783 and a Shaker community was formally organized in Shirley in 1793. The Shaker village, one of 4 entries for Shirley on the national register of historic places, closed in 1908 when it was taken over by Massachusetts State. The buildings were initially used as an industrial school for boys and were later developed into correctional facilities.