Nestled in the rolling hillsides of north central Massachusetts, Leominster has enjoyed the benefits of its ideal New England location for centuries. Early settlers found land suitable for agriculture, and perfect conditions for apple orchards. As the industrial era took hold, Leominster's geography and topography opened opportunities for factories to flourish. And today, its highway and rail access opens the door to the nation and the world.

Half a century later, the western travels of another Leominster native brought fame through a series of 'dime novels' that entranced a generation of readers. Samuel Stone Hall, more popularly known as 'Buckskin Sam' and 'Major Sam S. Hall,' turned his firsthand knowledge of the west into a series of ten-cent novels with titles like Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver and Desperate Duke, the Guadalope 'Galoot.'
 
With the dawning of the industrial age, Leominster became the birthplace of not only individual pioneers, but an entire industry. The transformation of the comb business from horn and shell products to a new material known as celluloid created the plastics industry and earned Leominster the title of Pioneer Plastics City of the World. Name brands like Foster Grant and Tupperware, and creative products like the quirky pink flamingo, helped to spread the city's fame around the world.
 
Today, plastics remain the backbone of Leominster's industry - an industry whose products have moved far beyond those early grooming products and housewares to precision medical devices. In addition to its role as a plastics manufacturing center, the city is home to scores of businesses that create the materials, molds, tools and equipment for the plastics industry. Housed in venerable brick mills and modern industrial-park settings, plastics-related companies are drawn to the city, taking advantage of its history, its skilled workforce, and its can-do business attitude.
 
That level of energy and support extends beyond Leominster's best-known industry, too. Spurred by the availability of land with easy highway access, the retail sector has blossomed in the city. National and regional companies, from home centers to department stores, have found homes in the city's mall settings, bolstering business at locally-owned shops. The retail vitality has bolstered the hospitality industry, and Leominster enjoys a bounty of both well-known national restaurants and independently-owned dining spots. Proudly American, Leominster greets highway travelers with a flourish of flags, welcoming them to a community that encompasses the history of New England.

The city's vibrant downtown, featuring a host of historic buildings, is a blend of unique retail shops and busy office spaces. A walk through the downtown district offers both a rich shopping experience and a tour of New England history, reflecting the cultural diversity created by generations of immigrants from around the globe. In this new century, African and Latin American markets, and Brazilian and Vietnamese restaurants, have become woven into the fabric of this thriving business district.
 
More than an eminently walkable Main Street, the downtown district extends into the West Street and Merriam Avenue corridors, home to the public library, Municipal Building, the Common, and a host of magnificent Victorian houses, many of them now converted to professional office spaces.
 
The pedestrian-friendly downtown lends itself to community activity, and has become a popular venue for events like a 1950s-themed Summer Stroll, Johnny Appleseed Festival, Halloween Parade and the Winter Stroll, with its roasted chestnuts, Holiday Parade and spirited carolers. Growing in popularity with each passing year, the family-oriented downtown happenings attract crowds of visitors to the heart of the city and remind residents of the city's history and the unique businesses in their own backyard.
 
This is New England at its finest: a montage of fascinating history, seasonal splendor and outstanding lifestyles. It's a city of quality schools, diverse housing options, and a dynamic economy - a city ready to welcome visitors, new residents and businesses today; a city ready for you!