Gardner, Massachusetts
Gardner is a city of 21,148 people in Worcester County, Massachusetts, founded in 1764.
Why visit Gardner
Townapedia lists 40 museums and landmarks, 66 parks and trails, 41 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 17 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Beech Hill, Gardner Cinemas, Elm Street Fire Station and Garbose Building.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 80°F; January lows average 14°F, and about 75 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Gardner
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Gardner
Gardner is a city in Worcester County in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,287 in the 2020 census. Gardner is home of such sites as the Blue Moon Diner, Dunn State Park, Gardner Heritage State Park, and Mount Wachusett Community College.
From the Wikipedia article Gardner, Massachusetts (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do17
5 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks40
Elm Street Fire Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic fire station at 58 Elm Street in Gardner, Massachusetts, United States
58 Elm Street
Garbose Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic commercial building in Gardner, Massachusetts, United States
Ashburnham Center Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.4 mi
Historic district in Ashburnham, Massachusetts
Baldwinville Village Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Gardner News Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Gardner Uptown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
Jabez Partridge Homestead
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Building in Massachusetts, United States
Lake Street Fire Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic fire station at 2 Lake Street in Gardner, Massachusetts, United States
Levi Heywood Memorial Library Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Historic building in Gardner, Massachusetts, United States
Sylvester K. Pierce House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
Historic house in Gardner, Massachusetts
Templeton Common Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.5 mi
Historic district in Massachusetts, United States
West Gardner Square Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic district in Gardner, Massachusetts
28 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds66
54 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes41
Parker House of Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.7 mi
17 Pleasant Street
Mo-Sa 11:00-21:00
Tata's Fonda
Restaurant · Spanish, Puerto Rican · 0.7 mi
55 Vernon Street, Gardner
Tu-Sa 11:00-19:00
Gardner Ale House
Bar and pub · American · 0.7 mi
74 Parker Street, Gardner
Mo-We 11:30-20:00; Th-Sa 11:30-21:00; Su 09:00-20:00
Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub
Diner · American · 1.6 mi
299 Timpany Boulevard, Gardner
29 more on the map.
History
Named in honor of Thomas Gardner, the land was first settled by Europeans in 1764 and was officially incorporated as a town in 1785, after receiving land grants from the surrounding towns of Ashburnham, Templeton, Westminster, and Winchendon. In circa 1805, Gardner became a center for lumber and furniture industries, and is now known as "The Chair City" and "The Furniture Capital of New England", due to its long history of production in that industry. By 1910, there were twenty chair factories, which produced four million chairs per year. It was also noted for silversmithing. The Gardner State Hospital pioneered the use of cottage residences.
In 1922, the seal of Gardner was designed by the native-born illustrator Harrison Cady. According to city code, the seal portrays Thomas Gardner standing in front of Crystal Lake with Mount Monadnock in the distance. Within five smaller circles there is a chair, representing the importance of the furniture industry to city economy, as well as the letters W, W, A, and T, representing the surrounding towns of Westminster, Winchendon, Ashburnham, and Templeton, which all contributed land to the city at its founding. Gardner was incorporated as a city in 1923.
From the History section of Gardner, Massachusetts on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship21
First Minister's House
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
186 Elm Street
Chestnut Street United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 0.6 mi
161 Chestnut Street, Gardner
Gardner Seventh Day Adventist Church
Church · Seventh Day Adventist · 2.5 mi
100 Colony Road
Higher Ground Ministries
Church · Nondenominational · 0.5 mi
186 Central Street, Gardner
Saint Mary and Saint Thomas Coptic Orthodox Church
Church · Coptic Orthodox · 0.6 mi
166 Cross Street
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church
Church · Episcopal · 0.5 mi
92 School Street, Gardner
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter Day Saints · 1.5 mi
634 Pearl Street
Shopping11
Gas and EV charging11
Schools, colleges and libraries25
Gardner Academy For Learning And Technology
School · 0.7 mi
160 Elm Street, Gardner
Healthcare4
Map of Gardner
239 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 14°F | 3.5 in | 16.9 in |
| Feb | 33°F | 15°F | 3.3 in | 18.9 in |
| Mar | 41°F | 23°F | 4.4 in | 16.4 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 4.2 in | 4.0 in |
| May | 66°F | 44°F | 4.0 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 75°F | 54°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 80°F | 60°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 57°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 71°F | 51°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 57°F | 39°F | 5.1 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 30°F | 3.8 in | 3.0 in |
| Dec | 35°F | 20°F | 4.7 in | 15.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ashburnham (4 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Worcester County has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-05-15: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2023-09-15: Hurricane Lee (Hurricane)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-07-19: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2015-04-13: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Gardner Municipal Airport (GDM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Fitchburg 9 mi east, about 14 min by car
- Worcester 24 mi southeast, about 38 min by car
- Amherst Town 31 mi southwest, about 49 min by car
- Greenfield 31 mi west, about 50 min by car
- Lowell 34 mi east, about 55 min by car
- Framingham 34 mi southeast, about 55 min by car
- Manchester 39 mi northeast, about 1 h by car
- Burlington 40 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Chicopee 41 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Springfield 43 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Central Street at Heywood Place, Gardner MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- Gardner middle school,ma - panoramio, david trillas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- North Central Pathway 2022, Gardner MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Washington st , gardner , ma - panoramio, david trillas, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MART garage in Gardner, July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Disused tracks to Winchendon in Gardner, July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Rail junctions in Gardner, July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Former platform at Gardner station, July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Gardner Union Station white border postcard, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Gardner MA station 1910 postcard 2, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Postcard of streetcar tracks on East Broadway in Gardner, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- GardnerMA SylvesterPierceHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- North Central Pathway, Gardner MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Ministers House, Gardner MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Elm Street Fire Station, Gardner MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Garbose Building - Gardner, MA - DSC00847, Daderot, CC0
- TempletonMA WhitneyTavern, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- GardnerMA GardnerMuseum, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- First Church of Templeton - Massachusetts 1, Daderot, CC0
- Gardner News, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- Unitarian Universalist Society of Gardner, MA, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- Ashburnham Historical Society Meeting House, Ashburnham, Massachusetts, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- Westminster, Massachusetts, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Central Street from Parker Street, Gardner MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GardnerMA JabezPartridgeHomestead, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lake Street Fire Station - Gardner, MA - DSC00859, Daderot, CC0
- TempletonMA BaldwinvilleElementarySchool, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Heywood-Wakefield Company Complex, Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger), Public domain
- GardnerMA SilverSmithFactory, User:Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- MG Orlando Ward, U.S. Army, Public domain
- Big Chair (3917963803), Ethan Kan from San Francisco, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- ISS062-E-67490 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-67493 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-67492 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS062-E-67491 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS026-E-22041 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- International 86Hydro Tractor Adam B. Ford ABF 0508, Puttyhead (Adam B. Ford), CC BY-SA 4.0
- North Central Pathway entering Winchendon MA, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Conduit under South Ashburnham switchback, July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Embankment in South Ashburnham switchback, July 2021, Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0
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