Middlesex County

Middlesex County is an administrative division in eastern Massachusetts, covering several municipalities between Boston and the New Hampshire border. The territory ranges from densely populated neighborhoods near the capital to quieter residential areas and smaller towns farther north.

The administrative division was founded in 1643 as one of the first English settlement organizations in the region. Multiple courthouses served as centers of local governance over the centuries, until the county government was later restructured.

The county features educational centers Cambridge and Lowell, with research institutions and universities shaping the intellectual landscape of the region.

Administrative matters and court business are handled at multiple locations across different towns within the county. Public offices and services are distributed among the various municipalities, so finding the right office may require checking which town handles a particular service.

Two separate seats for county administration existed side by side for a long time, which was an unusual organizational pattern for the region. This dual structure reflected the geographic extent and the historical development of the settlement areas.

Location: Massachusetts

Inception: 1643

Capital city: Lowell

Shares border with: Hillsborough County, Essex County, Suffolk County, Norfolk County, Worcester County

GPS coordinates: 42.45908,-71.27557

Latest update: December 14, 2025 23:28