Melrose, Massachusetts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

  (Redirected from Melrose, MA)
Jump to: navigation, search
Melrose, Massachusetts
—  City  —
Melrose City Hall, located in Downtown Melrose.

Flag
Seal
Motto: One Community Open to All
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°27′30″N 71°04′00″W / 42.45833°N 71.0666667°W / 42.45833; -71.0666667
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Middlesex
Settled 1629
Incorporated 1900
Government
 - Type Mayor-council city
 - Mayor Robert J. Dolan
Area
 - Total 4.8 sq mi (12.3 km2)
 - Land 4.7 sq mi (12.1 km2)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation 133 ft (41 m)
Population (2008)
 - Total 26,708
 - Density 5,698.3/sq mi (2,213.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02176, 02177
Area code(s) 339 / 781
FIPS code 25-40115
GNIS feature ID 0612780
Website http://www.cityofmelrose.org

Melrose is a city located in the Greater Boston metropolitan area and Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The population was 26,708 in the 2008 population estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau. It is located approximately seven miles north of Boston and is situated in the center of the triangle created by Interstate 93, 95 and US Route 1.

The land that comprises Melrose was first explored in 1628 and was once part of Charlestown and then Malden. It became the Town of Melrose in 1845 and then the City of Melrose in 1900.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Exploration & Charlestown

Melrose was originally called "Ponde Fielde" for its abundance of ponds and streams or "Mystic Side" because of its location in a valley north of the Mystic River. The area was first explored by Richard and Ralph Sprague in 1628, and became part of Charlestown in 1633 along with a large area of land encompassing most of the surrounding communities.[1]

[edit] North Malden

In 1649, the neighborhood of Charlestown known as Malden was incorporated as a town in its own right; the new town of Malden included most of present-day Melrose (then called North Malden) within its borders. North Malden largely remained a lightly-populated farming community.[1]

[edit] Town of Melrose

In 1845, the Boston and Maine Railroad built three stops (now the commuter rail stations of Wyoming Hill, Melrose/Cedar Park, and Melrose Highlands). Boston workers in search of a country atmosphere moved to the area and began commuting to work.[1] The population of North Malden began growing, and in 1850 North Malden split from Malden proper and was incorporated as the town of Melrose. Melrose annexed the highlands from neighboring Stoneham in 1853, creating the city's current borders.[1]

[edit] City of Melrose

The population of Melrose continued to grow throughout the second half of the nineteenth century. Farmland was increasingly partitioned into smaller parcels for residences and businesses. The fire department and the town's school district were founded and town hall was built in 1873. In 1899, the City of Melrose became the 33rd incorporated city in Massachusetts. Levi S. Gould became the city’s first mayor on January 1, 1900.[1]

The population of Melrose peaked at 33,180 in 1970 before beginning a slow decline continuing to this day. On April 1, 1982, downtown Melrose was added to the National Register of Historic Places; the public library was similarly added to the register in 1988.[1]

[edit] Name

The name "Melrose" comes from the burgh of Melrose, Scotland. It was a reference to the hills of Melrose, Scotland which the new town resembled. The name was suggested and advocated for by William Bogle, a Scotland native and longtime resident of North Malden.[1]

[edit] Geography

Melrose is located at 42°27′33″N 71°3′44″W / 42.45917°N 71.06222°W / 42.45917; -71.06222 (42.459045, -71.062339).[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.3 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.26%) is water.

Melrose is approximately 7 miles (11 km) north of Boston, Massachusetts. It borders five cities and towns: Malden, Revere, Saugus, Stoneham, and Wakefield. Major geographic features include Ell Pond, Swains Pond, Sewall Woods, Mount Hood, Boston Rock, Pine Banks Park, and the eastern reaches of the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

[edit] Government

Robert J. Dolan (D) is the mayor. Melrose is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Katherine Clark (D). Richard R. Tisei (R) is the state senator for wards 1 through 5 and Thomas McGee (D) is the state senator for wards 6 and 7. Melrose is part of the seventh Congressional district of Massachusetts, represented by Edward J. Markey (D) in the United States House of Representatives. The current U.S. senators from Massachusetts are John Kerry (D) and Paul G. Kirk (D).

Melrose is served by an eleven-member Board of Aldermen. Four At-Large Aldermen (currently Paul Brodeur, Donald L. Conn, Jr., Ronald Seaboyer and MaryBeth MacAteer-Margolis) are elected by the entire city, while the seven Ward Aldermen, elected by voters in their individual wards, are John N. Tramontozzi (Ward 1), Monica Medeiros (Ward 2), Francis X. Wright, Jr. (Ward 3), Robert A. Boisselle (Ward 4), Gail M. Infurna (Ward 5), Peter D. Mortimer (Ward 6) and William H. Forbes, Jr. (Ward 7). As of the 2007 election, the mayor shall be elected to a four year term and sit as a member of the School Committee. All aldermen are elected to two-year terms. City elections are held in odd-numbered years.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1890 8,519
—
1900 12,962 52.2%
1910 15,715 21.2%
1920 18,204 15.8%
1930 23,170 27.3%
1940 25,333 9.3%
1950 26,988 6.5%
1960 29,619 9.7%
1970 33,180 12.0%
1980 30,055 −9.4%
1990 28,150 −6.3%
2000 27,134 −3.6%
Est. 2008 26,708 −1.6%

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 27,134 people, 11,248 households, and 7,105 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,779.8 people per square mile (2,233.8/km²). There were 11,248 housing units at an average density of 2,395.9/sq mi (926.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.16% White, 0.94% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.01% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population. 6.1% of the population is foreign born (2.8% Europe, 1.7% Asia, 0.8% North America).

There were 10,982 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $62,811, and the median income for a family was $78,144. Males had a median income of $50,644 versus $39,517 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,347. About 1.6% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The Melrose School district runs several schools including five elementary schools (Roosevelt, Lincoln, Winthrop, Hoover, and Horace Mann), the new Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School, and Melrose High School. The city also has a private elementary school, St. Mary's, run by one of the city's Catholic churches of the same name. The Winthrop School is among the average-sized schools in Melrose, with an average three classes per grade. The Lincoln School has the largest student population of the elementary schools. The Hoover School is second smallest to the Horace Mann School which currently educates about 270 children per year. The "New Middle School", is school to about one thousand eleven through fourteen-year-olds. It is the winner of the 2002 Massachusetts Dept. of Education Compass School Award, the 2007 Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Green School Award, (for its use of solar energy), and the 2008 New England League of Middle Schools Spotlight School Award.

[edit] Melrose in Media

Starting with Governor Deval Patrick's tax initiative program, Melrose has become a popular place to shoot films. In the fall of 2009, the Ben Affleck movie The Town captured many key scenes in a historic bank on Main Street downtown,[4] while around the same time, Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise's movie, Knight & Day shot scenes on the Fellsway.[5] The same month, a documentary for PBS about the Scopes Trial was also shot in the Aldermanic Chamber of Melrose City Hall.[5] In 2007, the city was also referred to as "fancy pants Melrose" in Ben Affleck's younger brother Casey Affleck's movie Gone Baby Gone.

[edit] Health care

There are many health care facilities located in Melrose. Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, a 234 bed non-profit hospital, was home to the world's first cochlear implant and laser surgery and it was among the first hospitals in the country to offer same day surgery.[6][7] In addition to the hospital, there are many pediatricians, specialists, dentists and dermatologists. Also, the Milano Senior Center provides social, recreational, health, and educational programs for Melrose’s senior citizens.[6]

[edit] Neighborhoods

Downtown Melrose seen from the intersection of Upham and Main Streets to the southerly.

[edit] Notable residents

Ambox content.png
 This is a list with no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help to improve Wikipedia by ensuring that there is consensus on the inclusion and exclusion criteria on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the section contains only verifiable material.

[edit] Transportation

The city of Melrose is located seven miles north of Boston. The city has access to many highways including Route 1 in Saugus, Interstate 93 in Stoneham, and Route 128 in Wakefield. The city is also served by the MBTA. Service includes five bus routes: 106, 131, 132, 136 and 137. There are three commuter rail stations: Wyoming Hill, Melrose/Cedar Park, and Melrose Highlands. Oak Grove, the northern terminus of the MBTA's Orange Line, is located in Malden on the Melrose city line. Oak Grove is primarily a park-and-ride station with 788 parking spaces.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

1852 Map of Boston area showing Melrose and Rail lines.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g "A Condensed History of Melrose". http://www.cityofmelrose.org/Interns%2007/a_condensed_history_of.htm.  City of Melrose. Retrieved on January 26, 2008
  2. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ DeMaina, Daniel (October 9, 2009). "Melrose: 'Lights, cameras, action' in city as Ben Affleck movie shoots locally this month". Melrose Free Press. GateHouse Media. http://www.wickedlocal.com/melrose/fun/entertainment/arts/x366050607/Melrose-Lights-cameras-action-in-city-as-Ben-Affleck-movie-shoots-locally-this-month. Retrieved 2009-10-10. 
  5. ^ a b Staff reports (October 28, 2009). "Melrose’s Hollywood streak continues with Tom Cruise filming on Friday". Melrose Free Press. GateHouse Media. http://www.wickedlocal.com/melrose/fun/entertainment/arts/x665153617/Melrose-s-Hollywood-streak-continues-with-Tom-Cruise-filming-on-Friday. Retrieved October 28, 2009. 
  6. ^ a b "Healthcare Services & Elder Care". City of Melrose. http://www.cityofmelrose.org/Why%20Melrose/healthcare_services.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-19. 
  7. ^ "Melrose-Wakefield Hospital". Hallmark Health. http://www.hallmarkhealth.org/melrose.php. Retrieved 2008-07-19. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Cities
Towns
CDPs
Other
villages
v • d • e

 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Boston (capital)
Topics
Regions
Counties
Cities
(See all
municipalities)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melrose,_Massachusetts"