Danvers, Massachusetts
Danvers is a town located in Essex County, Massachusetts. It was formerly named Salem Village. Most of the early victims and accusers of the 1692 Salem witch trials lived in the then Salem Village. While early depositions and interviews took place in Salem Village starting in February 1692, the actual trials and a majority of depositions and interviews were moved to the nearby Salem Town (now Salem, Massachusetts) in May 1692.
History
Danvers was first settled in 1636 and was officially incorporated in 1757.
Geography
Danvers is located at 42°34'11" North, 70°56'35" West (42.569756, -70.943222)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.5 km² (14.1 mi²). 34.4 km² (13.3 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.75% water.
The town is at the intersections of Interstate 95, US 1, and Route 128. It is roughly midway between Boston and New Hampshire, along the Atlantic Coast.
Access to the Atlantic is via the Danvers River, a tidal river that flows into Beverly Harbor.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 25,212 people, 9,555 households, and 6,564 families residing in the town. The population density is 733.0/km² (1,898.5/mi²). There are 9,762 housing units at an average density of 283.8/km² (735.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 97.72% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 9,555 households out of which 30.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% are married couples living together, 9.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% are non-families. 26.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.53 and the average family size is 3.11.
In the town the population is spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $58,779, and the median income for a family is $70,565. Males have a median income of $48,058 versus $33,825 for females. The per capita income for the town is $26,852. 2.9% of the population and 1.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.0% of those under the age of 18 and 4.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Government
Danvers has a representative town meeting, five selectmen, and a town manager.
The current Board of Selectmen (January 2006) is -
The current Town Manager (January 2006) is -
Public Safety
Danvers has full time police and fire departments. The Danvers Police Department was accredited in 1986. Danvers was the 1st municipal agency within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to become nationally accredited.
- Danvers Police Department (Official Town site)
- Danvers Police Department (Benevolent association site)
- Danvers Fire Department
Schools
Public schools
- Danvers has five elementary schools, each serving Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade. Grades six through eight attend the recently renovated Holten-Richmond Middle School, and grades nine through twelve attend Danvers High School.
Private schools
- Danvers is also home to three private schools. Clark School and St. Mary of the Annunciation School are both private schools that serve Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. St. John's Preparatory School is a secondary school for young men, serving grades nine through twelve.
Technical, Vocational, Agricultural schools
- In addition to the public and private schools, Danvers hosts the Essex Agricultural & Technical High School, an independent, state funded, day school serving grades 9 through 12. Essex Agricultural & Technical High School is currently in the process of merging with the North Shore Vocational School, which is currently located in Middleton, which will result in a larger, unified campus located in Danvers.
Points of interest
- Endicott Park
- Glen Magna Farms and Estate
- Rebecca Nurse Homestead
- Danvers State Hospital
- Endicott Pear tree - The oldest living fruit tree in America!
