Beverly, Massachusetts
From Free net encyclopedia
Template:Infobox City Beverly is a city located in Essex County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 39,862. The mayor is William Scanlon, who was elected to his sixth term in 2005. Image:Beverly.jpg
Contents |
History and Trivia
Beverly was first settled in 1626 and was officially incorporated in 1668.
The first ship commissioned by the United States military (actually the US Army, as the US Navy did not yet exist), the armed schooner Hannah, first sailed from Beverly Harbor on September 2, 1775. For this reason Beverly describes itself as the "Birthplace of America's Navy." That claim is disputed by a few other towns significant in the Navy's history, including nearby Marblehead. Beverly is also home of the first cotton mill (1787) and the first Sunday school in the country.
The 1636 John Balch House is one of the two oldest wood-frame houses in the United States.
The summer residence of president William H. Taft was located in Beverly.
Beverly was also the inspiration for the naming of Beverly Hills, California, as Burton E. Green, one of the founders of the planned Southern California town, found "Beverly" to be a pretty name and suggested it to his associates. They accepted the idea, and "Beverly Hills" became the name of the new community.
Geography
Beverly is located at 42°33'40" North, 70°52'33" West (42.560995, -70.875702)Template:GR less than twenty miles north of Boston.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 58.9 km² (22.7 mi²). 43.0 km² (16.6 mi²) of it is land and 15.9 km² (6.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 27.00% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 39,862 people, 15,750 households, and 9,906 families residing in the city. The population density was 927.2/km² (2,401.4/mi²). There were 16,275 housing units at an average density of 378.5/km² (980.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.97% White, 1.04% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 15,750 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $53,984, and the median income for a family was $66,486. Males had a median income of $45,348 versus $35,659 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,626. 5.7% of the population and 4.0% of families were below the poverty line. 6.5% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Industry
United Shoe Machinery Corp. built a quarter-mile long stretch of factory buildings in 1902 and went into production in 1906. The site was bought by Cummings Properties in 1996 and developed into a modern campus of hi-tech companies and medical offices.
Attractions
- The North Shore Music Theatre offers a program of musicals and celebrity concerts. The North Shore Music Theatre is also the home of one of New England's largest music theater education departments.
- The Cabot Street Theater boasts the world longest running magician's show. Marco the Magi and Le Grand David are two characters prominent in the show.
- The John Balch House (circa 1636) is one of the oldest wood-frame houses in the United States.
- The John Cabot House (1781) was an early brick mansion in Beverly, now open as a museum.
- The John Hale House (circa 1694) is the home of Beverly's first minister, with strong witchcraft associations.
- Montserrat College of Art is a private, four-year art college located in downtown Beverly.
References
- [1] Beverly Community History
Famous residents
- John Updike; Author
- Mary Lou Lord; Singer, Busker, Troubadour
