Melrose, Massachusetts Totally Explained

Everything about Melrose Massachusetts totally explained

Melrose is a city located in the Greater Boston metropolitan area and Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The population was 27,134 at the 2000 census.

History

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 in 1633 it became part of Charlestown along with a large area of land encompassing most of the surrounding communities.

North Malden

In 1649, the neighborhood of Charlestown known as Malden, became a separate community which included the area today known as Melrose. When the separation from Charlestown took place, the Melrose area became known as the neighborhood of North Malden. The area, however, remained largely a farming community.

Town of Melrose

North Malden began to grow in 1845 when the Boston and Maine Railroad built three stops (now commuter rail stations 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. Due in large part to effect of the arrival of the B&M Railroad, Melrose became a separate town in May of 1850. With the addition of the highlands from Stoneham in 1853, the new community grew in size and population.

City of Melrose

By 1900, the new town was growing fast. Farms began to disappear lending land to more residences and businesses. The fire department and the town's school district were incorporated and town hall was built in 1873. In 1899, the City of Melrose became the commonwealth of Massachusetts’ 33rd city. On the first of January, 1900, Levi S. Gould became the city’s first mayor. In the second half of the 20th century, Melrose continued to grow with a population peaking at 33,180 in 1970. On April 1 1980, downtown Melrose became a nationality recognized historic district.

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.

Geography

Melrose is located at (42.459045, -71.062339).
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's 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, Mount Hood, Boston Rock, Pine Banks Park, and the eastern reaches of the Middlesex Fells Reservation.

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. Edward J. Markey (D) represents Melrose (as part of the seventh district of Massachusetts) in the United States House of Representatives. The current senators from Massachusetts are John Kerry (D) and Edward M. Kennedy (D) United States Senate.
Melrose is served by an eleven-member Board of Aldermen. Four At-Large Aldermen, 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.

Demographics

As of the census 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.

Education

The Melrose School district runs several schools including 5 elementary schools (Lincoln, Roosevelt, Winthrop, Hoover, Horace Mann), the new Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School, and Melrose High School. The city also contains a private school named St. Mary's which is an elementary school run by one of the city's Catholic churches.

Neighborhoods

Notable residents

Brooks Atkinson, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author

Shawn Bates, professional hockey player

Andy Brickley, professional hockey player, current game analyst on NESN's Bruins telecasts

Gary Cherone, rock singer

Will Cotton, American painter

Clarence DeMar, American marathon runner (one of only two Americans to win three consecutive Boston marathons)

Richard Evans Schultes, ethnobotanist

Geraldine Farrar, Metropolitan Opera soprano, silent film star

Martin Fowler, Author of 'Refactoring'

Christina Kirkman, Actress/Comedian, winner of Nickelodeon's Americas Funniest Kid

Mary Livermore, American reformer

Don Orsillo, Red Sox NESN announcer

David Souter, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court

Elizabeth George Speare, American children's author

Frank Stella, contemporary painter, sculptor; studio formerly located in Melrose

Keith Tkachuk, professional hockey player

Nancy Werlin, novelist

Sewall Wright, geneticist known for his work on the evolution theory

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, very close to the Melrose line. Oak Grove is primarily a park-and-ride station with 788 parking spaces.

Further Information

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