Methuen

Methuen, Massachusetts
—  City  —
Methuen City Hall
Location in Essex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°43′34″N 71°11′29″W / 42.72611°N 71.19139°W / 42.72611; -71.19139
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Essex
Settled	1642
Incorporated	1725
Government
- Type	Mayor-council city
- Mayor	William M. Manzi, III
Area
- Total	23.1 sq mi (59.8 km2)
- Land	22.4 sq mi (58.0 km2)
- Water	0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)
Elevation	115 ft (35 m)
Population (2007)
- Total	43,979
- Density	1,963.3/sq mi (758.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-5)
ZIP code	01844
Area code(s)	351 / 978
FIPS code	25-40710
GNIS feature ID	0612337
Website	http://www.cityofmethuen.net/

Methuen (pronounced /mɛˈθ(j)uː.ɛn/) is a city ^[1] in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 43,789 at the 2000 census.

History

This section requires expansion.

Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726; it is named for the British diplomat Sir Paul Methuen.

Geography

Methuen is located at 42°43′48″N 71°10′46″W / 42.73°N 71.17944°W / 42.73; -71.17944 (42.730040, -71.179352).^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.1 square miles (59.8 km²), of which 22.4 square miles (58.0 km²) are land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) (2.95%) are water.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 43,789 people, 16,532 households, and 11,539 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,954.7 persons per square mile (754.8/km²). There were 16,885 housing units, at an average density of 753.7 per square mile (291.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.35% White, 1.35% African American, 0.22% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 4.87% from other races, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanics and Latinos, of any race, were 9.64% of the population.

There were 16,532 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,627, and the median income for a family was $59,831. Males had a median income of $41,693 versus $31,864 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,305. About 5.8% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Nevins Memorial Library

Government

Historically, Methuen had a town meeting-selectmen form of government and was known as the Town of Methuen until it adopted a charter replacing its traditional town meeting and selectmen with a council and manager. Even with a form of government that had historically and legally been exclusive to cities, the community, in a gesture of traditionalism, retained the name Town of Methuen in its charter.^[4] However, because Massachusetts cities have self-governing powers not available to towns, it became known for legal purposes as "The City Known as the Town of Methuen". A subsequent charter, which adopted a strong mayor form of government, officially changed the community name to the "City of Methuen".

Methuen's city government consists of a Mayor, three Councilors-at-Large, two East District Councilors, two Central District Councilors, two West District Councilors, and six School Committee members.

• The Mayor of Methuen is William M. Manzi, III.
• The At-Large City Councilors are Jennifer Kannan, Kenneth R. Willette, Jr., and Stephen N. Zanni.
• The Central District City Councilors are John A. Cronin, Jr., and Philip J. Lahey, Jr.
• The East District City Councilors are Larry F. Giordano and Joseph A. Leone, III.
• The West District City Councilors are Jeanne M. Pappalardo and Deborah R. Quinn.

Education

Methuen High School

Public schools

Methuen High School

Private schools

• Presentation of Mary Academy is a private Catholic high school for young women, grades 9-12 founded in 1958. The Academy is situated on a twenty-two acre campus formerly known as the Edward F. Searles Estate. Presentation of Mary Website

Nicholson Stadium home of the Methuen Rangers

Sports

Methuen High School's athletic teams play in the Merrimack Valley Conference. Their big rivals are the Andover Golden Warriors, Central Catholic Raiders of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and the Haverhill Hillies. On Thanksgiving Day, the American football team plays fellow Merrimack Valley foe, the Dracut Middies. The teams first met in a non-Thanksgiving day game in 1935 and did not play again until the Thanksgiving series started in 1963. The school colors are blue and white and their mascot is the Ranger.

Methuen Memorial Music Hall

Historic District

The "Searles Tenney Nevins Historic District" established by the City of Methuen in 1992 to preserve the "distinctive architecture and rich character of one of Massachusetts’ most unique neighborhoods" is named after the three "Methuen city fathers": David C. Nevins, Edward F. Searles and Charles H. Tenney. According to the City of Methuen:

Today, the trio’s collective vision can be seen in mills, housing, schools, mansions, churches, monuments, playgrounds, the library, and the architectural fantasies that resulted from their artistic rivalry. The historic district boundaries were established to include properties and buildings constructed or used by the Searles, Tenney and Nevins families and the people who worked for them. ^[5]

According to a description by the Essex National Heritage Area, the district:

...reflects the major influences that shaped Methuen's architecture and economy. The Spicket River provided water power for the local industry housed in large brick mills along the river. Corresponding commercial growth resulted in Gaunt Square, which has been the commercial center of Methuen since the mid-19th Century. In addition to economic forces, three individuals, David Nevins, Charles Tenney and Edward F. Searles, left an architectural legacy which defines the district's character today. ^[6]

Points of interest

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Methuen, Massachusetts

• Methuen Memorial Music Hall was built specifically to house the Great Organ, built originally by Walcker Orgelbau for the Boston Music Hall, and procured by philanthropist and city benefactor Edward Francis Searles more than a century ago. The organ case, which in approximate terms is as large as a typical house, is ornate, and features a bust of J.S. Bach as a central ornament.

• The Nevins Memorial Library, founded in 1868 by David Nevins, Sr., the building of this grand brick and stained glass library wasn't completed until 1883, two years after his death. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
• Saint Basil's Seminary is the main US location for the Basilian Salvatorian Order, a community of religious priests of the Greek Catholic rite.

Notable residents

• Robert Rogers (1731-1795), founder of Rogers' Rangers which led to the creation of the United States Army Rangers
• David Nevins, Jr., industrialist
• Harriet Nevins, philanthropist, animal rights activist
• Edward Francis Searles (1841-1920), philanthropist, interior and architectural designer
• Susie Castillo, Miss USA 2003 and MTV VJ
• Robert Frost^[7], poet
• Jimmy Pedro, Olympics bronze medalist
• Joseph Bodwell, 40th Governor of Maine
• Steve Bedrosian, Major League Baseball pitcher
• John Ruiz, professional American boxer and former WBA World Heavyweight champion.

References

External links

• City of Methuen Official Website
• The Methuen Memorial Music Hall
• Nevins Memorial Library
• Methuen History
• Methuen Fire Department History
• Methuen History for kids
• Methuen Boys and Girls Club Project
• Methuen Rail Trail Alliance
• History of Methuen Ski Area
• Commonwealth Communities: Methuen, Massachusetts
• Methuen Community Television- Comcast Channel 22 and Verizon Channel 33
• Methuen, MA Flickr Image pool

• Methuen, Massachusetts is at coordinates 42°43′48″N 71°10′46″W / 42.73004°N 71.179352°W / 42.73004; -71.179352 (Methuen, Massachusetts)Coordinates: 42°43′48″N 71°10′46″W / 42.73004°N 71.179352°W / 42.73004; -71.179352 (Methuen, Massachusetts)

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