Methuen, Massachusetts

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Methuen, Massachusetts
City
Methuen City Hall
Methuen City Hall
Template:Infobox settlement/columns
Location in Essex County and the state of Massachusetts.
Location in Essex County and the state of Massachusetts.
Template:Location map
Coordinates: 42°43′34″N 71°11′29″W / 42.72611°N 71.19139°W / 42.72611; -71.19139Coordinates: 42°43′34″N 71°11′29″W / 42.72611°N 71.19139°W / 42.72611; -71.19139
CountryUnited States
StateMassachusetts
CountyEssex
Settled1642
IncorporatedDecember 8, 1725
Incorporated a city1917
Named forSir Paul Methuen
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • MayorDavid Beauregard Jr.
Area
[1]
 • TotalTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
 • LandTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
 • WaterTemplate:Infobox settlement/areadisp
Elevation
Template:Infobox settlement/lengthdisp
Population
 (2020)
 • Total53,059
 • DensityTemplate:Infobox settlement/densdisp
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
01844
Area code(s)351/978
FIPS code25-40710
GNIS feature ID0612337
Websitewww.cityofmethuen.net

Methuen (/məˈθuːən/[2]) is a 23-square-mile (60 km2) city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 53,059 at the 2020 census.[3] Methuen lies along the northwestern edge of Essex County, just east of Middlesex County and just south of Rockingham County, New Hampshire. The city is bordered by Haverhill to the northeast, North Andover to the southeast, Lawrence and Andover to the south, Dracut (Middlesex County) to the west, Pelham, New Hampshire (Hillsborough County) to the northwest, and Salem, New Hampshire (Rockingham County) to the north. Methuen is located 17 miles (27 km) southwest from Newburyport, 30 miles (48 km) north-northwest of Boston and 25 miles (40 km) south-southeast of Manchester, New Hampshire. The city is a part of the Merrimack Valley and its ZIP Code is 01844.

History

Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill, Massachusetts. In 1724 Stephen Barker and others in the western part of that town petitioned the General Court to grant them permission to form a new town above Hawke's Meadow Brook. Although opposed by their fellow townsmen, the petition was approved the following year (December 8, 1725), and the General Court gave them an act of incorporation under the name of Methuen. The town was named for Sir Paul Methuen, a member of the King's Privy Council and friend of acting Provincial Governor William Dummer. The first town meeting was held on March 9, 1726, in the home of a resident. The land was set aside for a meetinghouse, which was erected later in 1726 on what is now Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery.[4]

The residents in the northern part of the new town of Methuen soon petitioned to have their own meetinghouse (a combination of town hall and puritan church), and in 1736 the north parish was set off. Land for a meetinghouse was donated by descendants of the original proprietors of Haverhill, and in 1738 the second Methuen meetinghouse was raised. The structure survives to this day, as the Salem N.H. Historical Society building. In 1741, with the fixing of the Northern boundary of Massachusetts, most of this new north parish was removed from Methuen and placed in New Hampshire. It was incorporated as Salem, New Hampshire in 1750.[4]

Industrial growth in the 1800s influenced Methuen's development. Construction of the Methuen Cotton Mills at the Spicket River falls in the 1820s and the increased manufacture of hats and shoes in small factories along the Spicket spurred the centralization of Methuen's economic, residential and cultural activities within the area around Osgood, Broadway, Hampshire and Pleasant streets. Three wealthy and prominent families—the Nevins, the Tenneys and the Searles—played a significant role in Methuen's history and development. These families were instrumental in the founding of many of Methuen's landmarks, including the Nevins Memorial Library, the Searles building, Tenney Gatehouse, Nevins Home, Spicket Falls, and the Civil War monument between Pleasant and Charles streets.[5]

In 1922, it was affected by the 1922 New England Textile Strike, shutting down the mills in the city over an attempted wage cut.[6][7]

Geography

Methuen is located at 42°43′48″N 71°10′46″W / 42.73000°N 71.17944°W / 42.73000; -71.17944 (42.730040, −71.179352).[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.1 square miles (59.7 km2), of which 22.2 square miles (57.6 km2) is land and 0.77 square miles (2.0 km2), or 3.42%, is water.[9]

Methuen lies alongside the northern banks of the Merrimack River and is bisected by the Spicket (originally "Spigot") River,[10] as well as many brooks and streams. There are several ponds dotting the area as well, and the town is home to a town forest, a bird sanctuary, and a small state park (Tenney State Park). Pine Island, near the southern end of town in the Merrimack River, is also part of the town's land.

Transportation

Methuen lies at the northern end of Interstate 93 in Massachusetts, with three exits providing access. A portion of Interstate 495 crosses through the eastern side of town from Lawrence to Haverhill. Massachusetts Route 213, the "Loop Connector", provides highway access between the two, having three intermediate exits of its own, in addition to the exits for I-93 and I-495. The town is also crossed by Route 28, Route 110, and Route 113, the latter two meeting at I-93 Exit 43 (old exit 46). I-93 provides the town's only bridge across the Merrimack; there are several crossings in Lawrence, and several in neighboring Haverhill, but none for 7 miles (11 km) upstream from I-93 all the way to the eastern end of Lowell and also comes down from New Hampshire, providing the fastest route to both 25 minutes north to Manchester, New Hampshire, and 25–30 minutes south to Boston.

Methuen is served by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority's bus service. Daily intercity bus service to Worcester and New York City is provided by OurBus from the Methuen Park and Ride. The nearest MBTA Commuter Rail stations are Lawrence, Bradford and Haverhill, all part of the Haverhill/Reading Line, providing service into Boston's North Station. Small plane service can be found at Lawrence Municipal Airport and the Merrimack Valley Seaplane Base, with the nearest national service being at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, and the nearest international service being at Boston's Logan International Airport.

Demographics

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income

Template:Historical populations

As of the census[11] 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 (8.4% Dominican, 5.7% Puerto Rican, 0.6% Guatemalan, 0.3% Ecuadorian, 0.3% Mexican, 0.3% Cuban). Methuen has a very diverse population and it has gotten more diverse over the years. For a very long time, Methuen and its neighboring city, Lawrence have always been, and still are home to a large number of Lebanese, French, and Italian communities. Methuen is also a major Hispanic/Latino community, including Dominicans.

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. Of all households, 25.3% 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 aged 65 or over.

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.[12] 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".

File:Nevins Memorial Library.jpg
Nevins Memorial Library

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 following are the current members of Methuen's municipal government:[13]

  • The Mayor of Methuen is David DJ Beauregard, Jr.
  • The at-large city councilors are Nicholas Dizoglio and Jana Zanni Pesce.
  • The East District city councilors are Ronald Marsan and Neily Soto.
  • The Central District city councilors are Joyce Campagnone and Joel Faretra.
  • The West District city councilors are Allison Saffie and Patricia Valley.

Methuen is part of the Massachusetts Senate's 1st Essex district.[14]

Methuen presidential election results[15]
Year Democratic Republican Third parties Total Votes Margin
2020 55.28% 14,328 42.93% 11,127 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|1.79% 464 25,919 12.35%
2016 50.81% 11,662 44.60% 10,235 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|4.59% 1,054 22,951 6.22%
2012 51.42% 11,092 47.27% 10,198 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|1.31% 282 21,572 4.14%
2008 53.75% 11,263 44.39% 9,303 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|1.86% 390 20,956 9.35%
2004 52.04% 10,037 47.05% 9,075 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.91% 175 19,287 4.99%
2000 54.49% 9,465 38.87% 6,751 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|6.64% 1,153 17,369 15.63%
1996 56.06% 9,450 31.72% 5,347 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|12.23% 2,061 16,858 24.34%
1992 39.45% 7,727 35.50% 6,954 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|25.04% 4,905 19,586 3.95%
1988 42.42% 7,765 55.90% 10,233 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|1.68% 308 18,306 13.48%
1984 42.34% 7,323 57.25% 9,901 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.40% 70 17,294 14.91%
1980 42.23% 7,358 45.62% 7,950 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|12.15% 2,117 17,425 3.40%
1976 64.97% 11,476 32.65% 5,767 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|2.38% 420 17,663 32.32%
1972 53.46% 9,184 45.78% 7,864 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.76% 131 17,179 7.68%
1968 62.63% 9,891 33.56% 5,300 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|3.81% 602 15,793 29.07%
1964 72.86% 11,232 26.63% 4,106 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.51% 78 15,416 46.22%
1960 59.44% 8,872 40.37% 6,025 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.19% 29 14,926 19.07%
1956 38.97% 5,384 60.79% 8,399 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.24% 33 13,816 21.82%
1952 41.58% 5,565 58.01% 7,764 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.41% 55 13,384 16.43%
1948 54.92% 6,206 42.73% 4,828 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|2.35% 266 11,300 12.19%
1944 51.26% 5,264 48.52% 4,983 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.21% 22 10,269 2.74%
1940 54.57% 5,902 44.77% 4,842 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.66% 71 10,815 9.80%
Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2018[16]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
Template:Party color cell Republican 4,031 11.56%
Template:Party color cell Democratic 11,322 32.46%
Template:Party color cell Unaffiliated 19,012 54.51%
Template:Party color cell Libertarian 124 0.36%
Total 34,881 100%

Education

File:Methuen High School, Methuen MA.jpg
Methuen High School

Public schools

  • Methuen High School
  • Comprehensive Grammar School
  • Tenney Grammar School
  • Timony Grammar School
  • Marsh Grammar School

Private schools

  • Saint Monica's is a Catholic for pre-K to 8th grade.
  • St. Ann's Home and School provides residential, outpatient, and private day school options for a wide range of learning disabilities and/or behavioral and emotional disorders. All programs are designed to provide a continuum of special needs services to assist children and adolescents who need intensive and comprehensive help for themselves and their families. The Day School program offers education for children and adolescents with special emotional needs, complemented by a strong therapeutic component. Children are transported to St. Ann's from communities in a one-hour radius. Referrals come from school districts seeking an academically focused, clinically supported school setting for students with significant emotional, developmental, behavioral, and learning needs.[17]
  • Presentation of Mary Academy was a private Catholic high school founded in 1958. The academy is on a 22-acre (8.9 ha) campus formerly known as the Edward F. Searles Estate. The school was originally for young women in grades 9–12 but went co-educational with the 2011–2012 school year. Due to financial difficulties, the school closed in 2020.

Sports

File:Nicholson Stadium.jpg
Nicholson Stadium, home of the Methuen Rangers

Methuen High School's athletic teams play in the Merrimack Valley Conference. Their big rivals are the Andover Golden Warriors, the Central Catholic Raiders of Lawrence, and the Haverhill Hillies. On Thanksgiving Day, the 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, named after Rogers' Rangers, the precursor of the U.S. Army Rangers, which was founded by town resident Robert Rogers.

Historic district

File:Methuen Organ Hall.jpg
Methuen Memorial Music Hall

The Searles Tenney Nevins Historic District, established by the city 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.

From 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.[18]

The historic district is administered by the Methuen Historic District Commission, which protects the district from alterations that might compromise its historic integrity. Property owners within the historic district must obey the Rules and Regulations of the Historic District Commission. The rules and regulations specify general criteria for materials used, size and proportions of the buildings, colors, as well as other features. Any violation of the rules and regulations can result in fines and other possible legal action.[19]

Bounded within the Searles Tenney Nevins Historic District are the Spicket Falls Historic District and the Pleasant-High Historic District. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as are many of the other buildings within the area.[20]

Points of interest

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Methuen". Dictionary.com. Random House. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Census – Geography Profile: Methuen Town city, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gilbert's History of Salem, N.H. (1907)
  5. ↑ "City of Methuen, Massachusetts Profile" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 10, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  6. ↑ Foner, Philip Sheldon; Foner, Philip Sheldon (1991). History of the labor movement in the United States. 9: The T.U.E.L. to the end of the Gompers era / by Philip S. Foner. New York: Intl Publ. pp. 19–31. ISBN 978-0-7178-0674-4.
  7. ↑ E. Tilden, Leonard (1923). "New England Textile Strike". Monthly Labor Review. 16 (5): 13–36. JSTOR 41828627.
  8. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Methuen Town city, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  10. ↑ [anon] (1879). New England: A handbook for travellers. Boston: Houghton, Osgood and Company. p. 279. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ↑ Template:Mass City-Town Note
  13. ↑ Current members of government "2019 Municipal Election Certified Results"[permanent dead link], City of Methuen, February 9, 2019
  14. ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "An Act Establishing Executive Councillor and Senatorial Districts", Session Laws: Acts (2011), retrieved April 15, 2020
  15. ↑ "Election Results".
  16. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 17, 2018" (PDF). Massachusetts Elections Division. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Residential Program, Special Education, Outpatient Services in MA – St. Ann's Home and School". Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  18. ↑ "City of Methuen Website: the Historic District". Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Rules and Regulations of the Historic District Commission". Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2016.
  20. ↑ Template:NRISref
  21. ↑ "St. Xenia Orthodox Church History of the Parish". Archived from the original on August 9, 2020.

Template:Geographic location Template:Massachusetts Template:Essex County, Massachusetts Template:Greater Boston Template:Merrimack River

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