Methuen, Massachusetts

for other uses see Methuen (disambiguation)

The Town of Methuen is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States.

History

Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1725.

Geography

Methuen is located at (42.730040, -71.179352).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.8 km² (23.1 mi²). 58.0 km² (22.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (2.95%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 43,789 people, 16,532 households, and 11,539 families residing in the city. The population density was 754.8/km² (1,954.7/mi²). There were 16,885 housing units at an average density of 291.0/km² (753.7/mi²). 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.64% of the population.

There were 16,532 households out 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.

Features of interest

Methuen is home to the Methuen Memorial Music Hall (MMMH). MMMH was built specifically to house the Great Organ, a world-famous organ procured by philanthropist and city benefactor Edward Francis Searles more than a century ago. The organ's frontispiece, 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 is also located in Methuen.

Famous Methuenites

Robert Rogers, 1731-1795, founder of Rogers' Rangers. The U.S. Army Rangers claim him as their founder and "Rogers' Rules of Ranging" and "Rules of Discipline" are still taught at West Point. He operated in the area that is now New England and South Eastern Canada and developed the basis of modern special forces tactics. During the French and Indian War, Rogers' Rangers specialized in reconnaissance and deep penetrating raids into enemy territory. Mental and physical toughness, discipline and courage were highly valued and regularly displayed by all rangers. Rogers participation in the French and Indian War and his later life are depicted in the novel Northwest Passage by Kenneth Roberts. The first half of the novel was made into a movie staring Spencer Tracy. A more recent book about Rogers is White Devil - A True Story of War, Savagery, and Vengeance in Colonial America, by Steven Brumwell (ISBN 0306813890, Da Capo Books, 2005). The Methuen High School sports teams are called the "Rangers", in honor of Robert Rogers and Rogers' Rangers. A marker at the corner of Hampshire and Cross Streets marks the location of the Rogers' homestead.

Edward Francis Searles 1841-1920 was philanthropist, and an interior and architectural designer. Searles was born on July 4, 1841, in Methuen, MA to Jesse Gould Searles 1805-1844 and Sarah Littlefield Searles. His father worked in a local cotton mill and operated a small farm. In 1887 Searles married Mary Frances Sherwood Hopkins, a widow and heiress 22 years his senior, who was a one quarter owner of the Central Pacific Railroad resulting from her marriage to Mark Hopkins. After her death in 1891 Searles, at 50 years old, was left with his wife's vast real estate holdings and $21 million. Many Methuen landmarks, including City Hall, bear his name.

Government / Elections

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 current mayor of Methuen is William M. Manzi, III.
The current At-Large City Councilors are Kathleen Corey Rahme, Kenneth R. Willette, Jr., and Stephen N. Zanni.
The current Central District City Councilors are John A. Cronin, Jr., and Philip J. Lahey, Jr.
The current East District City Councilors are Larry F. Giordano and Joseph A. Leone, III.
The current West District City Councilors are Robert A. Andrew and Deborah R. Quinn.

References

External links

Methuen Community Television- Channel 22

Public Schools

Private Schools

Presentation of Mary Presentation of Mary Academy is a private Catholic high school for young women, grades 9-12. The Academy is situated on a twenty-two acre campus formerly known as the Edward F. Searles Estate. The Academy was founded in 1958.
St. Monica's School A private Catholic Grade School (K-8) founded in 1957 on Lawrence Street.

Cities in Massachusetts | Essex County, Massachusetts