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Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was a large part of what was formerly named Salem Village. Most of the early victims and accusers of the 1692 Salem witch trials lived in the then Salem Village. While early depositions and interviews took place in Salem Village starting in February 1692, the actual trials and a majority of depositions and interviews were moved to the nearby Salem Town (now Salem, Massachusetts) in May 1692.
History
Danvers was first settled in 1636 and was officially incorporated in 1757.
Geography
Danvers is located at (42.569756, -70.943222).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.5 km² (14.1 mi²). 34.4 km² (13.3 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (5.75%) is water.
The town is at the intersections of Interstate 95, US 1, and Route 128. It is roughly midway between Boston and New Hampshire, along the Atlantic Coast.
Access to the Atlantic is via the Danvers River, a tidal river that flows into Beverly Harbor.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,212 people, 9,555 households, and 6,564 families residing in the town. The population density was 733.0/km² (1,898.5/mi²). There were 9,762 housing units at an average density of 283.8/km² (735.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.72% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.83% of the population.
There were 9,555 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,779, and the median income for a family was $70,565. Males had a median income of $48,058 versus $33,825 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,852. About 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
'''Danvers has a representative town meeting, five selectmen, and a town manager.
| The current Board of Selectmen (January 2006) is - | Front row (from left)
| The current Town Manager (January 2006) is - |
Public Safety
Danvers has full time police and fire departments. The Danvers Police Department was accredited in 1986. Danvers was the 1st municipal agency within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to become nationally accredited.
- Danvers Police Department (Official Town site)
- Danvers Police Department (Benevolent association site)
- Danvers Fire Department
Schools
'''Public schools
- Danvers has five elementary schools, each serving Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade. Grades six through eight attend the recently renovated Holten-Richmond Middle School, and grades nine through twelve attend Danvers High School.
'''Private schools
- Danvers is also home to three private schools. Clark School and St. Mary of the Annunciation School are both private schools that serve Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. St. John's Preparatory School is a secondary school for young men, serving grades nine through twelve.
'''Technical, Vocational, Agricultural schools
- In addition to the public and private schools, Danvers hosts the Essex Agricultural & Technical High School, an independent, state funded, day school serving grades 9 through 12. Essex Agricultural & Technical High School is currently in the process of merging with the North Shore Vocational School, which is currently in Middleton, which will result in a larger, unified campus located in Danvers.
Points of interest
- Endicott Park
- Glen Magna Farms and Estate
- Rebecca Nurse Homestead
- Danvers State Hospital
- Endicott Pear Tree - The first pear tree and perhaps the oldest living fruit tree in America.
External links
"Danvers, Massachusetts"