Medford, Massachusetts

Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts just a few miles north of Boston on the Mystic River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,765. It is the home of Tufts University. The name is said to mean "ford in a meadow." Given the regional accent, residents of Medford and surrounding communities commonly pronounce the town's name as Medfid or even Meffa.

History

Medford was founded in 1630, making it the fourth oldest English settlement in North America. Medford was established as a city in 1892 and was a center of industry, manufacturing brick and tile and building clipper ships. In 1868, a French astronomer and naturalist, Leopold Trouvelot, was attempting to breed a better silkworm using Gypsy moths. Several of the moths escaped from his home at 27 Myrtle Street (which no longer exists). Within ten years, the insect pest had denuded the vegetation in the neighborhood. Eventually, it spread all over North America.

In a pub on Salem Street in Medford, local resident James Pierpoint wrote "Jingle Bells" in the late 19th century after watching a sleigh race from Medford to Malden. Another local resident, Lydia Marie Child made a song out of the trip across town to her grandparents' house, the classic, "Over The River And Through The Woods." Medford was home to Fannie Farmer, author of one of the world's most famous cookbooks -- as well as James Plimpton, the man credited with the 1863 invention of the first practical four-wheeled roller skate, which set off a roller craze that quickly spreads across the United States and Europe.

Medford also boasts having many of its residents become National Hockey League stars. Medford is home to some of New England's best bakeries and Italian food. Medford is also home to some famous scandals. A few crooked officers of the Medford Police force pulled off one of the biggest bank robberies and jewel heists in world history in 1980. Also, the only recorded proof of the Mafia's existence is from an FBI audiotape of a Medford Mafia ceremony in the late 1980's.

Further historical accounts including valuable illustrations are available from three excellent sites listed below¹. Get involved with the Medford Historical Society² for even more.

Geography

Medford is located at 42°25'12" North, 71°6'29" West (42.419996, -71.107942)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.4 km² (8.6 mi²). 21.1 km² (8.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.79% water.

An impressive park called the Middlesex Fells¹ Reservation lies to the north. This 2060-acre natural area is shared by Medford with the municipalities of Winchester, Stoneham, Melrose and Malden. Unfortunately its two Depression era stone towers, both of which offered stellar views across much of the park and city, have recently fallen into disrepair due to government cutbacks.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 55,765 people, 22,067 households, and 13,505 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,645.1/km² (6,851.3/mi²). There are 22,687 housing units at an average density of 1,076.1/km² (2,787.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 86.45% White, 6.10% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.87% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. 2.59% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 22,067 households out of which 23.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% are married couples living together, 11.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% are non-families. 28.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 3.04.

In the city the population is spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $52,476, and the median income for a family is $62,409. Males have a median income of $41,704 versus $34,948 for females. The per capita income for the city is $24,707. 6.4% of the population and 4.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.7% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Medford has three Public Access television stations: TV3, Channel 15 (educational access) and Channel 16 (governmental or municipal access).

External links

• City Hall's website (http://www.medford.org/)
• Medford Transcript, newspaper (http://www.townonline.com/medford/)
• City Hall's Official Histories (http://www.medford.org/fHistoryX.htm)
• Medford History by local schools (http://www.medford.k12.ma.us/socstud/medford.htm)
• Medford History by Sharon Guzik (http://medfordgen.home.comcast.net/)
• Medford Historical Society (http://members.fortunecity.com/medfordhistoricalsociety/MHShomepage/)
• Middlesex Fells, 2,060-acre Natural Reservation (http://fells.org)

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