Winthrop, Massachusetts
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Winthrop is a town located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 18,303.
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History
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Winthrop was first settled in 1635 and was officially incorporated in 1852. Winthrop was named after the first Governor of Massachusetts, John Winthrop, and is the only Town in Suffolk County. It is located on a peninsula, at the beginning of the North Shore, with 7 miles of shore line that provides breathtaking views of the ocean to the East and of the Boston skyline to the West.
Originally part of an area called Winnesimmet by the Native Americans, the peninsula was annexed by Boston in 1632 and within 5 years became the grazing area for farm animals of the rapidly growing Boston colony. In 1637 it was divided into 15 parcels of land which were given by Governor Winthrop to prominent men in Boston with the stipulation that each must erect a building on his land within 2 years. Few, if any, of these men ever lived here but their farms prospered. One of these early houses, built initially during the first half of the 1600’s,and rebuilt in 1675, was the home of Governor Winthrop’s youngest son, Deane Winthrop, who lived there until his death in 1703. This house is still standing and is maintained, for public viewing, by the Winthrop Improvement and Historical Association.
In 1739, what is now Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop withdrew from Boston due to governmental control disputes and became the Town of Chelsea. Again the desire for more local control resulted in Revere and Winthrop seceding from Chelsea in 1846 to become No. Chelsea. Shortly thereafter, in 1852, Winthrop was incorporated as a Town in its own right with a Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting form of government. In 1920, Winthrop was the second Town in the Commonwealth to apply for and receive a Charter for a Representative Town Meeting which has continued to date.
Geography
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.5 km² (8.3 mi²). 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 16.3 km² (6.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 76.02% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 18,303 people, 7,843 households, and 4,580 families residing in the town. The population density is 3,551.2/km² (9,208.3/mi²). There are 8,067 housing units at an average density of 1,565.2/km² (4,058.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 94.44% White, 1.68% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.36% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 2.69% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 7,843 households out of which 23.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% are married couples living together, 11.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% are non-families. 32.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.98.
In the town the population is spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $53,122, and the median income for a family is $65,696. Males have a median income of $42,135 versus $36,298 for females. The per capita income for the town is $27,374. 5.5% of the population and 3.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.1% of those under the age of 18 and 8.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Notable people born or living in Winthrop
- Sylvia Plath - Poet
- Deane Winthrop - Son of John Winthrop, founder of the town and Massachusetts first Governor
- Benjamin Whorf - an American linguist
- Mike Eruzione - former ice hockey player who was the captain of the 1980 Winter Olympics United States national team that upset the Soviet Union in the famous Miracle on Ice game
- Rick DiPietro An American rookie hockey goalie who currently plays for the National Hockey League's New York Islanders. He was drafted First Overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft