| Wakefield, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Settled | 1639 |
| Incorporated | 1812 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Open town meeting |
| Area | |
| - Total | 7.9 sq mi (20.5 km²) |
| - Land | 7.5 sq mi (19.3 km²) |
| - Water | 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²) |
| Elevation | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 24,804 |
| - Density | 3,321.6/sq mi (1,282.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01880 |
| Area code(s) | 339 / 781 |
| FIPS code | 25-72215 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0619410 |
| Website: http://www.wakefield.ma.us/ | |
Wakefield is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States located ten miles north of Boston. The population was 24,804 at the 2000 census.
Contents |
History
Wakefield was first settled in 1639 and was officially incorporated in 1812. Wakefield is made up of various parts including Greenwood, Montrose, and Westside. Originally part of Reading, it was set off as a separate community and originally known as South Reading until Cyrus Wakefield donated land for the construction of Town Hall and a grateful population renamed their community in his honor. One of the oldest and largest manufacturers of flying model airplane toys in the world, Paul K. Guillow, Inc. is located in Wakefield. The company is particularly notable for its extensive line of balsa wood model airplane kits. Wakefield gained media attention on December 26, 2000, when Michael McDermott, an employee at Edgewater Technology, fatally shot seven of his co-workers.
Geography
Wakefield is located at (42.501345, -71.071324)GR1 Reading, Massachusetts (West), Melrose, Massachusetts (South), Stoneham, Massachusetts (Southwest), Lynnfield, Massachusetts (North), and Saugus, Massachusetts (East) border Wakefield. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²), of which, 7.5 square miles (19.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (5.56%) is water. Wakefield has two lakes: Crystal Lake and Lake Quannapowitt. Crystal Lake is used as a reservoir for some of the town's drinking water. Lake Quannapowitt is used for a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, windsurfing and fishing. In 1847, Lake Quannapowitt was named for the Indian, James Quannapowitt, one of the signers of the old Indian Deed of 1686. The earliest settlers referred to the lake simply as the "Greate Pond" or "Reading Pond." Long regarded as "Wakefield's greatest natural resource," Lake Quannapowitt covers an area of 247 acres. Its outlet is the Saugus River to the Atlantic Ocean. Wakefield Common sits to the south of the lake, and is the site of many recreational activities and events throughout the year. In 1991, a group of local citizens formed "The Friends of Lake Quannapowitt" to advocate for the lake and to educate the public about this natural resource. The group has also raised money for projects that benefit the lake and the surrounding areas.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 24,804 people, 9,747 households, and 6,608 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,321.6 people per square mile (1,282.0/km²). There were 9,937 housing units at an average density of 1,330.7/sq mi (513.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.94% White, 0.45% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population. There were 9,747 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09. In the town the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for a household in the town was $66,117, and the median income for a family was $77,834. Males had a median income of $51,591 versus $39,327 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,369. About 1.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Education
Contains three High Schools: Wakefield High School, Northeast Vocational, and Our Lady of Nazareth Academy In 1997, the boys' and girls' basketball teams from Wakefield High School won Division II state championships on the same night. Contains 1 middle school (Galvin Middle) 4 Elementary schools (Woodville, Dolbeare, Walton and Greenwood) (defunct Elementary Schools include Doyle, Franklin) 2 Private schools (St. Joseph's & Odyssey day school)
Transportation
An MBTA Commuter Rail station is located in the center of town as well as in the Greenwood section. Several MBTA buses (Route 136 and Route 137) run to nearby communities, including the Oak Grove train station on the MBTA orange line.
Media
- The town is covered by two daily newspapers, the locally owned Daily Item and an edition of the Daily Times Chronicle; and by one weekly newspaper, the Wakefield Observer.
Points of interest
- Lake Quannapowitt is a popular recreation area for walkers, joggers, bikers, and rollerbladers
- Lucius Beebe Memorial Library.
Annual events
- Town Day
- Independence Day Parade
- Homecoming Celebration in Autumn
- Concerts on the Common (Summer)
Notable residents
Israel Horovitz - American playwright and screenwriter born March 31, 1939 in Wakefield, MA
Beastie Boy Adam "Adrock" Horovitz is the son of Israel Horovitz Lucius Beebe - American author, gourmand, photographer, railroad historian, journalist, and syndicated columnist born December 9, 1902 in Wakefield, MA (died 1966)
Trevor Phipps - Lead vocals for Boston metalcore band Unearth.
See also
References
History of Wakefield (Middlesex county) Massachusetts, compiled by William E. Eaton and History committee. Published under the direction and authority of the Tercentenary committee of the town of Wakefield, Massachusetts. published 1944.
External links
- Town of Wakefield Municipal Website
- Wakefield Library
- Friends of Lake Quannapowitt
- Short History of Wakefield
- Old USGS maps of Wakefield
