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Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts facts for kids

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Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
The First Parish Church in central Manchester-by-the-Sea
The First Parish Church in central Manchester-by-the-Sea
Official seal of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Essex County and the state of Massachusetts.
Location in Essex County and the state of Massachusetts.
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Essex
Settled 1629
Incorporated 1645
Government
 • Type Open town meeting
Area
 • Total 18.3 sq mi (47.3 km2)
 • Land 9.2 sq mi (23.9 km2)
 • Water 9.0 sq mi (23.4 km2)
Elevation
30 ft (9 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 5,395
 • Density 295.4/sq mi (114.06/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
01944
Area code(s) 351 / 978
FIPS code 25-37995
GNIS feature ID 0619451

Manchester-by-the-Sea (also known simply as Manchester, its name prior to 1989) is a town on Cape Ann, in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is known for scenic beaches and vista points. At the 2020 census, the population was 5,395.

The town lies on the southern side of Cape Ann, at the point where the peninsula meets the mainland. The North Shore was populated by the Agawam people prior to European settlement, which began in 1629, about a decade after an epidemic killed much of the native people. Fishing was the major industry in the town almost from its incorporation in 1645, but in the mid-19th century it began to grow as a popular seaside resort community. The town has appeared, either by name or as a filming location, in a number of films and TV shows, notably the eponymous 2016 film Manchester by the Sea.

History

Singing Beach, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Singing Beach in 1914

Manchester was first settled by Europeans in 1629 and was officially incorporated in 1645. It was formed out of territory taken from Salem (that portion since given to Beverly) and Gloucester.

The community thrived primarily as a fishing community for over 200 years. Its economy shifted to that of a Boston area summer colony starting in 1845, when Richard Dana, a Boston-based poet, built a house in the town. Over the next fifty years, development of summer houses along the coastline established the community as Boston society's community of choice for summer residency. The trend continued with designs by other notable architects, such as "Sunny Waters", designed by John Hubbard Sturgis for his older brother, Russell, in 1862.

The most famous of these "summer cottages" was Kragsyde, built on Smith's Point in 1883 and demolished in 1929. Commissioned by George Nixon Black, the Peabody and Stearns-designed residence has been hailed as the zenith of the Shingle style substyle of the Queen Anne style of architecture.

Name

To prevent confusion with the nearby and much larger city of Manchester, New Hampshire, the name of the town was officially changed in 1989 following a close town meeting vote that year and an act of the state legislature passed on September 25, 1989.

The name change was driven by Edward Corley, a longtime resident of Manchester. All town documents, and the town seal, now use the name "Manchester-by-the-Sea", and as a result of some minor resident activism, so do the majority of public and private lists of Massachusetts cities and towns, including that of the state government.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.3 square miles (47.3 km2), of which 9.2 square miles (23.9 km2) is land and 9.0 square miles (23.4 km2), or 49.47%, is water. The town lies along the North Shore of Massachusetts Bay, which in turn leads to the Atlantic Ocean. There are seven beaches lining the coast, and several small islands dot the coast, the largest being Kettle Island and House Island.

Several small coves line the coast, the largest being Manchester Harbor, which is fed by Sawmill Brook and other small brooks. There are several protected areas within town, including Cedar Swamp Conservation Area, Cheever Commons Conservation Area, Coolidge Reservation, Dexter Pond, Owl's Nest Nature Preservation Land, Powder House Hill Reservation, and Wyman Hill Conservation Area.

Manchester-by-the-Sea is bordered by Beverly and Wenham to the west, Hamilton to the northwest, Essex to the north, and Gloucester to the east. The town is located 9 miles (14 km) northeast of Salem and 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Boston. Manchester-by-the-Sea lies along Massachusetts Route 128, which has two exits within town as it passes from Beverly to Gloucester, with a small portion crossing through the corner of Essex. Route 127 also passes from west to east through town, traveling through the center of town. There is no bus service directly into town, with service passing east via the Cape Ann Transportation Authority in Gloucester and MBTA Bus, which provides service to Beverly.

The town is served by a stop along the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail, providing service from Rockport along the North Shore to Boston's North Station. The nearest airport is the Beverly Municipal Airport, with the nearest national and international service at Boston's Logan International Airport.

Demographics

Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1850 1,638 —    
1860 1,698 +3.7%
1870 1,665 −1.9%
1880 1,640 −1.5%
1890 1,789 +9.1%
1900 2,522 +41.0%
1910 2,673 +6.0%
1920 2,466 −7.7%
1930 2,636 +6.9%
1940 2,472 −6.2%
1950 2,868 +16.0%
1960 3,932 +37.1%
1970 5,151 +31.0%
1980 5,424 +5.3%
1990 5,286 −2.5%
2000 5,228 −1.1%
2010 5,136 −1.8%
2020 5,395 +5.0%
* = population estimate.
Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

As of the census of 2010, there were 5,136 people, 2,147 households, and 1,444 families residing in the town. The population density was 562.7 people per square mile (217.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.6% (5,012) White, 0.1% (5) African American, 0.2% (10) Native American, 0.9% (46) Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% (77) of the population. The median income for a household in the town was $95,243, and the median income for a family was $109,760. About 4.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

Singing Beach

One mile from the town center is Singing Beach, so named because the sand comprising the beach squeaks when walked upon (see Singing sand). This beach is quite popular during summer months in particular because it is easily accessible from Boston by a half-mile walk from the MBTA train station. Also located on this historic beach is the famous tourist attraction "Eaglehead", a rock composite that is the focal point of rock climbing and other recreation activities.

Other points of interest

  • Agassiz Rock
  • Masconomo Park
  • Coolidge Reservation
  • Crow Island
  • Kragsyde
  • Smith's Point
  • Trask House Museum
  • Tucks Point
  • Cathedral Pines

Transportation

Manchester-by-the-Sea lies along Massachusetts Route 128, the inner of two beltways around Greater Boston. Route 128 has two exits within town as it passes from Beverly to Gloucester, with a small portion crossing through the corner of Essex. Route 127 also passes from west to east through town, traveling through the center of town. There is no bus service directly into town, with service passing east via the Cape Ann Transportation Authority in Gloucester, and an MBTA bus route providing service to Beverly.

The town is served by a stop along the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail, providing service from Rockport along the North Shore to Boston's North Station. The nearest airport is the Beverly Municipal Airport, with the nearest national and international service at Boston's Logan International Airport.

Notable people

  • Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., brother of John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin. Died September 17, 1883. Buried in Manchester-by-the-Sea
  • Nat Faxon, comedian and Oscar winner for adapted screenplay for The Descendants at the 84th Academy Awards
  • Josh Gates, host of Destination Truth—former resident
  • Rufus Gifford, United States ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark from 2013–2017
  • Elizabeth Porter Gould, poet and author
  • Sprague Grayden, actress
  • Henry Northey Hooper, manufacturer and Boston politician
  • William Northey Hooper, a founder of the sugar industry in Hawaii
  • Joe Lloyd, professional golfer
  • James McMillan, Michigan senator instrumental in the design of the Washington Mall, died (1902) at his summer home in Manchester-by-the-Sea
  • Susan Minot, author
  • Ray Ozzie, software entrepreneur
  • George Putnam III, trustee of Putnam Investments
  • Gardner Read, composer
  • David I. Robinson, politician
  • Jay Severin, radio talk show host
  • Josiah Spaulding, businessman, attorney, and politician; chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party from 1965–1970

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Manchester-by-the-Sea para niños

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