Haverhill, Massachusetts

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Haverhill, Massachusetts
Haverhill from across the Merrimack River
Haverhill from across the Merrimack River
Location in Essex County in Massachusetts
Location in Essex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°46′34″N 71°04′40″W / 42.77611°N 71.07778°W / 42.77611; -71.07778
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Essex
Settled 1640
Incorporated 1641
Government
 - Type Mayor-council city
 - Mayor James J. Fiorentini
Area
 - Total 35.6 sq mi (92.3 km2)
 - Land 33.3 sq mi (86.3 km2)
 - Water 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2)
Elevation 27 ft (8 m)
Population (2007)
 - Total 59,902
 - Density 1,798.9/sq mi (694.1/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 01830
Area code(s) 351 / 978
FIPS code 25-29405
GNIS feature ID 0612607
Website www.ci.haverhill.ma.us

Haverhill (pronounced /ˈheɪvrɪl/) is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 58,969 at the 2000 census. Haverhill is home to Northern Essex Community College.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally settled as Pentucket and situated on the Merrimack River, it began as a farming community, that would evolve into an important industrial center, beginning with sawmills and gristmills run by water power. In the 18th century, Haverhill developed tanneries, shipping and shipbuilding. The mill town was for 180 years home to a large shoe-making industry, which faded with the Great Depression of the 1930s. It also once manufactured hats. Incorporated as a city in 1870, Haverhill would annex part of Bradford in 1897.

A temperance society was formed in 1828. A branch of the American Anti-Slavery Society was organized in 1834 in Haverhill.

Like most towns, Haverhill has been struck by several epidemics. Throat distemper killed 256 children in Haverhill between Nov. 17, 1735, and Dec. 31, 1737 [1]. In 1826 influenza struck.

The Haverhill and Boston Stage Coach company operated from 1818 to 1837 when the railroad was extended to Haverhill from Andover. It then changed its name and routes to the Northern and Eastern Stage company. The Town meeting were held at the First Church meeting house till 1827, and rotated various churches and halls till the first town hall was built in 1847.

In 1841, a group of citizens from Haverhill petitioned Congress for a dissolution of the Union, because Northern resources were being used to maintain slavery. John Quincy Adams presented the petition on 24 January 1842. Even though Adams moved that the petition be answered in the negative, an attempt was made to censure him for even presenting the petition.[2]

Ezekial Hale tripled the size of his factory on Winter St. in 1835 with the addition of a 4 story 95 by 34-foot (10 m) brick building adjointing the old 4 story 59 by 24-foot (7.3 m) building. Hale's factory operated 1600 spindles, turned out 600 yards (550 m) of flannel a day and employed 30 people. Stevens and Co. bought it in 1855 when it turned out 8,000 yards (7,300 m) of flannel a week and employed 40 people.

Haverhill was the site of the original Macy's store, established to sell dry goods in 1851 by Rowland H. Macy. It was also where Hollywood mogul Louis B. Mayer got his start in show business by operating a chain of theatres. The city has much fine old architecture, particularly in the Victorian style, built during the flush mill era.

Haverhill is also one of the main inspirations for the comic Archie. The comic's creator, Bob Montana, lived in Haverhill and attended Haverhill High School from 1936 to 1939, and based characters Archie, Jughead, Veronica, Betty, and Reggie on people he knew at Haverhill High.[3]

The Haverhill City Democratic Committee holds an annual breakfast to honor distinguished Democrats, and the 2008 breakfast was attended by guest speakers United States Senator John Kerry and United States Congresswoman Nikki Tsongas.

[edit] Higher education

Until its closing in 2000, Bradford College provided liberal arts higher education in Haverhill. In 2007, an affiliate of David Green's Hobby Lobby stores purchased the campus. Following an estimated $5 million renovation, it was gifted to the Assemblies of God as the new home of the Zion Bible College.[4]

Haverhill is the home of the main campus of Northern Essex Community College, which has a wide array of courses available for undergraduate students.

[edit] Geography

Haverhill is located at 42°46′41″N 71°5′6″W / 42.77806°N 71.085°W / 42.77806; -71.085 (42.778090, -71.084916).[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.6 square miles (92.3 km²), of which, 33.3 square miles (86.3 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²) of it (6.48%) is water. Haverhill is drained by the Little and Merrimack rivers. Ayer's Hill, a drumlin with an elevation of 339 feet (103 m), is the highest point in the city.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 58,969 people, 22,976 households, and 14,865 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,769.4 people per square mile (683.1/km²). There were 23,737 housing units at an average density of 712.2/sq mi (275.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.67% White, 2.41% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.30% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.77% of the population. 16.8% were of Irish, 14.6% Italian, 10.1% French, 9.0% English, 7.8% French Canadian and 6.3% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 22,976 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,833, and the median income for a family was $59,772. Males had a median income of $41,197 versus $31,779 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,280. About 7.0% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

The population of Haverhill in 1765–1980, 1776 - 2810, 1790 - 2408, 1800 - 2730, 1810 - 2682, 1820 - 3070, 1830 - 3896, 1840 - 4336, 1850 - 3877, 1907 - 41,242(includes Bradford annexed in 1897).

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Transportation

[edit] References

Maps.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Throat Distemper in Haverhill from Essex Antiquarian Vol.3 1899 page 10.". http://www.rootsweb.com/~maessex/EssexAntiquarian/Volume1/189701.html#TDinHaverhill. 
  2. ^ Miller, William Lee (1995). Arguing About Slavery. John Quincy Adams and the Great Battle in the United States Congress. Vintage Books. p. 430-431. ISBN 0-3945-6922-9. 
  3. ^ www.whereishaverhillusa.com
  4. ^ "Zion Bible College has new home and new president". Assemblies of God News Service. 2007-10-03. http://ag.org/top/news/news_article_template.cfm?ArticleID=10037&NamedFormatID=2001Article&SearchDepartment=01-140&SearchStartDate=09/04/2007&SearchMaxRows=3&SearchMaxRecordCount=3263. Retrieved on 2007-10-03. 
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
  7. ^ a b Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 

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