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Stoneham, Massachusetts

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Stoneham (/ˈstoʊnəm/ STO-nəm) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, nine miles (14.5 km) north of downtown Boston. Its population was 23,244 at the 2020 census.[1] Its proximity to major highways and public transportation offers convenient access to Boston and the North Shore coastal region and beaches of Massachusetts. The town is the birthplace of the Olympic figure-skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan and is the location of the Stone Zoo.

Stoneham
Town
Town of Stoneham
Welcome sign of Stoneham
Welcome sign of Stoneham
Official seal of Stoneham
Seal
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°28′48″N 71°06′00″W / 42.48000°N 71.10000°W / 42.48000; -71.10000
Country United States
State Massachusetts
CountyMiddlesex
RegionNew England
Settled1645
Incorporated1725
Government
 • TypeOpen town meeting
Area
 • Total
17.4 km2 (6.7 sq mi)
 • Land15.9 km2 (6.2 sq mi)
 • Water1.5 km2 (0.6 sq mi)
Elevation
47 m (155 ft)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
23,244
 • Density1,300/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
02180
Area code339 / 781
FIPS code25-67665
GNIS feature ID0618235
Websitewww.stoneham-ma.gov
1852 map of Boston area showing Stoneham
Main Street at the Stoneham Theatre

History

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The earliest documented mention of the territory now called Stoneham dates to 1632 when, on February 7, Governor Winthrop and his party came upon this area. They found Spot Pond and ate their lunch on a place they called Cheese Rock, now known as Bear Hill.[2] Stoneham is situated on the traditional territory of the Massachusett and Pawtucket peoples.[3]

Stoneham was first settled by colonists in 1634 and was originally a part of Charlestown. In 1678, there were six colonists with their families, all in the northeast part of the town, probably because of its proximity to the settlement in Reading (now Wakefield).[4]

By 1725, the population of the area, called "Charlestown End", had increased until there were 65 male inhabitants paying taxes;[5] however, they were miles away from the settlement in Charlestown and could not conveniently reach its church or school. For this reason, Captain Benjamin Geary and 53 other residents of the area petitioned Charlestown to allow them to be separated. The town refused their petition at first, but on December 17, 1725, the General Court passed an act to establish the new township of Stoneham, separating it from Charlestown, and releasing its residents from the obligation to pay taxes to Charlestown, provided that within two years they would erect a suitable church and hire a minister and a schoolmaster.[6]

 
Stoneham Public Library

The town's first meetinghouse was erected in 1726, as was its Burying Ground (now known as the Old Burying Ground and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984). The first church was organized in 1729, with members being released from the congregations in Reading and Melrose to form it. In the same year, the town voted to raise £9 for the building of a school and chose a committee to hire a schoolmaster.[7] Stoneham remained a small town during the colonial era. Traces of its colonial history are still to be seen in the Spot Pond Archeological District of the Middlesex Fells Reservation. During the Industrial Revolution, Stoneham prospered as a major shoe-manufacturing center.

Government

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Stoneham is part of the Massachusetts's 5th congressional district and is represented by Katherine Clark. The United States Senators are Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren. Part of the 31st Middlesex District, Mike Day represents the district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He replaced Jason Lewis who now represents Stoneham in the Massachusetts Senate for the 5th Middlesex Senate district.

Geography

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Stoneham is located at 42°28′48″N 71°5′54″W / 42.48000°N 71.09833°W / 42.48000; -71.09833 (42.480145, −71.098352).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.4 km2), of which 6.2 square miles (15.9 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.5 km2), or 8.36%, is water.

Stoneham has two exits off Interstate 93, Winchester Highlands and Montvale Avenue and one exit off Interstate 95, Route 28.

Stoneham borders the following cities or towns: Woburn, Winchester, Medford, Melrose, Wakefield, and Reading.

Demographics

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See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1725250*—    
1790283—    
1800312+10.2%
1810467+49.7%
1820615+31.7%
1830732+19.0%
18401,017+38.9%
18502,085+105.0%
18603,206+53.8%
18704,513+40.8%
18804,890+8.4%
18906,155+25.9%
19006,197+0.7%
19107,090+14.4%
19207,873+11.0%
193010,060+27.8%
194010,765+7.0%
195013,229+22.9%
196017,821+34.7%
197020,725+16.3%
198021,424+3.4%
199022,203+3.6%
200022,219+0.1%
201021,437−3.5%
202023,244+8.4%
2022*22,705−2.3%
* = population estimate.
Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

As of the 2022 American Community Survey estimates, there were 22,992 people and 9,654 households.[20][21] The population density was 3,821.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,475.6/km2). There were 9,904 housing units at an average density of 1,646.3 per square mile (635.6/km2).[22][23][21] The racial makeup of the city was 83.6% White, 7.4% Asian, 1.9% some other race, and 1.6% Black or African American, with 5.5% from two or more races.[21] Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.7% of the population.[21]

Of the 9,654 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% had seniors 65 years or older living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 6.3% were couples cohabitating, 14.7% had a male householder with no partner present, and 27.7% had a female householder with no partner present.[20] The median household size was 2.37 and the median family size was 3.01.[20]

The age distribution was 19.7% under 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 or older. The median age was 42.1 years.[24] For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males.[21]

The median income for a household was $112,935, with family households having a median income of $153,873 and non-family households $61,908. The per capita income was $60,043.[25][26] Out of the 22,864 people with a determined poverty status, 4.7% were below the poverty line. Further, 3.1% of minors and 8.0% of seniors were below the poverty line.[27]

In the survey, residents self-identified with various ethnic ancestries. People of Italian descent made up 27.5% of the population of the town, followed by Irish at 26.9%, English at 8.7%, German at 3.9%, French at 3.3%, Arab at 3.1%, American at 2.5%, French Canadian at 2.4%, Portuguese at 2.3%, Greek at 2.2%, Polish at 1.9%, Scottish at 1.3%, Ukrainian at 0.9%, Norwegian at 0.8%, Lithuanian at 0.7%, Russian at 0.6%, Swedish at 0.5%, and Scotch-Irish at 0.5%.[20]

Transportation

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Stoneham is inside the Route 128 belt that delineates the core of metropolitan Boston. Public transportation is available in or near Stoneham. The Tri-Community Greenway path goes through Stoneham accessible to walkers/bikers. The Oak Grove subway station is 3.8 miles (6.1 km) from Stoneham Center, in Malden, and is the northern terminus of the MBTA's Orange Line. Several commuter rail stations are in bordering communities of Melrose, Winchester, Wakefield, Reading, Medford, Woburn and Malden, each providing transportation to Boston's North Station. The MBTA's 132 bus route travels through Stoneham Center, offering transportation to the Orange Line at Oak Grove and Malden Station. And the MBTA's 325 Express Bus to downtown Boston offers limited service. Interstate 93 passes through Stoneham, and Route 128/Interstate 95 passes just to the north of the town.

Education

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Stoneham has one public high school (Stoneham High School) and one public middle school (Stoneham Central Middle School). There are also three public elementary schools (Colonial Park School, Robin Hood School and South School) in the town.

The private Seventh-day Adventist school Greater Boston Academy offers programs for Pre-K to grade 8, and Saint Patrick School, a Catholic school, conducts programs from Pre-K level to grade 8.

Media

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Stoneham is served by Boston television and radio stations, the Boston Herald, the Boston Globe and the Stoneham Independent newspaper. Stoneham has a community-access television station, StonehamTV, which broadcasts locally produced content on Comcast, Verizon and RCN cable systems.[28]

Nine O'Clock Horn

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The Nine O'clock Horn, or Nine O'clock Bell/Alarm, is a horn that goes off from the Stoneham Fire Station every day at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Originally, the number of blasts of the horn was used to signal different groups to fight fires or alert the town of other emergencies such as a missing child. The 9 a.m and 9 p.m. horns are officially used to test the alert system; however, Stoneham Fire staff have stated that these horns remain primarily as a tradition. The horn system is entirely automated.

Notable people

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Sports

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In addition to the high school sports programs at Stoneham High School, Stoneham also has the Stoneham Sabers amateur team in the Yawkey Baseball League of Greater Boston.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Stoneham town, Middlesex County, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  2. ^ William B. Stevens (1891). History of Stoneham, Massachusetts. Stoneham, Mass.: F.L. & W.E. Whittier. p. 10. Stoneham, Massachusetts.
  3. ^ "NativeLand.ca". Native-land.ca - Our home on native land. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  4. ^ Stevens, p. 14.
  5. ^ R. H. Howard and Henry E. Crocker, ed. (1880). A History of New England. Vol. 1. Boston: Crocker & Co. p. 202.
  6. ^ Stevens, p. 37
  7. ^ Stevens, pp. 42–43.
  8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  9. ^ "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  10. ^ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  11. ^ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  12. ^ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts" (PDF). US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. ^ "1950 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  14. ^ "1920 Census of Population" (PDF). Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  15. ^ "1890 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  16. ^ "1870 Census of the Population" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  17. ^ "1860 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  18. ^ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  19. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d "2022 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimate: Selected Social Characteristics in the United States for Stoneham town, MA". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c d e "2022 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimate: Demographic and Housing Estimates for Stoneham town, MA". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "2022 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimate: Housing Units for Stoneham town, MA". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  23. ^ To calculate density we use the land area figure from the places file in "The 2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files".
  24. ^ "2022 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimate: Age and Sex for town CDP, MA". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  25. ^ "2022 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimate: Mean Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2022 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for Stoneham town, MA". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  26. ^ "2022 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimate: Income in the Past 12 Months (in 2022 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) for Stoneham town, MA". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  27. ^ "2022 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimate: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months for Stoneham town, MA". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  28. ^ "Stoneham TV - TV Created by You!". Stoneham TV. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  29. ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Gibbons". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
    - "Milestones, September 15, 1958". Time. September 15, 1958. Archived from the original on August 27, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  30. ^ Dan Guttenplan (August 22, 2012). "Somerville Alibrandis will face Stoneham Sabers in Yawkey League semifinals". Somerville Journal. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2012.

Further reading

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