Methuen, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Methuen, Massachusetts
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Methuen City Hall
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Location in Essex County and the state of Massachusetts.
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 Methuen, Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Essex | ||
| Settled | 1642 | ||
| Incorporated | December 8, 1725 | ||
| Incorporated a city | 1917 | ||
| Named for | Sir Paul Methuen | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor-council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 22.99 sq mi (59.55 km2) | ||
| • Land | 22.21 sq mi (57.53 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.78 sq mi (2.02 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 115 ft (35 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 53,059 | ||
| • Density | 2,388.75/sq mi (922.29/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP Code |
01844
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| Area code(s) | 351/978 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-40710 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0612337 | ||
Methuen is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It covers about 23 square miles (60 km2). In 2020, about 53,059 people lived there. Methuen is located on the northwestern edge of Essex County. It is near the border of Middlesex County and Rockingham County, New Hampshire.
The city is surrounded by several other towns and cities. These include Haverhill to the northeast and Lawrence to the south. Methuen is about 30 miles (48 km) north-northwest of Boston. It is also about 25 miles (40 km) south-southeast of Manchester, New Hampshire.
Contents
History of Methuen
Methuen was first settled by people in 1642. It officially became a town in 1726. Before that, it was part of Haverhill, Massachusetts. In 1724, some residents asked to form a new town. Their request was approved on December 8, 1725. The new town was named Methuen after Sir Paul Methuen. He was a friend of the acting governor at the time.
The first town meeting was held in March 1726. Land was set aside for a "meetinghouse." This building was used for both town meetings and church services. It was built later that year.
Over time, the northern part of Methuen wanted its own meetinghouse. In 1736, this area became a separate parish. However, in 1741, the border between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was set. Most of this northern parish then became part of Salem, New Hampshire. Salem was officially formed in 1750.
In the 1800s, factories and industries helped Methuen grow. The Methuen Cotton Mills were built in the 1820s. More factories making hats and shoes also appeared. This made the area around Osgood, Broadway, Hampshire, and Pleasant streets a busy center. Three rich and important families helped shape Methuen: the Nevins, Tenneys, and Searles. They helped create many famous places in Methuen. These include the Nevins Memorial Library and the Searles building. They also contributed to the Tenney Gatehouse and the Civil War monument.
In 1922, the mills in Methuen closed for a while. This happened during the 1922 New England Textile Strike. Workers were protesting a cut in their wages.
Geography and Nature
Methuen is located at 42°43′48″N 71°10′46″W. The city has a total area of about 22.99 square miles (59.7 km2). Most of this is land, with about 0.78 square miles (2.0 km2) being water.
The Merrimack River flows along the northern edge of Methuen. The Spicket River also runs through the city. Many smaller brooks and streams are found here too. There are several ponds in the area. Methuen also has a town forest, a bird sanctuary, and a small state park called Tenney State Park. Pine Island, located in the Merrimack River, is also part of Methuen.
Getting Around Methuen
Methuen is a hub for major highways. Interstate 93 ends in Massachusetts here. Interstate 495 also passes through the eastern part of town. Massachusetts Route 213, known as the "Loop Connector," connects these two highways. Other important roads include Route 28, Route 110, and Route 113. I-93 has the only bridge over the Merrimack River in Methuen. This highway offers a quick route to Manchester, New Hampshire, and Boston.
Bus service is available through the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority. You can also find daily bus service to other cities like Worcester and New York City. The closest train stations are in South Lawrence and Haverhill. These stations offer commuter rail service to Boston's North Station. For air travel, smaller planes can use Lawrence Municipal Airport. Larger flights are available at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. International flights are at Logan International Airport in Boston.
Population and People
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1790 | 1,297 | — |
| 1800 | 1,253 | −3.4% |
| 1810 | 1,181 | −5.7% |
| 1820 | 1,371 | +16.1% |
| 1830 | 2,006 | +46.3% |
| 1840 | 2,251 | +12.2% |
| 1850 | 2,538 | +12.7% |
| 1860 | 2,566 | +1.1% |
| 1870 | 2,959 | +15.3% |
| 1880 | 4,392 | +48.4% |
| 1890 | 4,814 | +9.6% |
| 1900 | 7,512 | +56.0% |
| 1910 | 11,448 | +52.4% |
| 1920 | 15,189 | +32.7% |
| 1930 | 21,069 | +38.7% |
| 1940 | 21,880 | +3.8% |
| 1950 | 24,477 | +11.9% |
| 1960 | 28,114 | +14.9% |
| 1970 | 35,456 | +26.1% |
| 1980 | 36,701 | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 39,990 | +9.0% |
| 2000 | 43,789 | +9.5% |
| 2010 | 47,255 | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 53,059 | +12.3% |
| 2023* | 53,455 | +0.7% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. Source: |
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Methuen is home to a diverse group of people. In 2000, about 89% of the people were White. About 1% were African American, and 2% were Asian. About 5% were from other races. Many people in Methuen are also of Hispanic or Latino background. This includes people from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. For a long time, Methuen has been home to many Lebanese, French, and Italian communities.
Education in Methuen
Methuen has several schools for students of all ages.
Public Schools
- Methuen High School
- Comprehensive Grammar School
- Tenney Grammar School
- Timony Grammar School
- Marsh Grammar School
Private Schools
- Saint Monica's is a Catholic school for students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
- St. Ann's Home and School helps children and teens with special learning or emotional needs. They offer different programs, including a day school.
- Presentation of Mary Academy was a private Catholic high school. It opened in 1958 on a 22-acre campus. The school was originally for girls but started accepting boys in 2011. It closed in 2020 due to money problems.
Sports in Methuen
Methuen High School's sports teams are called the Rangers. They play in the Merrimack Valley Conference. Their main rivals include the Andover Golden Warriors and the Central Catholic Raiders. On Thanksgiving Day, the football team plays against the Dracut Middies. The school colors are blue and white. The mascot, the Ranger, is named after Robert Rogers. He was a local resident who founded Rogers' Rangers. This group was a early version of the United States Army Rangers.
Historic Places and Districts
The Searles Tenney Nevins Historic District was created in 1992. Its goal is to protect the special buildings and history of Methuen. It is named after three important people from Methuen: David C. Nevins, Edward F. Searles, and Charles H. Tenney. These families helped build many parts of Methuen. This includes mills, homes, schools, and the library.
The Methuen Historic District Commission manages this area. They make sure that changes to buildings keep the historic look. Property owners in the district must follow certain rules. These rules cover things like building materials, size, and colors.
Inside this larger district are two other historic areas: the Spicket Falls Historic District and the Pleasant-High Historic District. Many buildings in these areas are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fun Places to Visit
- Forest Lake is a large pond over 55 acres. It is next to the Methuen town forest. People can go fishing, canoeing, and swimming here.
- Methuen Memorial Music Hall is a special building. It was built just to hold a huge pipe organ. This organ was bought by Edward Francis Searles over 100 years ago. The organ case is as big as a house and is beautifully decorated.
- Methuen Rail Trail is a path built on an old railroad line. It connects to other trails nearby. Future plans might turn it into a path next to a working train line.
- The Nevins Memorial Library was started in 1868 by David Nevins, Sr.. It was finished in 1883. This grand brick and stained-glass library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Saint Basil's Seminary is a main location for a group of priests called the Basilian Salvatorian Order.
- St Xenia Orthodox Church is a church for many different cultures. It also has a church school.
Just a few miles north of Methuen, in Salem, New Hampshire, is Canobie Lake Park. This is a very popular and old theme park. It is well known throughout New England.
Famous People from Methuen
- Steve Bedrosian, a professional baseball pitcher.
- Susie Castillo, who was Miss USA in 2003.
- Elias James Corey, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1990.
- Sean Furey, an Olympic javelin thrower.
- Andrew Haldane, a Marine captain during WWII.
- Christopher Lennertz, a composer for movies and video games.
- Georges Niang, a professional NBA player.
- Jimmy Pedro, an Olympic bronze medalist in judo.
- Robert Rogers, who founded Rogers' Rangers.
- Edward Francis Searles, a generous person who helped the city.
See also
In Spanish: Methuen (Massachusetts) para niños
