Middleton, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middleton, Massachusetts
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The corner of Main and Maple Streets
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| Motto(s):
"Knowledge is Power"
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Location in Essex County and the state of Massachusetts.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Massachusetts | |
| County | Essex | |
| Settled | 1659 | |
| Incorporated | 1728 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Open town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 14.5 sq mi (37.4 km2) | |
| • Land | 14.0 sq mi (36.2 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.2 km2) | |
| Elevation | 94 ft (29 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,779 | |
| • Density | 698.5/sq mi (270.1/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
01949
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| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 | |
| FIPS code | 25-41095 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618303 | |
| Website | http://www.middletonma.gov/ | |
Middleton is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is a lovely place with a rich history. In 2020, about 9,779 people lived there.
Contents
History of Middleton
Before Europeans settled here, the area was home to Native American tribes. These tribes, like the Naumkeag and Agawam, spoke the Abenaki language. There was even a winter village on Will's Hill, which is in Middleton today.
Europeans first settled in Middleton in 1659. The town officially became a town in 1728. Before that, it was part of Topsfield and even included some land from Salem.
The name "Middleton" comes from its location. It was midway between the important early towns of Salem and Andover. Bray Wilkins was one of the first European settlers. He came from Salem with his large family and bought a lot of land.
Middleton started as a farming community. Its location on the Ipswich River helped it grow. In the 1700s, Middleton also had an important ironworks industry. This industry made iron products and lasted for about seventy years. You can still see many old houses from the colonial period in Middleton. For example, the Thomas Fuller House was built in 1684.
Even though there are no trains running through Middleton now, there used to be rail lines. The Essex Railroad ran through Middleton from the 1840s until the mid-1900s. It connected Salem and North Andover.
In the late 1700s and mid-1800s, Middleton was a popular vacation spot. People from cities like Lawrence and Lowell would come to visit. Middleton is also home to one of the oldest trees in Massachusetts. It is about 400 years old and can be found on Peabody Street. The oldest house still standing is the Wilkins house, built in 1693. It used to be a tavern on the main road between Salem and Lawrence.
Middleton is one of the fastest-growing towns in Massachusetts. It is especially fast-growing on the North Shore. Middleton is often grouped with Salem, Danvers, and Beverly. It is also part of a "tri-town" with Topsfield and Boxford. These three towns share Masconomet Regional High School. This high school serves students in grades 9-12. The middle school serves grades 7 and 8.
Geography and Transportation
Middleton covers about 14.5 square miles (37.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The town is located near the border of Essex County. It shares borders with several other towns. These include North Reading to the west and North Andover to the northwest. It also borders Boxford to the northeast and Topsfield to the east. Other neighbors are Danvers to the southeast and Peabody to the south. Middleton is about 8 miles northwest of Salem. It is also about 19 miles north of Boston.
Middleton is in the low hills of northeastern Massachusetts. The Ipswich River flows through the town. Several smaller streams flow into this river. Middleton also has two larger ponds, Middleton Pond and Andover Meadow Pond. There are also parts of state forests within the town. These include Harold Parker State Forest and Boxford State Forest. There are also several conservation areas for nature lovers.
Middleton is just west of Interstate 95. You can easily reach the town from exits on this highway in nearby Boxford and Danvers. Route 114 goes through the center of town. Route 62 also crosses Route 114 there.
Even though there are no trains, a project started in 2018 to turn old train lines into walking and biking trails. This is called the Middleton Rail Trail Alliance. The goal is to connect these trails with others in nearby towns. This could link Middleton to the "Border to Boston" trail system. This system would connect New Hampshire to Boston using bike trails.
Population Information
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1790 | 682 | — |
| 1800 | 598 | −12.3% |
| 1810 | 541 | −9.5% |
| 1820 | 596 | +10.2% |
| 1830 | 607 | +1.8% |
| 1840 | 657 | +8.2% |
| 1850 | 832 | +26.6% |
| 1860 | 940 | +13.0% |
| 1870 | 1,010 | +7.4% |
| 1880 | 1,000 | −1.0% |
| 1890 | 924 | −7.6% |
| 1900 | 839 | −9.2% |
| 1910 | 1,129 | +34.6% |
| 1920 | 1,195 | +5.8% |
| 1930 | 1,712 | +43.3% |
| 1940 | 2,348 | +37.1% |
| 1950 | 2,916 | +24.2% |
| 1960 | 3,718 | +27.5% |
| 1970 | 4,044 | +8.8% |
| 1980 | 4,135 | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 4,921 | +19.0% |
| 2000 | 7,744 | +57.4% |
| 2010 | 8,987 | +16.1% |
| 2020 | 9,779 | +8.8% |
| 2022* | 9,837 | +0.6% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. |
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In 2000, there were 7,744 people living in Middleton. There were 2,305 households, and 1,744 families. About 37.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (65.7%) were married couples living together.
The population was spread out by age. About 23.0% of people were under 18. About 36.9% were between 25 and 44 years old. The average age in town was 36 years.
In 2020, the average income for a household in Middleton was $145,525. For families, the average income was $146,856. A small number of families (about 2.1%) and people (3.7%) lived below the poverty line.
Notable People
Middleton has been home to several well-known people, especially athletes:
- P. J. Axelsson, a forward for the Boston Bruins hockey team.
- Lyndon Byers, a right wing for the Boston Bruins.
- Coco Crisp, an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
- Charles L. Flint, a lawyer and politician who was president of UMass Amherst.
- Kelly Gibson, a professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
- Shane Hnidy, a defenseman who played for six NHL hockey teams.
- Corey Johnson, a politician who became Speaker of the New York City Council.
- Kyle McLaren, a defenseman for the Boston Bruins.
- Brian Rolston, a center who played for five NHL hockey teams.
- Sergei Samsonov, a forward who played for six NHL hockey teams.
- Tim Thomas, a Boston Bruins goaltender who won the Vezina Trophy.
- John Tudor, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball teams.
- Rasheed Wallace, an NBA forward who played for six basketball teams.
- Jo Jo White, an NBA basketball player, mostly for the Boston Celtics.
Images for kids
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The Thomas Fuller House, built around 1684.
See also
In Spanish: Middleton (Massachusetts) para niños
