Danvers, Massachusetts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Danvers
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Peabody Institute Library on Sylvan Street
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| Nickname(s):
Oniontown
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| Motto(s):
The King Unwilling
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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 | 1636 | |
| Established as a district | 1752 | |
| Incorporated as a town | 1757 | |
| Named for | Danvers Osborn | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Representative town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 14.1 sq mi (36.5 km2) | |
| • Land | 13.3 sq mi (34.4 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2) | |
| Elevation | 48 ft (15 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 28,087 | |
| • Density | 2,111.8/sq mi (816.48/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
01923, 01937 (Hathorne)
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| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 | |
| FIPS code | 25-16250 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618295 | |
Danvers is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located on the Danvers River, close to the coast of Massachusetts. This town is a short drive from Boston and near beaches in Gloucester, Ipswich, and Revere.
Danvers was first known as Salem Village. It is most famous for its connection to the 1692 Salem witch trials. The town was also home to Danvers State Hospital, a large hospital from the 1800s. Today, Danvers is a busy place with many shops, including the Liberty Tree Mall. In 2020, about 28,087 people lived there.
Contents
History of Danvers
Early History of Danvers
The land that is now Danvers was first home to Native American tribes. The Massachusett tribe, specifically the Naumkeag people, lived in this area for a long time.
Salem Village in the 1600s
Around 1630, English settlers improved an old Native American path. They called it the Old Spanish Road, which connected Danvers to the main cities of Salem and Boston. Danvers was settled in 1636 and named Salem Village.
Danvers is most famous for the 1692 Salem witch trials. These trials started in the home of Rev. Samuel Parris and spread throughout the region. Rebecca Nurse, a local resident, was wrongly accused and executed. She was one of 20 innocent victims. The Rebecca Nurse Homestead is still standing in Danvers today. You can visit it as a historical landmark.
Becoming Danvers in the 1700s
The people of Salem Village wanted to become their own town, separate from Salem. In 1752, the government finally separated Danvers from Salem. However, they made it a "district" instead of a full town. This was because the King of England did not want new towns created in Massachusetts. A district had most of the same rights as a town, but it could not send its own representatives to the government.
Danvers was likely named after Danvers Osborn. The year 1752 is celebrated as the town's founding, even though it wasn't a full town yet.
On June 9, 1757, Massachusetts officially made Danvers a town, even though the King had said no. Legend says King George II vetoed this act and sent a message saying "The King Unwilling." But Massachusetts simply ignored him! This message is now on the town's seal.
Danvers residents have fought in wars since the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Important figures like Royal Governor General Thomas Gage and Benedict Arnold stayed in Danvers. There is a plaque for Arnold at 1 Conant Street.
Israel Putnam, a famous figure from the American Revolution, was born in Danvers. He was known for his bravery. Once, he crawled into a wolf's den to kill a wolf that was eating his sheep. He fought in the French & Indian War and was almost burned alive by Native Americans, but a French officer saved him.
When the American Revolution began, Putnam left his farm right away to join the fight. He rode 25 miles to the battle in 18 hours, without even changing his clothes. At the Battle of Bunker Hill, he is famous for saying, "Don't fire until you can see the whites of their eyes." He became a major general in the war. His birthplace, the General Israel Putnam House, is still in Danvers.
Danvers in the 1800s
In 1847, the railroad came to Danvers. In 1884, a street railway was built with horse-drawn trolleys. Later, these trolleys were changed to run on electricity.
The Town Hall was built in 1855. It has been updated and is still used today. Also in 1855, the southern part of Danvers became its own town, called South Danvers. This area was later renamed Peabody.
In 1878, the Danvers State Hospital opened. This hospital helped people with mental health issues.
Danvers was originally a farming town. Farmers here developed two special kinds of vegetables: the Danvers Onion (which is why the town is nicknamed "Oniontown") and the Danvers Half-Long Carrot. This carrot was first grown in 1871.
Making shoes was a big industry in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Companies like Ideal Baby Shoe were very successful. However, shoe factories in other areas could make shoes cheaper, so the shoe industry eventually left Danvers.
Films Made in Danvers
Several movies have been filmed in Danvers, Massachusetts, including:
- Hubie Halloween (2019)
- Ted 2 (2015)
- Crooked Arrows (2012)
- Session 9 (2001)
- Home Before Dark (1958)
Chemical Plant Explosion
On November 22, 2006, a large chemical explosion happened at a factory in Danvers. The factory made paint products and inks. The blast shook many nearby towns. It even knocked homes off their foundations and damaged buildings up to half a mile away. Windows shattered three miles away in other towns.
No one was killed, and no injuries were life-threatening. About 90 homes were damaged. People whose homes were damaged went to Danvers High School for help. The explosion happened near a marina, a bakery, and a gas station. A report later said the explosion was caused by an ink-mixing tank with flammable liquids getting too hot by accident.
Geography of Danvers
Danvers has a total area of about 14.1 square miles (36.5 km2). About 13.3 square miles (34.4 km2) is land, and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) is water. The Danvers River starts near the southeast part of town. It is formed by the Porter River, Crane River, and Waters River. The Ipswich River also flows along the western border of the town. The Putnamville Reservoir in the north provides drinking water to Salem and Beverly.
Even though the Danversport area is at sea level, the town has many hills. These hills are about 130 to 180 feet high. Some of them include Dales Hill, Folly Hill, and Putnam Hill.
Danvers has several small villages that date back to the late 1800s. These include Burley's Corner, Danvers Center, Danversport, Downtown, Ferncroft, Hathorne (which has its own post office), Putnamville, and Tapleyville.
Climate in Danvers
In a typical year, temperatures in Danvers, Massachusetts, are below 50 degrees Fahrenheit for about 184 days. The town gets about 44.1 inches of rain each year, which is a lot for the U.S. The humidity is below 60% for about 34.4 days a year.
Transportation in Danvers
Danvers is about 17 miles (27 km) north of Downtown Boston. It is almost halfway between Boston and the New Hampshire border. It shares borders with Topsfield, Wenham, Beverly, Salem, Peabody, and Middleton.
Major highways like Interstate 95, Massachusetts Route 128, and U.S. Route 1 all pass through Danvers. Other state routes like Route 35, Route 62, and Route 114 also cross through the town.
Several MBTA bus routes go through Danvers. There are no commuter train services in Danvers itself. However, the MBTA Commuter Rail passes through nearby Salem and Beverly. Two freight train lines also cross through Danvers.
The Beverly Municipal Airport has two runways that cross through Danvers. In the 1950s, a private airfield called Robbins Airport was built in Danvers, but it closed in the 1980s. For regular commercial flights, the closest airport is Boston's Logan International Airport.
Population of Danvers
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,212 people living in Danvers. There were 9,555 households and 6,564 families. The population density was about 1,898.5 people per square mile (735.1/km2).
About 30.9% of households had children under 18. About 56.2% were married couples. The average household had 2.53 people, and the average family had 3.11 people.
The median age in the town was 40 years old. About 23.2% of the population was under 18. About 17.2% were 65 or older.
The median income for a household in Danvers was $58,779. For a family, it was $70,565. About 2.9% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Economy in Danvers
Danvers has many businesses and employers. Here are some of the top employers in 2018:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
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| 1 | Medtronic Interventional Vascular | 740 |
| 2 | IRA Motor Group | 530 |
| 3 | Hospice of the North Shore | 522 |
| 4 | North Shore Community College | 418 |
| 5 | Abiomed | 400 |
| 6 | The Home Depot | 313 |
| 7 | Cell Signaling Technology | 300 |
| 8 | Lahey NorthShore | 289 |
| 9 | Essex Technical High School | 252 |
| 10 | Danversport Yacht Club | 235 |
Danvers has also seen a rise in food trucks, with some owners opening permanent cafes.
Education in Danvers
Public Schools
Danvers has its own school district called Danvers Public Schools. There are five elementary schools: Highlands, Riverside, Great Oak, Thorpe, and Smith. These schools serve students from kindergarten to fifth grade. Riverside, Thorpe, and Great Oak also have pre-kindergarten.
Students in grades six through eight attend Holten-Richmond Middle School. Students in grades nine through twelve attend Danvers High School.
Danvers has two Little League Baseball groups: Danvers National Little League (DNLL) and Danvers American Little League (DALL). Kids from Highlands and Great Oak Elementary usually play in DNLL. Kids from Smith and Thorpe Elementary usually play in DALL. Riverside Elementary is split between the two.
Private Schools
Danvers has three private schools. St. Mary of the Annunciation School teaches students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. Plumfield Academy is a small school for grades one through eight. Its teaching style is based on the ideas of Charlotte Mason. St. John's Preparatory School, often called "the Prep," is a school for young men in grades six through twelve. St. Mary's and St. John's are religious schools.
Vocational Schools
Danvers used to have Essex Agricultural High School. This was a state-funded school for grades 9-12. It has now joined with North Shore Tech. The new, larger school is called Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School. It opened in September 2014 in Danvers.
This school offers 24 technical and agricultural programs. Students from Danvers and nearby towns can attend. Students from other towns can also join the seven agricultural programs.
Points of Interest in Danvers
- Danvers State Hospital
- Derby Summer House, located at Glen Magna Farms
- Endicott Park
- Endicott Pear Tree, possibly the oldest living fruit tree in North America
- Glen Magna Farms
- Judge Samuel Holten House
- Rebecca Nurse Homestead
- General Israel Putnam House
- Salem Village Historic District
- Ingersoll's Ordinary, an old colonial tavern linked to the Salem Village Witchcraft events
Notable People from Danvers
Athletes
- David Bavaro, NFL football player
- Mark Bavaro, NFL football player
- Maggie Connor, Olympian, skiing
- Meghan Duggan, Olympian, hockey
- Jenny Thompson, Olympian, swimming
- Steve Lombardozzi, MLB baseball player
Creative Arts
- Brad Delp, lead singer of the band Boston
- Matt Farley, musician
- Francis Sumner Merritt, painter
- Nick Di Paolo, comedian
Writers
- Harriet Putnam Fowler, writer
- Eliza Putnam Heaton, journalist and writer
Military
Politicians and Business
- Quan Barry, author and poet
- Samuel Holten, president of the Continental Congress
- John Marsh, early California pioneer
- Rebecca Nurse, executed during the Salem Witch Trials
- Samuel Parris, minister during the Salem Witch Trials
Images for kids
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In Spanish: Danvers (Massachusetts) para niños
See also
In Spanish: Danvers (Massachusetts) para niños
