Jump to content

Winchester, Massachusetts

Coordinates: 42°27′08″N 71°08′15″W / 42.45222°N 71.13750°W / 42.45222; -71.13750
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Winchester, MA)

Winchester, Massachusetts
Town
Winchester Town Hall
Winchester Town Hall
Official seal of Winchester, Massachusetts
Seal
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°27′08″N 71°08′15″W / 42.45222°N 71.13750°W / 42.45222; -71.13750
Country United States
State Massachusetts
CountyMiddlesex
RegionNew England
Settled1640
Incorporated1850
Named forWilliam P. Winchester
Government
 • TypeRepresentative town meeting
Area
 • Total
16.3 km2 (6.3 sq mi)
 • Land15.6 km2 (6.0 sq mi)
 • Water0.6 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
Elevation
19 m (62 ft)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
22,970
 • Density1,472.4/km2 (3,828.3/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
01890
Area code339 / 781
FIPS code25-80510
GNIS feature ID0618247
Websitewinchester.us

Winchester is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located 8.2 miles (13.2 km) north of downtown Boston as part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. It is also one of the wealthiest municipalities in Massachusetts. The population was 22,970 at the 2020 United States Census.[1]

History

[edit]

Native Americans inhabited the area that would become Winchester for thousands of years prior to European colonization of the Americas. At the time of contact, the area was inhabited by the Naumkeag people, from whom the land that would become Winchester was purchased for the settlement of Charlestown in 1639.[2]

From the 17th century until the middle of the 19th century, parts of Arlington, Medford, Cambridge, and Woburn comprised what is now Winchester. In the early years of the settlement, the area was known informally as Waterfield, a reference to its many ponds and to the river which bisected the central village. In its second century, the area was referred to as Black Horse Village, after the busy tavern and hostelry in its center.The movement toward incorporation of what, by this time, was called South Woburn was likely precipitated by the rise of the Whig Party in Massachusetts (History of Winchester, Massachusetts by H. S. Chapman and Bruce W. Stone, 1936, 1975).

19th and 20th centuries

[edit]

The town's early growth paralleled improvements in transportation. Prior to incorporation, the Middlesex Canal, linking the Merrimack River to Boston, was completed through then Waterfield. It flourished from 1803 to 1836, until the Boston and Lowell Railroad completed a line which neatly bisected the town and provided it with two stations. Able to deliver passengers as well as goods, the railroad soon bankrupted the canal and spurred more people to move to the area. The first church was built in 1840, the Post Office followed in 1841, and soon after incorporation town schools were started. Industries small and large followed, including the Beggs and Cobb tannery and the Winn Watch Hand factory which would operate well into the 20th century.

By the time of the Civil War, to which Winchester lent many citizens, the need for a municipal water supply became apparent. Engineers convinced a skeptical public to fund a dam in the highlands to the east of town. The structure blocked the creek which flowed from the Middlesex Fells and produced the first of three reservoirs which continue to provide clear water today.

In the early 20th century, growth continued apace as Winchester evolved from its agri-industrial roots into the bedroom community it is today. A rich mix of immigrants—the Irish in the northern and eastern neighborhoods, a smattering of African-Americans who flocked to the New Hope Baptist Church in the highlands, and finally Italians who came to work in the westside farms and live in the "Plains" to the east—complemented Winchester's Yankee forebears.

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 km2), of which 6.0 square miles (15.6 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2) is water. The total area is 3.97% water.

The town is roughly bisected by a central valley which is the remnant of the original course of the Merrimack River. After glacial debris effectively rerouted the Merrimack north to its current location, all that remained of its original course through present day Winchester is the Aberjona River and the several ponds it feeds en route to the Mystic Lakes on Winchester's southern border.

On its eastern third, the valley rises steeply into the wooded hills of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, in which lie the North, Middle, and South Reservoirs. The western edge of the valley yields to Arlington and Lexington heights, and the boundaries with those two towns. To the north, the town's longest border is shared with Woburn.

Winchester has several major bodies of water, including the Mystic Lakes, Wedge Pond, Winter Pond, and the Aberjona River, as well as several minor bodies of water such as Sucker Brook and Sachem Swamp.

Winchester borders the towns of Woburn, Stoneham, Medford, Arlington, and Lexington.

Demographics

[edit]
See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income
Historical population
YearPop.±%
18501,353—    
18601,937+43.2%
18702,645+36.6%
18803,802+43.7%
18904,861+27.9%
19007,248+49.1%
19109,309+28.4%
192010,485+12.6%
193012,719+21.3%
194015,081+18.6%
195015,509+2.8%
196019,376+24.9%
197022,269+14.9%
198020,701−7.0%
199020,267−2.1%
200020,810+2.7%
201021,374+2.7%
202022,970+7.5%
2022*22,640−1.4%
* = population estimate.
Source: United States census records and Population Estimates Program data.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 21,382 people, 7,647 households, and 5,785 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,394.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,310.7/km2). There were 7,988 housing units at an average density of 1,267.9 per square mile (489.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 87.1% White, 9.3% Asian, 1.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 7,647 households, of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18 and 16.2% over the age of 65. The median age was 42.7 years. The population was 52.3% female and 47.7% male.

According to a 2008 estimate,[15] the median income for a household in the town was $125,952, and the median income for a family was $200,000+. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $70,847 for females. The per capita income for the town was $68,479. The median home value was $838,420, compared to a U.S. average of $180,000. About 1.3% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.3% ages 65 or older.

The crime rate in Winchester is below the U.S. average. The most common crime is property crime, with 62 burglaries reported in 2010. Violent crimes are rare, with only five murders and five rapes reported in 10 years.[16]

Winchester was ranked number 86 on the Bloomberg list of America's 100 Richest Places with an average household income of $204,878 in 2016.[17]

Education

[edit]

Public schools

[edit]

Winchester has five elementary schools (Ambrose, Lincoln, Lynch, Muraco, and Vinson-Owen) and one middle school, McCall Middle School. Considered one of Boston's elite public high schools, Winchester High School was founded in 1850, at the time was part of present-day Lincoln elementary. Winchester High was rebuilt in a different area in 1972, then renovated in 2017. Winchester public schools have achieved superior performances on the MCAS exams since their inception, and the district is consistently ranked by editorial reviews such as Boston Magazine as one of the best in Massachusetts.[18] The Winchester High School sports teams were known as the "Sachems", a term that refers to people who have been appointed to represent a (native) nation in a meeting of a confederacy council. However, the mascot was removed in the year 2020 due to its offensive and stereotypical nature. Their sports teams are now known as the "Red and Black", referring to the school's colors. For the 2018–2019 school year, Winchester public schools and Winchester Recreation developed the WRAP-AROUND program. A program designed to provide supervision for students who are dropped at school a bit early or who need to stay at school later on some days and was created to assist families with the school start time change for next fall. Wrap-around care is offered at all five elementary schools for students in grades K–5, both before and after school.[19] [20] The teams practice and host home games at Knowlton Field.[21] The Winchester Sports Foundation[22] raises money through donations to maintain sports programs in the town and to give financial support, make sports programs accessible to all classes, meet costs of program expenses and preserve and promote the level of WHS sports programs.

Private schools

[edit]

Founded in the 1942, the Children's Own School is among the earlier surviving Montessori schools in the United States. The building it occupies, a former farmhouse, is considered locally historic. The school's founder, Ms. Dorothy Gove, was an acquaintance of Maria Montessori, giving her a firsthand opportunity to learn the Montessori concept of learning. Today the school operates as a private, non-religious, Montessori school for children of ages two to six, with classes of up to 20 children. Children's Own School is located at 86 Main Street in Winchester. [citation needed]

Winchester has two parent-led cooperative nursery schools: Neighborhood Cooperative Nursery School and Winchester Cooperative Nursery School. In addition, the Methodist church, Winchester Recreation Department, and Creative Corner all offer preschool classes. [citation needed]

St. Mary's School is a parochial school of St. Mary's Parish. The school opened in 1914 and has over 200 students in grades Pre-K through 5. The school building also serves as the Sunday school for the parish during Sunday services. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Acera School is a small private school founded in 2010 in Melrose[23][24] which moved to Winchester in 2013.[25] It offers K–8 education in small multi-age classrooms.

Established in 2004, the Winchester School of Chinese Culture[26] is a non-profit organization whose mission is to teach the language and traditional culture of China through classroom instructions, the arts, and cultural events. The school offers a K–8 weekend program at Lynch elementary school, after-school programs at Winchester Unitarian Church and Winchester First Congregational Church, and a summer program.

Transportation

[edit]
Train at the Winchester MBTA station in October 2008, between the Town Hall and the First Congregational Church.

Winchester has two "Zone 1" stops on the MBTA Commuter Rail Lowell Line: Wedgemere and Winchester Center. The stops are within easy walking distance of one another. The Lowell Line runs from Lowell to Boston's North Station, where one can connect with the "T", Boston's subway system. Nearby Anderson Regional Transportation Center off I-93 (Commerce Way exit) holds a stop for Amtrak's Downeaster train, going through New Hampshire, and terminating in Brunswick, Maine. While this train runs through Winchester, it does not stop at either of the town's two train stations.

There are bus lines going through Winchester to nearby communities such as Medford, Arlington, and Cambridge. Bus route No. 134 runs between North Woburn and Wellington Station on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Orange Line in Medford. Bus route No. 350 runs from the Burlington Mall to Alewife station in Cambridge on the MBTA's Red Line. A commuter express bus runs from Cummings Park in Woburn to Boston during rush hours. Anderson Regional Transportation Center also has the Logan Express shuttle bus service to Boston's Logan Airport every 30 minutes, and a paid shuttle service to Manchester New Hampshire Airport (reservations required in advance)

Winchester today

[edit]

In December 2010 Winchester was among 18 Massachusetts communities to earn the "Green Community" designation by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (bringing the total number of green communities in the state up to 53).[27] In 2011 Winchester was selected as one of four communities to participate in the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) Solarize MASS pilot program.[28] The program provided incentives to home owners to install rooftop solar electric systems. During that year, 35 residents contracted to have solar systems installed, resulting in 165 kW of solar installations. Most recently, in July 2014, Winchester received a $250,000 Green Communities Grant[29] which helped to offset the cost of installing 1668 cobra-head LED street lights. It is estimated that the LED streetlight conversion may potentially reduce the town's electricity costs by $50,000 each year.

Across the Main Street bypass from the high school sits the Jenks Community Center,[30] which offers programs for seniors and other age groups. Wedge Pond, home to Borggaard Beach and Splash Park, is a popular swimming spot which is continually monitored to ensure safe water quality levels. And every year, as for over a century, thousands of fans attend the annual Thanksgiving Day football contest between Winchester High School and its long-time traditional rival, Woburn.

Several private entities provide recreational opportunities for local townsfolk. Founded in 1900 as a canoe club, the Winchester Boat Club serves locals wishing to sail casually or competitively on the Mystic Lakes. In the summer, it is a popular meeting place for local families and their children. The Winchester Country Club—located in the Myopia Hill neighborhood—offers an 18-hole course open to member and named after the Myopia Club based there in the late 19th century.

Government and politics

[edit]

In the 1840s, the Whigs sought to split a new jurisdiction away from heavily Democratic Woburn and found enough supporters in the burgeoning village to organize a movement toward incorporation. Representatives of the planned new town selected the name Winchester in recognition of Colonel William P. Winchester of nearby Watertown, who pledged $3,000 toward the construction of the first town hall. Upon the signature of then Governor Briggs, the town of Winchester was officially incorporated on April 30, 1850. Colonel Winchester did not live to visit the town that had honored his family name. He succumbed to typhoid fever within months of its incorporation.

Winchester's town government of Selectmen and Town Meeting members has remained essentially unchanged for most of its existence, until the renaming of the Board of Selectmen to the Select Board in 2018. A 1970s survey listed Winchester as "one of the top fifteen suburbs" in the nation (Ladies Home Journal, August 1975).

The town is part of the Massachusetts Senate's 2nd Middlesex district.

In recent years, Winchester has become an increasing stronghold for the Democratic Party, especially for presidential elections.

Below the presidential level, some moderate Republicans have been able to carry Winchester:

Town services

[edit]

Town services include full-time police and fire departments, the Winchester Board of Health, the Town Clerk, the Post Office, Water and Sewer Department, and the Public Works Department.

Winchester does not offer curbside trash collection. Residents must get an annual permit and use the "Transfer Station" to dispose off their trash and for recycling.

Winchester also has a Chamber of Commerce located on the platform of the Winchester Center station of the MBTA Commuter Rail.

Points of interest

[edit]

Sister city

[edit]

Winchester is the sister city of St. Germain-en-Laye, France.

Notable people

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. History of Winchester, Massachusetts by H.S. Chapman and Bruce W. Stone (1936, 1975)
  2. Ladies Home Journal, Aug. 1975

References

[edit]
1852 map of Boston area showing Winchester and the Middlesex Canal
  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Winchester town, Middlesex County, Massachusetts". Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 24., The Indians of the Mystic valley and the litigation over their land". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Total Population (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1". American FactFinder, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  4. ^ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ "1850 Census" (PDF). Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
  13. ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  15. ^ "American FactFinder - Community Facts". Archived from the original on February 11, 2020.
  16. ^ "Crime in Winchester, Massachusetts (MA): Murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map".
  17. ^ Hagan, Shelly; Lu, Wei (March 5, 2018). "America's 100 Richest Places". Bloomberg News. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  18. ^ "The Best School Districts in Greater Boston". Boston Magazine. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  19. ^ "Winchester Recreation: Activity Details".
  20. ^ "Winchester went from Indians to Sachems". June 10, 2016.
  21. ^ "WSF".
  22. ^ Winchester Sports Foundation,
  23. ^ Killeen, Wendy (August 29, 2010). "Mother's determination creates school for gifted in Melrose". Boston.com.
  24. ^ "Anova opens doors in Melrose to gifted, talented students".
  25. ^ "Acera school to hold open house - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  26. ^ "Winchester School of Chinese Culture".
  27. ^ MA DOER (2010): "Eighteen New Green Community Designations", Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, December 16, 2010
  28. ^ MassCEC (2011): "MassCEC Announces Winchester Reaches 100kW of Solar Through Solarize Mass Pilot", Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, October 5, 2011
  29. ^ Daily Times Chronicle (2014): "Town awarded $250k for LED streetlights", Daily Times Chronicle, July 18, 2014
  30. ^ Russell, Melissa. "Building Community: Jenks Center Reboot Puts Focus on Community". Wicked Local Winchester. Winchester Star.
  31. ^ "Massachusetts results". The Boston Globe. November 5, 2008.
  32. ^ "Massachusetts President Race". CNN. November 15, 2012.
  33. ^ "Check out this Page on Boston.com". The Boston Globe. December 8, 2009.
  34. ^ "Massachusetts Senate Race". CNN. November 15, 2012.
  35. ^ "Harvard Gazette: Faculty of Arts and Sciences - Memorial Minute". Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
  36. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductee Search: Joe Bellino", College Football Hall of Fame, retrieved January 22, 2012
  37. ^ What the Hell Happened to...Bob Bigelow?, CelticsLife.com, November 13, 2011, retrieved January 22, 2012
  38. ^ Brehm, Denise (June 1, 2005), "Provost Brown picked to lead BU", MITnews, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, retrieved January 22, 2012
  39. ^ "Allan Cormack, 74, Nobelist Who Helped Invent CAT Scan", The New York Times, May 9, 1998, retrieved January 22, 2012
  40. ^ "Samuel G. French and John Corse Civil War Correspondence", Atlanta History Center, University System of Georgia, retrieved January 23, 2012
  41. ^ Knight, Ellen (June 1999), "Myopia Hill", The Daily Times Chronicle, retrieved January 23, 2012
  42. ^ Parker, Ashley (December 5, 2008). "The New Team – Jonathan Favreau". New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  43. ^ Seelye, Katharine (March 22, 2022). "Victor Fazio, Longtime Democratic Leader in the House, Dies at 79". New York Times. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  44. ^ "Vic Firth Company Founder: Vic Firth". Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  45. ^ Grimes, William (September 27, 2009), "Edward Gelsthorpe, Master Marketer, Dies at 88", The New York Times, retrieved September 29, 2009
  46. ^ Diaz, Johnny, "And now, back to the news: Kim Khazei returns to TV after six years of anchoring the household", The Boston Globe, August 6, 2007
  47. ^ Liuzza, Michael (September 22, 2008), "15 questions with a wrestling legend", Wicked Local Winchester, GateHouse News Service, retrieved January 22, 2012
  48. ^ "Winchester's Marino is first Winter Olympian from Paraguay". December 6, 2013.
  49. ^ "McCALL, Samuel Walker, (1851–1923)", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved January 23, 2012
  50. ^ Tait, Jason (February 28, 2008), "Boston Bruin visits Haverhill students Glen Murray encourages them to stay in school; is a Red Sox fan", The Haverhill Eagle-Tribune, retrieved January 24, 2012
  51. ^ "Laurence Rochon Owen", U.S. Figure Skating, archived from the original on January 13, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2012
  52. ^ "Teen Life: 'Baseball is a game of failure'", Concord Monitor, July 3, 2006, retrieved January 24, 2012
  53. ^ Jay Pandolfo: Stats, News, Videos, Highlights, Pictures, Bio, ESPN, retrieved January 24, 2012
  54. ^ "A boathouse by any other name would mean far less", Wicked Local Winchester, October 22, 2008, retrieved January 24, 2012
  55. ^ Page, Warren (November 1985), "An Interview with the 1985 USA Team to the International Mathematical Olympiad", College Mathematics Journal, 16 (5): 336–360, doi:10.1080/07468342.1985.11972907, JSTOR 2686993
  56. ^ "Bodybuilder John Quinlan", FitnessAtlantic.com, retrieved January 24, 2012
  57. ^ "WEDDINGS; Amy Falls, Hartley Rogers", The New York Times, October 3, 1999, retrieved January 24, 2012
  58. ^ MacDonald, Evan (January 20, 2012), "Winchester native Alicia Sacramone prepping for 2012 Olympics Games in London", Wicked Local Winchester, retrieved January 24, 2012
  59. ^ Petrishen, Brad (January 29, 2010), "DR. RICHARD SCHROCK: Winchester resident & Nobel laureate talks chemistry", Wicked Local Winchester, retrieved January 24, 2012
  60. ^ "MIT Professor Claude Shannon dies; was founder of digital communications", MITnews, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, February 27, 2001, retrieved January 24, 2012
  61. ^ "Conor Sheary Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  62. ^ Lewicki, Paul R. (November 2005), Where Are They Now? – Harry Sinden, York Memorial Collegiate Institute, retrieved January 24, 2012
  63. ^ Whitney Smith, North American Vexillological Association, retrieved December 18, 2019
  64. ^ "Dan Spang – Stats". American Hockey League. May 4, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  65. ^ Petrishen, Brad (March 15, 2010), "Parson's 'Catch' and release; Winchester chef's 'comfort food' eatery opens in old location", Wicked Local Winchester, retrieved January 24, 2012
  66. ^ "Brad Whitford Official RRL Biography", Rock and Roll Library, retrieved January 24, 2012
  67. ^ Brian Wilson Stats, Video Highlights, Photos, Bio, Major League Baseball, archived from the original on February 2, 2015, retrieved January 24, 2012
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Winchester, Massachusetts.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winchester,_Massachusetts&oldid=1255579615"