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A popular and tree-lined rail trail called the [[Minuteman Bikeway]] runs through the heart of [[Davis Square]] and is called the [[Somerville Community Path]]. The city has many dedicated community groups including Friends of the Community Path dedicated to extending the well-loved Minuteman Bikeway/Linear Park from its current ending at Cedar Street in Somerville to the Charles River Path and on to Boston.
A popular and tree-lined rail trail called the [[Minuteman Bikeway]] runs through the heart of [[Davis Square]] and is called the [[Somerville Community Path]]. The city has many dedicated community groups including Friends of the Community Path dedicated to extending the well-loved Minuteman Bikeway/Linear Park from its current ending at Cedar Street in Somerville to the Charles River Path and on to Boston.


Somerville was once colloquially referred to as "Slummerville", referring to its [[blue-collar]] residents and its reputation for crime, especially in the city's east, where [[James J. Bulger|Whitey Bulger]] and the "[[Winter Hill Gang]]" were based. However, after the [[gentrification]] period the city went through in the late 1990s this name became less prevalent. More recently, [http://www.mysticview.org/ lobbying] by [http://groundworksomerville.org/ grassroots] [[Union Square Main Streets|organizations]] is attempting to revive and preserve Somerville's "small town" neighborhood environments by supporting local business, public transit, gardens and pedestrian/biker access.
Somerville was once colloquially referred to as "Slummerville" and "Scummerville", referring to its [[blue-collar]] residents and its reputation for crime, especially in the city's east, where [[James J. Bulger|Whitey Bulger]] and the "[[Winter Hill Gang]]" were based. However, after the [[gentrification]] period the city went through in the late 1990s this name became less prevalent. More recently, [http://www.mysticview.org/ lobbying] by [http://groundworksomerville.org/ grassroots] [[Union Square Main Streets|organizations]] is attempting to revive and preserve Somerville's "small town" neighborhood environments by supporting local business, public transit, gardens and pedestrian/biker access.


The [http://somervilleartscouncil.org Somerville Arts Council] and [http://somervilleopenstudios.org Somerville Open Studios] both host annual events involving the community in homegrown arts.
The [http://somervilleartscouncil.org Somerville Arts Council] and [http://somervilleopenstudios.org Somerville Open Studios] both host annual events involving the community in homegrown arts.

Revision as of 16:58, 4 May 2006

Template:Infobox Town MA Somerville is a city located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, just north of Boston. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 77,478. With only slightly over 4 square miles (10 km²) of land, it is the most densely populated city in New England and the fifth densest city in the United States. It was established as a town in 1842, when it was separated from the urbanizing Charlestown because it was still largely rural.

Somerville has a mix of blue collar Irish-American and Italian American families who are spread throughout the city; immigrant families from Brazil, Haiti and El Salvador, who live in the area known as East-Somerville; South Korea and India in the Union Square area, and college students and young professionals, many of whom live in sections near Cambridge, or near Tufts University, which straddles the Somerville-Medford city line, although the university's formal address is Medford. Davis Square in Somerville and nearby Porter Square in Cambridge have Red Line subway stations providing easy access to Harvard Square. Other parts of the city are served by buses and by the older Green Line to East Cambridge, Charlestown and Boston.

Somerville also has a number of squares that are bustling business and entertainment centers, among them Davis Square, Union Square, Ball Square, Teele Square and Magoun Square.

A popular and tree-lined rail trail called the Minuteman Bikeway runs through the heart of Davis Square and is called the Somerville Community Path. The city has many dedicated community groups including Friends of the Community Path dedicated to extending the well-loved Minuteman Bikeway/Linear Park from its current ending at Cedar Street in Somerville to the Charles River Path and on to Boston.

Somerville was once colloquially referred to as "Slummerville" and "Scummerville", referring to its blue-collar residents and its reputation for crime, especially in the city's east, where Whitey Bulger and the "Winter Hill Gang" were based. However, after the gentrification period the city went through in the late 1990s this name became less prevalent. More recently, lobbying by grassroots organizations is attempting to revive and preserve Somerville's "small town" neighborhood environments by supporting local business, public transit, gardens and pedestrian/biker access.

The Somerville Arts Council and Somerville Open Studios both host annual events involving the community in homegrown arts.

Union Square Main Streets is a non-profit partnership of local businesses, residents and the City of Somerville seeking to enhance city's most central and historic civic and business space, Union Square, through active community collaboration.

History

Somerville was first settled in 1630 and was officially incorporated in 1842.

Traffic on the Middlesex Canal began its famous route from the mouth of the Charles River in Charlestown (now Boston) to Lowell going through East Somerville, where several historical markers can be discovered today.

Historically Somerville encompassed many of the less desirable railway and industrial lands squeezed between the Charles River to the southwest and the Mystic River to the northeast. For all its problems, Somerville's late 1800s and early 1900s industrial revolution left behind a rich historical record of Sanborn Maps, apparently invented in Somerville in 1867, and subsequently used for fire insurance appraisal across the USA. The delicate, detailed original Sanborn Maps are on display at the main branch of the Somerville Public Library.[1].

One of the earliest American flags was raised on Prospect Hill, above Union Square, on January 1, 1776.[2]

Geography

Somerville is located at 42°23'26" North, 71°6'13" West (42.390546, -71.103683)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.9 km² (4.2 mi²). 10.6 km² (4.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.61% water.

The seven hills of Somerville (in alphabetical order) are :

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 77,478 people, 31,555 households, and 14,673 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,278.4/km² (18,868.1/mi²). There were 32,477 housing units at an average density of 3,051.0/km² (7,909.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.97% White, 6.50% African American, 0.22% Native American, 6.44% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.96% from other races, and 4.85% from two or more races. 8.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,555 households out of which 18.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 53.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 14.8% under the age of 18, 15.9% from 18 to 24, 42.6% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,315, and the median income for a family was $51,243. Males had a median income of $36,333 versus $31,418 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,628. 12.5% of the population and 8.4% of families were below the poverty line. 14.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Somerville has experienced dramatic gentrification since the Red Line of Boston's subway system was extended through Somerville in 1985, especially in the area between Harvard and Tufts Universities, centering around Davis Square. This has led to tensions between long-time residents and recent arrivals, with many of the former accusing the latter of ignoring problems of working-class families such as drugs, gang violence, and suicides. Incidents such as anti-"yuppie" graffiti appearing around town have highlighted this rift. [3]

Culture

Somerville is home to a thriving arts community. Regular arts-related events, such as the annual "ArtBeat" festival, occur throughout the year. In addition, numerous galleries and music clubs showcase the talents of residents and others.

A major art studio complex is located in former industrial buildings known as the Brickbottom complex, between Union Square and the Charlestown line.

The Someday Cafe in Davis Square helped bring a low-key west coast coffeehouse vibe to the Boston area in the early '90s.

The volunteer-operated Somerville Museum preserves memorabilia chronicling Somerville's roots, with historical and artistic exhibits. It is located on 1 Westwood Road, on the corner with Central Street.

Famous people born in Somerville

See also

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

References

  1. ^ Historical postcards of the raising of the Grand Union Flag in 1776.
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