Мелроуз, Массачусетс: История и современность города

Melrose is a city located in the Greater Boston metropolitan area in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Its population as of the 2020 census was 29,817. It is a suburb located approximately seven miles north of Boston. It is situated in the center of the triangle created by Interstates 93, 95 and U. S. Route 1. The land that comprises Melrose was first settled in 1628 and was once part of Charlestown and then Malden. It became the Town of Melrose in 1850 and then the City of Melrose in 1900.

Melrose was originally called "Ponde Fielde" for its abundance of ponds and streams or "Mystic Side" because of its location in a valley north of the Mystic River. The area was first explored by Richard and Ralph Sprague in 1628 and became part of Charlestown in 1633 along with a large area of land encompassing most of the surrounding communities. In 1649, the neighborhood of Charlestown known as Malden was incorporated as a separate town; the new town of Malden included most of present day Melrose (then called North Malden) within its borders. North Malden largely remained a lightly populated farming community. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12 km2), of which 4.7 square miles (12 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0 km2), or 1.26%, is water. The city's largest body of water is Ell Pond, situated near the center of the city, while other major bodies are Swains Pond and Towners Pond, located on the east side near Mount Hood Golf Club. Melrose is approximately 7 mile (11 km) north of Boston, Massachusetts. It borders four cities and towns: Malden, Saugus, Stoneham, and Wakefield. Major geographic features include Ell Pond, Swains Pond, Sewall Woods, Mount Hood, Boston Rock, Pine Banks Park, and the eastern reaches of the Middlesex Fells Reservation. The writer Elizabeth George Speare, who was born in Melrose, wrote of her hometown: "Melrose was an ideal place in which to have grown up, close to fields and woods where we hiked and picnicked, and near to Boston where we frequently had family treats of theaters and concerts."

Jennifer Grigoraitis is the Mayor of Melrose as of January 8, 2024, taking over for Paul Brodeur who had served since November 2019. Melrose is represented by Jason Lewis (D) in the Massachusetts Senate. Melrose is part of the fifth Congressional district of Massachusetts, and is represented by Katherine Clark (D). The current U. S. senators from Massachusetts are Edward J. Markey (D) and Elizabeth Warren (D). Melrose is served by an eleven member City council. The entire city elects four At Large City Councilors and seven Ward Councilors, elected by voters in their wards. Beginning in the 2007 election, the mayor's position became a four year term (from two) and was given a seat on the School Committee. All councilors are elected to two year terms. City elections are held in odd numbered years. Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of February 1, 2023 Party Number of Voters Percentage Democratic 6,693 32.41% Republican 1,584 7.67% Unenrolled 12,195 59.06% Other 177 0.86% Total 20,649 100%

As of the census of 2010, there were 26,983 people, 11,213 households, and 7,076 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 2.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.8% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population. There were 11,213 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non families. Of all households, 31.3% were individuals living alone, and 13.5% were composed of an individual 65 years or older living alone. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 3.05. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 20, 4.0% from 20 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The Melrose School district runs several schools including The Franklin Early Childhood Center, five elementary schools (Roosevelt, Lincoln, Winthrop, Hoover, and Horace Mann), Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School (MVMMS), and Melrose High School. The city also has a private elementary school, St. Mary of the Annunciation, run by one of the city's Catholic churches of the same name. The Franklin Early Childhood Center houses preschool, Pre K, and multiage programs. MVMMS is a school to about one thousand eleven through fourteen year olds and was the winner of the 2002 Massachusetts Department of Education's Compass School Award, the 2007 Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Green School Award (for its use of solar energy), and the 2008 New England League of Middle Schools' Spotlight School Award.

There are many health care facilities located in Melrose. MelroseWakefield Hospital, a 234 bed non profit hospital, was home to the world's first cochlear implant and laser surgery and it was among the first hospitals in the country to offer same day surgery. In addition to the hospital, there are many pediatricians, specialists, dentists and dermatologists. Also, the city's Milano Senior Center provides social, recreational, health, and educational programs for Melrose's senior citizens. while around the same time, Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise's movie Knight & Day shot scenes on the Fellsway. The same month, a documentary for PBS about the Scopes Trial was also shot in the Aldermanic Chamber of Melrose City Hall. In 2023, the Warner Bros. film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton, also filmed scenes in Melrose. On September 22, 2016, Melrose was again named one of the "hottest zip codes" in the nation by Realtor. com. It had been number one in the nation in 2015 before falling to number seven in 2016. Also, as of December 2023, CartoChrome rated Melrose to have one of the top 13 percent of ZIP Codes (02176) in the United States for a resident living in the area to access health care, because of its hospital system, physician density, and ease of patients accessing a doctor from travel distance. The average distance a patient travels to a doctor is 0.93 miles. On October 3, 2023, WalletHub placed Melrose eighth on their list 2023's Best Small Cities in America.