Gloucester

Gloucester is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of Massachusetts's North Shore. The boundaries of Gloucester originally included the town of Rockport, in an area dubbed "Sandy Bay". The village separated formally from Gloucester on February 27, 1840. In 1873, Gloucester was reincorporated as a city. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 U.S. Census. An important center of the fishing industry and a popular summer destination, it consists of an urban core on the north side of the harbor and the outlying neighborhoods of Annisquam, Bay View, Lanesville, Folly Cove, Magnolia, Riverdale, East Gloucester, and West Gloucester.Native Americans inhabited what would become northeastern Massachusetts for thousands of years prior to the European colonization of the Americas. At the time of contact, the area was inhabited by Agawam people under sachem Masconomet. In 1623 men from the Dorchester Company established a permanent fishing outpost in the area, and from that Massachusetts Bay Colony sprung. The town was formally incorporated in 1642. It took its name from the city of. Gloucester in southwest England, perhaps from where many of its new occupants originated but more likely because Glou.cester, England, was a Parliamentarian stronghold, successfully defended with the aid of the Earl of Essex against the King in the Siege of Glou. of 1643.

History

The boundaries of Gloucester originally included the town of Rockport, in an area dubbed "Sandy Bay". The village separated formally from Gloucester on February 27, 1840. In 1873, Gloucester was reincorporated as a city.Native Americans inhabited what would become northeastern Massachusetts for thousands of years prior to the European colonization of the Americas. At the time of contact, the area was inhabited by Agawam people under sachem Masconomet. In 1626 the people removed themselves to Naumkeag (in what is now called Salem, Massachusetts), where more fertile soil for planting was to be found. The town was formally incorporated in 1642. The name "Gloucester" first appears on tax rolls, although in various spellings. The first permanent settlers built a meeting house and focused the nexus of their settlement on the "Island" for nearly 100 years. Early industry included subsistence farming and logging. Because of the poor soil and rocky hills, Cape Ann was not well suited for farming on a large scale. Small family farms and livestock provided the bulk of the sustenance to the population. Fishing, for which the town is known today, was limited to close-to-shore, with families subsisting on small catches as opposed to the great bounties yielded in later years. Commerce and capitalism transformed Gloucester society, making it much more closely knit with families. The rocky moors remained clear for two centuries until the 20th century in the inland part of the island became known as the "Commons".

Geography and transportation

Gloucester is located at 42°3726N 70°4032W (42.624015, 70.675521). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.5 square miles (107.5 km²) The city is split in half by the Annisquam River, which flows northward through the middle of the city into Ipswich Bay. At its south end it is connected to Gloucester Harbor by the Blynman Canal. Gloucester lies at the eastern terminus of Route 128, which ends at Route 127A. The nearest airport is the Beverly Municipal Airport, with the nearest national and international air service being at Boston's Logan International Airport. Two stops (in West Gloucester and in downtown Gloucester) provide access to the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail, which extends from Rockport along the North Shore to Boston's North Station. There are several parks in the city, the largest of which are Ravenswood Park, Stage Fort Park and Mount Ann Park. The Cape Ann Transportation Authority, which serves the city and surrounding towns, is based in the town of Rockport, which is located on the tip of Cape Ann. It is located 16 miles (26 km) east-northeast of Salem and 31 miles (50 km) northeast of Boston. There is no land connection between the town line with Ipswich, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 30,273 people, 12,592 households, and 7,895 families residing in the city. 22.6% were of Italian, 16.2% Irish, 11.1% English, 8.5% Portuguese and 7. 1% American ancestry according to Census 2000. The city's population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.5 percent from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.1 percent from 45 to 64, and 15.6 per cent who were 65 years of age or older. The median income for a household in theCity was $58,568, and the medianincome for a family was $80,970 from a 2007 estimate. The per capita income for the city was $25,595. About 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8 per cent of those under age 18 and 11.2 percent of those age 65 or over. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00. For every 100 females, There were 92.0 males. ForEvery 100 females age 18 or over, There are 88.8 males. The population density was 1,166.0 people per square mile (450.2/km²). There were 13,958 housing units at an average density of 537.6per mile (207.6/ km²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.99% White, 0.61% African American, 0.,72% Asian, 0,12% Native American, and 0.02% Pacific Islander.

Politics

Gloucester is a city, with a strong mayor-council system. City offices are elected every two years (those ending with odd numbers). In 2007 over 40 people ran for the 15 elected seats in the city's government. The current mayor of Gloucester is Gregory P. Verga as of January 2022. The Mayor is also reserved a seat on the School Committee. The city is divided into five Wards, each split into two precincts: East Gloucester, West Gloucester and North Gloucester. As late as the mid-20th century Gloucester had as many as eight wards, but they have been since reorganized into current number. The City Council is made up of 15 members. The mayor is elected for a two-year term, and can be re-elected again in 2017 and 2019. The council also has a School Committee, which has a seat for the mayor as well as a School Board member. In 2007 the mayor was Carolyn Kirk, who resigned in December 2014 to take a position in the administration of Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker. Sefatia Theken was elected to serve a full two year term on November 2, 2015. She was defeated for re-election in 2021 by Gregory Verga, who was elected in 2012. The Council has a total of 15 seats, and the mayor is also a member of the school committee, which includes the School Board and the Board of Trustees. It is the first time the city has had 15 seats in a single term.

Education

Gloucester Public Schools District is based in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Gloucester High School and East Gloucester Elementary School are the district's main schools. The district also has a number of other smaller schools, including Beeman Elementary School and West Parish Elementary School. The Gloucester Public School District is part of the Massachusetts Bay Area School District, which was formed in 1965. The school district has been in existence since the mid-19th century. It is one of the oldest school districts in the state. It was founded by the City of Gloucester in 1854. The current superintendent is the son of a former mayor of the city. He was elected to his first term in office in 1974. He served a four-year term, ending in 1998. The last term of his term was in 2008. He is currently serving his second term as superintendent of the district. He took office on January 1, 2009. He also served a two-year stint as superintendent from 2007 to 2010. He has served a three-year suspension from the district from 2010 to 2012. He currently serves a four year suspension from 2013 to 2014. He previously served a one-year probationary period from 2008 to 2013. He will serve an additional two years of probation from 2014 to 2015. He graduated from the District in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a master of science degree in 2014. In 2013, he completed a masters of business administration degree from the University of Massachusetts at Gloucester. In 2014, he was inducted into the Massachusetts College of Education.

Economy

Gorton's of Gloucester, Mighty Mac, Gloucester Engineering, Good Harbor Consulting, Para Research, Aid-Pack, Cyrk, and Varian Semiconductor are among the companies based in Gloucester. The city is home to the University of Gloucestershire, where students study engineering and computer science. The town is also home to Gloucester University, which offers a number of programs in computer science, engineering, and other fields. It is also the home of the Gloucester College of Arts and Sciences, which has a history dating back to the 17th century. The university's motto is "The City of the Arts and Science" and the town's name is derived from the name "Gloucester" which means "the city of the arts and science" or "the town of thearts and science". The town has a population of 2,000. It has been the site of several World War II-era battles, including the Battle of the Bulge, which took place in the early 1950s. It was also the birthplace of the U.S. Air Force, which was based in the town for more than 50 years. It's also the location of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which is based in nearby Gloucester and is responsible for the development of the Air Force Academy. It also has its own museum, the National Museum of History and Science, which dates back to 18th century and is located in the center of the town.

Gloucester and the sea

Gloucester was an important shipbuilding center, and the first schooner was reputedly built there in 1713. The community developed into an important fishing port, largely due to its proximity to Georges Bank and other fishing banks off the east coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. The iconic image of the "Gorton's Fisherman", and the products he represents, are known throughout the country and beyond. In 2013, 62 million pounds of fish were caught bringing in an estimated $42 million. The city is also a center for research on marine life and conservation ; Ocean Alliance is headquartered in the city. Saint Peter is the patron saint of the fishermen. In the late 19th century Gloucester saw an influx of Portuguese and Italian immigrants seeking work in the town's flourishing fishing industry and a better life in America. Some present-day fishermen of Gloucester are descendants of these early immigrants. During the Catholic celebration, St Peter's Fiesta, relatives of fishermen past and present carry oars representing many of the fishing vessels which call Gloucester their home. The strong Portuguese andItalian influence is evident in the many festivals celebrated throughout the year. Gloucester remains an active fishing port and in 2013 ranked 21st in the U.S. with respect to fish landings. In that year 62 million pound of fish was caught bringing into the city an estimated £42 million in revenue. The town is home to a number of tourist attractions, including the New England Shakespeare Festival and the Gloucester Shakespeare Festival.

Arts

Gloucester's scenic beauty, active fishing industry, and renowned arts community have attracted and inspired painters since the early 19th century. The first Gloucester painter of note was native-born Fitz Henry Lane, whose home still exists on the waterfront. Other painters subsequently attracted to Gloucester include William Morris Hunt, Winslow Homer, Childe Hassam, John Twachtman, Frederick Mulhaupt, Frank Duveneck, Cecilia Beaux, Jane Peterson, Gordon Grant, Harry DeMaine, Emile Gruppe, Stuart Davis, Joseph Solman, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, William Meyerowitz, Joan Lockhart, Theresa Bernstein, and Maurice Prendergast. Several important sculptors have lived and worked in East Gloucester, Annisquam, Lanesville and Folly Cove. The book, The Perfect Storm, which recounted a massive storm of 1991, had figures based in the town. H. P. Lovecraft's The Shadow Over Innsmouth is believed partially based on Cape Ann as a whole and Gloucester in particular. The Good Son of the Sea was filmed in Gloucester and other Cape Ann communities. A documentary about the poet Charles Olson is called "the best American poet ever made," which had some shots shot in Marblehead, with some shots in Gloucestershire, and Milelight, with others shot in the Magnolia area of Gloucester. The author! of the novel The Last Days of Dogtown had scenes shot on Good Harbor Beach.

Points of interest

Gloucester's most noted landmark is the harborside Man at the Wheel statue, dedicated to "They that go down to the sea in ships" St. Peter's Fiesta is held the last weekend in June, which is typically the weekend closest to the saint's feast day. The city is known for several shipwrecks, including The Wreck of the Hesperus. It is home to the Rocky Neck Art Colony, America's oldest working art colony. Gloucester is also home to Cape Ann Museum and the White-Ellery House Museum. The town's largest annual event is the St.Peter's Fiesta, sponsored by the local Italian-American community. The mayor of Gloucester is the son of a former mayor, who died in a car accident in the early 1990s. He is the grandson of the former mayor and the great-great-grandson of the first mayor of the city, who was killed in a plane crash in the 1950s. The current mayor is the daughter of the late mayor, and the granddaughter of the second mayor, William "Bill" McKeever, who served as mayor in the 1930s and '40s.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts = 36.8. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 13. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 10. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Gloucester = 3.2 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 309,317 individuals with a median age of 43.1 age the population dropped by -0.07% in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 1,135.00 residents per square mile of area (438.23/km²). There are average 2.36 people per household in the 12,667 households with an average household income of $59,124 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 9.20% of the available work force and has dropped -4.07% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 22.66%. The number of physicians in Gloucester per 100,000 population = 202.3.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Gloucester = 44.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 51.8 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 115. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 201. 78 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 20.7 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 50, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts which are owned by the occupant = 52.38%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 69 years with median home cost = $271,360 and home appreciation of -9.21%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $11.64 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $7,753 per student. There are 13.5 students for each teacher in the school, 3763 students for each Librarian and 470 students for each Counselor. 8.67% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 17.13% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 10.22% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).