Revere, Massachusetts

Revere, Massachusetts
—  City  —
Seal
Location in Suffolk County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°24′30″N 71°00′45″W
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Suffolk
Settled	1630
Incorporated	1871, 1914
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
• Mayor	Daniel Rizzo
Area
• Total	10.0 sq mi (26.0 km2)
• Land	5.9 sq mi (15.3 km2)
• Water	4.1 sq mi (10.6 km2)
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	51,755
• Density	5,200/sq mi (2,000/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	02151
Area code(s)	339 / 781
FIPS code	25-56585
GNIS feature ID	0612810
Website	www.Revere.org

Revere is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, and located approximately 5 miles (8 km) from downtown Boston. It is named after the American patriot Paul Revere. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 51,755.

History

Portrait of Paul Revere,
c. 1768–70

Revere’s first inhabitants were Native Americans who belonged to the Pawtucket Tribe and were known as the Rumney Marsh Indians. The leader, or sachem, of the Pawtuckets was Nanepashemet of Lynn. In 1616, an epidemic, probably smallpox, swept the region, killing thousands in its wake. Nanepashemet retired to the Mystic River, in what is now Medford, but was found murdered in 1619 at his fort on the brow of Rock Hill overlooking the river. Three sons succeeded him in his reign. One of them, Wonohaquaham, also called Sagamore John, had jurisdiction over the Indians at Winnisemmit (later Chelsea) and Rumney Marsh.

Often, the Indians, with their intimate knowledge of the vast yet unexplored wilderness, would help the settlers in their struggle to survive. During King Phillip's War, the local friendly Indians were placed on what is now Deer Island where many of them perished. Later, some of the Indians on the island were enlisted to help the colonists defeat the other warring tribes.

Rumney Marsh was originally divided and allotted to twenty-one of Boston's most prominent citizens. By 1639, the original 21 allotments had been consolidated into seven great farms. Farming was, and continued to be, the principal industry of Winnisemmet, and Rumney Marsh in particular. On September 25, 1634, Rumney Marsh was annexed to Boston, which had received its name only four years earlier. Winnisemmet and Pullen Point (which was later to be known as Winthrop) were also annexed to Boston. The first County Road in North America stretched across Rumney Marsh from the Winnisemmet Ferry to Olde Salem in 1641.

In 1739, Rumney Marsh, Winnisemmet and Pullen Point were set off from Boston and established as the town of Chelsea. The largest of the three settlements, Rumney Marsh (North Chelsea) was selected as the Town Centre.

In 1775, the area played a role in the American Revolution as the site of the first naval battle, at Rumney Marsh, and other locations.

In 1852, Pullen Point was set off from North Chelsea and established as the town of Winthrop. That same year, Chelsea became a city. In 1871, North Chelsea changed its name in honor of the American patriot Paul Revere, who died in 1818.

Geography

Revere is located at 42°24′58″N 71°0′19″W (42.416247, -71.005250). Revere borders Winthrop, East Boston and Chelsea to the south, Everett and Malden to the west, Saugus and Lynn to the north, Melrose to the northwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.0 square miles (26 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15 km²) of it is land and 4.1 square miles (11 km²) of it (40.98%) is water.

Demographics

Historical populations
Year	Pop.	±%
1850	935	—
1860	921	−1.5%
1870	1,197	+30.0%
1880	2,263	+89.1%
1890	5,668	+150.5%
1900	10,395	+83.4%
1910	18,219	+75.3%
1920	28,823	+58.2%
1930	35,680	+23.8%
1940	34,405	−3.6%
1950	36,763	+6.9%
1960	40,080	+9.0%
1970	43,159	+7.7%
1980	42,423	−1.7%
1990	42,786	+0.9%
2000	47,283	+10.5%
2010	51,755	+9.5%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

As of the census of 2010, there were 51,755 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 62% non-hispanic White, 74% White, 4.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 5.6% Asian, 0.025% Pacific Islander, 11.7% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.4% of the population.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 47,283 people, 19,463 households, and 11,872 families residing in the city. The population density was 7,994.2 people per square mile (3,089.0/km²). There were 20,181 housing units at an average density of 3,412.0/sq mi (1,318.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.35% White, 2.88% African American, 0.26% Native American, 4.54% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.11% from other races, and 3.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.44% of the population.

There were 19,463 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,067, and the median income for a family was $45,865. Males had a median income of $36,881 versus $31,300 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,698. About 11.9% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

Revere Beach

Revere Beach is the oldest public beach in the United States. It has a fairly active beach front district. From its inception, Revere Beach was "the people's beach," used mostly by the working class and the many immigrants who settled in the area.

When people reminisce about Revere Beach it is not the sand and surf they remember most, but the amusements. The Whip, the Ferris Wheel, Bluebeard's Palace, the Fun House, Hurley's Dodgems, the Pit, Himalaya, Hippodrome, Sandy's, the Mickey Mouse, the Virginia Reel and many more provided hours of enjoyment for residents and visitors alike. The biggest attraction was the Cyclone, among the largest roller coasters in the United States. Built in 1925, its cars traveled at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) and its height reached 100 feet (30 m). Also notable was the Derby Racer racing roller coaster, which had a series of accidents that killed or critically injured riders between 1911 and 1936. Lightning was another roller coaster at Revere Beach, and was a member of Harry Traver's infamous "Terrifying Triplets".

In addition to the sand, surf and amusements, there were two roller skating rinks, two bowling alleys, and numerous food stands. There were also the ballrooms, including the most famous, the Oceanview and the Beachview, each the site of many dance marathons which were popular in the 1930s.

The Beach began to deteriorate in the 1950s. By the early 1970s it had become a strip of honky tonk bars and abandoned buildings. The Great Blizzard of '78 proved to be the final death knell for the "old" Revere Beach, as many of the remaining businesses, amusements, pavilions, sidewalks, and much of the seawall were destroyed.

The Beach was the focus of a major revitalization effort by the Metropolitan District Commission and the City in the 1980s and was officially reopened in May 1992. It now boasts high rise housing units, a resanded beach, restored pavilions, and a renovated boulevard. Revere commemorated the centennial of the first opening of Revere Beach on the weekend of July 19, 1996.

• 

  Beach & Boulevard, c. 1914

• 

  Ice Wall, c. 1908

• 

  Revere Beach, 2006

Wonderland Greyhound Park

Parimutuel wagering was legalized by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1934. Wonderland Greyhound Park opened the following year and offered greyhound racing from June 1935 until September 2009. Constructed on the site of the old Wonderland Amusement Park in Revere, the site had been converted from an amusement park to a bicycle track at the turn of the century. Wonderland Park ran its last program on September 18, 2009 as a result of a statewide referendum on banning greyhound racing. The future of the land is uncertain.

Other points of interest

• Rumney Marsh Burying Ground
• Bell Isle Marsh Reservation is the largest surviving salt marsh in Boston Harbor. It showcases plants and wildlife now rare to the Metropolitan area.
• Chelsea Creek was the site of the Revolutionary War's first naval battle in 1775.

Infrastructure

Transportation

The completion in 1838 of the Eastern Railroad (later the Boston & Maine), and in 1875 of the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Railroad (narrow gauge), signaled the beginning of rapid population growth for the town and the development of the beach as a summer resort. They increased accessibility of Revere Beach, which became famous as a resort. By 1885, ten years later, the town had increased to 3,637 people, more than tripling in size over 15 years. By 1890, the population had grown to 5,668.

In 1871, Revere was the site of the deadliest railroad accident in Massachusetts history, when the Eastern Railroad's "Portland Express" slammed into the back of a stopped local commuter train at Revere Station.

The MBTA Blue Line terminates in Revere, with stops at Wonderland, Revere Beach, and Beachmont.

U.S. 1 and state routes 1A, 16, 60, 107, and 145 run through Revere.

Education

Revere Public Schools operates public schools.

Notable people

• Horatio Alger, author
• Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, singer-songwriter & guitarist
• John Cazale, actor
• Robin Christopher, actress, most notable for portraying Skye on all three current ABC soaps
• Billy Conigliaro, professional baseball player
• Tony Conigliaro, professional baseball player
• Earl Dodge, politician (Prohibition Party)
• Jim Del Gaizo, professional football player
• Norman Greenbaum, musician
• Jack Haley, actor
• Bill Macy, film, stage and TV actor
• Roland Merullo, author
• Danielle Miraglia, blues singer-songwriter
• Charles Stuart, alleged murderer of wife and unborn child
• The Red Chord, technical death metal/grindcore band

External links

• City of Revere, Official Website
• Revere Chamber of Commerce
• The Revere Journal, Newspaper
• Revere Public Library
• Revere Society for Cultural & Historic Preservation
• Visit Revere
• Revere Community Portal
• Revere Beach
• Next Stop: Wonderland 1998 movie takes place in Revere