Middleton, Massachusetts

Middleton, Massachusetts
Name	Middleton
Settlement type	Town
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Massachusetts
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Essex
Established title	Incorporated
Established date	1728
Government type	Open town meeting
Area total km2	35.0
Area land km2	33.8
Area water km2	1.2
Population as of	2020
Population total	9,779
Population density km2	auto
Coordinates	42, 35, 40, N...
Postal code type	ZIP Code
Postal code	01949
Area code	978 / 351
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	25-40950
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	0618345
Website	www.middletonma.gov

Middleton, Massachusetts is a town in Essex County, first settled as part of the Salem village of Boxford in the late 17th century. It was officially incorporated in 1728, named for its location midway between Salem and Andover. The community has evolved from its agricultural and milling origins into a primarily residential suburb while preserving significant historical landscapes and structures.

History

The area was originally inhabited by the Pennacook people and was first colonized by English settlers in the late 1650s as "Will's Hill," a western parish of Salem. Early industries included farming and the operation of several mills along the Ipswich River, such as sawmills, gristmills, and a notable powder mill that supplied the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The town was officially set off from Boxford and incorporated in 1728. In the 19th century, it became known for its thriving ice harvesting industry on Middleton Pond and other bodies of water, supplying the growing city of Boston. The arrival of the Middleton Railroad in the 1870s facilitated this trade. The Town Hall, built in 1854, and the Flint Public Library, established in 1896, are key historic landmarks from this period.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.0 square kilometers, of which 33.8 square kilometers is land and 1.2 square kilometers is water. It is bordered by North Reading to the west, Boxford to the north, Danvers to the east, and Peabody and Topsfield to the south. The Ipswich River flows through the town, and significant water bodies include Middleton Pond, Hood Pond, and Sharpners Pond. A large portion of the town's eastern side is occupied by the Harold Parker State Forest, and it is part of the Ipswich River Watershed. Major roadways include Route 62 and Route 114.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 9,779. The racial makeup was predominantly White, with smaller populations identifying as Asian, Hispanic or Latino, and Two or More Races. The median household income is significantly above the state average, and the median age is older than the national median. Housing is primarily single-family homes, with a high percentage of owner-occupied units. The town is part of the Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Government

The town operates under the Open town meeting form of government, with a Board of Selectmen serving as the chief executive body. It employs a Town Administrator for day-to-day operations. The town provides standard municipal services including police through the Middleton Police Department, fire and emergency services via the Middleton Fire Department, and public works. It is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as part of the 4th Essex district and in the Massachusetts Senate as part of the 2nd Essex and Middlesex district. On the federal level, it is part of Massachusetts's 6th congressional district.

Education

Public education is managed by the Middleton Public Schools district, which operates the Fuller Meadow School (grades K-2) and the Howe-Manning School (grades 3-6). Middle and high school students attend the North Reading Middle School and North Reading High School through a long-standing regional agreement with the town of North Reading. The town is also served by the Flint Public Library, a member of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium. Several private and parochial schools in surrounding communities, such as St. Mary's High School and the Brooks School, serve residents.

Notable people

Notable individuals associated with the town include John Page, a Continental Congressman and U.S. Representative; Samuel King, a portrait painter known for his depiction of George Washington; and John H. W. Rhein, a Union Army officer and Medal of Honor recipient in the American Civil War. More contemporary figures include John Olver, a former U.S. Congressman who represented the area, and Mike Gorman, the longtime television play-by-play voice for the Boston Celtics.

Category:Towns in Essex County, Massachusetts Category:Towns in Massachusetts Category:1728 establishments in Massachusetts