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Renting an Apartment in Medford
What You Should Know
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in
the United States, on the Mystic River, just a few miles north of Boston. In the
2000 census, Medford's population was 55,765. It is the home of Tufts
University. The city's name comes from the description of a "meadow by the
ford".
History
Medford was founded in 1630. It was established as a city in 1892 and was a
center of industry, including the manufacture of brick and tile, rum, Medford
Crackers, and clipper ships.
Holiday songs
In a tavern and boarding house on High Street (Simpson's Tavern) in the late
19th century, local resident James Pierpont wrote "Jingle Bells" after watching
a sleigh race from Medford to Malden. Another local resident, Lydia Maria Child
(1802–1880), made a poem out of the trip across town to her grandparents' house,
now the classic song "Over the River and Through the Woods".
Other notables
Medford was home to Fannie Farmer, author of one of the world's most famous
cookbooks—as well as James Plimpton, the man credited with the 1863 invention of
the first practical four-wheeled roller skate, which set off a roller craze that
quickly spread across the United States and Europe.
"The Black Dahlia", the infamous Hollywood murder victim, was born and raised in
Medford before going to the West Coast looking for fame.
The Peter Tufts house (350 Riverside Ave.) is thought to be the oldest all-brick
building in New England. Another important site is the "Slave Wall" on Grove
Street, built by "Pomp," a slave owned by the prominent Brooks family.
Medford has sent more than its share of athletes to the National Hockey League;
Sean Bates, though born in Melrose, MA grew up in Medford, as did Keith Tkachuk,
Mike Morrison and Joe Sacco.
Medford is home to some of New England's most well-known bakeries and Italian
restaurants and delis.
Medford was home to Michael Bloomberg, American businessman, philanthropist, and
the founder of Bloomberg L.P., who is currently serving as the Mayor of New York
City. Mayor Bloomberg attended Medford High School and resided in Medford until
after he graduated college. His mother remains a resident of Medford.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.4
km˛ (8.6 mi˛). 21.1 km˛ (8.1 mi˛) of it is land and 1.3 km˛ (0.5 mi˛) of it
(5.79%) is water.
An impressive park called the Middlesex Fells Reservation1 straddles the town's
northern boundary. This 2,060-acre (8 km˛) preserve is shared by Medford with
the municipalities of Winchester, Stoneham, Melrose and Malden. Unfortunately
its two Depression-era stone towers, both of which offered wide views across
much of the park and city, have become overgrown by maturing forests, and fallen
into disrepair due to government cutbacks.
Neighborhoods
People of Medford often identify themselves with what part of the city they are
from. The most populated are:
* West Medford
* North Medford (a.k.a. The Heights or Fulton Heights)
* Wellington/Glenwood
o Station Landing (a.k.a. New Boston)
* Medford Square
* South Medford
* Hillside
Transportation
In Medford Square numerous buses provided by the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority run through, allowing easy access to other parts of
town and nearby cities. On Medford's east side, Wellington serves as the city's
source to the Orange Line. From the Orange Line people obtain quick
transportation to countless areas including Boston. On the west side, the Lowell
Commuter Rail Line makes a stop in West Medford Square.
Points of interest
* Tufts University: Though formally listed as being located in Medford, Tufts
University is also located in Somerville. The Somerville-Medford line actually
runs through Tufts' campus. The school employs many local residents and has many
community service projects that serve the city, especially those run through the
Leonard Carmichael Society and the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and
Public Service, the latter of which especially emphasizes public service in
Tufts' host communities.
* Springstep, a nonprofit that hosts variety of dance and music classes, weekly
social dances, and a six-part Performance Series. It is located across from City
Hall.
* Amelia Earhart residence, 76 Brooks Street
* Former site of Fannie Farmer's house; corner of Paris & Salem Streets
* Grandfather's House
* Grace Church, designed by H. H. Richardson
* Gravity Research Foundation monument at Tufts University
* Isaac Royall House
* Jingle Bells historical marker, High Street
* Peter Tufts House
* Salem Street Burying Ground
* Outside The Lines Studio
* Muscle Orchard