Danvers

History

The area was long settled by indigenous cultures of Native Americans. In the historic period, the Massachusett, a tribe of the Algonquian language family, dominated the area. The land that is now Danvers was once owned by the Naumkeag branch of the Massachusett tribe. Around 1630, English colonists improved an existing Naumkeag trail as the Old Spanish Road, creating a connection to the main cities of Salem and Boston. Danvers was permanently settled in 1636 as Salem Village. The historical event for which Danvers is best-known is the Salem witch trials of 1692, which began in the home of Rev. Samuel Parris, and spread throughout the region. Resident Rebecca Nurse was convicted in a trial for witchcraft and executed, along with 19 other innocent victims. The Rebecca Nurse Homestead is still standing in Danvers, and can be visited as a historical landmark. The residents of Salem Village petitioned the Massachusetts General Court several times over the following decades to become a town separate from Salem beginning as early as 1733. In 1752, the General Court finally separated Danvers from Salem, but established Danvers as an independent self-governing "district" instead of incorporating it as a town, because of a royal prohibition against creating new towns in Massachusetts. A district had all the rights and powers of a town except the ability to send representatives to the legislature. Following the refusal to admit Danvers to township, 5 out of the 18 Essex County, Massachusetts towns didn't send any representatives and some larger towns like Wenham and Middleton sent only 1 out of their 2 representatives during the 1751-52 meetings of Massachusetts General Court. Danvers was likely named for Danvers Osborn, and 1752 is the date locally commemorated on major…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Danvers has a total area of , of which is land and , or 5.75%, is water. The tidal Danvers River begins near the southeast corner of town, and is formed by the confluence of the Porter River, Crane River and Waters River. These rivers, in turn, are fed by several brooks. The Ipswich River also flows along the town's western border. The Putnamville Reservoir lies in the north end of the town, which supplies drinking water to the towns of Salem and Beverly. Though being at sea level in the Danversport area, the town has numerous hills reaching around 130 to 180 feet in elevation, including Dales Hill (located at St. John's Preparatory School), Ferncroft Hill, Folly Hill, Hathorne Hill, Lindall Hill, Nichols Hill, Putnam Hill, Rocky Hill and Whipple Hill (part of Endicott Park). Danvers has numerous villages dating back to the late 1800s, when the town had a bustling railroad. These include Burley's Corner, Danvers Center, Danversport, Downtown, Ferncroft, Hathorne (which still has its own post office and ZIP code of 01937), Putnamville and Tapleyville.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  67,744
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  65,059
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  64,118
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  62,036
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  54,135
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  53,455
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  53,132
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  52,096

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2025-01-27
  9 km SE of York Harbor, Maine
• M 2.7 — 2023-12-23
  5 km SW of Chichester, New Hampshire
• M 2.7 — 2018-02-15
  0 km SE of East Kingston, New Hampshire
• M 2.61 — 2013-10-11
  New Hampshire
• M 3.15 — 2010-09-26
  2 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire
• M 2.9 — 2010-06-07
  29 km SE of York Beach, Maine