Wenham, Massachusetts
Location in Essex County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: 42°36′15.15″N 70°53′12.58″W / 42.6042083, -70.8868278
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Essex
Settled	1635
Incorporated	1643
Government
- Type	Open town meeting
Area
- Total	8.1 sq mi (21.0 km²)
- Land	7.7 sq mi (20.0 km²)
- Water	0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²)
Elevation	105 ft (32 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	4,440
- Density	575.2/sq mi (222.1/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	01984
Area code(s)	351 / 978
FIPS code	25-74595
GNIS feature ID	0619455
Website: http://www.wenhamma.gov/

Wenham is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,440 at the 2000 census. One of the inland communities part of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's North Shore Task Force, but not often considered part of the North Shore in the strictest sense, as it does not border the Atlantic Ocean.

History

Wenham was first settled in 1635 and officially incorporated in 1643.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21.0 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (20.0 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (4.57%) is water.

Wenham is bordered on the south by Beverly, on the east by Manchester, on the north by Hamilton, on the northwest by Topsfield, and on the west by Danvers.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 4,440 people, 1,285 households, and 957 families residing in the town. The population density was 575.2 people per square mile (222.1/km²). There were 1,320 housing units at an average density of 171.0/sq mi (66.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.43% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.35% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 1,285 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 23.6% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 82.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $90,524, and the median income for a family was $98,004. Males had a median income of $76,639 versus $43,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $36,812. About 1.2% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Home to Gordon College, a private four year Christian college. Also home to Buker Elementary School.

Points of interest

• Claflin-Richards House
• Grand Wenham Canal
• Wenham Lake
• Wenham Swamp
• West Wenham

Notable residents

• Bob Stanley, former Red Sox relief pitcher

External links

• Town of Wenham

• Dodge, Richard. 1795 Map of Wenham. At the Essex County Registry of Deeds in Salem.

• Anderson, Philader. 1831 Map of Wenham.

• Beers, D.G. 1872 Atlas of Essex County. Map of Wenham. plate 95.

• Walker, George H. 1884 Atlas of Essex County.Map of Wenham plate 87.
• Old USGS Maps of Wenham.
• Frederic Tudor and the Massachusetts Ice Exchange, 10 minute video by Robby Griffin, Nick Hamlin, Eric Lundquist, created 2004. Mentions the high quality of the ice from Wenham.

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Essex County, Massachusetts
Cities	Amesbury | Beverly | Gloucester | Haverhill | Lawrence | Lynn | Methuen | Newburyport | Peabody | Salem
Towns	Andover | Boxford | Danvers | Essex | Georgetown | Groveland | Hamilton | Ipswich | Lynnfield | Manchester-by-the-Sea | Marblehead | Merrimac | Middleton | Nahant | Newbury | North Andover | Rockport | Rowley | Salisbury | Saugus | Swampscott | Topsfield | Wenham | West Newbury
CDPs	Andover | Boxford | Essex | Ipswich | Rockport | Rowley | Salisbury | Topsfield
Villages	Annisquam | Ballardvale | Beverly Farms | Bradford | Byfield | Clifton | Plum Island