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Lynn, MA

Frequently asked questions

Lynn, MA

Lynn is the eighth-largest municipality in Massachusetts, United States, and the largest city in Essex County. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean, 3.7 miles (6.0 km) north of the Boston city line at Suffolk Downs, Lynn is part of Greater Boston's urban inner core.

Settled by Europeans in 1629, Lynn is the 5th oldest colonial settlement in the Commonwealth. An early industrial center, Lynn was long colloquially referred to as the "City of Sin", owing to its historical reputation for crime and vice. Today, however, the city is known for its contemporary public art, immigrant population, historic architecture, downtown cultural district, loft-style apartments, and public parks and open spaces, which include the oceanfront Lynn Shore Reservation; the 2,200-acre, Frederick Law Olmsted-designed Lynn Woods Reservation; and the High Rock Reservation and Park designed by Olmsted's sons. Lynn also is home to Lynn Heritage State Park, the southernmost portion of the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway,  and the seaside, National Register-listed Diamond Historic District. The population was 101,253 at the 2020 United States census.

The area that is now known as Lynn was inhabited for thousands of years by Native Americans before English colonization in the 1600s. At the time of European contact, the area today known as Lynn was primarily inhabited by the Naumkeag people under the powerful sachem Nanepashemet who controlled territory from the Mystic to the Merrimack Rivers. Colonists would not establish a legal agreement with the Naumkeag over the use of their land in Lynn until 1686 after a smallpox epidemic in 1633, King Philip's War and missionary efforts significantly reduced their numbers and confined them to the Praying Town of Natick.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.5 square miles (35 km2), of which 10.8 square miles (28 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (19.87%) is water. Lynn is located beside Massachusetts Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Lynn's shoreline is divided in half by the town of Nahant, which divides Lynn Harbor to the south from Nahant Bay to the north. The city lies north of the Saugus River and is also home to several brooks, as well as several ponds, the largest being Breed's Pond and Walden Pond (which has no relation to a similarly named pond in Concord). More than one-quarter of the town's land is covered by the Lynn Woods Reservation, which takes up much of the land in the northwestern part of the city. The city is also home to two beaches, Lynn Beach and King's Beach, both of which lie along Nahant Bay, as well as a boat ramp in Lynn Harbor.

Lynn is located in the southern part of Essex County and is 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Boston and 22 miles (35 km) west-southwest of Cape Ann. The city is bordered by Nahant to the southeast, Swampscott to the east, Salem to the northeast, Peabody to the north, Lynnfield to the northwest, Saugus to the west, and Revere (in Suffolk County) to the south. Lynn's water rights extend into Nahant Bay and share Lynn Harbor with Nahant. There is no land connection to Revere; the only connection is the General Edwards Bridge across the Pines River. Besides its downtown district, Lynn is divided into East Lynn and West Lynn, further divided into even smaller areas.

Lynn places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Mass General Brigham Healthcare Center in Lynn delivers primary care, imaging, and blood draw labs in an outpatient setting by Salem Hospital clinicians. Disciplined Fitness is a family-owned gym. As a class-oriented facility, there is more than enough space and equipment for members to do any routine on their own. Treat yourself to massages and holistic spa treatments at the Holistic Spa Therapy Center. Discover mindfulness practices including Reiki and meditation at A Higher Balance. Experience the healing energy of Reiki through sessions offered in Lynn by A Thousand Cranes Studio. Nahant Beach is open year-round, but summer is the time to visit and escape the heat. Enjoy swimming in the ocean, launch your boat, or sunbathe on the beach. Soul City is a unique community Yoga studio with locations in Lynn and Malden, MA, and immerse yourself in a candlelit sound bath yoga session for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Top Sites in Lynn, MA: Lynn Memorial Auditorium, Lynn Woods Reservation, High Rock Tower, and Red Rock Park.

Population: 100,891 (2022). ZIP Codes: 01901–01905. Area codes: 339/781. Elevation: 30 ft (9 m). Area: 13.5 square miles (35 km2). 
 

FAQs

What are the demographics of Lynn, MA?

As of the census of 2010, there were 90,329 people, 33,310 households, and 20,988 families residing in the city. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.1% of the population (10.5% Dominican, 6.3% Guatemalan, 5.4% Puerto Rican, 2.8% Salvadoran, 1.7% Mexican, 0.6% Honduran, 0.4% Colombian, 0.4% Spanish, 0.2% Peruvian, 0.2% Cuban). Cambodians form the largest Asian origin group in Lynn, with 3.9% of Lynn's total population of Cambodian ancestry. Other large Asian groups are those of Vietnamese (1.0%), Indian (0.4%), Chinese (0.3%), and Laotian (0.2%) ancestry. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18 and 75.1% over 18. Males accounted for 49% and females 51%.

What is Lynn, MA known for?

Lynn, MA is recognized for its contemporary public art and historic architecture. There's a lot to love about living in Lynn, one of which is that it was referred to as the shoe capital of the world in the 1880s, with over 230 factories creating more than a million pairs of shoes each day. The city earned its reputation as the "City of Firsts" after the first jet airplane engine in the United States was built at Lynn's General Electric plant.

What is the crime rate in Lynn, MA?

The crime rate in Lynn is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 19 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Lynn is 1 in 54. Based on FBI crime data, Lynn is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Massachusetts, Lynn has a crime rate that is higher than 93% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources 

City of Lynn

Wikipedia

Redfin

Neighborhood Scout

Mass General Brigham Healthcare Center

Disciplined Fitness

Holistic Spa Therapy Center

A Higher Balance

A Thousand Cranes Studio

Nahant Beach

Soul City

Lynn Memorial Auditorium

Lynn Woods Reservation 

High Rock Tower 

Red Rock Park

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