Home Security in Marblehead, MA

Overview

Welcome to Alarm New England's business and home security page for Marblehead, Massachusetts. This informational page provides important crime data along with additional information for those living in or considering moving to Marblehead.

Population: 19,958
Number of Households: 8,036
County: Essex
ZIP Codes: 01945

Marblehead Business and Home Security Facts

Like other Boston suburbs, Marblehead is exceptionally safe, particularly from violent crime. The property crime rate is 7.27 per 1,000 and the violent crime rate is 1.07 per 1,000, making Marblehead safer than three quarters of other American cities, and safer than many of comparable size.

History of Marblehead

Established by some of the original Plymouth colonists, Marblehead is one of the oldest Anglo settlements in the United States. The area’s early European settlers separated from Salem in protest of the Puritans’ strictly religious society, and in 1648 Marblehead formally set off on its path to becoming a successful, bustling community of its own. While its land area is only four square miles, Marblehead’s waters are its lifeblood, as the unique geography makes it an ideal fishing harbor. Fishermen flocked to the area’s bountiful waters and the town became an important fishing center as early as the 1660s, when the English King’s envoy to the area returned to England calling Marblehead “the greatest towne for fishing in New England.”

During the Revolutionary War, many local residents took up arms to support the Patriot cause, which took a major toll on the community: in a town of 5,000, almost 500 men lost their lives during the war. Marblehead’s sailors in particular were praised for their bravery and skill under General Washington’s command, and are known as the precursor to today’s United States Navy. These were some of the same men who rowed General Washington across the Delaware River on December 25, 1776, forever immortalized in the painting Washington Crossing the Delaware.

After the Revolution, fishing continued as Marblehead’s chief industry, along with other water-based recreation activities. By the late 1880s, Marblehead became established as a resort and yachting destination, again due to its naturally protective harbor. The Boston Yacht Club, founded in 1866 by Dartmouth alumni who wanted to create a space for sailors to compete and learn after their college sailing days, makes its home here, as do many other yacht clubs and schools. Yachting continues to be a very popular activity, and an annual race started in 1905 still takes boats from Halifax to Marblehead.

Things to See and Do in Marblehead

Marblehead is an ideal getaway destination, recently called “New England’s best kept seaside secret” by Vogue Magazine. Only 30 minutes north of Boston, Marblehead boasts all the scenic beauty of the rugged and rocky New England coast without the crowds of Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard. Its importance as a colonial fishing port is apparent in the well-preserved architecture of Old Town, which offers excellent strolling and window-shopping opportunities.

Lighthouse enthusiasts will appreciate the Marblehead Lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula here, an unusual construction with spindly legs and a unique design, quite different from the traditional white tower. The iron tower, completed in 1896, cost considerably less to build than a traditional brick construction and was the first of its kind in New England. It was used for military purposes during World War II and turned into a public park in 1947. The lighthouse still functions and is maintained by the Coast Guard. Nearby, Devereaux Beach features picturesque views and amenities for leisurely beach picnics, while King’s Beach offers active recreation opportunities.

The climb to Old Burial Hill rewards visitors with sweeping views of the harbor and beautifully carved historic gravestones dating back to the 1630s. Taphophiles can decipher the moss-covered headstones and admire the funeral art. From here, on a clear day, those interested in the darker side of history can even catch a glimpse of Salem.

Notable Residents

Marblehead itself is a bit of a celebrity, having featured prominently in literature and pop culture and served as the setting in many films and novels. Novelists Joan Thompson and Ben Sherwood have set their stories here, and the writer H. P. Lovecraft drew inspiration from Marblehead, using it as a basis for Kingsport, a fictional community that plays an important role in several of his works as the home of his autobiographical protagonist Randolph Carter. He described his experience visiting Marblehead as “the high tide” of his life, a place where he felt the full weight of the history of New and Old England manifest itself to him in one moment.

Marblehead also hosts a film industry of its own due to its classic New England charm, well-preserved old town, and stunning landscapes. Movies shot here include Hocus Pocus, The Witches of Eastwick, and more. It’s also referenced in Boston-based TV shows like the long-running sitcom Cheers and The Handmaid’s Tale, an acclaimed drama based on Margaret Atwood’s famous dystopian novel.