Founded in 1630, 4th oldest English settlement in America. Established as a City in 1892, Medford is one of the oldest settlements in the Commonwealth and the US. Medford was a leader in the Clipper Ship building industry and also manufactured brick and tile. In addition, Medford was famous for it's "Medford Rum" and "Medford Crackers." Revolutionary war patriot Sara Bradlee Fulton lived here. General George Washington visited here during the Revolutionary War, while Paul Revere came through awaking Medford to "the British are coming!" Medford is also the home to abolitionists Prince Hall, & Lydia Maria Childs, cooking school founder Fannie Farmer, General Samual Lawrence who fought at the battle of Bull Run, and former Massachusetts Governor John Brooks. The Christmas Song "Jingle Bells" was written here by James Pierpont.
The City of Medford is located in Eastern Massachusetts, bordered by Everett and Malden on the east, Stoneham on the north, Somerville on the south, Arlington on the west, and Winchester on the northwest. Medford is 5 miles northwest of Boston and 223 miles from New York City. The western part of Medford borders the upper and lower Mystic Lakes. The city is located on both sides of the Mystic River and is in the Boston Metropolitan area. Interstate #93 bisects the city from north to south. The state highways serving Medford are Routes 28, 60 and 38.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) provides rail and bus transportation services throughout Medford. The Boston and Maine Railroad/ MBTA provides freight and commuter service to Boston.
Climate
Typical New England, featuring four distinct season changes.
Normal temp in January 28.6F
Normal temp in July 73.5F
Normal annual precipitation 41.5"
General
Medford's proximity to Boston provides rail, bus, dock and airport facilities. Roads and highways are in good condition and meet modern transportation needs.
Rail
The Boston and Maine Railroad provides freight service to the city. Commuter rail service is provided by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation (MBTA) Authority with the Boston and Maine as operating agent, with a stop in West Medford. Wellington Station in Medford provides bus and Subway (Orange Line) service to and from Boston.
Highway
The principal highways serving Medford are State Route 28, Interstate Route 93, Route 60, Route 16 and Route 38. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority provides bus service to numerous locations throughout the Medford area. There are several bus stops along the main roads that make quick connections to the surrounding cities and towns.
Other
Medford has a four-foot channel on the Mystic River which is navigable to Boston's Inner Harbor. Attractions like the Fleet Center, U.S.S. Constitution, Children's Museum, Museum of Science, Fenway Park, Faneuil Hall, and New England Aquarium are from 4 to 7 miles from Medford. Our city is 5 miles from Logan Airport.
Historical Points of Interest
The Brooks Estate
M-Belt-(Brooks Estate Land Trust)
Fanny Farmer House
General Samuel Crocker Lawrence
Grace Episcopal Church
Grandfather's House
The Isaac Royall House
Jingle Bells and Thanksgiving Song
The Medford Cracker
TeleCom City
Medford Rum Distilleries
Mystic Congregational Church Bell
The Slave Quarters
Tufts Cradock House
Meadow Glen Mall
Medford Square
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Mystic River Reservation
Tufts University
Wrights Pond
The banks of the Mystic River are almost entirely publicly owned, from the Amelia Earhart Dam at the mouth of the Mystic Lakes, making it one of the Commonwealth's best-protected streams. The river has been much altered since the 1800's when its shores were largely salt marsh. In 1893, when the Metropolitan Park System was established, large estates lined the shores of the Mystic Lakes. In part through generous gifts of land, the eastern shore became part of the park system. The western shores were never acquired and were subdivided into smaller house lots. Today the Mystic Lakes are popular for freshwater swimming at Sandy Beach. Special sailing programs are available at the Tufts University Boathouse. The Upper Mystic Lake is for non-powered boats only. The Lower Mystic Lake is for powerboats with no wake (6 mph speed limit).
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