Malden, Massachusetts Facts For Kids

Quick facts for kids Malden, Massachusetts
City
Left-right from top: Malden High School, Waitt Brick Block, Fellsmere Park, Oak Grove MBTA station
Seal
Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts
Malden, Massachusetts Location in Greater Boston area Show map of Greater Boston area Malden, Massachusetts Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Malden, Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Middlesex
Settled	1640
Incorporated	1649
City	1882
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• Total	5.08 sq mi (13.16 km2)
• Land	5.04 sq mi (13.06 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation	13 ft (4 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	66,263
• Density	13,136.99/sq mi (5,072.11/km2)
Demonym(s)	Maldonian
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	02148
Area code(s)	339/781
FIPS code	25-37875
GNIS ID	0612773

Malden is a city located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. In 2020, about 66,263 people lived there.

Contents

• History of Malden
• Geography of Malden
• Population and People
  • Asian Population in Malden
• Education in Malden
• Neighborhoods of Malden
  • Bellrock Neighborhood
  • Edgeworth Neighborhood
  • Maplewood Neighborhood
• Transportation in Malden
  • Major Roads
  • Public Transport
• Fun Places to Visit
• Notable People from Malden
• Images for kids
• See also

History of Malden

Pleasant Street around 1906

Malden was first settled in 1640 by a group of Puritans. They bought the land from the Mystic tribe of the Pawtucket Confederation. The area was originally called "Mistick Side" and was part of Charlestown.

In 1649, it became its own town and was named "Mauldon." The name Malden came from Joseph Hills, an early settler, who named it after his hometown of Maldon, England. At first, Malden included the areas that are now Melrose (until 1850) and Everett (until 1870).

During the American Revolution, Malden's citizens were among the first to resist British rule. In 1770, they stopped drinking tea to protest British taxes. Malden was also the first town to ask the colonial government to break away from the British Empire.

Malden High School has a very old football rivalry with Medford High School. Their first "Thanksgiving Day Game" was played in 1889.

Geography of Malden

1852 map of Boston showing Malden

Malden is surrounded by several other towns. To the north is Melrose, to the west is Medford, and to the south is Everett. Revere is to the east, and Saugus is to the northeast.

The highest point in Malden is Boojum Rock. It is about 275 feet high and is located in the Middlesex Fells Reservation. Malden has a total area of about 5.1 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. The Malden River flows through the city.

Population and People

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1790	1,033	—
1800	1,059	+2.5%
1810	1,384	+30.7%
1820	1,731	+25.1%
1830	2,010	+16.1%
1840	2,514	+25.1%
1850	3,520	+40.0%
1860	5,865	+66.6%
1870	7,367	+25.6%
1880	12,017	+63.1%
1890	23,031	+91.7%
1900	33,664	+46.2%
1910	44,404	+31.9%
1920	49,103	+10.6%
1930	58,036	+18.2%
1940	58,010	−0.0%
1950	59,804	+3.1%
1960	57,676	−3.6%
1970	56,127	−2.7%
1980	53,386	−4.9%
1990	53,884	+0.9%
2000	56,340	+4.6%
2010	59,450	+5.5%
2020	66,263	+11.5%
2022*	64,712	−2.3%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data. Source: U.S. Decennial Census

Fellsmere Park in 2012

Malden has grown a lot over the years. In 2010, there were about 59,450 people living in the city. By 2020, the population had grown to 66,263 people.

Malden is a very diverse city. In 2020, about 41.4% of the people were White, 14.7% were Black or African American, and 25.9% were Asian. About 10.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

Many people in Malden were born outside the United States. In 2009 and 2010, about 37% of Malden's residents were immigrants. This was one of the highest percentages in Massachusetts. These immigrants come from many different countries, including Brazil, China, Haiti, India, and Morocco. In the past, immigrants also came from Italy, Ireland, and Jewish communities escaping Europe.

Asian Population in Malden

Malden has a large and growing Asian population. In 1990, about 5.2% of the city was Asian. By 2000, this number jumped to 14.5%, making Malden one of the top cities in Massachusetts for Asian residents.

Many people of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian backgrounds live in Malden. There are several groups and centers that help the Asian community. These include the Immigrant Learning Center, which teaches English as a second language, and the Malden Asian Pacific American Coalition.

Education in Malden

Malden High School around 1906

The Malden Public Schools system serves the city. Malden has five public elementary and middle schools. There is also one public high school, Malden High School.

In addition to public schools, Malden has:

• One charter school that includes elementary, middle, and high school grades.
• One Catholic high school, Malden Catholic High School.
• One Catholic Pre-K through 8 school, Cheverus Catholic School.
• One public preschool.

In 2013, a study found that Malden High School was the most diverse public high school in Massachusetts.

Neighborhoods of Malden

Malden Auditorium in 1909

Like many old towns in New England, Malden's neighborhoods are often centered around "squares." These squares are crossroads or town commons that have been important gathering places since colonial times. Many neighborhoods get their names from these squares.

Some of Malden's main squares include:

• Malden Square (at Main and Pleasant streets)
• Converse Square (at Main, Salem, and Ferry streets)
• Oak Grove Square (near the Oak Grove T Station)
• Maplewood Square (at Lebanon, Maplewood, and Salem streets)
• Linden Square

Some of the neighborhoods in Malden are Faulkner, West End, Edgeworth, Linden, Maplewood, and Bellrock.

Bellrock Neighborhood

Descriptive plaque at the historic Bell Rock Cemetery

Bellrock is in the south-central part of Malden. It is home to Bell Rock Memorial Park and Bell Rock Cemetery. The cemetery has graves that date back to 1670. It was first called Sandy Bank, then the Old Burial Ground, before being renamed Bell Rock Cemetery in 1882.

Edgeworth Neighborhood

The Edgeworth neighborhood is in the southwestern part of the city. It has several parks, including Devir Park and Pearl St. Park. Macdonald Stadium, the city's football stadium, is also in Edgeworth.

The Converse Rubber Factory used to be in Edgeworth. This is where the famous Converse "All-Star" Basketball Sneakers were first made. Malden Catholic High School was also originally located in Edgeworth.

Maplewood Neighborhood

The Maplewood neighborhood got its name from Joshua Webster. In 1847, he bought 200 acres of land in Malden and planted hundreds of maple trees there. He planned to build a residential area with wide streets and beautiful trees.

Transportation in Malden

Major Roads

U.S. Route 1 goes through Malden. This highway connects Boston to the northern suburbs. Other important roads that run through Malden include Route 28, Route 60, and Route 99.

Public Transport

Malden is served by the Orange Line subway, which connects the city to downtown Boston. The subway has two stops in Malden: Malden Center and Oak Grove. The MBTA's commuter rail also stops at Malden Center.

A part of the old Boston and Maine Saugus Branch Railroad line runs through Malden. This line is now a multi-use path called the Northern Strand Trail. It opened in 2012 and is also known as the Bike to the Sea Trail. The Malden section of the trail has the "ArtLine," which features murals and sculptures.

Bus service is also available throughout Malden and to nearby communities, provided by the MBTA.

Fun Places to Visit

Pine Banks Park in 1908

Malden has about 30 parks with many things to do. You can find tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, and ballfields. Other places of interest include:

• A running track at MacDonald Stadium.
• Part of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, a large natural area.
• Fellsmere Pond, a 25-acre pond.
• A public swimming pool.
• A large field house for sports.
• The modern Malden YMCA, which opened in 2007.
• Pine Banks Park, shared with the city of Melrose.
• Waitt's Mountain, which offers great views.

Malden also has the beautiful Converse Memorial Library. It was designed by a famous architect and built in 1885. The library's first mayor, Elisha S. Converse, helped fund its construction and its art collection. Another notable place is the Congregation Beth Israel.

Notable People from Malden

Many interesting people have come from Malden, including:

• Jack Albertson, an award-winning actor.
• Walter Brennan, another award-winning actor.
• Gary Cherone, a singer-songwriter.
• Elisha S. Converse, Malden's first mayor.
• Ed Emberley, a children's author.
• Erle Stanley Gardner, who created the character Perry Mason.
• Norman Greenbaum, a guitarist and singer-songwriter.
• Killer Kowalski, a famous professional wrestler.
• Ed Markey, a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts.
• Nerlens Noel, a professional basketball player.
• David Robinson, the drummer for The Cars.
• Frank Stella, a well-known artist.
• John A. Volpe, a former Governor of Massachusetts.

Images for kids

• 

  Waitt Brick Block

• 

  Malden High School

• 

  Fellsmere Park

• 

  Oak Grove MBTA station

• 

  Seal of Malden

• 

  Location of Malden in Middlesex County

See also

In Spanish: Malden (Massachusetts) para niños