Somerville, Urban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, situated northwest of Boston across a compact area of roughly four square miles with a population of around 81,000 residents. The settlement sits between several universities and forms a densely built urban core with numerous residential neighborhoods and commercial streets.
The territory was originally home to the Naumkeag community before English settlers received the land from the Squaw Sachem of Mystic in 1639. The present city developed into an industrial center during the 19th century and separated from Charlestown in 1842.
The city took its name from Captain Richard Somers, a naval officer from the early 19th century whose legacy reflects the maritime tradition of the region. Today this past appears in many local street names and public spaces that recall the founding period.
City Hall is located centrally and opens on weekdays for resident services, with opening hours varying by day of the week. Many neighborhoods can be explored on foot, and public transit connects the different residential areas with Boston.
The 18th-century Old Powder House became the site of an early confrontation in 1774 when British soldiers secretly removed gunpowder. This action triggered local resistance and is considered one of the sparks for later events in the War of Independence.
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