Chelsea, Massachusetts

Chelsea
City
The Tobin Bridge, linking Chelsea and Boston
Flag Seal
Location in Suffolk County and the state of Massachusetts
Chelsea Show map of Greater Boston area Chelsea Show map of Massachusetts Chelsea Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 42°23′30″N71°02′00″W / 42.39167°N 71.03333°W / 42.39167; -71.03333
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Suffolk
Settled	1624
Incorporated (town)	1739
Incorporated (city)	1857
Government
• Type	Council–manager
•  City manager	Fidel Maltez
Area [1]
• Total	2.47 sq mi (6.39 km2)
• Land	2.22 sq mi (5.75 km2)
• Water	0.25 sq mi (0.64 km2)
Elevation	9.8 ft (3 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	40,787
• Density	18,383.4/sq mi (7,097.87/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	02150
Area code	617/857
FIPS code	25-13205
GNIS feature ID	0612723
Website	www.chelseama.gov

Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located along the Mystic River and connected to Boston by the Tobin Bridge. As of 2020, Chelsea has a population of 40,787 and a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), ^[2] making it the smallest city in Massachusetts, ^[3] and the third most densely populated. ^[4]

History

Prehistory

Old Pratt House in 1908

The Fitz Public Library in 1905

The area of Chelsea was first called Winnisimmet, possibly meaning "swamp hill", ^[5] by the Naumkeag tribe, which had lived there for thousands of years.

17th and 18th centuries

Samuel Maverick became the first European to settle permanently in Winnisimmet in 1624. His palisaded trading post is considered the first permanent settlement by Boston Harbor. In 1635, Maverick sold all of Winnisimmet, except for his house and farm, to Richard Bellingham. The community remained part of Boston until it was incorporated in 1739 and named after Chelsea, a neighborhood in London, England.

In 1775, the Battle of Chelsea Creek was fought in the area as the second battle of the American Revolution. During the battle, American forces captured the armed schooner Diana. Part of George Washington's army was stationed in Chelsea during the Siege of Boston. ^[6]

19th century

Changes to town boundaries and government

On 22 February 1841, part of Chelsea became part of the town of Saugus. On 19 March 1846, North Chelsea, which includes what are now Revere and Winthrop, became a separate town. ^[7] Chelsea became a city in 1857.

By the middle of the 19th century, Chelsea had evolved into an industrial city and had become an important center for constructing wooden sailing ships.

Industry and local institutions

As steam power became more common, local industry shifted toward factory production. New factories made rubber and elastic goods, boots and shoes, stoves, and adhesives. Many of these factories were located along Boston Harbor.

The Chelsea Naval Hospital was built during this period. It was designed in 1836 by Alexander Parris and became a local landmark. ^[8]

Jewish settlement and immigration

Local historical records state that Nathan Morse, the first Jewish resident of Chelsea, arrived in 1864. By 1890, the city had 82 Jewish residents.

After 1890, Chelsea became a major destination for immigrants from Russia and Eastern Europe, especially Jewish immigrants. By 1910, the Jewish population had grown to 11,225, making up nearly one-third of the city’s population.

By the 1930s, Chelsea had about 20,000 Jewish residents out of a total population of nearly 46,000. Because Chelsea covers a small area, it may have had more Jewish residents per square mile than any U.S. city outside New York City. ^[9]

20th century

Chelsea Square after the Great Fire of 1908

The Great Chelsea Fire of 1908

On April 12, 1908, nearly half the city was destroyed in the first Great Chelsea Fire. The fire left 18,000 people, 56 percent of the population, homeless. Many residents were taken in by those whose homes had survived, while others sought refuge in nearby Revere. It took the city approximately two and a half years to rebuild and five years to surpass the scale of its pre-1908 infrastructure. Following the fire, the city was redesigned with wider streets and better access for emergency vehicles. ^[10]

Population growth and industrial expansion

By 1919, Chelsea's population had reached 52,662, with foreign-born residents making up 46 percent of the total. The transition from a suburb to an industrial city saw the expansion of the local industrial sector, with shipbuilding, lumberyards, metalworks, and paint companies operating along the waterfront. ^[8] However, between 1940 and 1980, the population declined by 38 percent. Chelsea lost more residents after the 1950s due to the construction of the elevated Northeast Expressway, built to connect the North Shore suburbs to Boston via the Mystic River Bridge (later renamed for Boston Mayor Maurice J. Tobin).

The Second Great Chelsea Fire

In 1973, the Second Great Chelsea Fire destroyed 18 city blocks and affected nearly one-fifth of the city. The fire originated in Chelsea's "rag shop district," an area where streets contained many small businesses dealing in scrap materials and metal goods. Similar to the city's earlier major fire, the presence of flammable materials in this area contributed to the severity of the blaze. The fire spread rapidly through nearby areas with a high concentration of wood-frame buildings and closely spaced multi-family housing. ^[11]

Fiscal crisis and state intervention

The following decades saw a decline in the city's economic and fiscal health, accompanied by a developing reputation for corruption, crime, and poverty. Chelsea's bond rating became so poor that it was unable to borrow money, requiring financial grants from the state government to stay afloat. By 1991, the city was running an estimated budget deficit of around $9.5 million against an overall budget of $40 million.

Receivership and government reform

In 1991, the Massachusetts state government declined to provide further financial assistance to Chelsea. In response, then-mayor John “Butchie” Brennan asked the state to step in. The state passed a law that placed Chelsea under receivership. Local elected officials no longer had decision-making power, and a state-appointed official took responsibility for running the city. This was the first time since the Great Depression that a city in Massachusetts had been placed under state control.

Governor William Weld appointed James Carlin as the first receiver. He was later followed by Lewis “Harry” Spence. Under their leadership, fourteen of the city’s seventeen department heads were dismissed, and steps were taken to reduce corruption within city offices. During the same period, Brennan and two former mayors were convicted of federal crimes.

Spence also brought in Susan Podziba to help ease tensions in the community, especially between immigrant and non-immigrant residents. She helped guide a public process to write a new city charter. Residents were invited to take part through public meetings, surveys, and discussion groups, and an 18-member committee representing different parts of the community was appointed to draft the document.

Voters approved the new city charter in a special election on 21 June 1994. The new charter eliminated the position of mayor, changing the city's management from a mayor-alderman to a council–manager system, where a city manager is selected by City Council members.

Return to local control and recovery

In the summer of 1995, the state returned local governance to Chelsea. The receivership is generally considered to have been a success, having restored the city's good fiscal health. The receivership brought the city's budgetary deficit under control, and Chelsea's bond rating went from non-existent to triple-A. ^{[12] [13] [14]}

21st century

In the early 2000s, Chelsea began a period of urban redevelopment.

Several unused or underused areas were rebuilt as housing and mixed-use neighborhoods. One example is the Forbes Site along the Chelsea River, which was redeveloped into Forbes Park, covering about 17 acres (approximately 6.9 hectares), including housing and small commercial spaces.

In 2018, the MBTA Silver Line was upgraded with new bus rapid transit stations, improving public transportation access in Chelsea.

Geography

Downtown Chelsea

City Hall in Bellingham Square

Chelsea covers 2.21 square miles (about 6 square kilometers), making it the smallest city in Massachusetts by land area. It sits on a small peninsula in Boston Harbor, with water on three sides.

To the west, the Island End River separates Chelsea from Everett. To the south and east, the Mystic River and Chelsea Creek form the boundary with Boston. Along the northern edge, Mill Creek marks part of the border with Revere.

Most of the city lies low and close to sea level, but a series of small drumlins, or hills, rise in different areas. These hills, which formed long ago when glaciers shaped the landscape, are now known as Admirals Hill, Mount Bellingham, Powderhorn Hill, Mount Washington, and Mill Hill near Mill Creek. This sloped and hilly landscape helps to divide the city into discernible neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods and districts

There are several distinct neighborhoods in Chelsea:

• Admirals Hill: Admirals Hill sits atop a point of land between the Mystic River and Island End River. Containing the Naval Hospital Historic District, the area is mostly residential development. On the south slope of the hill is the site of the historic Chelsea Naval Hospital. Between the Naval Hospital and the shoreline is Mary O'Malley Park, the largest public park in Chelsea.
• Addison-Orange: Adjacent to the north side of downtown, the Addison-Orange neighborhood is residential, flat, and densely populated. Washington Avenue runs through this neighborhood.
• Bellingham Square: This historic district became the center of commerce and government after the 1908 fire. The design is the result of community planning after the Great Fire of 1908. The district includes City Hall, modeled after Old Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the Public Library, and Phoenix Charter Academy's campus.
• Box District: Just over a block from City Hall, this neighborhood gets its name from various box manufacturing companies that operated in the area as early as 1903, when the Russell Box Company began operations at the foot of Gerrish Avenue. Abandoned in the 1960s, the area was rezoned for residential use in the 2000s. ^[15]
• Carter Park—Wyndham Area: The neighborhood around Carter Park is a small enclave of mostly single-family Queen Anne style homes. Route 1 is above the southeastern edge of this tree-lined neighborhood, and Revere Beach Parkway winds along the northern edge. The Chelsea High School, Boston's FBI regional field office, MGH Healthcare Center, and Mystic Mall are located in this area. The historic Chelsea Clock Company used to be located in this area until 2015.
• Chelsea Square: This historic district includes a waterfront district (South Broadway neighborhood). Third Street is also in the area, becoming Everett Avenue. The Chelsea Police Department is located here.
• Chelsea Commons: Formerly known as Parkway Plaza, Chelsea Commons sits on a low flat area near the end of Mill Creek, part of which was on a former landfill and clay pit. The plaza consists of big-box retail, fast-food restaurants, and two large apartment buildings. It is bordered by a strip of wetlands on both sides. Webster Ave, Mill Creek Riverwalk, Creekside Common, and Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare.
• Mill Hill: This largely residential area consists mostly of two- and three-story wood-frame detached buildings. Covering the smallest of the city's drumlins, the Mill Hill neighborhood sits on a small neck of land bounded by Chelsea Creek and Mill Creek. This neighborhood is on the Revere line. Eastern Avenue goes through this neighborhood.
• Prattville: This is the northwestern section of the city. It also borders Revere and Everett to the west. Washington Park and Voke Park are located in this area. A smaller Chelsea fire station is located here as well. Garfield and Washington Avenues are in Prattville. Route 1 is on the east side of Prattville, and Route 16 is on the south side.
• Soldiers Home: The Soldiers Home neighborhood covers the steep slopes and the peak of Powderhorn Hill. This residential area contains Queen Anne-style architecture. Soldiers Home is one of the least dense neighborhoods in the city. At the peak sits the Soldiers Home, a state-run long-term care facility for veterans.
• Waterfront District: Established to promote water-oriented industrial uses at Forbes Industrial Park and the lower Chelsea Creek, waterfront use remains primarily industrial. Most of the waterfront from the Tobin Bridge to the mouth of Mill Creek is a Designated Port Area (DPA). ^[16]

Demographics

Statistics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1790	472	—
1800	849	+79.9%
1810	594	−30.0%
1820	642	+8.1%
1830	771	+20.1%
1840	2,390	+210.0%
1850	6,701	+180.4%
1860	13,395	+99.9%
1870	18,547	+38.5%
1880	21,782	+17.4%
1890	27,909	+28.1%
1900	34,072	+22.1%
1910	32,452	−4.8%
1920	43,184	+33.1%
1930	45,816	+6.1%
1940	41,259	−9.9%
1950	38,912	−5.7%
1960	33,749	−13.3%
1970	30,625	−9.3%
1980	25,431	−17.0%
1990	28,710	+12.9%
2000	35,080	+22.2%
2010	35,177	+0.3%
2020	40,787	+15.9%
2024	40,245	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [17] [18]

The 2020 United States Census lists the population of Chelsea as 40,787. ^[19] However, it was estimated in 2023 that the actual population of Chelsea is probably 50,000 or more. ^[20] According to the 2010 United States census, ^[21] there were 35,177 people, 11,888 households, and 7,614 families residing in the city. The population density was 16,036.8 inhabitants per square mile (6,191.8/km²), placing it among the highest in population density among U.S. cities. ^[22] There were 12,337 housing units at an average density of 5,639.9 per square mile (2,177.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 47.8% White, ^[23] 8.5% Black or African American, 3.1% Asian, 1.1% Native American, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 33.6% from other races, and 5.9% were multiracial. In addition, 62.1% of residents identified as Hispanic or Latino (of any race), which includes 18.2% Salvadoran, 12.7% Puerto Rican, 8.4% Honduran, 7.3% Guatemalan, 2.8% Mexican, 2.2% Dominican, 0.5% Cuban, 0.5% Costa Rican, 0.4% Nicaraguan, 0.4% Panamanian, 1.4% other Central American countries, 2.5% other South American countries, 5.3% other Hispanic/Latino. ^[24]

There were 11,888 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36% were non-families. Of all households, 28.8% were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87, and the average family size was 3.5.

The population has 27.3% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,161, and the median income for a family was $32,130. Males had a median income of $27,280, versus $26,010 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,628. About 20.6% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.8% of those under age 18 and 20.9% of those age 65 or over.

Foreign-born population

In 2010, 38% of Chelsea residents were born outside of the United States. This is the highest percentage of foreign-born residents in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. ^[25] Its "Interfaith Alliance" brings members of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities together to promote inclusiveness, diversity, and tolerance. The 2007 Sanctuary City Resolution aims to support all foreign-born residents. ^[26]

Government

Main article: Government of Chelsea, Massachusetts

Local

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of February 1, 2017
Party	Number of voters	Percentage
Democratic	8,370	52.24%
Republican	848	5.29%
Libertarian	19	0.12%
Unenrolled	6,597	41.18%
Total no. registered voters	16,021	100%

2024–2025 City Councilors
Name	Title
Leo Robinson	Councilor At-Large
Kelly Garcia	Councilor At-Large
Roberto Jimenez Rivera	Councilor At-Large
Todd Taylor	District 1 Councilor, Vice President
Melinda Vega	District 2 Councilor
Norieliz DeJesus	District 3 Councilor, President
Tanairi Garcia	District 4 Councilor
Lisa Anne Santagate	District 5 Councilor
Giovanni A. Recupero	District 6 Councilor
Manuel Teshe	District 7 Councilor
Calvin T. Brown	District 8 Councilor

2024–2025 School Committee Members
Name	Title
Katherine Cabral	Member-At-Large, Vice Chair
Shawn O'Regan	District 1 Member
Sarah Neville	District 2 Member
Jonathan Guzman-Pereira	District 3 Member
Mayra Balderas	District 4 Member
Claryangeliz Covas Caraballo	District 5 Member
Ana Hernandez	District 6 Member, Chair
Lucia Henriquez	District 7 Member
Yessenia Alfaro	District 8 Member

Presidential results

The city of Chelsea is a Democratic stronghold, having voted for every Democratic nominee for President since 1928. Before 1928, Chelsea, like many municipalities in Massachusetts, was a Republican stronghold.

Presidential election results

Barnstable Township vote
by party in presidential elections ^[27]

Year	Republican	Democratic
2024 [28]	30.0% 2,539	66.6%5,635
2020	21.0% 2,215	77.5%8,155
2016	16.8% 1,587	79.5%7,500
2012	18.0% 1,515	80.8%6,802
2008	23.1% 1,820	75.2%5,926
2004	26.1% 1,833	73.2%5,145
2000	20.4% 1,307	73.9%4,745
1996	16.8% 1,043	75.2%4,676
1992	24.9% 1,957	56.2%4,408
1988	34.2% 3,067	64.6%5,790
1984	39.4% 3,809	60.2%5,825
1980	33.2% 3,183	55.3%5,292
1976	25.8% 2,824	70.6%7,724
1972	31.1% 3,507	68.2%7,681
1968 [29]	12.2% 1,500	83.6%10,252
1964 [30]	8.7% 1,193	90.9%12,465
1960 [31]	19.3% 2,989	80.4%12,477
1956 [32]	32.9% 5,342	66.9%10,875
1952 [33]	28.9% 5,322	70.5%12,986
1948 [34]	16.8% 2,875	76.5%13,048
1944 [35]	20.4% 3,245	79.4%12,061
1940 [36]	19.7% 3,234	76.5%13,025
1936 [37]	18.5% 2,725	75.6%11,113
1932 [38]	26.4% 3,129	67.9%8,061
1928 [39]	33.1% 3,908	64.7%7,631
1924 [40]	49.9%4,271	25.4% 2,169
1920 [41]	62.5%4,539	27.6% 2,008
1916 [42]	44.1% 2,091	50.4%2,390
1912 [43]	30.0% 1,302	34.3%1,485
1908 [44]	58.9%2,496	33.4% 1,417
1904 [45]	61.3%3,242	33.2% 1,757
1900 [46]	60.1%2,961	34.6% 1,704
1896 [47]	73.7%3,808	23.4% 1,207
1892 [48]	58.2%2,883	39.3% 1,948
1888 [49]	62.4%2,721	35.3% 1,538
1884 [50]	52.0%2,110	41.3% 1,677
1880 [51]	65.9%2,456	33.4% 1,246
1876 [52]	64.3%2,184	35.7% 1,215
1872 [53]	73.9%1,907	26.1% 674
1868 [54]	75.7%1,797	24.3% 577

Economy

Top employers

According to Chelsea's 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, ^[55] the top employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	City of Chelsea	1,650
2	Massachusetts Water Resources Authority	1,205
3	Massachusetts Information Technology Center	1,000
4	North Suffolk Mental Health	500-999
	Chelsea Jewish Lifecare	500-999
	DiMare Brother Inc.	500-999
7	Kayem Foods	250-499
	Metropolitan Credit Union	250-499
	Delta Mangement Services	250-499
	Soldiers Home	250-499

Economic development

Under City Manager Ambrosino, Chelsea has implemented several data analysis and tracking programs. Many of these programs are led and administered in conjunction with fellows from the Harvard Kennedy School's Innovation Field Lab. According to Chelsea's 2017 "State of the City" report, "this partnership allows the city to benefit from the questions and suggestions of [domestic and] international graduate students." In 2016, the City Council approved a $5.2 million grant for infrastructure improvements in the district. The project has been supported by a newly hired Downtown Coordinator and aims to engage residents and local businesses in a collective effort to advance the economic prosperity and quality of life in the district.

Since the beginning of 2017, City officials have kicked off Reimagining Broadway as a way to improve the downtown streets for motorists, pedestrians, and public transit. ^[56] On July 23, 2019, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the expansion of the Transformative Development Initiative (TDI), a MassDevelopment program for Gateway Cities designed to accelerate economic growth within focused districts. Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced with MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss, New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, and members of the New Bedford legislative delegation at the WHALE Co-Creative Center in New Bedford. "Our administration is pleased to further expand this program, which represents an innovative, block-by-block approach to revitalizing local economies," said Governor Charlie Baker. ^[57]

Chelsea has programs such as Re-Imagining Broadway and Chelsea Centro. ^[58] The project includes design and parking studies of the corridor from Chelsea Square through Bellingham Square to Fay Square. There are other similar projects like "Commonwealth Places", a collaborative initiative from MassDevelopment and the civic crowdfunding platform Patronicity, and "The Chelsea Business Foundation" are in progress and scheduled for spring/summer 2020. ^{[59] [57] [ needs update ]}

Capital Improvement Plan

As summarized by the "State of the City" report,^{[ when? ]} Chelsea's Capital Improvement Plan will invest in "park development, building improvements, water and sewer upgrades, and neighborhood street/sidewalk improvements. Other specific investments in new graffiti removal and snow removal equipment will enhance the quality of life for residents." The expenditures for Fiscal Year 2018 and Fiscal Year 2018–2022 can be found to the right. Total expenditures are divided between utility enhancement, equipment acquisition, parks and open space, public buildings and facilities, public safety, and surface enhancement. For Fiscal Year 2018, almost 64% of the budget will be dedicated to surface enhancements, which include citywide sidewalks, marginal street pre-engineering, Shurtleff Street roadway and sidewalks, casino mitigation/transportation, citywide traffic calming, Congress Avenue road and sidewalks, Downtown Broadway engineering and construction, and Highland Street Greenway Phase II. ^[60]

Residential development

Housing Composition: According to the 2011–2015 Community Survey, there are a total of 12,940 households in Chelsea, 27.9% of which are owner-occupied and 72.1% of which are renter-occupied. Although Chelsea has a high percentage of renters, there has been a push for home ownership by the Chelsea Restoration Corporation, which offers educational housing workshops and works in partnership with other state, municipal, and private partners to "rehabilitate properties and increase the stock of affordable housing."^{[ citation needed ]}

Over half (55.4%) of the housing units in Chelsea use utility gas, 29.8% use electricity, 12.7% use fuel oil, kerosene, etc., and a smaller portion (2.1%) of housing units use bottled, tank, or LP gas, as well as other fuel or no fuel at all. With these statistics in mind, Chelsea has started several initiatives towards renewable energy and sustainability. One includes a partnership with SolSmart, a team of individuals dedicated to the implementation of Solar energy, by making solar panels accessible through zoning laws, offering affordable solar options and, providing education and resources for those who are interested in these efforts. ^{[61] [62]}

Reimagine Broadway

Reimagine Broadway was a six-month-long planning effort that began in 2017 to transform downtown Chelsea, with the guidance of the Chelsea City Council, City Manager Ambrosino and several others. This effort ranges from supporting small business owners to re-designing the streetscape. The goals of this project were to "Enhance how public space is used and accessed downtown, support existing businesses and encourage new growth, beautify the area and create a consistent, vibrant look, improve overall safety for all users, establish a circulation pattern that works for cars, buses, pedestrians, transit riders, and bicyclists." ^{[63] [64]}

Transportation

Roads

The Route 1 North Expressway is a limited-access highway that cuts the City of Chelsea in half. The Tobin Bridge, a major regional transportation artery, carries Route 1 from Chelsea across the Mystic River to Charlestown. ^[65]

Train

Chelsea is served by the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority's Commuter Rail. The Commuter Rail provides service from Boston's North Station to the Chelsea station on its Newburyport/Rockport Line. Some MBTA Bus routes have a link to subway transit systems, including 111, 112, 114, 116, and 104.

Bus

Chelsea is served by many MBTA bus routes providing local service to East Boston, Revere, Everett, and other nearby cities, as well as bus rapid transit connections to Logan Airport and downtown Boston via the MBTA's Silver Line.

Main article: Silver Line (MBTA) § Extension to Chelsea

Map of the planned Silver Line Gateway route to Mystic Mall in Chelsea

The Silver Line's SL3 route to Chelsea has been in operation since 2018. ^[66] The new SL3 route begins at South Station and runs through the Waterfront Tunnel, along with the SL1 and SL2 routes, to Silver Line Way, continuing with the SL1 through the Ted Williams Tunnel. The new route diverges to meet the Blue Line at Airport Station, and follows the Coughlin Bypass Road (a half-mile commercial-use-only road that opened in 2012) ^[67] to the Chelsea Street Bridge. The Silver Line stops at the four stations in Chelsea: Eastern Avenue, Box District, Downtown Chelsea, and Mystic Mall. A new $20 million Chelsea commuter rail station and "transit hub" was constructed at the Mystic Mall terminus of the new Silver Line route, so that trains no longer block Sixth Street. ^{[68] [69]} The new Silver Line and commuter rail stations are fully handicapped accessible. ^[70]

Additionally, a multi-use 0.75-mile (1.21 km) shared path 0.75-mile (1.21 km) linear park runs parallel to the Silver Line bus rapid transit busway, utilizing the Boston & Albany Railroad's Grand Junction Branch right-of-way. Located within the Box District neighborhood, the path connects Downtown Chelsea and Eastern Avenue stations. ^[71]

Education

Chelsea Public Schools has four elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school, Chelsea High School. The Chelsea school system has historically been towards the bottom of the state's test score rankings. It has a high turnover among students. A high percentage of students move in or out over the course of the year, and the dropout rate is high. In 1988, the school board delegated its authority for control of the school district to Boston University. In June 2008, a partnership with BU ended, and the schools returned to full local control. Chelsea has no private schools remaining, with St. Rose closing in June 2020. In addition, there are two public charter schools, the Excel Academy and Phoenix Charter Academy. Bunker Hill Community College and the for-profit Everest Institute have satellite locations of their schools in Chelsea.

Fire department

Chelsea Fire Headquarters

The City of Chelsea Fire Department operates from three fire stations across the city. The fire department operates a fleet of four engines, two ladders, two special operations units, a maintenance unit, a foam-tender unit, and several other special, support, and reserve units. They respond to ~11,000 emergency calls annually. ^[72] The Chief of the Department is John Quatieri, who was sworn in on March 8, 2024. ^[73]

Emergency Medical Services are contracted to private ambulance provider Cataldo Ambulance Service, ^[74] which has serviced the city since 1982. ^[75]

Notable sites

Historic places

Chelsea has eight places on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 
  Bellingham Square Historic District
• 
  Bellingham-Cary House
• 
  C. Henry Kimball House
• 
  Chelsea Garden Cemetery
• 
  Congregation Agudath Shalom
• 
  Downtown Chelsea Residential Historic District
• 
  Naval Hospital Boston Historic District
• 
  Revere Beach Parkway

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Chelsea, Massachusetts

• Horatio Alger, author
• Miguel La Fay Bardi, Roman Catholic Prelate of the Territorial Prelature of Sicuani (1999–2013) ^[76]
• Richard Bellingham, governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
• Tom Birmingham, former President of the Massachusetts Senate
• Selma Botman, President of the University of Southern Maine
• Ian Bremmer, political scientist and founder of Eurasia Group
• Alfred Winsor Brown, 31st Naval Governor of Guam
• William Bryden, U.S. Army major general ^[77]
• Vannevar Bush, Raytheon Company Co-founder
• Chick Corea, jazz musician
• Norman Cota, United States Army general
• Albert DeSalvo, Boston Strangler
• Win Elliot, sportscaster and game show host
• Anna Christy Fall (1855–1930), lawyer
• David Sidney Feingold, biochemist, born in Chelsea in 1922
• Adeline Frances Fitz, composer and DAR president
• Jack Harvey, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Ray Hyman, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Oregon, author, magician, and a noted critic of parapsychology
• Glenn Ivey, U.S. representative for Maryland ^[78]
• Brian Kelly, LSU Tigers head football coach
• Isaac Pendleton Langworthy, American Congregational minister and librarian
• Lewis Howard Latimer, scientist and inventor
• Samuel Maverick, colonist
• Howard B. Meek, educator at Cornell University
• Charles E. Mitchell, banker
• Jim Mutrie, baseball pioneer
• Joseph C. O'Mahoney, United States Senator from Wyoming
• Marion Osgood, violinist, orchestra leader, composer
• Daniel Pratt, author and eccentric
• Belle Yeaton Renfrew, trombonist and conductor
• Harris S. Richardson, former President of the Massachusetts Senate
• Annette Rogers, sprinter and Olympic gold medalist
• John Ruiz, heavyweight boxing champion
• Joe Smith, music industry executive
• Arnold Stang, actor, known for films such as The Man with the Golden Arm and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American social activist, abolitionist, and leading figure of the early women's rights movement
• Michelle Tea, author, poet, and literary arts organizer, co-founder of lesbian-feminist performance art collective based in San Francisco
• Carl Voss, National Hockey League Hall of Famer
• Wenepoykin, last sachem of the Naumkeag people
• Maury Winetrobe, film and music editor
• John Raimondi, renowned American sculptor and art collector.

See also

• List of mayors of Chelsea, Massachusetts

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
2. "Chelsea city, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Chelsea city, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved July 3, 2012.
4. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Chelsea city, Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved September 15, 2021.
5. Douglas-Lithgow, R. A. (1909). Dictionary of American Indian Place and Proper Names in New England. Salem MA: Salem Press. p. 179.
6. "Chelsea History". Massachusetts Civics Online. April 19, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
7. Wright, Carroll D. (1889). Report on the Custody and Condition of the Public Records of Parishes, Towns, and Counties. Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Company, State Printers. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
8. Margaret Harriman Clarke (2004). Chelsea in the 20th Century. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 29–, 85–. ISBN   978-0-7385-3628-6.
9. Levine, Yitzchok (August 20, 2004). "Harav Avigdor Miller's First Rabbanus: The Walnut Street Shul" (PDF). The Hamodia Magazine. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
10. Conti, Katheleen (April 10, 2008). "When Chelsea burned". boston.com. The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
11. Hanson, Melissa (October 14, 2013). "Chelsea recalls 1973 blaze that destroyed 18 blocks". bostonglobe.com. The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
12. "Receivership sought for bankrupt city". United Press International. September 6, 1991. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
13. Claiborne, William (September 7, 1994). "Bringing a Battered City Back From the Brink". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
14. Butterfield, Fox (September 13, 1991). "Mired in Debt, a Boston Suburb Is Taken Over by Massachusetts". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
15. Bailou, Brian (November 26, 2007). "From industrial to desirable: rebuilding Chelsea". boston.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
16. McMorrow, Paul (February 12, 2013). "Chelsea reclaims its waterfront". bostonglobe.com. The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
17. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States". Census.gov. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
18. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020−2024". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 2, 2025.
19. United States Census Bureau. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
20. City of Chelsea. "City of Chelsea Fair Housing Plan" (PDF). Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
21. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
22. Demographics of the United States
23. "American FactFinder - Results". Archived from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
24. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
25. Sacchetti, Maria. "A melting pot stretches out to the suburbs." Boston Globe . September 15, 2010. p. 1 (Archive). Retrieved on September 23, 2014.
26. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
27. Galvin, William. "Public Document 43". electionstats.state.ma.us.
28. "2024 Mass. election map: See how your town or city votes in key races". 2024.
29. "Election statistics, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts".
30. "Election statistics, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". 1964.
31. "Election statistics, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts".
32. "Election statistics, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". 1956.
33. "Election statistics, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". 1952.
34. "Election statistics".
35. "Election statistics".
36. "Election statistics".
37. "Election statistics".
38. "Election statistics".
39. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1929)". December 30, 1929. hdl: 2452/40703 . Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
40. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1925)". December 30, 1925. hdl: 2452/40701 . Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
41. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1921)". December 30, 1921. hdl: 2452/40699 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
42. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1917)". December 30, 1917. hdl: 2452/40695 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
43. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1913)". December 30, 1913. hdl: 2452/40691 . Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
44. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1909)". December 30, 1909. hdl: 2452/40687 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
45. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1905)". December 30, 1905. hdl: 2452/40683 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
46. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1901)". December 30, 1901. hdl: 2452/40679 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
47. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1897)". December 30, 1897. hdl: 2452/40675 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
48. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1893)". December 30, 1893. hdl: 2452/40671 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
49. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1889)". December 30, 1889. hdl: 2452/40667 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
50. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1885)". December 30, 1885. hdl: 2452/40663 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
51. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1881)". December 30, 1881. hdl: 2452/40659 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
52. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1877)". December 30, 1877. hdl: 2452/40655 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
53. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1873)". December 30, 1873. hdl: 2452/40651 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
54. "A manual for the use of the General Court (1869)". December 30, 1869. hdl: 2452/40647 . Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2024– via archives.lib.state.ma.us.
55. "City of Chelsea ACFR" (PDF). chelseama.gov. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
56. "Split Decision:50/50 Night for Reimagining Broadway as Council Wrestles with Legalities – Chelsea Record". chelsearecord.com.
57. "Baker-Polito Administration Expands Transformative Development Initiative For Gateway Cities". mass.gov. July 23, 2019. Archived from the original on July 26, 2019.
58. "Projects".
59. "Current Economic Development | City of Chelsea MA". www.chelseama.gov. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
60. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
61. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
62. "Chelsea Restoration Corporation | Home Services". Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
63. "Re-imagining Broadway: Final Report" (PDF). City of Chelsea, Massachusetts. June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
64. "Re-Imagining Broadway- Community Workshop | City of Chelsea MA". www.chelseama.gov. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
65. "About the City of Chelsea". chelseama.gov. City of Chelsea. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
66. Authority, Massachusetts Bay Transportation. "New Silver Line 3-Chelsea Service between Chelsea and South Station | News | MBTA". www.mbta.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
67. Fox, Jeremy C. (November 28, 2012). "Martin A. Coughlin Bypass Road opens to route commercial traffic off East Boston streets". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on August 15, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
68. State House News Surface (October 30, 2013). "More details announced on Silver Line expansion to Chelsea". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
69. Guzman, Dan (October 30, 2013). "MBTA To Extend Silver Line To East Boston, Chelsea". 90.9 WBUR. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
70. "Governor Patrick Announces MBTA Silver Line Expansion". Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation. Massachusetts Department of Transportation. October 30, 2013. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
71. State House News Surface (October 30, 2013). "More details announced on Silver Line expansion to Chelsea". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
72. Matrix Consulting Group, Performance and Management Study of the Fire Department, Chelsea, Massachusetts. November, 2012, p. 48.
73. "Quatieri the Choice as Next Fire Chief – Chelsea Record".
74. "Cataldo Ambulance Sees Drop in Overall Calls But More Potential COVID-19 Patients" . Retrieved May 23, 2023.
75. "Cataldo Ambulance Service Inc. v. Chelsea". Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
76. "Bishop Miguel La Fay Bardi O. Carm". Order of the Carmelites . Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
77. "No. 1 In a Class of 78: William Bryden of Chelsea Appointed to Cadetship at West Point". The Boston Globe . Boston, MA. July 24, 1900. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
78. "IVEY, Glenn". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 4, 2025.

Further reading

• Chamberlain, Mellen (1908). A documentary history of Chelsea: including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624–1824. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society.
• Rezendes, Michael (September 1, 1981). "The city that wouldn't die: The rise and fall and rise of Chelsea". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved April 15, 2024.

External links

• Official website
• Chelsea Historical Society
• Chelsea Chamber of Commerce