Cathleen Hamilton
jdcmh@shore.net

COMMUNITY SITUATION

Natural Features in the area:
-rocky shoreline
-flat coastline in some areas
-many wooded areas
-some very hilly areas
 
Wild Animals in this area:
-white tailed deer
-coyotes
-skunks
-squirrels
-woodchucks
-hedgehogs
-rabbits

Domestic Animals in this area:
-cats
-dogs
-hamsters
-parakeet
-typical pet animals

Climate of this community:
     Winter: temperatures often drop below freezing, the ocean can have an effect on the snow, as when the temperatures rise they will get rain instead of snow.
     Spring: average temp. of 50'F, some warm days, some cool days, with lots of rain
     Summer: warmest month is typically August. Weather is hot and humid during the day, but the ocean breeze cools it off at night.
     Fall: nights are cooler, and the leaves begin to change colors.

Population of this community: 29,000 people

How is the land used in this community:
-many housing developments
-many stores and specialty shops on Main Street
-several machine shops and Gorton's Plant ( fish frozen right in Gloucester)

Other natural/artificial features which are outside the community but important to your community:
-20 minutes from Salem, Mass. Famous witch trials took place here, as well as where a early new England colony was formed. There are many museums and sites to tell about this history.
-45 minutes from the capital of Massachusetts which is Boston. There are many sports teams, theaters, Boston Ballet, and the Symphony Orchestra. Boston is full of history as it was one of the original 13 English colonies.

Biggest threat to the natural habitat in your community:
-fishing laws and construction

COMMUNITY HISTORY

Early inhabitants of your area:
-Champlain came in 1605 and found Native Americans.
-First settlers came from Dorchester, England in 1623 to set up a fishing stage

What attracted people to this area:
-The ocean attracted people to this area: fishing industry. Cod fish were plentiful.

Describe your community in its successive stages of development:
-Many Portuguese and Italian people immigrated to Gloucester because of the fishing. They built homes on the waterfront. As time went on, houses were moved from one place to another.
-A lot of building of houses and commercial building has occurred.
-The livelihood of Gloucester has become tourism.

How  your community and community life changed since it was established:
-Most of the people were fishermen, now with tougher fishing limits, it has become difficult for small fishermen to stay in business.
-Tourism is big in Gloucester ( restaurants, whale watching, historical tour routes )

MEETING THE NEEDS AND WANTS OF YOUR COMMUNITY

Needs and wants are met by:
-our own hospital, fire and police stations, grocery stores, and department stores, along with many specialty shops
-our own movie theater and bowling alley
-support our own high school sports teams

Needs and wants fulfilled outside the community:
-30 minutes south of Gloucester to go to a mall
-20 minutes for entertainment in Boston

The community has become less self sufficient over the years  because the fishing industry has gone down due to new laws. They now rely on tourism.
 

Areas your community has changed and how:
-the school used to be a Catholic High School and is now a elementary/middle school
-all the other elementary schools have been turned into elderly housing and new elementary schools are being built
-the hospital is now owned by a company that owns many small hospitals on the North Shore. They don't deliver babies anymore at Addison Gilbert Hospital, as it is now more like a clinic.