Lynn's History
Lynn was first settled in 1629 and was officially
incorporated in 1850.
Colonial Lynn was a major part of the regional
shoemaking industry which started in 1635, and tannery industries
of the early US colonies, which reportedly includes the boots
worn by Continental Army soldiers during the Revolutionary
War. This historic theme is reflected in the city seal, which
features a colonial boot.
On May 21, 1852, the northern, more affluent
section of the city seceded from Lynn and became Swampscott.
After the split, each carved out its own respective niches
in the economy; Swampscott took a path as the country's first
upscale resort town, while Lynn became host to a broad range
of businesses based around the new concept of rapid production
through machines.
Despite industrial expansion in the early
20th century, Lynn began to decline in the latter half of
the century. But right around the new millennium, a number
of new development projects in Lynn have led to a buzz that
the city is once again experiencing a renaissance. Industrial
buildings formerly left vacant have been bought and converted
into loft spaces by real estate developers, and eagerly snapped
up by young homebuyers who enjoy the urban lifestyle of Boston
but can't afford the higher prices of lofts in Boston's South
End and similar neighborhoods. |
