Danvers

Town in Essex County, northeast Massachusetts; population (1998 est) 25,200. It is located 27 km/17 mi northeast of Boston, on the Danvers River. Historically the town's industry centred on the manufacture of shoes, carpets, and bricks; Danvers is now engaged in a mix of suburban commerce, agriculture, and light manufacturing.

Danvers was incorporated in 1757, when the name was changed from Salem Village. Salem Village was settled in 1638, and so called to distinguish it from nearby Salem town. It split off from Salem, being administered separately from 1672 and becoming a separate district in 1752. It was the scene of incidents leading to the infamous Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, in which 19 people were executed, 12 of whom were from Salem Village.