A blue-collar working class community, Everett has served as a gateway city to immigrants for most of its history. During the last five years, there has been an influx of Brazilian residents and many Brazilian restaurants, video stores, and other establishments dot Broadway, the city's main avenue. Everett can be found closest to Malden, Revere, Chelsea, Boston, Somerville and Medford.
Originally known as South Malden, the city of Everett was originally an agricultural community. It separated from Malden and incorporated in 1870, named after the Secretary of State and unsuccessful VP candidate Edward Everett. Everett has the United States' only bicameral city legislature and has an average elevation of 10 feet above sea level.
In its early years, poverty was virtually unknown. Most of the people living there were merchants, farmers or manufacturers and there is only occasional mention of a pauper or orphan needing assistance. An almshouse existed, but showed very little use. It was a long time before the city had a meeting house or even a police department.
