Town (pop., 2000: 20,377), northeastern Massachusetts, U.S. Its harbour is sheltered by Marblehead Neck, a promontory about 1.
5 mi (2.5 km) long. Settled in 1629 as a part of Salem, it was incorporated as a town in 1649 and developed as a fishing and shipbuilding centre. The port declined after the War of 1812 . It is now a resort centre.