Gloucester, city, Essex County, northeastern Massachusetts, on Cape Ann; settled 1623, incorporated as a city 1873. It is a port of entry, with a fine protected harbor on Gloucester Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. One of the oldest cities in Massachusetts, Gloucester has been a famous fishing center for more than 300 years. The major industries remain fishing and fish processing, although electronic equipment, clothing, and leather items are also produced. The picturesque narrow streets, old fishing wharves, and historic buildings attract many tourists. The city has an art colony and is the hub of a large summer resort area known for its scenic rocky coast and whale-watching opportunities. Museums of interest include Hammond Castle (1928), which houses an art collection; the Beauport Sleeper-McCann House, featuring exhibits of colonial furnishings; and the Cape Ann Historical Association, with exhibitions of paintings, furniture, and maritime history. A bronze statue of a fisherman, dedicated to the thousands of Gloucester men lost at sea, is the focal point of an annual memorial service for those lost during the year. The French explorer Samuel de Champlain sailed past the site in 1605 and mapped the harbor in 1606. The community was settled by English fishermen and was a shipbuilding center in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is named for Gloucester, England. Population 27,768 (1980); 28,716 (1990); 30,273 (2000).
