Peabody, city, Essex County, extreme northeastern Massachusetts, near Boston; settled 1626, incorporated as a city 1916. Manufactures include leather, medical equipment, electronics, pharmaceuticals, photographic supplies, plastics, and chemicals. The Peabody Institute Library is here. Once part of Salem and then part of Danvers, it became a separate town (South Danvers) in 1855; it was renamed in 1868 for the philanthropist George Peabody, who was born here. A glassmaking industry existed here from 1638 to 1670, and pottery was important in the late 18th century. The city's leather industry dates from the 18th century, but its importance has declined since the 1950s. Population 45,976 (1980); 47,039 (1990); 48,129 (2000).
