Lynn is a city in Essex County with a population of 88,792 (2005). Once an industrial mill town that primarily produced shoes, today Lynn is home to a portion of the jet engine division of General Electric, West Lynn Creamery and Durkee-Mower, makers of Marshmallow Fluff. Lynn, having dubbed itself "The City of Firsts," claims to be pioneers in the following: first iron works, first fire engine, first American jet engine, first woman in advertising and mass marketing (Lydia Pinkham), first dance academy in the U.S., first tannery in the U.S., and kick-off city for the first Rolling Stones U.S. tour (at Lynn's Manning Bowl, now called Manning Field).
Since the start of the 21st century, Lynn has seen a number of redevelopment projects that city officials hope will contribute to a local renaissance. Old, vacant industrial buildings have been converted into modern, loft-style living spaces reminiscent of those in Boston's South End, but without the hefty price tags. Lynn's City Hall has contributed to the town's revamping with new antique-style signage, brickwork and lighting, as well as Manning Field (formerly Manning Bowl), a new multi-purpose municipal football stadium. Fraser Field, home of the North Shore Spirit professional baseball club, has also been renovated. In terms of ethnic diversity, Lynn is home to one of the North Shore's largest Russian populations, resulting from Jewish Russians being granted refugee status by the U.S. followed by the first wave of immigration in the 1990s.
Historical sites and museums in Lynn include the Mary Baker Eddy House and Lynn Heritage State Park, home of Lynn Museum and the Lynn Historical Society. Other attractions in the city include Lynn Beach, Lynn Memorial Auditorium, Fraser Field and Manning Field. Lynn Woods is the largest municipal park in New England and the second largest in the country with a total of 2,200 acres. The park is home to such local historic sites as Stone Tower, Steel Tower, Wolf Pits, and Dungeon Rock; where there is rumored to be undiscovered pirate treasure. Another attraction in Lynn is High Rock Tower, from which visitors have views of Nahant, Boston, downtown Lynn, Egg Rock and the Atlantic Ocean. Lynn is also home to Pine Grove Cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in the country. Locals claim that Pine Grove Cemetery has "the second longest wall in the world."
