Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,377 at the 2000 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach. A town with roots in both commercial fishing and yachting, locals purport that Marblehead is both the birthplace of the American Navy and a yachting capital of the United States, although Beverly is still a notable rival to Marblehead with the title of being the birthplace of the U.S. Navy.