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Newburyport is a coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, northeast of Boston. The population was 18,289 at the 2020 census. A historic seaport with vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island. The mooring, winter storage, and maintenance of recreational boats, motor and sail, still contribute a large part of the city's income. A Coast Guard station oversees boating activity, especially in the sometimes dangerous tidal currents of the Merrimack River. At the edge of the Newbury Marshes, delineating Newburyport to the south, an industrial park provides a wide range of jobs. Newburyport is on a major north-south highway,
Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...
. The outer circumferential highway of Boston, Interstate 495, passes nearby in
Amesbury Amesbury () is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is known for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is within the parish. The town is claimed to be the oldest occupied settlement in Great Britain, having been first settle ...
. The Newburyport Turnpike ( U.S. Route 1) still traverses Newburyport on its way north. The Newburyport/Rockport
MBTA commuter rail The MBTA Commuter Rail system serves as the commuter rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's transportation coverage of Greater Boston in the United States. Trains run over of track to 141 different stations, with 58 statio ...
from Boston's North Station terminates in Newburyport. The earlier
Boston and Maine Railroad The Boston and Maine Railroad was a U.S. Class I railroad in northern New England. Originally chartered in 1835, it became part of what was the Pan Am Railways network in 1983 (most of which was purchased by CSX in 2022). At the end of 1970, B ...
leading farther north was discontinued, but a portion of it has been converted into a recreation trail.


History

On January 28, 1764, the General Court of Massachusetts passed "An act for erecting part of the town of Newbury into a new town by the name of Newburyport." The act begins:
Whereas the town of Newbury is very large, and the inhabitants of that part of it who dwell by the water-side there, as it is commonly called, are mostly merchants, traders and artificers, and the inhabitants of the other parts of the town are chiefly husbandmen; by means whereof many difficulties and disputes have arisen in managing their public affairs – Be it enacted ... That that part of the said town of Newbury ... be and hereby are constituted and made a separate and distinct town ....
The act was approved by Governor Francis Bernard on February 4, 1764. The new town was the smallest in Massachusetts, covering an area of , and had a population of 2,800 living in 357 homes. There were three
shipyard A shipyard, also called a dockyard or boatyard, is a place where ships are built and repaired. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance a ...
s, no bridges, and several ferries, one of which at the foot of Greenleaf Lane, now State Street, carried the Portsmouth Flying Stage Coach, running between
Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on the Piscataqua River bordering the state of Maine, Portsmou ...
, and Boston. The town prospered and became a city in 1851. Situated near the mouth of the Merrimack River, it was once a fishing, shipbuilding and shipping center, with an industry in silverware manufacture. In 1792, a bridge was built two miles above the town where the river contained an island. Merrimack Arms and Brown Manufacturing Company made Southerner Derringer pistols in their Newburyport factory from 1867 to 1873. The sea captains of old Newburyport (as elsewhere in Massachusetts) had participated vigorously in the triangular trade, importing West Indian
molasses Molasses () is a viscous substance resulting from refining sugarcane or sugar beets into sugar. Molasses varies in the amount of sugar, method of extraction and age of the plant. Sugarcane molasses is primarily used to sweeten and flavour foods ...
and exporting rum made from it. The distilleries were located around Market Square near the waterfront. Caldwell's Old Newburyport rum was manufactured locally until 1961. Newburyport once had a fishing fleet that operated from Georges Bank to the mouth of the Merrimack River. It was a center for privateering during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. Beginning about 1832, it added numerous ships to the whaling fleet. Later,
clipper A clipper was a type of mid-19th-century merchant sailing vessel, designed for speed. Clippers were generally narrow for their length, small by later 19th century standards, could carry limited bulk freight, and had a large total sail area. "C ...
ships were built there. Today, the city gives little hint of its former maritime importance. Notably missing are the docks, which are shown on earlier maps extending into the channel of the Merrimack River, and the shipyards, where the waterfront parking lot is currently located. George Whitefield, the well-known and influential English preacher who helped inspire the First Great Awakening in America, arrived in Newburyport in September 1740. The revival that followed his labors, brought into existence Old South Church, where he was buried after his death in 1770. The city's historical highlights include: Historic events: * First of many
clipper A clipper was a type of mid-19th-century merchant sailing vessel, designed for speed. Clippers were generally narrow for their length, small by later 19th century standards, could carry limited bulk freight, and had a large total sail area. "C ...
ships built here * First "Tea Party" rebellion to oppose British Tea Tax * First state mint and treasury building * Newburyport Superior Courthouse, the oldest continuously active courthouse in Massachusetts The
Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, doing business as Newburyport Bank, is a U.S. bank headquartered in Newburyport, Massachusetts. The bank has 11 branch (banking), branches, including 6 in Essex County, Massachusetts, 2 in Portsmouth, New Hamps ...
on State Street was founded in 1854, and is one of the oldest banks in the United States still in operation. Historic houses and museums: * Cushing House Museum & Garden () * Newburyport Custom House Museum (1835), designed by Robert Mills Literary interests: * Was referred to in the H. P. Lovecraft story, " The Shadow Over Innsmouth", as being located near Innsmouth. Lovecraft in fact based his depiction of Innsmouth largely on Newburyport. * Subject of the most ambitious community study ever undertaken, the Yankee City project conducted by anthropologist
W. Lloyd Warner William Lloyd Warner (October 26, 1898 – May 23, 1970) was a pioneering anthropologist and sociologist noted for applying the techniques of British functionalism to understanding American culture. Background William Lloyd Warner was born in ...
and his associates


Timeline

* 1635: Newbury incorporated. * 1761: Belleville Congregational Church founded. * 1764: Newburyport incorporated (formerly part of Newbury). * 1772: Marine Society of Newburyport established. * 1773 ** Isaiah Thomas opens "a printing house in King Street." ** ''Essex Journal'' newspaper begins publication. * 1790: Population: 4,837. * 1793: ''Impartial Herald'' newspaper begins publication. * 1794 ** ''Morning Star'' newspaper begins publication. ** Newburyport Woolen Manufacturing Co. established. * 1795 ** ''Political Gazette'' newspaper begins publication. ** Merrimack Bank incorporated. * 1797: '' Newburyport Herald'' newspaper begins publication. * 1799: Newburyport Marine Insurance Co. incorporated. * 1801: ''American Intelligencer'' newspaper published. * 1802: Merrimac Humane Society established. * 1803 ** ''Merrimack Gazette'' and ''New England Repertory'' newspapers begin publication. ** Newburyport Female Charitable Society organized. ** Merrimack Fire and Marine Insurance Co. incorporated. * 1804: ''Political Calendar'' newspaper begins publication. * 1805: ''Merrimack Magazine'' begins publication. * 1807: ''Newburyport Gazette'' newspaper begins publication. * 1808: ''Statesman'' newspaper begins publication. * 1810 ** Newburyport Mechanick Association and Newburyport Athenaeum incorporated. ** ''Independent Whig'' newspaper begins publication. ** Merrimack Bible Society organized. * 1812: Washington Benevolent Society organized. * 1818: Howard Benevolent Society instituted "for the relief of the sick and destitute." * 1825: Newburyport Hosiery Co. established. * 1829: Newburyport Lyceum organized. * 1835 ** Society for the Relief of Aged Females founded. **
U.S. Custom House U.S. Customhouse or United States Custom House may refer to: ''(ordered by U.S. state or U.S. territory, and then by city)'' *US Custom House (Nogales, Arizona), listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in Santa Cruz County *United ...
built. * 1836 ** Newburyport Linnean Society and Newburyport Steam Cotton Co. incorporated. ** Newburyport Silk Co. and Newburyport Ladies' Bethel Society established. * 1837: Bartlet Steam Mills incorporated. * 1840: Pleasant Street Christian Church organized. * 1841: Essex North District Medical Society organized. * 1842: James Steam Mills incorporated. * 1844: Essex Steam Mills incorporated. * 1845: Globe Steam Mills and Ocean Steam Mills incorporated. * 1850 ** Ladies' General Charitable Society instituted. ** Newburyport Gas Co. incorporated. * 1851: June 18: Essex North Musical convention held. * 1852: Merrimack Library Association organized. * 1854 **
Newburyport Public Library Newburyport Public Library, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, was founded in September, 1854, by Josiah Little. It opened its doors to the public on September 5, 1855, in Ward Room 4 of the new City Hall. On that day its collection amounted to about ...
founded. ** Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank incorporated. * 1855: Newburyport Library Association organized. * 1857: Mechanic Library Association incorporated. * 1865: Washington Street Methodist Episcopal Church organized. * 1869: Merrimack Marine Railway Co. incorporated. * 1874: Newburyport Mutual Benefit Association organized. * 1877: Antiquarian and Historical Society of Old Newbury established. * 1878: Newburyport Athenaeum organized. * 1884: Newburyport YMCA incorporated. * 1886: Newburyport Society for the Relief of Aged Men incorporated. * 1887: Newburyport Electric Light & Power Co. incorporated. * 1888: ''Daily News'' established. * 1890 ** YWCA of Newburyport incorporated. ** City Improvement society organized. * 1896: Newburyport Choral Union organized. * 1904: South End Reading Room Association formed. * 1906: Newburyport Homeoepathic Hospital opens. * 1917:
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Newburyport The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Newburyport is a Greek Orthodox Church in Newburyport, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1917 by 60 Greek-American Greek Americans ( el, Ελληνοαμερικανοί ''Ellinoamerikanoí'' ''Elli ...
founded. * 1968: Newburyport Maritime Society established. * 1971:
Market Square Historic District Market Square Historic District may refer to: *West Market Square Historic District, Bangor, Maine, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in Penobscot County, Maine *Market Square Historic District (Houlton, Maine), listed on th ...
added to National Register of Historic Places. * 1971-1979: Downtown undergoes major renewal and historic preservation effort. * 1991: Actors Studio of Newburyport founded. * 1994: Sister city relationship established with Bura, Taita-Taveta District, Kenya.


Historic preservation

Despite its former prosperity, in the 1950s and 1960s Newburyport's center fell into disrepair because of several factors, most notably strip malls taking away from local business and increased use of the automobile. At this time, construction of major highways brought larger cities such as Lawrence and Lowell into shopping range. Consequently, by 1970 Newburyport's historic downtown section was scheduled to be razed prior to reconstruction with federal money. Ideas to rebuild the city's downtown were numerous, ranging from hotels and new stores to, ironically, a strip mall, with few buildings left for historical reasons. At the last moment, however, the city changed its mind and signed a federal grant that allowed it to keep most of its historic architecture. Renovation and restorations began during the early 1970s, and continued throughout most of the decade, initially along State Street, and culminating with creation of a pedestrian mall along Inn Street. Newburyport is often cited as an example by preservationists of how to maintain a city's architecture and heritage, while still having it remain functional and liveable. Image:American Yacht Club House Newbury Port Mass c 1894.JPG, American Yacht Club House Image:State Street from Market Square, Newburyport, MA.jpg, State Street . Except for the trolley, the store fronts, and the pavement, the street has not changed. Image:Lord Timothy Dexter Place, Newburyport, MA.jpg, Dexter House , once home to eccentric "Lord" Timothy Dexter Image:Frog Pond, Newburyport, MA.jpg, Frog Pond . High Street is visible in the background. The building in the center is the old court house. Image:Joppa Landing, Newburyport, MA.jpg, Joppa Landing . The boats are fishing dories. The houses remain but the landing and the boats are gone and the street has been improved. Image:Newburyport City Hall.jpg, City Hall . The building looks about the same today. It was constructed 1850–1851. The corner of Brown Square is visible across the street. The view is from where the Post Office now stands. Image:View of Brown Square, Newburyport, MA.jpg,
Brown Square The Brown Square House, now the Garrison Inn, is a historic pair of rowhouses at 11 Brown Square in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Built in 1809–10, they form the largest surviving brick building from the Federal period in the city. The build ...
in 1913, viewed from before the City Hall. The statue is that of "Garrison the Liberator". The houses and church still stand but the street has been paved and more modern buildings inserted.


Geography

Newburyport is located at (42.812391, −70.877440). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (20.77%) is water. The city is part of Massachusetts' North Shore; Newburyport was laid out on the elevated south bank of the Merrimack River between the river and Newbury marshes. The shipyards, now boatyards (and still vigorously active), extended along the bank at the edge of the river. They were connected by Merrimac Street, which ends upriver where the bank merges into bluffs covered with pine forest. Colonial residences extend up the bank from Merrimac Street to High Street running parallel to it near the top of the ridge. The homes of the seafaring entrepreneurs line High Street. Many feature widow's walks, structures on the roof where the residents could watch for the return of sailing vessels. Nearly every home maintains a splendid flower garden, most dating to colonial times. Various cross streets, such as State Street, Green Street and Market Street, connect Merrimac Street and High Street. The top of the ridge proved an ideal location for later institutions, such as
Newburyport High School Newburyport High School (NHS) is a public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States and is part of the Newburyport Public School System. It was established in 1831 and is one of ...
and nearby Anna Jaques Hospital. The ridge drops more sharply to the marsh on the other side. Along its margin a third parallel street developed, Low Street. The river bank gradually descends to marshes at Joppa Flats beyond downtown Newburyport. The Plum Island Turnpike was pushed out over the marsh on a causeway to a narrow part of the Plum Island River just to the south of where it connects to the mouth of the Merrimack. A
drawbridge A drawbridge or draw-bridge is a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat. In some forms of English, including American English, the word ''drawbridge'' commonly refers to all types of moveable ...
was built there, the only access to the island by road. On the Newburyport side a small airport,
Plum Island Airport Plum Island Airport, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Newburyport, Massachusetts, is a privately owned, public-use airport owned by Historic New England and operated by Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc., a non-profit corporation. It has two runways, ave ...
, was built at the edge of the marsh. The portion of Plum Island that is in the city has no direct access to the rest of the city; similarly, there is no access between the mainland and Woodbridge Island or Seal Island, west of Plum Island (the latter being shared between Newburyport and Newbury). Several parks and beaches dot the city, including Plum Island Point Beach, Simmons Beach, Joppa Park, Waterfront Park, Woodman Park, Cashman Park, Moseley Pines Park and Atkinson Common and March's Hill Park. Newburyport Forest is located in the southwest corner of the city, and
Maudslay State Park Maudslay State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in Newburyport. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. It is available (by permit) for weddings and other programs. Description Maudslay State Park is a la ...
lies along the northwest part of the city, along the banks of the Merrimack. Newburyport is located north-northeast of Boston, east-northeast of Lawrence, and south-southeast of
Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on the Piscataqua River bordering the state of Maine, Portsmou ...
. Situated south of the New Hampshire border, the city is bordered by the Gulf of Maine (Atlantic Ocean) to the east, Newbury to the south and southeast, West Newbury to the west and southwest,
Amesbury Amesbury () is a town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It is known for the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge which is within the parish. The town is claimed to be the oldest occupied settlement in Great Britain, having been first settle ...
to the north and northwest, and Salisbury to the northeast.


Neighborhoods

Joppa: Joppa is bordered by Newbury to the southeast, the South End to the southwest, and Downtown to the Northwest. This is the closest neighborhood to
Plum Island Airport Plum Island Airport, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Newburyport, Massachusetts, is a privately owned, public-use airport owned by Historic New England and operated by Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc., a non-profit corporation. It has two runways, ave ...
located in Newbury. South End: The South End is bordered by Newbury to the south, Joppa to the northeast, and Downtown to the northwest. The border between the South End and Joppa is just behind Hancock Street, Chestnut Street, and, Part of Prospect Street.


Climate


Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 17,416 people, 8,264 households, and 4,428 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,086.2 people per square mile (792.0/km2). There were 7,897 housing units at an average density of 942.0 per square mile (363.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.2% White, 3.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.7% of the population. The top five ethnic groups are: (United States 2010 Census quickfacts) * Irish – 25% * English – 16% * Italian – 11% * French (except Basque) – 7% * German – 6% There were 7,519 households, out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.1% were non-families. Of all households 33.1% were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90. In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $78,557, and the median income for a family was $103,306. Males had a median income of $51,831 versus $37,853 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,187. About 2.8% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.


Government

Upon adopting a new charter in 2011 which took effect in 2013, Newburyport has been run by a mayor with a four-year term and an eleven-member City Council (prior to that, the mayor's term lasted for two years). During the mid-twentieth century, Newburyport enjoyed a typical "small community" approach, conducted, most notably, by city mayor and activist Ed Molin, who died in 2005. The current mayor of Newburyport is Sean Reardon, and the next election year for mayor is 2025. Newburyport is part of the Massachusetts Senate's 1st Essex district.


Transportation

Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...
passes through the western side of town, with one exit at Route 113. Route 113 itself has its eastern terminus at U.S. Route 1 and Massachusetts Route 1A, with Route 1A continuing along the same right of way as 113 towards Newbury. Route 1 and 1A cross the river along the Newburyport Turnpike Bridge; it had originally followed State Street and ended at Merrimac and Water streets before crossing the river via ferry to Salisbury. The Turnpike Bridge is the easternmost crossing of the Merrimack; upstream the river is crossed by the Newburyport Railroad Bridge (just west of the Turnpike Bridge), the Chain Bridge, one of the oldest bridges along the river, and the Whittier Memorial Bridge, which brings Interstate 95 to Amesbury. The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority provides regular bus service between the city and Haverhill, which includes access to the commuter rail station in Newburyport. The bus costs $1.25 for adults paying cash and $1 for adults paying with
CharlieCard The CharlieCard is a contactless smart card used for fare payment for transportation in the Boston area. It is the primary payment method for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and several regional public transport systems in ...
. C&J and Coach Company, privately operated coach carriers, operate commuter bus services between Newburyport and Boston. Newburyport is the northern terminus of the
Newburyport/Rockport Line The Newburyport/Rockport Line is a branch of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, running northeast from downtown Boston, Massachusetts towards Cape Ann and the Merrimack Valley, serving the North Shore. The first leg, operating via the Eastern Rou ...
of the
MBTA Commuter Rail The MBTA Commuter Rail system serves as the commuter rail arm of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's transportation coverage of Greater Boston in the United States. Trains run over of track to 141 different stations, with 58 statio ...
system, providing access through several North Shore cities to Boston's North Station.
Plum Island Airport Plum Island Airport, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Newburyport, Massachusetts, is a privately owned, public-use airport owned by Historic New England and operated by Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc., a non-profit corporation. It has two runways, ave ...
is a privately owned general aviation airport located within the city limits. It is open to the public and managed by Plum Island Aerodrome, Inc., a not-for-profit organization. The nearest scheduled commercial air service can be found at Boston's Logan International Airport, Worcester's Worcester Regional Airport, Portsmouth's Pease International Tradeport or Manchester's Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.


Education

The current site of Newburyport High School was purchased from Harvard University early in the 20th century. Newburyport High School is one of the oldest public high schools in the United States. Newburyport is served by several public schools, belonging to the Newburyport School District, and several private schools. * Francis T. Bresnahan Lower Elementary School: pre-kindergarten to grade 3 * Edward G. Molin Upper Elementary School: grades 4 and 5 * Rupert A. Nock Middle School: grades 6 to 8 *
Newburyport High School Newburyport High School (NHS) is a public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States and is part of the Newburyport Public School System. It was established in 1831 and is one of ...
: grades 9 to 12 * River Valley Charter School: grades kindergarten to 8 * Immaculate Conception Catholic School: grades pre-kindergarten to 8 * Newburyport Montessori School: pre-kindergarten and kindergarten On Monday, November 4, 2019, the Newburyport School Committee unanimously (with one member absent) voted to implement a
Start School Later Start School Later, aka Healthy Hours, is a non-profit organization in the United States. Founded in 2011 after Maryland-based science writer Terra Ziporyn Snider started an online petition via We the People that brought together grassroots advoca ...
policy, the first of the Cape Ann League to do so. The times will be: * Francis T. Bresnahan Lower Elementary School: pre-kindergarten to grade 3; 8:20–2:50 * Edward G. Molin Upper Elementary School: grades 4 and 5; and Rupert A. Nock Middle School: grades 6 to 8; 7:45–2:15 *
Newburyport High School Newburyport High School (NHS) is a public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States and is part of the Newburyport Public School System. It was established in 1831 and is one of ...
: grades 9 to 12; 8:15–2:45 Newburyport is served by the
Newburyport Public Library Newburyport Public Library, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, was founded in September, 1854, by Josiah Little. It opened its doors to the public on September 5, 1855, in Ward Room 4 of the new City Hall. On that day its collection amounted to about ...
, part of the
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium The Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) is an American library consortium created by Nancy Jacobson and Evelyn Kuo in 1982. MVLC manages the resource sharing of 36 automated and partially automated libraries in Merrimack Valley region of no ...
.
Newburyport High School Newburyport High School (NHS) is a public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States and is part of the Newburyport Public School System. It was established in 1831 and is one of ...
competes in the Cape Ann League, an athletic conference in District A of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. The athletics program offers a variety of sports for girls and boys during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. The school colors are
Crimson Crimson is a rich, deep red color, inclining to purple. It originally meant the color of the kermes dye produced from a scale insect, ''Kermes vermilio'', but the name is now sometimes also used as a generic term for slightly bluish-red colo ...
and Old Gold and the mascot is a Clipper Ship.


Activities

Newburyport makes activities available for its residents, including a year-round ice skating rink and a beautiful waterfront and boardwalk. Many Newburyport residents love boating, fishing, swimming, and other water sports. The city's picturesque downtown shopping district also makes it a great location to enjoy boutique shopping. The city sponsors several youth sports leagues, including baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, and hockey. The city's youth services program also provides classes, campouts, and activities in robotics, music, rock climbing, chess, fencing, sewing, dance, skateboarding, judo, academics, cooking, yoga, cheerleading, art, fashion design, photography, biking, and frisbee.


Annual events


Yankee Homecoming

Yankee Homecoming, run not by the city, but by the non-profit Yankee Homecoming, Inc., is the annual festival celebrating the natives coming home to Newburyport. The event was initiated in 1957 by native Newburyporter George Cashman, who sought to stimulate the economy and lift the spirit of the citizens. It lasts one week. The first Sunday of the festival, known as "Olde Fashioned Sunday", is celebrated at the Bartlet Mall in Newburyport, and features many activities, including an art show, an appearance by the city's oldest fire engine, the "Neptune #8", and the participation of many local businesses. There is also an antique car parade. Each Yankee Homecoming features a grand marshal and numerous street vendors. The festival includes eight days and over 200 events. There are concerts every night at Market Landing Park. Other popular events include the Newburyport Lions' and 5-kilometer road races, which run through the city's downtown streets and neighborhoods. There is also a 45-minute fireworks show on Saturday night, which is followed the concluding Sunday by the famous Yankee Homecoming parade. First held in 1958, Newburyport's "Yankee Homecoming" is the second-oldest homecoming festival in the United States. Many charities raise their funds during this time.


Waterfront Concert Series

This was held Friday evenings in Waterfront Park in downtown Newburyport, these free concerts were intended for all ages. The concerts were presented by the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and the Waterfront Trust and were sponsored by a local insurance agency, Arthur S Page Insurance.


Newburyport Literary Festival

Held during the last weekend of April, the Newburyport Literary Festival was started in 2006 as a new effort by the city to increase interest in reading and literary arts. Many local authors are invited to sign and chat about their books, and schoolchildren create projects to show to an author who visits their school. Among the authors who regularly visit are Andre Dubus III, Tess Gerritsen and Rhina Espaillat.


Points of interest

Over the years, the town has cultivated a significant tourist population. The quaint downtown shopping center includes businesses that appeal to all ages. Local businesses and restaurants surround Market Square and along State Street. During festivals throughout the year, visitors are invited to enjoy concerts, food, and entertainment. An old mill building on Liberty Street is home to other small businesses and a local farmers' market during both the summer and winter seasons. The historic area has a charming feel and upbeat atmosphere. High Street is a remarkable street of fine old Federal-style houses, linking the Atkinson Common (1893–1894) with the Bartlett Mall, site of the Charles Bulfinch-designed ''Essex County Superior Courthouse'' (1805). Laid out in 1801, the Bartlett Mall was redesigned in the 1880s by noted Boston landscape architect Charles Eliot, with later improvements by Arthur Shurcliff. First Presbyterian Church dates from 1756. The clock tower bell was cast by Paul Revere. One of the most famous individuals in 18th-century America, evangelist
George Whitefield George Whitefield (; 30 September 1770), also known as George Whitfield, was an Anglican cleric and evangelist who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. Born in Gloucester, he matriculated at Pembroke College at th ...
, before dying in Newburyport in 1770, asked that his remains be buried under the pulpit of the "Old South" church, and they are there to this day. Some other points of interest are the city's historic waterfront, Atwood Park located in the south end of Newburyport, Market Square & Inn Street, Cashman Park, and
Brown Square The Brown Square House, now the Garrison Inn, is a historic pair of rowhouses at 11 Brown Square in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Built in 1809–10, they form the largest surviving brick building from the Federal period in the city. The build ...
, graced with a statue to " Garrison the Liberator", before the City Hall. The recently restored City Hall itself is a fine old building featuring in the first floor corridor a portrait gallery of some of those who have fallen in service of their country. Others are listed on the central monument in Atkinson Common. * Chain Bridge * Cushing House Museum & Garden * Joppa Flats Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary *
Maudslay State Park Maudslay State Park is a Massachusetts state park located in Newburyport. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. It is available (by permit) for weddings and other programs. Description Maudslay State Park is a la ...
*
Newburyport Brewing Company Newburyport Brewing Company is a brewery in Newburyport, Massachusetts. History Newburyport Brewing Company was founded in 2012 by recently arrived area residents Chris Webb and Bill Fisher along with Brewmaster Mike Robinson. The brewery is h ...
*
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife sanctuary encompassing the majority of Plum Island in northeastern Essex County, Massachusetts, 5 miles southeast of Newburyport. It was established in 1942 primarily to provide feeding, rest ...


In popular culture

Newburyport was the inspiration for the city of Innsmouth, the setting of the H. P. Lovecraft story '' The Shadow Over Innsmouth'', part of the
Cthulhu Mythos The Cthulhu Mythos is a mythopoeia and a shared fictional universe, originating in the works of American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. The term was coined by August Derleth August William Derleth (February 24, 1909 – July 4, 1971) was an ...
. The narrative also cameos the actual Newburyport in the first chapter. It is where the protagonist sets out from on his journey to Innsmouth. It was also mentioned in Stephen King's, "Doctor Sleep," when it explains Dan's drinking. Also, the 2019 Goldsmiths Prize winner, " Ducks, Newburyport", featured the city.


Notable people

* John Quincy Adams (1767–1848), U.S. president, resided in Newburyport 1787–1788 *
Charlotte Johnson Baker Dr. Charlotte Johnson Baker (March 30, 1855October 31, 1937) was an American physician who was the first woman to practice medicine in San Diego, California. She practiced obstetrics and gynecology at St. Joseph's Hospital, where her husband, ...
(1855–1937), physician * Nikole Beckwith (born 1980), Newburyport-born writer and filmmaker * Kate Bolick (born 1972), Newburyport-born and raised author and essayist *
John Parker Boyd John Parker Boyd (December 21, 1764 – October 4, 1830) was an officer in the United States Army at various periods from 1786 to the end of the War of 1812. He attained the rank of brigadier general and commanded during the American defeat at th ...
(1764–1830), U.S. Army Brigadier General in the War of 1812 *
John Bromfield, Jr. John Bromfield Jr. (11 April 1779 – 9 December 1849) was a Boston merchant and benefactor of the Boston Athenæum. Biography John Bromfield Jr. was the second son and fourth child of John Bromfield Sr. and Ann Roberts. He was home schooled by ...
(1779–1849), merchant *
John H. Couch John Heard Couch ( February 28, 1811 – January 19, 1870) was an American sea captain and pioneer in the Oregon Country in the 19th century. Often referred to as Captain Couch, he became famous for his singular skill at navigation of the Co ...
(1811–1870), sea captain, pioneer and a founder of Portland, Oregon * Osmond Richard Cummings (1923–2013), author and historian * Caleb Cushing (1800–1879), diplomat and politician *
Timothy Dexter Timothy Dexter (January 22, 1747 – October 23, 1806) was an American businessman noted for his writing and eccentricity. Biography Dexter was born in Malden in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. He had little schooling and dropped out of sch ...
(1748–1806), businessman noted for his writing and eccentricity * Andre Dubus III (born 1959), novelist * William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879), abolitionist * Edmund Pike Graves (1891–1919), aviator who served as a fighter pilot during WWI and the Polish-Soviet War *
Áine Greaney Áine Greaney (born c. 1962), is a writer and editor from Ireland, based in Boston. Biography Áine Greaney was raised on a farm in County Mayo. She became a primary school teacher but in 1986 she gave that up and moved to the United Sta ...
(born ), writer and editor * Adolphus Greely (1844–1935), polar explorer *
Edwin A. Grosvenor Edwin Augustus Grosvenor (August 30, 1845 – September 15, 1936) was a historian, author, chairman of the history department at Amherst College, and president of the national organization of Phi Beta Kappa societies from 1907 to 1919. Grosvenor ...
(1845–1936), author and professor of history *
Laura Coombs Hills Laura Coombs Hills (1859–1952) was an American artist and illustrator who specialized in watercolor and pastel still life paintings, especially of flowers, and miniature portrait paintings on ivory. She became the first miniature painter elected ...
(1859–1952), painter * Judith Hoag (born 1968) actress *
Lucy Hooper Lucy Hooper (February 4, 1816 – August 1, 1841) was a 19th-century American writer known for her poetry and newspaper accounts. Her interests included botany and poetry. Though she died of consumption at the age of 25, she is remembered for wri ...
(1816–1841), poet * Charles Tillinghast James (1805–1862), mechanical engineer, designer, senator *
Benjamin H. Jellison Benjamin H. Jellison (December 29, 1845 - April 5, 1924) was an American soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Jellison received his country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor. Jellison's medal was won for his h ...
(1845–1904), Medal of Honor recipient in the American Civil War * Joe Keery (born 1992), actor *
Rufus King Rufus King (March 24, 1755April 29, 1827) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was a delegate for Massachusetts to the Continental Congress and the Philadelphia Convention and was one of the signers of the Unit ...
(1755–1827), diplomat and politician *
Thomas B. Lawson Thomas Bayley Lawson (January 13, 1807 – 1888) was an American artist and well-known portrait painter. Lawson was also the founder and first president of the Lowell Art Association and Whistler House Museum of Art. Early life and educatio ...
(1807–1888), artist * Francis Cabot Lowell (1775–1817), manufacturer * John Lowell (1743–1802), congressman and federal judge *
George Lunt George Lunt (December 31, 1803 – May 17, 1885) was an American editor, lawyer, author, and politician. George's ancestor, Henry Lunt, was one of the original settlers of Newbury (1635). His grandfather's exploits with John Paul Jones were ...
(1803–1885), editor, lawyer, author, politician * John P. Marquand (1893–1960), author * Donald McKay (1810–1880), shipbuilder * Jonathan Meath (born 1955), television producer * Johnny Messner (born 1970), actor * Robert S. Mulliken (1896–1986), recipient of 1966 Nobel Prize in Chemistry * Theophilus Parsons (1750–1813), jurist * James Parton (1822–1891), biographer *
Edmund Pearson Edmund Lester Pearson (1880–1937) was an American librarian and writer. He was a writer of the "true crime" literary genre. He is best known for his account of the notorious Lizzie Borden murder case. Early life Pearson was born in Newburypo ...
(1880–1937), librarian and true crime writer * Jacob Perkins (1766–1849), early American inventor *
Timothy Pilsbury Timothy Pilsbury (April 12, 1789 – November 23, 1858) was a United States representative from Texas. He was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts where he attended the common schools. He was employed in a store for about two years before he bec ...
(1789–1858), congressman from Texas *
Harriet Prescott Spofford Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford (April 3, 1835 – August 14, 1921) was an American writer of novels, poems and detective stories. One of the United States's most widely-published authors, her career spanned more than six decades and included ...
(1835–1921), writer *
Charles A. Spring Charles A. Spring (July 25, 1800 – January 17, 1892) was an American merchant and religious leader. He had a profound impact on Presbyterianism in the Northwest Territory, helping to establish at least six churches in Iowa and Illinois, and a ...
(1800–1891), influential Presbyterian leader in Iowa and Illinois * Rev. Gardiner Spring (1785–1873), author of the
Gardiner Spring Resolutions The Gardiner Spring Resolutions were adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America in May 1861 and precipitated the creation of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America and the schism ...
, which gained Abraham Lincoln the support of the Presbyterian Church * Rev. Samuel Spring (1746–1819), religious leader, chaplain in
Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold ( Brandt (1994), p. 4June 14, 1801) was an American military officer who served during the Revolutionary War. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defect ...
's army * Clara F. Stevens (1855–1934), English professor at
Mount Holyoke College Mount Holyoke College is a private liberal arts women's college in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It is the oldest member of the historic Seven Sisters colleges, a group of elite historically women's colleges in the Northeastern United States. ...
*
Matthew Thornton Matthew Thornton (March 3, 1714 – June 24, 1803) was an Irish-born Founding Father of the United States who signed the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Hampshire. Background and early life Thornton was ...
(1714–1803), signer of the Declaration of Independence *
William S. Tilton William Stowell Tilton (February 1, 1828 – March 23, 1889) was an American businessman and soldier who led a regiment, and occasionally a brigade, in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. He and his men were heavily engaged ...
(1828–1889), Civil War brigade commander at the Battle of Gettysburg * Peter Tolan (born 1958), television/film producer and writer * Charles Turner (1848–1908), painter, born in Newburyport *
William Gordon Welchman William Gordon Welchman (15 June 1906 – 8 October 1985) was a British mathematician. During World War II, he worked at Britain's secret codebreaking centre, "Station X" at Bletchley Park, where he was one of the most important contributors. ...
(1906–1985) English Mathematician, University Professor, Second World War codebreaker at Bletchley Park, United Kingdom *
William Wheelwright William Wheelwright (March 18, 1798 – September 26, 1873) was a businessman who played an essential role in the development of steamboat and train transportation in Chile and other parts of South America. In 1838, with help from the Chilean ...
(1798–1873), sea captain, US consul in Chile, steamship and railroad promoter in South America * Lothrop Withington (1856-1915), genealogist, historian, and book editor who was killed in the sinking of the
RMS Lusitania RMS ''Lusitania'' (named after the Roman province in Western Europe corresponding to modern Portugal) was a British ocean liner that was launched by the Cunard Line in 1906 and that held the Blue Riband appellation for the fastest Atlanti ...
* Martha Wright (1923–2016), singer and Broadway actress


See also

* The Daily News of Newburyport *
Newburyport Public Library Newburyport Public Library, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, was founded in September, 1854, by Josiah Little. It opened its doors to the public on September 5, 1855, in Ward Room 4 of the new City Hall. On that day its collection amounted to about ...
*
List of newspapers in Massachusetts in the 18th century This is a list of newspapers in Massachusetts, including print and online. Daily newspapers :''This is a list of daily newspapers currently published in Massachusetts. For weekly newspapers, see List of newspapers in Massachusetts.'' No ...
: Newburyport


References


Bibliography

; Published in 18th–19th centuries * * * * * Newburyport: Stephen H. Fowle, 1874 * * * * Two volumes, 957 and 1173 pages. Newburyport is in Volume II; however, there are scattered facts throughout. The first half of Volume I is downloadable from Google Books. Republished (1992) by Higginson Book Company, . In that edition, Hurd is called an editor. * ; Published in 20th century * * Two volumes. Reprints and facsimiles exist. * Oliver B. Merrill. North End Papers, 1618–1880, Newburyport, Massachusetts. ''Newburyport Daily News'', 1906–1908. *
v.2
* * * Fanny Louise Walton. Historic nuggets of Newburyport. Newburyport, Mass.: Newburyport Press, 1958 * ; Published in 21st century *


External links

* * {{Authority control 1635 establishments in Massachusetts Cities in Essex County, Massachusetts Cities in Massachusetts Populated coastal places in Massachusetts Populated places established in 1635 Massachusetts populated places on the Merrimack River