Newburyport, Massachusetts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Newburyport, Massachusetts | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Essex County |
| Settled | 1635 |
| Incorporated | 1764 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Mayor-council city |
| - Mayor | John F. Moak |
| Area | |
| - City | 10.6 sq mi (27.4 km²) |
| - Land | 8.4 sq mi (21.7 km²) |
| - Water | 2.2 sq mi (5.7 km²) |
| Elevation | 37 ft (11 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - City | 17,189 |
| - Density | 2,050.3/sq mi (791.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 01950 |
| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 |
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, 38 miles (61 km) northeast of Boston. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island.
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[edit] History
Located on the North Shore, Newburyport was first settled in 1635 as part of "Newberry Plantation," now Newbury. It would be set off and incorporated as a town in 1764, and then as a city in 1851. Situated near the mouth of the Merrimack River, it was once a whaling, shipbuilding and shipping center, with an industry in silverware manufacture. The seaport declined after President Thomas Jefferson's Embargo of 1807 and the War of 1812 (although a port for privateering during it), which helped preserve Newburyport's charming early appearance. The city's historical highlights include:
- First United States Coast Guard station
- First of many subsequent Clipper ships built here
- First "Tea Party" rebellion to oppose English Tea Tax
- Formed the basis for the town of Innsmouth in the H. P. Lovecraft story, "The Shadow over Innsmouth"
- Subject of the most ambitious community study ever undertaken, the Yankee City project conducted by anthropologist W. Lloyd Warner and his associates
Historic Houses & Museums:
- Cushing House Museum & Garden (c. 1808)
- Newburyport Custom House Museum (1835), designed by Robert Mills
[edit] Historic Preservaton
Despite thriving before in the 1950's and 1960's, Newburyport's downtown began to fall into disrepair because of several factors, most notably strip malls taking away from local business and the "car-loving" American family. Because of this, Newburyport was in very bad shape by 1970 and scheduled to be razed. Ideas to rebuild the city's downtown were numerous, ranging from building hotels and new stores to, ironically, a strip mall, with few buildings left for historical reasons. Later, however, even after some building had already been razed, the city signed a federal grant that allowed it to keep its historic architecture. Even today Newburyport is called a stunning example of preserving architecture.
 State Street in c. 1906 |
 Dexter House in c. 1908 |
 Frog Pond in c. 1905 |
 Joppa Landing in c. 1906 |
[edit] Geography
Newburyport is located at (42.812391, -70.877440).GR1
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.4 km² (10.6 mi²). 21.7 km² (8.4 mi²) of it is land and 5.7 km² (2.2 mi²) of it (20.77%) is water. Newburyport is drained by the Merrimack River.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 17,189 people, 7,519 households, and 4,428 families residing in the city. The population density was 792.0/km² (2,050.3/mi²). There were 7,897 housing units at an average density of 363.8/km² (942.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.11% White, 0.42% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population.
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. 33.1% of all households 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 $58,557, and the median income for a family was $73,306. Males had a median income of $51,831 versus $37,853 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,187. About .8% of families and .2% of the population were below the poverty line, including .3% of those under age 18 and .9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Annual events
"Yankee Homecoming" is the annual festival celebrating the first European settlers to the Newburyport area. It begins on the last Saturday of July and ends on the first Sunday of August. The first Sunday of the festival, known as "Olde Fashioned Sunday," is celebrated at the Bartlett Mall in downtown Newburyport, and features many activities, including an art show, an appearance by the city's oldest fire engine, the "Neptune," and the participation of many local businesses. There is also an antique car show. Other popular events include the "Bed Race" in which a bed, pushed by a few people, is rolled down Federal Street. There is also a fireworks show, and, most notable of all, the famous parade on the last Sunday of the festival. More recently, there are concerts every night at the waterfront park, and the 3 year old "Annual Boat Parade." Each Yankee Homecoming features a grand marshal and numerous street vendors. Newburyport's "Yankee Homecoming" is the oldest in the country. Every night during Yankee Homecoming various bands play for audiences on the boardwalk.
Very recently Newburyport has instiuted a literary festival that takes place around the last week of April. Numerous area authors, including André Dubus and Tess Gerritsen are invited to read and share their work. Numerous other authors like Lois Lowry also visit area schools. Like previously mentioned, this event is very recent, and it is only entering its second year as of 2007.
[edit] Points of interest
High Street is a remarkable street of fine old 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.
Newburyport High School is located on historic High Street. This school is unusual, as its library has been officially declared an echo chamber. Only 24 public schools along the eastern seaboard can state this claim. Students are often deafened by the booming voice of Dean of Student Life, Tim McCarron.
First Presbyterian Church, Newburyport 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, 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, Atkinson Park (as known by School Street Park) located in the south end of Newburyport, Market Square & Inn Street, Cashman Park, and the world-famous "Park Lunch" restaurant, which recovered from a fire in 2004.
- Cushing House Museum & Garden
- Joppa Flats Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
- Maudslay State Park
- Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
[edit] Publications
- Smith, History of Newburyport, Mass., (Boston, 1854)
- D. H. Hurd, History of Essex County, Mass., (Philadelphia, 1888)
- J. J. Currier, History of Newburyport, (Newburyport, 1906)
[edit] Notable residents
- Caleb Cushing, ambassador
- "Lord" Timothy Dexter, eccentric
- Andre Dubus III, novelist
- William Lloyd Garrison, abolitionist
- Francis C. Lowell, manufacturer
- John P. Marquand, author
- Donald McKay, shipbuilder
- Theophilus Parsons, jurist
- George Currier, chair caner
- Harriet Prescott Spofford, writer
- Larry Howard, town weeper
- George A. Roaf, Waterfront Senior Center Advocate
- Matthew Thornton signer
- Nathaniel Tracy Patriot, shipbuilder, and merchant
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official Website
- Newburyport Chamber of Commerce
- Newburyport Community Website
- Newburyport Public Library
- Essex Images
- The Newburyport Blog
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
