Newburyport, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newburyport, Massachusetts
City
Seal
Location in Essex County and the state of Massachusetts
Newburyport, Massachusetts Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Essex
Settled	1635
Incorporated as a town	1764
Incorporated as a city	1851
Government
• Type	Mayor-council city
Area
• Total	10.71 sq mi (27.74 km2)
• Land	8.35 sq mi (21.63 km2)
• Water	2.36 sq mi (6.11 km2)
Elevation	37 ft (11 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	18,289
• Density	2,190.30/sq mi (845.66/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	01950
Area code(s)	351/978
FIPS code	25-45245
GNIS feature ID	0614293

Newburyport is a city on the coast in Essex County, Massachusetts. It's about 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Boston. In 2020, about 18,289 people lived there.

Newburyport is a historic seaport, which means it was once a very important port city for ships. Today, it's a lively place for tourists. Part of the city is on Plum Island. Many people in Newburyport enjoy boating, and the city earns a lot of money from storing and fixing boats. The Coast Guard helps keep boating safe, especially near the Merrimack River where the water currents can be strong.

The city is easy to reach by major highways like Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1. You can also take the MBTA commuter rail from Boston right to Newburyport.

Newburyport's Past: A City of Ships

The Custom House Maritime Museum

The Mary L. Cushing, the last merchant ship built on the Merrimack, docked at the Cushing family pier in Newburyport

Newburyport became its own town on January 28, 1764. Before that, it was part of Newbury. People living by the water in Newbury were mostly merchants and craftspeople. Those in other parts of Newbury were mainly farmers. This caused some disagreements, so they decided to split into two towns.

The new town of Newburyport was quite small, covering only about 647 acres (2.62 km2). About 2,800 people lived in 357 homes. It had three shipyards, but no bridges. People used ferries to cross the river.

Newburyport grew and became a city in 1851. It was known for fishing, building ships, and shipping goods. It also made silverware. In the past, ships from Newburyport were part of the "triangular trade." This involved importing molasses from the West Indies and exporting rum made from it.

Newburyport and the Fight Against Slavery

Many people in Newburyport were against slavery. Massachusetts ended slavery in 1783. In the early 1800s, about 6,000 runaway slaves found safety in Newburyport. After 1850, a law called the fugitive slave act meant that runaway slaves had to be returned. Because of this, many had to leave the country to stay free. Some white residents of Newburyport helped them escape through the Underground Railroad. For example, Captain Alexander Graves secretly helped slaves travel from the South to Canada.

Newburyport's Maritime History

Newburyport once had a large fishing fleet. It was also a center for privateering during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Privateers were armed ships owned by private citizens, allowed by the government to attack enemy ships. Later, the city became famous for building fast clipper ships. Today, you won't see many signs of its old shipping days. The busy docks and shipyards are mostly gone, replaced by parking lots.

Important Historical Moments

• The first of many clipper ships were built here.
• Newburyport had one of the first "Tea Party" protests against the British Tea Tax.
• It had the first state mint and treasury building.
• The Newburyport Superior Courthouse is the oldest courthouse in Massachusetts that is still in use.

The Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank on State Street opened in 1854. It's one of the oldest banks in the United States that is still open today.

Historic Places to Visit

• Cushing House Museum & Garden (built around 1808)
• Newburyport Custom House Museum (built 1835), designed by famous architect Robert Mills

Newburyport in Books

• The city was mentioned in the H. P. Lovecraft story, "The Shadow Over Innsmouth." Lovecraft used Newburyport as inspiration for his fictional town of Innsmouth.

Key Dates in Newburyport's History

• 1635: Newbury was founded.
• 1764: Newburyport became its own town.
• 1773: The Essex Journal newspaper started.
• 1790: The population was 4,837.
• 1851: Newburyport became a city.
• 1854: The Newburyport Public Library was founded.
• 1971: The downtown area was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1970s: The downtown area was renovated and preserved.

Saving Newburyport's Historic Downtown

In the 1950s and 1960s, Newburyport's downtown area started to look run down. This was partly because new shopping centers (called strip malls) opened outside the city. Also, more people used cars to shop in bigger cities nearby. By 1970, there were plans to tear down most of Newburyport's historic downtown. The idea was to rebuild it with new hotels and stores.

But at the last minute, the city decided to save its historic buildings. They got a special grant to help restore the old architecture. Work began in the early 1970s, especially along State Street. They even created a pedestrian mall (a street just for walking) on Inn Street. Newburyport is now a great example of how a city can keep its old charm while still being a modern, active place to live.

Newburyport's Location and Landscape

Hunter in the Meadows of Old Newburyport, Massachusetts, c. 1873, Alfred Thompson Bricher. This painting shows the beautiful natural areas around Newburyport.

Newburyport is located at 42°48′45″N 70°52′39″W. The city covers about 10.6 square miles (27.5 km2). Most of this is land, but about 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) is water.

The city is part of Massachusetts' North Shore. It sits on the raised south bank of the Merrimack River, next to the Newbury marshes. The old shipyards, which are now boatyards, are along the river's edge. Many old colonial homes are on the bank, leading up to High Street. The homes of wealthy ship owners are on High Street. Many of these houses have "widow's walks" on their roofs. These were places where people could watch for ships returning home.

The land slopes down from the ridge to the marsh on the other side. A third street, Low Street, runs along this edge. The Plum Island Turnpike crosses the marsh on a raised road to Plum Island. A drawbridge connects the mainland to the island. On the Newburyport side, there's a small airport called Plum Island Airport near the marsh.

Newburyport has many parks and beaches, including Plum Island Point Beach and Waterfront Park. Maudslay State Park is also in the city, along the Merrimack River.

Newburyport is about 37 miles (60 km) north of Boston. It's also close to the New Hampshire border. The city is surrounded by the Gulf of Maine (Atlantic Ocean) to the east, and towns like Newbury, West Newbury, Amesbury, and Salisbury.

Newburyport's Neighborhoods

• Joppa: This neighborhood is near Newbury and the Plum Island Airport.
• South End: Located south of downtown, next to Newbury and Joppa.
• Plum Island: The northern part of Plum Island is part of Newburyport. It has Plum Island Point, which is great for fishing, and the Plum Island Lighthouse.

Newburyport's Weather

Newburyport has a typical New England climate.

Who Lives in Newburyport?

In 2010, there were 17,416 people living in Newburyport. Most people (90.2%) were White. The top five ethnic groups were:

• Irish – 25%
• English – 16%
• Italian – 11%
• French – 7%
• German – 6%

The average age in the city was 41 years old. About 20.7% of the population was under 18.

Getting Around Newburyport

Interstate 95 runs through the western part of Newburyport. You can also use U.S. Route 1 and Massachusetts Route 1A. These roads cross the Merrimack River on bridges. The Newburyport Turnpike Bridge is the bridge closest to the ocean.

The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority offers bus service in the city. As of March 2023, the bus is free! Newburyport is also the last stop on the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail. This train connects the city to Boston's North Station.

Plum Island Airport is a small, privately owned airport in Newburyport. It's open to the public for small planes. For bigger flights, you can go to Logan International Airport in Boston.

Learning in Newburyport

Newburyport High School

Newburyport has several public schools and private schools. Newburyport High School is one of the oldest public high schools in the United States.

Here are the public schools in Newburyport:

• Francis T. Bresnahan Lower Elementary School: for pre-kindergarten to grade 3
• Edward G. Molin Upper Elementary School: for grades 4 and 5
• Rupert A. Nock Middle School: for grades 6 to 8
• Newburyport High School: for grades 9 to 12

Other schools include:

• River Valley Charter School: for kindergarten to grade 8
• Immaculate Conception Catholic School: for pre-kindergarten to grade 8
• Newburyport Montessori School: for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten

In 2019, the Newburyport School Committee decided to start school later in the morning. This was to help students get more sleep.

Newburyport also has the Newburyport Public Library, where you can find many books and resources.

Sports at Newburyport High School

Newburyport High School's sports teams are called the Clippers. Their colors are crimson and old gold. They play in the Cape Ann League. Here are some of the sports offered:

Fun Things to Do in Newburyport

Waterfront boardwalk on a winter night

Newburyport offers many activities for everyone. There's an ice skating rink that's open all year. The city also has a beautiful waterfront and boardwalk. Many people love boating, fishing, and swimming in the water.

The downtown area is great for shopping at unique stores and eating at local restaurants. During festivals, you can enjoy concerts, food, and entertainment. An old mill building on Liberty Street hosts a farmers' market in both summer and winter.

The city also has youth sports leagues for baseball, football, soccer, and more. The youth services program offers classes in robotics, music, rock climbing, chess, cooking, and many other fun activities.

Yearly Events and Festivals

Yankee Homecoming

Yankee Homecoming is a big annual festival that celebrates people coming back home to Newburyport. It started in 1957 to help the city's economy and make people feel good.

The festival lasts for one week. On the first Sunday, called "Olde Fashioned Sunday," there's an art show and an antique car parade. There are also concerts every night at Market Landing Park. Other popular events include road races and a fireworks show on Saturday night. The festival ends with a big parade.

Newburyport's "Yankee Homecoming" is the second-oldest homecoming festival in the United States. Many charities raise money during this event.

Newburyport Literary Festival

This festival happens during the last weekend of April. It started in 2006 to encourage reading and an interest in books. Local authors come to sign books and talk about their work. Schoolchildren also create projects to show to visiting authors.

Newburyport Chamber Music Festival

This festival takes place in early August. It brings talented international musicians to Newburyport. They perform concerts, hold open rehearsals, and even play music in local homes. They often create new music inspired by the area's history and landscape.

Places to See in Newburyport

Atkinson Common in 1908

Newburyport is a popular place for tourists. The charming downtown area has shops and restaurants for all ages.

High Street is famous for its beautiful old Federal-style houses. It connects Atkinson Common and the Bartlett Mall. The Bartlett Mall has the Charles Bulfinch-designed Essex County Superior Courthouse, built in 1805.

The First Presbyterian Church dates back to 1756. Its clock tower bell was made by Paul Revere. A famous preacher named George Whitefield is buried under the pulpit of the "Old South" church, just as he wished when he died in Newburyport in 1770.

Other interesting places include:

• The historic waterfront
• Atwood Park
• Market Square & Inn Street
• Cashman Park
• Brown Square, which has a statue of "Garrison the Liberator" (a famous abolitionist)
• The recently restored City Hall, which has portraits of people who served their country.
• Chain Bridge
• Cushing House Museum & Garden
• Joppa Flats Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
• Maudslay State Park
• Newburyport Brewing Company
• Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Famous People From Newburyport

Meetinghouse of the First Religious Society (Unitarian), built 1801

Many notable people have lived in or come from Newburyport, including:

• John Quincy Adams (1767–1848), who later became a U.S. president.
• Nikole Beckwith (born 1980), a writer and filmmaker.
• Caleb Cushing (1800–1879), a diplomat and politician.
• Timothy Dexter (1748–1806), a businessman known for being unique.
• Andre Dubus III (born 1959), a novelist.
• William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879), a famous leader against slavery.
• Joe Keery (born 1992), an actor.
• Rufus King (1755–1827), a diplomat and politician.
• Francis Cabot Lowell (1775–1817), a manufacturer.
• Donald McKay (1810–1880), a famous shipbuilder.
• Robert S. Mulliken (1896–1986), who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1966.
• Jacob Perkins (1766–1849), an early American inventor.

Sister Cities

Newburyport has one sister city:  Bura, Kenya

Images for kids

• 

  American Yacht Club House c. 1894

• 

  State Street c. 1906. This street still looks similar today.

• 

  Dexter House c. 1908, once home to eccentric "Lord" Timothy Dexter

• 

  Frog Pond c. 1905. The old court house is in the center.

• 

  Joppa Landing c. 1906. The boats were fishing dories.

• 

  City Hall c. 1910. This building was constructed from 1850–1851.

• 

  Brown Square in 1913, with the statue of "Garrison the Liberator".

See also

In Spanish: Newburyport para niños