North Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It's a place with a rich history and a growing community. In 2020, about 30,915 people lived here.

History of North Andover

North Andover has a long and interesting past. The land around Lake Cochichewick and the Shawsheen River was first set aside in 1634. This was done by the Massachusetts General Court to create a new settlement.

Early Settlement and Naming

The area was known as the Cochichewick Plantation. On May 6, 1646, Reverend John Woodbridge bought the land. He paid six pounds and a coat to the Pennacook chief Cutshmache. The plantation was then officially named Andover. This name likely came from Andover, Hampshire, England, where many early settlers were from.

Splitting into North and South Parishes

The original town center was in what is now North Andover. However, as more people settled further south and west, disagreements arose. People argued about where the main church should be located. In 1709, the General Court decided to create two church areas: a north parish and a south parish.

Over time, these two parishes grew apart. Finally, on April 7, 1855, the North parish officially separated. It became its own town, named North Andover.

Historic Homes and Buildings

North Andover is home to several very old houses. These are called "first period" houses, meaning they were built before 1720. The oldest might be the Bridges House, which dates back to about 1690. Other historic homes include the Stevens House and the Faulkner House.

The Abiel Stevens House and the Carlton-Frie-Tucker House are also examples. The Parson Barnard House is another old home that is now a museum. These houses show us what buildings looked like long ago.

The North Parish Church on the North Andover Green is a historic building. It was built in 1836. This church was the fifth meetinghouse for the Puritan church group that started in North Andover in 1645. Around 1836, the group became a Unitarian church and built this beautiful Gothic-style building.

Town Development and Industry

North Andover grew in different ways. Areas near the Shawsheen and Merrimack rivers became industrial. Other parts of town, especially to the southwest, were used for farming.

Several mills operated in the town. The Western Electric Company, which was part of AT&T, also had a factory here. They made telephone equipment for many years. Today, North Andover is mostly a "bedroom community." This means many residents live here but travel to nearby cities like Boston for work.

Geography of North Andover

North Andover covers about 71.9 square kilometers (27.76 square miles). Most of this area, about 68.1 square kilometers (26.29 square miles), is land. The rest, about 3.7 square kilometers (1.43 square miles), is water.

Rivers, Lakes, and Forests

The town is located south of the Merrimack River, which forms part of its northwest border. The Shawsheen River also flows through the town. The northeast part of North Andover features Lake Cochichewick. This lake is surrounded by beautiful natural areas like the Osgood Hill Reservation and Weir Hill Reservation.

North Andover also includes parts of several large forests. These are Harold Parker State Forest, Boxford State Forest, and the Charles W. Ward Reservation. Many smaller brooks, streams, and ponds can be found throughout the town.

Neighboring Towns and Cities

North Andover is in the northwestern part of Essex County. A small corner of the town even touches Middlesex County. It shares borders with several other communities:

Andover to the west
Lawrence to the north
Haverhill to the northeast
Boxford to the east
Middleton to the southeast
North Reading to the southwest

North Andover's Old Center is about 3.5 miles southeast of Lawrence. It is also about 25 miles north of Boston and 30 miles southeast of Manchester, New Hampshire.

Transportation in North Andover

A small part of Interstate 495 runs along the border with Lawrence. There is one exit for North Andover on this highway. The town is also served by major roads like Massachusetts Route 114 (the "Salem Turnpike"), Route 125, and Route 133. Routes 125 and 133 run together for much of their path through town.

Public transportation includes the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority bus line. The closest train station is in Lawrence. This station is on the Haverhill/Reading Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail. While the train line passes through North Andover, there isn't a stop within the town itself.

North Andover is also home to the Lawrence Municipal Airport. This airport handles smaller planes. For national flights, the nearest major airports are Logan International Airport in Boston and Manchester–Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire. Both are within a 30-mile drive.

Population and People

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1860	2,343	—
1870	2,549	+8.8%
1880	3,217	+26.2%
1890	3,742	+16.3%
1900	4,243	+13.4%
1910	5,529	+30.3%
1920	6,265	+13.3%
1930	6,961	+11.1%
1940	7,524	+8.1%
1950	8,485	+12.8%
1960	10,908	+28.6%
1970	16,284	+49.3%
1980	20,129	+23.6%
1990	22,792	+13.2%
2000	27,202	+19.3%
2010	28,352	+4.2%
2020	30,915	+9.0%
2023*	31,615	+2.3%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.

In 2010, North Andover had 28,352 people living in 10,516 households. About 7,324 of these were families. The town's population density was about 1078 people per square mile.

Diversity in North Andover

The town is home to a diverse group of people. In 2010, about 88.7% of residents were White. About 1.78% were African American, and 6.31% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up about 4.93% of the population.

Household and Age Information

About 36.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (57.0%) were married couples. The average household had 2.62 people, and the average family had 3.19 people.

The population's age spread out like this:

26.2% were under 18 years old.
7.6% were between 18 and 24.
23.9% were between 25 and 44.
28.9% were between 45 and 64.
13.4% were 65 years or older.

The median age in North Andover was 40 years. This means half the population was younger than 40, and half was older.

Income Levels

In 2017, the average income for a household in North Andover was $105,661. For families, the average income was $132,674. The average income per person in the town was $51,658. A small percentage of the population, about 5.1%, lived below the poverty line.

Education in North Andover

North Andover has its own public school system. It includes an early childhood center, five elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.

Public Schools

The elementary schools are:

Atkinson Elementary
Franklin Elementary
Kittredge Elementary
Annie L. Sargent Elementary
Thomson Elementary

After elementary school, students attend North Andover Middle School. Then they go to North Andover High School. In 2017, the town approved an expansion for the early childhood center, which opened in 2018.

High School Sports and Rivals

In 2004, a new high school and a complete sports complex were built. This included fields for football, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse. There's also a track and field area and tennis courts.

North Andover High School's mascot is the Scarlet Knight, and their colors are scarlet and black. They compete in the Merrimack Valley Conference. Their main rival is Andover, and they play each other in an annual Thanksgiving Day football game.

Some high school students from North Andover can also attend Greater Lawrence Technical School in Andover.

Private Schools and Colleges

North Andover has two private schools: Brooks School and Saint Michael's Elementary School. Nearby private high schools include Phillips Academy Andover, Austin Preparatory School, and Central Catholic High School.

North Andover is also home to Merrimack College. This is a Catholic four-year college. For community college, students can attend Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill or Lawrence. The closest public university is University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell).

Economy of North Andover

North Andover has a long history of business.

Oldest Business

Barker's Farm started in 1643. It is the oldest business in Massachusetts that has been running continuously. It is also one of the oldest in the entire United States!

Former Company Headquarters

Converse, the famous sneaker company, had its main office in North Andover from 2002 to 2015.

Fun Things to Do in North Andover

There are many fun activities and places to visit in North Andover.

Outdoor Activities

Steven's Pond: Residents can buy a summer pass to swim here.
Weir Hill: This area offers trails for hiking, walking, and biking. You can also enjoy great views of the surrounding area.
Harold Parker State Forest: This large forest has 25 miles of trails. It also has a campground and a freshwater swimming beach. You can go horseback riding, camping, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, and hiking. In September, there's an annual fishing tournament.
Boxford State Forest: This forest is also in town.

Community Events and Centers

Many events happen at the old town center. These include a fun sheep shearing festival in late spring. There are also various summer activities for both children and adults.

The North Andover Youth Center is located in the old town center. It offers many activities for young people in grades 6 through 12. Yearly passes can be bought to get full access to the center's facilities.

Historic Sites

The Col. John Osgood House is a historic house in North Andover. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable People from North Andover

Many interesting people have lived in North Andover, including:

Colin Blackwell, an ice hockey player.
Cliff Bleszinski, a famous game designer.
Anne Bradstreet, a well-known poet.
Simon Bradstreet, Anne's husband and a co-founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Jake Bobo, an NFL wide receiver.
Phillips Brooks, a minister at Trinity Church, Boston.
Jake Burton Carpenter, who founded Burton Snowboards.
Joey Daccord, an NHL player.
Daniel Dennett, a philosopher.
Zak DeOssie, a former NFL player.
Bobby Farnham, a professional ice hockey player.
Jamie Hagerman, an Olympic ice hockey player.
Steve Heinze, a former NHL player.
Charles Jencks, an architect.
Samuel Osgood, the first Postmaster General of the United States.
Samuel Phillips Jr., who founded Phillips Academy.
James Spader, a popular screen and TV actor.
Issac Stevens, the first governor of Washington Territory.
Sidney J. Watson, a former NFL player and ice hockey coach.

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North Andover, Massachusetts facts for kids

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