North Shore (Massachusetts) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Shore
Region of Massachusetts
The North Shore region of Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
Metropolitan area	Greater Boston
Subregions	Merrimack Valley, Cape Ann
Population  (2010)
• Total	636,187
Largest municipality (population)	Lynn (94,654)
Largest municipality (land)	Ipswich (42.51 square miles)

The North Shore is a cool region in the state of Massachusetts, USA. It's basically the coastline between the big city of Boston and the state of New Hampshire. Think of it as the northern part of Massachusetts's coast. There's also a "South Shore" that goes south and east of Boston.

This area is super important for its history, culture, and economy in Massachusetts. The southern part of the North Shore has old towns that are now part of the Boston area. You might have heard of the Salem witch trials? They happened right here! Further north, the Merrimack Valley was a major center during the time when factories and industries first grew in the United States. The North Shore also has many places famous in American stories and art.

The landscape here is really varied and beautiful. You'll find busy seaports, quiet fishing villages, and rocky coastlines. There are also lots of marshes and wetlands, plus sandy beaches and natural harbors. Cape Ann is the biggest piece of land sticking out into the ocean.

What is the North Shore?

The North Shore doesn't have one exact definition. It's a bit like trying to define "the suburbs" – different people might include different towns!

Coastal Towns of the North Shore

One way to think of the North Shore is as all the towns right along the coast from New Hampshire down to Boston. Here are some of those towns:

North Shore for Business and Planning

Fishing boats in the harbor of Rockport, Massachusetts

Another way to define the North Shore includes more towns, even some that are a bit inland. This definition is often used by groups that plan for the region's economy and growth. When you combine these ideas, the North Shore includes these cities and towns:

Culture and Tourism in the North Shore

The North Shore has a mix of wealthy towns and old fishing villages. It also has some working-class cities and suburbs of Boston. For a long time, it's been a popular summer spot for important people and families.

Salem is famous worldwide for the Salem witch trials. Gloucester is a city known for its fishing industry. The many beaches in the region also make it a popular place for tourists to visit.

History of North Shore Towns

The towns along the North Shore have really interesting and different histories.

• Gloucester was the very first fishing community in America.
• Salem is famous for the witch trials. It was also one of the biggest shipping centers and the sixth largest city in early America. The witch trial panic actually started in the part of Salem that is now Danvers.
• Lynn was once the main place for making shoes in America.
• Saugus is home to the first integrated ironworks in North America. This was a place where iron was made from raw materials.
• Peabody had the most leather tanneries (places where animal hides are turned into leather) in the world.
• Beverly and Marblehead both claim to be the birthplace of the American Navy.
• Newburyport was known for building fast clipper ships. For a short time, it was even the richest city in the country! It's also where the United States Coast Guard began. Newburyport still has the largest collection of Federal period buildings (from the late 1700s and early 1800s) in the nation.

Fun Places to Visit

Market Square in downtown Newburyport, Massachusetts

The North Shore has many cool places to explore, from museums to historic sites and theaters.

• The Peabody Essex Museum: This museum has huge collections of things related to the sea and Asian art.
• The Salem Witch Museum: Learn about the famous witch trials.
• Historic Downtown Salem: Explore the old streets and buildings.
• The Salem Seaport: See where ships used to come and go.
• The Saugus Iron Works: Visit the site of North America's first iron factory.
• The Swampscott Fish House: This is the oldest active fish house in the country.
• Newburyport's historic district: See amazing old buildings from the Federal period.
• Historic Gloucester and Rockport Seaports: Experience real working fishing towns.
• The North Shore Navigators: Watch a collegiate-league baseball game.
• The North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly: This is New England's biggest regional theater.
• The Larcom Theatre in Beverly: Built in 1912, it's the oldest Vaudeville theater still operating in the area.
• Castle Hill in Ipswich: A beautiful estate with stunning views.
• Revere Beach: The first public beach in the United States, located in Revere.
• The Rebecca Nurse Homestead in Danvers: This is the only home of a victim from the Salem witch trials that you can visit.