Newburyport, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia : N : NE : NEW : Newburyport, Massachusetts
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, 38 miles (61 km) northeast of Boston. An historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island.
History
Located on the North Shore, Newburyport was first settled in 1635, incorporated as a town in 1764, and then as a city in 1851. Situated near the mouth of the Merrimack River, it was a 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
- Newbury port 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.
- "Lord" Timothy Dexter, eccentric merchant
- William Lloyd Garrison, abolitionist
- Francis C. Lowell, millowner
- John P. Marquand, author
- Donald McKay, shipbuilder
- Theophilus Parsons, jurist
- Benjamin Perley Poore, journalist
- Harriet Prescott Spofford, authoress
- George Whitefield, evangelist
- Andre Dubus III, novelist
- Caleb Cushing, First United States ambassador to China
- [Cushing House Museum & Garden] (c. 1808)
- [Newburyport Custom House Museum] (1835), designed by Robert Mills
Historic Preservaton
Like many other U.S. cities, by the 1960s many of Newburyport's historic buildings had been allowed to fall into disreapir or were razed. By the early 1970s, however, a number of civic groups began to work to restore Newburyport's downtown to its original state. The 1975 completion of the Inn Street Mall, marked the final stage of the restoration of historic downtown Newburyport. The city is frequently cited as an example of how to preserve a city's historic architecture, while still allowing it to be liveable and functional.
Geography
Newburyport is located at (42.812391, -70.877440)[Geographic references#1GR1].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.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] 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 2.8% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Yankee Homecoming
"Yankee Homecoming" is the annual festival celebrating the first 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. Last year's winner (2005) was the Newburyport Lifeguard Association. There is also a fireworks show, and, most notable of all, the famous parade on the last Saturday of the festival. More recently, there are concerts every night at the waterfront park, and the 2 year old "Annual Boat Parade." Each Yankee Homecoming features a grand marshall and numerous street vendors. Newburyport's "Yankee Homecoming" is the oldest in the country.
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 is full of historic sights and sounds, as tourists flock to this coastal city by the bus load in the summer months. 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. Some other points of interest are: the city's historic waterfront, Market Square & Inn Street, Cashman Park, and the world-famous "Park Lunch" restaurant which recovered from a fire last year.
- Cushing House Museum & Garden
- [Joppa Flats Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary]
- [Maudslay State Park]
- [Parker River National Wildlife Refuge]
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)
External links
- [City of Newburyport, Massachusetts Official Website]
- * [Newburyport Chamber of Commerce]
- * [Newburyport Community Website]
- * [Newburyport Public Library]
- [Essex Images]
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