📍 Location & Geography
Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is located 35 miles northeast of Boston, on the southern bank of the Merrimack River where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The city is known for its maritime history and its beautifully preserved Federal period homes.
🌎 Coordinates
The geographic coordinates for Newburyport are approximately 42.8126° N latitude and 70.8773° W longitude.
🗺️ Region & Area
Newburyport is part of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city covers a total area of 10.6 square miles, of which 8.4 square miles is land and 2.2 square miles is water, according to the United States Census Bureau.
👥 Population & Demographics
As of the 2020 census, the population of Newburyport was approximately 18,289. The city has a diverse demographic makeup with a majority of the population being White, followed by Hispanic, Asian, African American, and other races. The median age in the city is around 46 years.
🏛️ History
Newburyport was originally settled in 1635 as part of the town of Newbury. In 1764, the General Court of Massachusetts passed an act to erect a new town by the name of Newburyport. The city played a significant role in the American Revolution and later became a center for shipbuilding and maritime trade in the 18th and 19th centuries.
🏞️ Nature & Environment
Newburyport is known for its natural beauty, with a variety of parks, beaches, and wildlife reserves. The Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and the Joppa Flats Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary are popular spots for bird watching and exploring local wildlife. The city is also home to the Maudslay State Park, which offers hiking, picnicking, and scenic views of the Merrimack River.
🏫 Education
Newburyport is served by the Newburyport Public Schools district, which includes a high school, a middle school, and three elementary schools. The city is also home to several private schools. For higher education, Northern Essex Community College has a campus in nearby Haverhill, and numerous other colleges and universities are within commuting distance.
🚧 Transportation
Newburyport is well connected by road and rail. Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 pass through the city, providing easy access to Boston and other major cities. The Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail provides service from Newburyport to Boston’s North Station. The city also has a small municipal airport, the Plum Island Airport.
📜 Trivia & Events
Newburyport is known for its annual events such as the Yankee Homecoming, a week-long summer event that celebrates the city’s colonial seaport heritage. The city is also home to the Custom House Maritime Museum, which preserves and communicates the maritime history of Newburyport and the Merrimack Valley. Fun fact: Newburyport was the birthplace of the United States Coast Guard, established in 1790.