Amesbury, Massachusetts

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Amesbury, Massachusetts
—  Town  —
Amesbury's town hall
Location in Essex County in Massachusetts

Nickname: Carriagetown.
Coordinates: 42°51′30″N 70°55′50″W / 42.85833°N 70.93056°W / 42.85833; -70.93056Coordinates: 42°51′30″N 70°55′50″W / 42.85833°N 70.93056°W / 42.85833; -70.93056
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Essex
Settled 1642
Incorporated 1668
Government
 • Type Mayor-council city
 • Mayor Thatcher W. Kezer III
Area
 • Total 13.7 sq mi (35.4 km2)
 • Land 12.4 sq mi (32.1 km2)
 • Water 1.2 sq mi (3.2 km2)
Elevation 50 ft (15 m)
Population [1][citation needed]
 • Estimate (2010) 16,283
 • Density 1,889.9/sq mi (625.8/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 01913
Area code(s) 351 / 978
FIPS code 25-01185
GNIS feature ID 0618292
Website www.amesburyma.gov

Amesbury is a city[2] in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Though it officially became a city in 1996, its formal name remains "The Town of Amesbury." In 1890, 9798 people lived in Amesbury; in 1900, 9473; in 1910, 9894; in 1920, 10,036; and in 1940, 10,862. The population was 16,283 at the 2010 census.[3] A former farming and mill town, Amesbury is today largely residential. It is one of the two northernmost towns in Massachusetts (the other being neighboring Salisbury).

Contents

[edit] History

Amesbury was settled in 1655 as a part of Salisbury, but was separated from Salisbury in 1666 and incorporated as the town of Amesbury in 1668.

Originally the boundary between Amesbury and Salisbury was the Powwow River. In 1876 Merrimac was created out of West Amesbury. In 1886 West Salisbury was annexed to Amesbury so the mill area on the Powwow River was unified. See the maps linked below.

Beginning as a modest farming community, it developed an aggressive maritime and industrial economy. The 90-foot (27 m) drop in the falls of the Powwow River provided water power for sawmills and gristmills. Shipbuilding, shipping and fishing were also important. The ferry across the Merrimack River to Newburyport was a lively business until the construction of bridges to Deer Island. Newton, New Hampshire would be set off from Amesbury in 1741, when the border between the two colonies was adjusted.

In the 19th century, textile mills were built at the falls, as was a mechanized nail-making factory, believed to be the nation's first. The Merrimac Hat Company produced more hats than any of its competitors. Beginning in 1853, Amesbury became famous for building carriages, a trade which evolved into the manufacture of automobile bodies. The industry, however, would end with the Great Depression. Amesbury also produced Hoyt's Buffalo Brand Peanut Butter Kisses. In 1876, the town of Merrimac was set off from Amesbury. In 1996, the town changed its status to a city, and adopted the mayor and municipal council form of government, although it retained the title "Town of Amesbury." The current mayor is Thatcher W. Kezer III.

The community has an impressive collection of early architecture, particularly in the Federal and Victorian styles. Following a recent restoration of the historic downtown, many new restaurants opened. The "Doughboy", a memorial sculpture by Leonard Craske, stands on the front lawn of the Amesbury Middle School. It was dedicated November 11, 1929. Craske is best known as sculptor for the "Fishermens' Memorial" in Gloucester. There is here a monument erected to Josiah Bartlett, who was born in Amesbury.

  • Thomas Macy House in c. 1905

  • Mills in 1914

  • Bartlett's statue in c. 1910

  • Whittier's home in 1909

[edit] Geography

View northeast from Powwow Hill

Amesbury is located at 42°51′29″N 70°55′50″W / 42.85806°N 70.93056°W / 42.85806; -70.93056[4]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.6 square miles (35.4 km²), of which, 12.4 square miles (32.1 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it (9.08%) is water. Amesbury is drained by the Powow River. Powow Hill, elevation 332 feet (98 m), is the highest point in town. Once the site of Indian gatherings, or "powows," it has views to Maine and Cape Ann. Amesbury is the second northern-most town in Massachusetts, its northernmost point coming just south of the northernmost point of the state, in Salisbury. Amesbury lies along the northern banks of the Merrimack River, and is bordered by Salisbury to the east, Newburyport to the southeast, West Newbury to the southwest, Merrimac to the west, a small portion of Newton, New Hampshire to the northwest, and South Hampton, New Hampshire to the north.

In addition to the Merrimack, the Powow River bisects the town, breaking off with the Back River near the town center. The river flows through Lake Gardner and Tuxbury Pond, which are two of several inland bodies of water in town, including Lake Attitash (which is partially in Merrimac), Meadowbrook Pond, and Pattens Pond. Several brooks also flow through the town. Amesbury has a town forest, which is connected to Woodsom Farm, as well as Powow Conservation Area, Victoria Batchelder Park and Amesbury Golf & Country Club.

Whittier Memorial Bridge

Amesbury is served by two interstate highways. Interstate 495 runs from west to east through town, ending just over the Salisbury Town Line. It has two exits in town, Exit 54 at Massachusetts Route 150 (which lies entirely within Amesbury, and leads to New Hampshire Route 150) and Exit 55 at Massachusetts Route 110, which also provides the town's only access to Interstate 95 at Exit 58. I-95 crosses the southeast corner of town, entering along the John Greenleaf Whittier Memorial Bridge, a steel through truss bridge crossing the Merrimack River. The Whittier Memorial Bridge also lies just east of the town's only other bridges across the Merrimack, the Derek S. Hines Memorial Bridge, which connects Amesbury to Deer Island (which is still part of Amesbury), and the Chain Bridge, the only suspension bridge in Massachusetts, which spans from Deer Island to Newburyport. The current version was built in 1909, but was predated by the 1810 suspension bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the country. The Chain Bridge and its counterparts over the years have been the main entryways into town across the Merrimack, and until the building of the Newburyport Turnpike Bridge, it was the easternmost bridge on the Merrimack River.

[edit] Demographics

For additional demographic information on the central urban area of Amesbury, which is a census-designated place, see the article Amesbury (CDP), Massachusetts. It provides details that are included in the aggregate numbers reported here.

Historical populations
Year Pop. ±%
1850 3,143 —
1860 3,877 +23.4%
1870 5,581 +44.0%
1880 3,355 −39.9%
1890 9,798 +192.0%
1900 9,473 −3.3%
1910 9,894 +4.4%
1920 10,036 +1.4%
1930 11,899 +18.6%
1940 10,862 −8.7%
1950 10,851 −0.1%
1960 10,787 −0.6%
1970 11,388 +5.6%
1980 13,971 +22.7%
1990 14,997 +7.3%
2000 16,450 +9.7%
2001* 16,651 +1.2%
2002* 16,665 +0.1%
2003* 16,579 −0.5%
2004* 16,453 −0.8%
2005* 16,387 −0.4%
2006* 16,360 −0.2%
2007* 16,497 +0.8%
2008* 16,597 +0.6%
2009* 16,705 +0.7%
2010 16,283 −2.5%
* = population estimate.
Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
Main Street from Market Square in 1911

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,450 people, 6,380 households, and 4,229 families residing in the city.[3] The population density was 1,326.3 people per square mile (512.2/km²). There were 6,623 housing units at an average density of 206.2 persons/km² (534.0 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.6% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,380 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 11.3% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.

Lake Attitash in 1911

In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,906, and the median income for a family was $62,875. Males had a median income of $25,489 versus $31,968 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,103. 5.9% of the population and 3.9% of families were below the poverty line.

[edit] Education

Amesbury's high school football rival is Newburyport; the two teams play against each other every Thanksgiving Day.

[edit] Points of interest

Lowell's Boat Shop

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Sister city

Amesbury is sister cities with: Haverhill, Massachusetts and Esabalu, Kenya

[edit] References

  1. ^ Census estimate 2007
  2. ^ Although it is called the "Town of Amesbury," it is a statutory city of Massachusetts. See Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
  3. ^ a b Census 2000
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
  5. ^ "TOTAL POPULATION (P1), 2010 Census Summary File 1, All County Subdivisions within Massachusetts". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/P1/0400000US25.06000. Retrieved September 13, 2011. 
  6. ^ "Massachusetts by Place and County Subdivision - GCT-T1. Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US25&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-T1&-ds_name=PEP_2009_EST&-_lang=en&-format=ST-9&-_sse=on. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  7. ^ "1990 Census of Population, General Population Characteristics: Massachusetts". US Census Bureau. December 1990. Table 76: General Characteristics of Persons, Households, and Families: 1990. 1990 CP-1-23. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cp1/cp-1-23.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  8. ^ "1980 Census of the Population, Number of Inhabitants: Massachusetts". US Census Bureau. December 1981. Table 4. Populations of County Subdivisions: 1960 to 1980. PC80-1-A23. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_maABC-01.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  9. ^ "1950 Census of Population". Bureau of the Census. 1952. Section 6, Pages 21-10 and 21-11, Massachusetts Table 6. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1930 to 1950. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/23761117v1ch06.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  10. ^ "1920 Census of Population". Bureau of the Census. Number of Inhabitants, by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions. Pages 21-5 through 21-7. Massachusetts Table 2. Population of Counties by Minor Civil Divisions: 1920, 1910, and 1920. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084506no553ch2.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  11. ^ "1890 Census of the Population". Department of the Interior, Census Office. Pages 179 through 182. Massachusetts Table 5. Population of States and Territories by Minor Civil Divisions: 1880 and 1890. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/41084506no553ch2.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  12. ^ "1870 Census of the Population". Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1872. Pages 217 through 220. Table IX. Population of Minor Civil Divisions, &c. Massachusetts. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1870e-05.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  13. ^ "1860 Census". Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1864. Pages 220 through 226. State of Massachusetts Table No. 3. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c.. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1860a-08.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  14. ^ "1850 Census". Department of the Interior, Census Office. 1854. Pages 338 through 393. Populations of Cities, Towns, &c.. http://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1850c-11.pdf. Retrieved July 12, 2011. 
  15. ^ a b Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 
  • Merrill, Joseph, History of Amesbury, from the History of Essex County Volume 2 Chapter 125 , pages 1495-1535, Compiled by D.Hamilton Hurd, published by J.W.Lewis 1888.

[edit] Publications

  • Bigelow, E.H. Amesbury and Salisbury Mills. Birds eye view at the Boston Public Library Website.
  • Norris, George E. Amesbury. Panaramic View. Published 1890. Burleigh Lith.Est. At the Library of Congress Website.
  • Hughes & Bailey. Amesbury. Panoramic View. Published 1914.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amesbury, Massachusetts


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