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Amesbury Town, MA

Frequently asked questions

Amesbury Town, MA

Amesbury is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the left bank of the Merrimack River near its mouth, upstream from Salisbury and across the river from Newburyport and West Newbury. The population was 17,366 at the 2020 United States Census. 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).

In 1637, the first English settler in the Salisbury-Amesbury region, John Bayly, crossed the Merrimack River from the new settlement at Newbury, built a log cabin, and began to clear the land for cultivation. He intended to send his wife and children to England, but they never joined him. He and his hired man, William Schooler, were arrested for a murder Schooler had committed. Schooler was hanged for the murder but Bayly was acquitted. Given the fishing rights on the river by the subsequent settlement, provided he would sell only to it, he abandoned agriculture for fishing.

On September 6, 1638, the General Court of Massachusetts created a plantation on behalf of several petitioners from Newbury, on the left bank of the Merrimack, as far north as Hampton, to be called Merrimac. They were permitted to associate together as a township. The area remained in possession of the tribes along the Merrimack, who hunted and fished there.

The settlers of the plantation, who entered Massachusetts Bay Colony, were rebels in a cause that was settled by the English Civil War (1642–1651). Although nominally subjects of the crown, they did not obey it. The settlers maintained close ties with the Parliamentary cause in Britain. The supreme government of the colony was the General Court, which functioned autonomously, passing its laws, establishing courts, incorporating townships, and providing for the overall defense of the colony. They established a Puritan church rather than the Church of England.

Amesbury is located at 42°51′29″N 70°55′50″W.  According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.7 square miles (35.5 km2), of which 12.3 square miles (31.8 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.8 km2), or 10.65%, is water.  Amesbury is drained by the Powwow River. Powwow Hill, elevation 331 feet (101 m), is the highest point in town. Once the site of Indian gatherings, or "powwows", it has views to Maine and Cape Ann. Amesbury is the second northernmost 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, and South Hampton, New Hampshire, to the north.

The Powwow River bisects the town, joined by 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 city. Amesbury has a town forest, which is connected to Woodsom Farm, as well as Powwow Conservation Area, Victoria Batchelder Park, and Amesbury Golf & Country Club.

Amesbury Town places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Anna Jaques Hospital and Amesbury Health Center offer a top-notch medical staff and a full spectrum of high-quality, state-of-the-art healthcare services. CrossFit Amesbury and Mind your Damn Fitness provides a fully equipped gym and various fitness classes to keep you in shape. For holistic wellness, Motivate Barre provides various yoga and meditation classes. Stay active with the Amesbury Sports Park, offering year-round outdoor activities. For a rejuvenating experience, visit the Balance Spa for various spa treatments.

Top sites in Amesbury Town, MA are Cider Hill Farm, The Macy-Colby House, Batchelder Park, and Bartlett Museum.

Population: 17,303 (2023). ZIP code: 01913. Area code: 351 / 978. Elevation: 50 ft (15 m). Area: 13.7 square miles (35.5 km2).

FAQs

What is Amesbury MA famous for?

The City of Amesbury has a long history of innovation, entrepreneurship, and art. As you walk through our revitalized downtown, you'll see old mill buildings that used to house our textile makers, iron workers, and carriage builders. Now these buildings are home to restaurants, shops, residences, offices, and artist studios.

Is Amesbury, MA a nice place to live?

Amesbury is a wonderful place to live! The vibrant downtown surrounded by diverse neighborhoods and natural areas lends a small-town feeling, while our location in the growing Merrimack Valley and on the regional highway system provides easy access to a wide range of jobs and services. Current residents want to stay in Amesbury, while others want to move here because they are attracted to the City’s thriving downtown, resources, and quality of life.

What are the demographics in Amesbury, Massachusetts?

Amesbury Town, MA is home to a population of 17.3k people, of which 96.3% are citizens. As of 2022, 6.53% of Amesbury Town, MA residents were born outside of the country (1.13k people). In 2022, there were 18.2 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (15.3k people) in Amesbury Town, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 837 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) and 538 Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Sources

City of Amesbury

Wikipedia

Data USA

Neighborhood Scout

Cider Hill Farm

The Macy-Colby House 

Batchelder Park 

Bartlett Museum

Anna Jaques Hospital

Amesbury Health Center 

CrossFit Amesbury

Mind your Damn Fitness

Motivate Barre

Amesbury Sports Park

Balance Spa

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.