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Boston North Shore Communities
Geography
Coastal
Salisbury
Newburyport
West Newbury
Newbury
Rowley
Ipswich
Rockport
Gloucester
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Beverly
Danvers
Salem
Marblehead
Swampscott
Nahant
Lynn
Revere
Cultural
The North Shore of Massachusetts is a wealthy collection of towns, often considered the "Gold Coast" of the Bay State. The area is noted for the many large estates that dot the rocky shore. What began as a summer destination for many of Boston's wealthiest citizens has become home for many who make their living in the city. Towns such as Marblehead, Newburyport, and Manchester-by-the-Sea preserve the heritage of old New England society and along with Swampscott are among the most exclusive communities in the state. Residents of the North Shore are more often than not upper class white collar families of Northern European descent and Christian in faith, although several communities maintain a notable Jewish presence. Many prestigious private schools call the North Shore home including The Governor's Academy, Phillips Andover Academy, St. John's Prep, The Pingree School, and The Waring School. Many residents belong to one of the many country clubs in the area including Ipswich Country Club, Tedesco Country Club, and the Myopia Hunt Club as well as several yacht clubs including the Eastern Yacht Club, Corinathian Yacht Club, Boston Yacht Club, Newburyport Yacht Club, and the American Yacht Club.Economic
The Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council's North Shore Task Force, a regional planning agency, defines the North Shore as also encompassing Cape Ann and several inland communities. The North Shore Task Force's definition of the North Shore comprises the following cities and towns:
Beverly, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Newburyport, Lynnfield, Manchester, Marblehead, Middleton, Nahant, Peabody, West Newbury, Rockport, Salem, Swampscott, Topsfield, Wenham
History
The North Shore communities have varied and rich histories: Gloucester was America's first fishing community; Salem was the location of the infamous Witch Trials as well as one of the largest centers of shipping and sixth largest city in early America. The hysteria that led to the Witch Trials began in the part of Salem that is now present-day Danvers. Lynn was once the center of the American shoe industry. Saugus is home to the first integrated ironworks in North America. Peabody had the largest concentration of leather tanneries in the world; and Beverly and Marblehead often dispute over which town was the birthplace of the American Navy. Newburyport was well known for producing clipper ships and for a brief time in history was the richest city in the Union; it is also the birthplace of the United States Coast Guard. Newburyport maintains the largest collection of Federal period commercial and residential architecture in the nation.
Sites of Interest
The Peabody Essex Museum - a museum with large collections of maritime artifacts and Asian art
The Salem Witch Museum
The Saugus Iron Works
The Swampscott Fish House - the oldest active fish house in the country
The Salem Seaport
Newbury Port's historic district maintains the nation's largest collection of Federal period architecture
Historic Gloucester and Rockport Seaports
Historic Downtown Salem
The North Shore Navigators collegiate-league baseball team
The North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, New England's largest regional theater
The Cabot Street Cinema Theatre in Beverly is home to Le Grand David, the world's longest-running resident stage magic show