Ipswich Real Estate
Ipswich is a coastal town 28 miles northeast of Boston known for its fried clams and family-friendly Crane Beach. The town spans 42 square miles with many protected areas, including Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point Reservation. The town also extends into the southern part of Plum Island, a barrier island named for the wild beach plum shrubs that grow in its dunes. Despite just 13,000 residents, Ipswich maintains one of the top school systems in the Boston area with one of the best performing arts and music programs in the state. Ipswich is also home to a large number of well-preserved 17th and 18th-century houses and treasures several protected properties that were built in the 1600s. Read more about Ipswich.
Ipswich Homes & Condos For Sale
More About Ipswich
Ipswich Location
A large portion of the western end of town is dominated by the Willowdale State Forest and much of the town comprises protected land, including Crane Wildlife Refuge on Castle Neck and the Sandy Point State Reservation on Plum Island.
To the north, Ipswich borders Rowley; to the south Topsfield, Hamilton, Essex, and Gloucester; and Boxford to the west. The Ipswich Station is on the Newburyport/Rockport Line and provides service between Newburyport and Boston’s North Station.
Ipswich Recreation
Ipswich is a favorite of locals and visitors alike for its waterways, history, and perfectly prepared seafood. In operation since 1935, the Clam Box is one of the community’s best known landmarks with its iconic clam-shape and large plates of fried clams and other seafood on the menu. Residents particularly prize the five miles of trails along the coastal dunes of Crane’s Beach, enjoying pristine sands and gentle waters all year long. In 2016, National Geographic recognized Crane Beach as one of the Top Ten Family beaches in the country for its tidal pools and hiking trails. Nearby Castle Hill on the Crane Estate is known for its wide array of wildlife, and is a birder’s dream. Tours of the 5-room Stuart-Style mansion, a former country estate, are also available. Appletown Farms, one of the country’s oldest farms still in operation, features another six miles of footpaths and farm roads for hiking, biking and just enjoying the natural beauty of the area. Ipswich is also home to Ipswich Arts & Illumination, a free annual weekend of performances, creativity, and floating bonfires.
Ipswich History
Ipswich was founded by in 1630 by John Winthrop the Younger, a son of one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The initial settlers endured a number of hardships before the town ultimately evolved into farming and fishing economy. Ipswich likes to refer to itself as the “Birthplace of American Independence” as it was the first settlement to protest taxation without representation in 1689, winning a new charter in the bargain. In the early 1800s, the community developed into a mill town, expanding into the largest stocking and hosiery mill by the turn of the 20th century. Ipswich also claims the site of the last witchcraft trial held in North America in 1878. Notable residents, past and present, include author John Updike and baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher, Dennis Eckersley, among other poets, authors, and statesmen.
