Swampscott Real Estate
Located 12 miles northeast of Boston on the Atlantic Coast, Swampscott is a quiet, seaside town known for its pristine beaches. Occupying 6.7 square miles, Swampscott was once known as a popular resort area in the 1800s. Today Swampscott's 14,000 residents enjoy the area's suburban feel and relatively close proximity to Boston. The town is designed around Monument Square, the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park. And, the Town Hall is the former home of Elihu Thomson, who went on to found General Electric. Neighborhoods include the villages of Beach Bluff, Phillips Point, and Phillips Beach with its sprinkling of waterfront estates and condos along the shore. Read more about Swampscott.
Swampscott Homes & Condos For Sale
More About Swampscott
Swampscott Location
Swampscott lies along a mostly rocky coast, although it encompasses six beaches and a number of small parks and ponds. Swampscott borders Marblehead to the northeast; Salem to the northwest; and Lynn to the southwest while the town's water rights extend into Massachusetts Bay. Commuters use the Newburyport and Gloucester MBTA lines to get into Boston's North Station.
Swampscott Recreation
Swampscott is considered a family-friendly community with its six beaches offering different waterfront options from the scenic hideaway of Whales Beach to the more public promenade on King's Beach. Parks and playgrounds include Abbott Park, Hadley Playground and Phillips Park. Once unused land, Beach Bluff Park has been transformed into a park with a miniature Stonehenge, ideal for observing the sun come up between the plinths as well as walks along the beach.
The Mary Baker Eddy House is a historic landmark, commemorating the founder of the Christian Science religion who established the religion while still a resident of Swampscott.
Swampscott History
Swampscott was first settled in 1629 but wasn't officially incorporated until 1852. The town derives its name from the Indian word for "red rock." While Revere claims the honor of being the oldest beach, Swampscott by default, is the oldest resort area. Back in the late 1800s when Boston's elite summered in Swampscott and several other North Shore communities, Lynn marked the dividing point between Revere's "poor beach" and Swampscott's more affluent resort town. Swampscott has been the site of a number of movies, including "Manchester by the Sea," "Joy," "The American Hustle," and even segments of the MTV series "Real World."
In another claim to fame, Swampscott is the birthplace of Marshmallow Fluff. Accomplished Swampscott citizens include the actress Carol Channing; the actor Walter Brennan; TV personality Leslie Stahl; David Lee Roth of Van Halen; and Charlie Baker, the current governor of Massachusetts.
