West Newbury Real Estate
Situated on the Merrimack River, West Newbury is a town located 34 miles north of Boston. A close-knit community of 4,500 residents, West Newbury is ideal for boaters and fishermen in the summer months and offers miles of hiking, bridle and biking trails that are well used all year long. West Newbury occupies 15 square miles of rolling hills with woodlands, ponds and a number of working farms and equestrian stables. Much of West Newbury’s charm lies in its rolling hills, including Pipestave hill, Archelaus hill, Brake Hill, and Meetinghouse Hill, to name a few. The town has continually advocated for the conservation of West Newbury’s many open spaces, preserving its pastoral feel. A local writer once dubbed West Newbury as “The Garden of Eden of America” referring to the community’s rich farming history which is present today in many farm-to-table restaurant offerings. Read more about West Newbury.
West Newbury Homes & Condos For Sale
More About West Newbury
West Newbury Location
West Newbury lies along the banks of the Merrimack River, 10 miles upstream from the Atlantic Ocean. Merrimac and Amesbury border West Newbury to the north; with Newbury to the south and Groveland to the southwest; Newburyport to the east; and Haverill on the west.
I-95 runs through the eastern part of town with an exit in Newbury. West Newbury lies between two stations on the MBTA Commuter Rail – the Haverhill Line to the west and the Newburyport/Rockport Line, which goes into Boston’s North Station.
West Newbury Recreation
West Newbury’s parks and preservation areas provide numerous opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors. Mill Pond Recreation Area is the largest trail network in West Newbury at 270 acres and includes well-maintained sports fields, hiking trails, areas for horses and is also a popular destination for dogs. In warm weather the pond offers a dock ideal for fishing, swimming, and sunning. The town runs a winter festival week centered around the pond which becomes an ice skating rink in colder months. The Riverbend Conservation Area and River Road Trail house additional scenic trails looping through an old orchard and dense forests.
West Newbury History
Settlers in 1635 sailed through Plum Island Sound to land in Newbury. West Newbury broke off from Newbury to become a separate town in 1819. West Newbury largely relied on farming to drive its economy until the late 1700s. In the 1800s, West Newbury became known for its combs, building several factories. Shoe-making grew to be another local industry with farmers making shoes for their families in little shops on their farms before this cottage industry grew into seven different shoe factories. Other industries included carriage-making, a tannery and the creation of straw bonnets made by enterprising housewives on Crane Street.
Today West Newbury is home to several farms, including Brown Spring Farm, and Long Hill Orchard, the town’s oldest continually-operating farm. West Newbury is also known for it lush Christmas tree farms.
Author, Virginia Lee Burton, wrote the popular children’s book, “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” while living at Chestnut Hill Farm in West Newbury. A twelve-year-old resident reportedly suggested the ending to the book.
