Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA
1854 - Newburyport



Newburyport, a city, port of entry, and one of the capitals of Essex county, Massachusetts, 34 miles N. by E. from Boston, is situated on the right bank of the Merrimack river, and at the union of the Newburyport with the Eastern railroad. Lat. 42° 48' 32" N., Lon. 70° 62' 47" W. It stands on a gentle acclivity, commanding a beautiful prospect, and is laid out with great regularity, in the form of a parallelogram. Near its centre, at an elevation of 60 feet above the surface of the river, is a small pond, comprising an area of about 6 acres. This has been surrounded with a wall and terraced promenade, rendering it one of the most attractive features of the place. The harbor of Newburyport is spacious and safe, but obstructed at its en trance by a shifting sandbar. The town is considered one of the pleasantest in New England. The principal public buildings are the custom house, ft large granite structure with an elegant Grecian portico; the court house ; the new city hall, a beautiful edifice, cost $35,000; and the churches, of which there are 10 of the various denominations. Besides 18 primary and 10 grammar schools, there are 2 liberally endowed free schools. The Putnam free school, dedicated April 12th, 1848, has a permanent fund of $50,000, the income of which is appropriated to the benefit of pupils, without regard to residence. The newspaper press consists of 2 daily, a semi- weekly, and a weekly issue. The city con tains a Lyceum provided with lectures, and an excellent library, just established. Gas light has recently been introduced.

Newburyport formerly suffered severe commercial reverses, but for many years past its trade, both foreign and coastwise, has been steadily increasing. The shipping of the port June 30th, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of 20,308 tons registered, and 9121 tons enrolled and licensed. Of the latter, 1547 tons were employed in the coast trade, and 7574 tons in the cod and mackerel fisheries. The foreign arrivals for the year were 110 (tons, 9231,) of which 95 (tons, 5839) were by foreign vessels. The clearances for foreign ports were 116 - tons, 10,140, of which 6995 tons were in foreign bottoms. During the year, 15 vessels, (8 of them ships.) with an aggregate burthen of 6137 tons were admeasured.

There are in the city 6 manufacturing corporations, employing an aggregate capital of $1,180,000, and from 1500 to 1600 hands. The principal articles are cotton goods, of which about 12,000.000 yards are annually produced. There are also manufactures of iron, machinery, leather, boots, shoes, &c. Incorporated as a town in 1704 ; and in 1851 chartered as a city, including in its limits two adjoining villages. There are 3 banks, with an aggregate capital of $650,000, and a savings institution, with deposites amounting to about $600,000. The celebrated George Whitefield died in Newburyport, September 30th, 1770. Pop., in 1850, 11,318; in 1853, about 13,000.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA

Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA

Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA