Haverhill

Haverhill is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, spread along both banks of the Merrimack River. From the business district near the river, residential neighborhoods rise gently toward the surrounding hills, where streets lined with single-family homes and small parks shape the landscape.

Reverend John Ward and Puritan farmers founded the settlement in 1640, initially living from agriculture. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the community changed into a major center for shoe production.

The name comes from Haverhill in Suffolk, England, a connection the early settlers brought from their homeland. In some riverside neighborhoods, you still see red brick factory buildings that now serve as apartments or small offices.

Regular bus routes connect residential areas with shopping centers and medical facilities across the city. The area around the riverfront is good for short walks, while the higher neighborhoods offer a wide view over the valley.

A Norman-style castle built from local stone in 1875 rises in the middle of a large public park. The building now serves as an event venue and starting point for walks through the wooded hills around it.

Location: Essex County

Inception: 1640

Elevation above the sea: 20 m

Website: http://ci.haverhill.ma.us

GPS coordinates: 42.78333,-71.08333

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:06