Swampscott, Coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts
Swampscott is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, stretching along the Atlantic shoreline with rocky coasts and several beaches facing Massachusetts Bay. The community includes residential neighborhoods, parks and an established center near the water.
Francis Ingalls founded the first tannery of the Massachusetts Bay Colony here in 1629, beginning European settlement. The area later developed into an independent municipality with ties to coastal economy and fishing.
The town takes its name from the language of the Naumkeag people who lived along this coast long before Europeans arrived. Their presence shaped the landscape for thousands of years before colonial settlement began.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority operates regular rail and bus connections linking the town to Boston. Visitors heading to the beaches should be prepared for rocky terrain and changing tides.
The Swampscott Fish House is considered the oldest continuously operating fishery building in the United States. Its function has remained unchanged for generations while the surrounding coastal landscape has transformed considerably.
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