Haverhill Neighborhood Tour

Haverhill, pronounced HAY-vril (The locals can tell who’s not a local!), is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, with a history going back to the Colonial days. The city is located along the New Hampshire border about 17 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Just southwest of Merrimac, Haverhill is built along both the north and south shores of the Merrimack River.

In 1640, colonists from nearby Newbury settled the land that Haverhill now stands on and called the farming community they built there Pentucket. Yet other settlers purchased the land in 1642 and renamed the community the present-day Haverhill. This was in deference to the town’s first pastor, who was born in Haverhill, England. More.

From its agricultural roots, Haverhill grew into a town with woolen mills, tanneries, shipping, and a shipbuilding industry. Later, it would become known for its shoe-making industry; in the early 20th century, a tenth of the shoes produced in the country were made in Haverhill. Today, Haverhill is a mostly residential community, with local businesses to serve the needs of those living there. Many former industrial sites, having been shut down and abandoned, have undergone redevelopment for construction of houses, apartments, and condos. Learn more about Groveland here.

By land area, Haverhill is the largest city or town in Essex County at 35.6 square miles. There are several ponds and lakes within the city. Other scenic, recreational, and historical points of interest include three golf courses, Winnekenni Park Conservation Area and Winnekenni Castle, and the Main Street Historic District.