About the Newburyport, West Newbury and Newbury, Massachusetts Area 

Merrimac is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, and on the southeastern border of New Hampshire. It is situated along the north bank of the Merrimack River. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 6,138 people.

Merrimac was known for its horse-drawn carriage industry during the latter part of the 1800s and during the Industrial Revolution, which, in the United States, found one of its seeds in nearby Lowell, Massachusetts. It is now known as a relatively sleepy residential community. Its town center consists of the typical brick buildings and Victorian architecture of the late-19th century. Much of the town's population surrounds this center, with the old part of the town bordering the shore of the Merrimack River. The older and newer parts of the town, which are the more affluent and middle-to-lower class parts of the town respectively, are divided by Interstate 495, which roughly follows the river. Merrimac is located on exit 53 of this highway, though it also shares exit 52 with the city of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Today, Merrimac is a typical and small New England community. It went through numerous growth spurts, however, throughout the 1990s and the turn of the 21st century, with the construction of several new residential developments.

The area now known as Merrimac was first settled in 1638 and was part of the town of Amesbury, Massachusetts when Amesbury separated from Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1666, and was referred to as the West Parish of Amesbury, or West Amesbury. This initial settlement was along the north bank of the Merrimack River. As West Amesbury expanded, the riverside village became known as South Amesbury, with the relocated town center away from the river retaining the West Amesbury name (see Merrimac Square). Merrimac was officially incorporated as a separate town in 1876, with the riverside area becoming known as Merrimacport. It is believed that the town, as well as the river that runs along its southern border, are both named for the American Indian tribe that occupied the region. "Merrimac" (or Merrimack) means "swift water place" in the language of this tribe.

Remnants of Merrimac's industrial past: the Lynn Sign factory.

Like most towns in New England, Merrimac supported the rebels during the American Revolutionary War, and the Union during the American Civil War, although it probably joined the rest of the region in opposition to the War of 1812.

Though it began as a shipbuilding and fishing port along the Merrimack River, the arrival of the Industrial Revolution and the mill-powered factory permanently changed the town. The center of the town shifted away from the river to a newly-developing village, now known as Merrimac center (see Merrimac Square), which was dotted with many carriage-manufacturing factories. After several prior attempts to separate from Amesbury had been voted down, the town of Merrimac was incorporated in 1876, due mainly to this developing carriage industry. A carriage is part of the current town seal.

During the American Civil War, Company E of the Fourteenth Massachusetts was composed of men from Merrimac; they were stationed for some time at Fort Albany, Virginia, near Washington, DC.

Throughout the 19th century, Merrimac's economy principally relied on carriage manufacturing and various other forms of industry.

The Massachusetts Gazetteer of 1890 (Rev. Elias Nason, M.A.; revised and enlarged by George J. Varney. Boston: B.B. Russell. 1890, 724 pages) describes Merrimac in the following fashion:

Merrimac is a thrifty and attractive manufacturing town situated on the north bank of the Merrimack River, and bounded by Amesbury on the east, West Newbury and Haverhill on the south, and Newton in New Hampshire on the northwest and north. The West Amesbury (Merrimac) Branch Railroad connects this town with the Western Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The villages are Merrimac, near the centre, Merrimacport on the river, and Birchdale, near Amesbury. The first two are post-offices. The assessed area of the town is 4,969 acres [20 km˛], including 786 acres [3 km˛] of woodland. The town is pleasantly diversified with hill, valley and plain, with a fine pond (Kimball's) at the northeast side, 90 feet [30 m] above the sea, and covering 498 acres [2 km˛]. From it flows Powow River, forming the divisional line with Amesbury, and turning several mills in that town. There is an extensive plain near the central village, marked by a meeting-house, and a burying-ground, noted for the old fort and the militia trainings; and another plain equally large near the eastern cemetery, noted for great trainings and Indian relics. Brandybrow Hill, west, and Red Oak Hill, north of the centre, are the chief elevations, and afford extensive and beautiful views. The geological formation is chiefly Merrimack schist. The noble Merrimack River makes a deep curve in the southern side of the town. It is navigable for schooners to Merrimac; and during the warmer part of the year it presents an animated scene, from numerous sailing crafts and small steamers bearing pleasure parties from the busy cities above to favorite points on the river, or out on the sea. Cobbler's Brook, gathering its waters in the northwestern part of the town, flows through both villages to the large river, furnishing valuable power. The principal business is carriage-making, in the different departments of which, in numerous shops, some 500 men are engaged. The aggregate value of the product in the last State census year (1885) was $621,935. There were also a boot and shoe factory employing 16 persons; two saw mills, a tannery, an earthenware factory, a printing office and others. The food preparations amounted to $24,100. The value of the aggregate manufactures of the town was $708,498. The product of the 50 farms amounted to $44,084. There is a national bank with a capital of $ 200,000; and the Merrimack Savings Bank, at the beginning of the present year, held deposits to the amount of $400,996. The valuation in 1888 was $1,337,739, with a taxation of $18 on $1,000. The dwelling-houses numbered 492; the population 2,378, including 641 legal voters. The town-hall, a handsome building with a tower containing a clock, and costing about $25,060, was presented by William P. Sargent, Esq., a wealthy carriage manufacturer of the town, but residing in Boston. The public library, opened in 1877, had in 1885, 4,000 volumes. A further source of entertainment and instruction is the 'Budget,' issued weekly. The town has primary, grammar and high schools, occupying eight buildings, valued at nearly $20,000. The Congregationalists, Baptists and Universalists each have a church edifice at the centre village, and the Methodists and Baptists have each one at Merrimacport. The Congregational church here was organized in 1726. This town was formerly the west parish of Amesbury, and was set off and incorporated, April 11, 1876.

With the introduction of the automobile in the early 20th century, the carriage became obsolete, and after an attempt to adapt by building automobile bodies instead, the industry withered. Merrimac became a mainly residential community. Only a few of its former 40 separate carriage factories exist, and are used for other purposes today.

Merrimac, along with its many surrounding communities, was known as a blue-collar community well into the 20th century. Only recently has the entire town begun to experience gentrification.

The Kimball's pond mentioned in the above Gazeteer description is today known as Lake Attitash, and provides recreation for town residents.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.8 square miles (22.9 km˛), of which, 8.5 square miles (22.1 km˛) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km˛) of it (3.40%) is water.

Located in the Merrimack River Valley and on the coastal plain of Massachusetts, Merrimac's land consists mainly of small, forested hills. This is in stark contrast to Merrimac before the twentieth century, which was mostly pasture. The town also has several ponds, streams, and a large lake.

Merrimac is bordered by the following towns and cities:

Amesbury, Massachusetts

Haverhill, Massachusetts

West Newbury, Massachusetts

Newton, New Hampshire

As of the census² of 2000, there were 6,138 people, 2,233 households, and 1,699 families residing in the town. The population density was 719.6 people per square mile (277.8/km˛). There were 2,295 housing units at an average density of 269.1/sq mi (103.9/km˛). The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.39% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.

There were 2,233 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,692, and the median income for a family was $69,118. Males had a median income of $48,718 versus $35,325 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,869. About 1.9% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Merrimac's local government is composed of an open New England town meeting. Three selectmen are elected to administer the government, but all major decisions, as well as many minor decisions, are handled during the town's annual town meeting, as well as special town meetings, if required. Per the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, any resident of Merrimac may introduce legislation with the support of 10 registered voters.

The following schools serve the town of Merrimac. All of the regional schools, however, are located in neighboring West Newbury, Massachusetts.

Frederick N. Sweetsir School - named for a doctor who practiced in Merrimac

Helen R. Donaghue School - named for a former principal of the school

Pentucket Regional Middle School

Pentucket Regional High School

Pentucket Regional School District

Merrimac High School operated until 1958, and closed when Pentucket Regional High School opened.

Merrimac Square

Merrimacport

Lake Attitash (and Indian Head Park)

The Merrimac Training Field (see training field)

Stevens Field

The Merrimac Town Forest (see town forest)

The Merrimack River

Route 110

Interstate 495

Merrimac is home to several regional events:

The Merrimac Santa Parade

Merrimac Old Home Days

Frank E. Pease, carriage manufacturer

George Warren Weymouth, U.S. Representative (1897-1901)

Ephraim Morse, founder of the Bank of San Diego (California) in 1870, instrumental figure in the development of the city of San Diego

Carter the great-Magician

Richard Gabriel, computer scientist

The town's official web site

Merrimac Citizens For A Strong Community web site

The Merrimac Public Library website

The Merrimac Savings Bank

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