Merrimack Valley Region of MA
The Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts is an area of rich history, scenic beauty, and diverse culture. Encompassing the northern parts of Middlesex and Essex Counties, the region is made up of the many cities and towns that lie along or near the banks of the Merrimack River from the New Hampshire border south to Lowell then northeast to Newburyport.
The river forms the geographic core of the region and is at the center of its history as well. Indigenous peoples populated the river's banks from prehistoric times, and the valley was an early center of agriculture from the time of European settlement. But the Merrimack's greatest contribution to the history of the region and, indeed, of the United States, is its providing the water power to fuel the American Industrial Revolution. By the 1850's and continuing for almost 100 years, the mills in the cities of Lowell, Lawrence, and Haverhill were the giants of the textile industry in America.
After the mills moved south, the cities in the Merrimack Valley saw years of decline. Within the past twenty years, however, a Renaissance has begun, with new diverse industries now occupying many of the mill buildings. The region's textile mill heritage is preserved, though, at the Lowell National Historical Park, a unique urban park tracing the history of the mills and its workers.
And while the mills are important to the history of the region, they represent only one of many facets of a richly diverse area that offers an exceptional quality of life. The Lowell area boasts the University of Massachusetts Lowell and two major healthcare facilities, as well as professional baseball and ice hockey and the Merrimack Repertory Theater. Andover is home to Phillips Academy, one of the most prominent prep schools in the country. Recreational and cultural opportunities abound throughout the region.
In addition, Boston is next door, with easy access by highway and by train. In sum, the Merrimack Valley offers the best of both worlds, with comfortable suburban living within easy reach of all the amenities of a major metropolitan area.
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