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48-715: The Palmer School , also known as the District No. 2 Schoolhouse , is a historic 19th-century one-room schoolhouse at 33 Main Street in Boxford, Massachusetts . Built in 1845, it is the town's last surviving 19th-century school building. It was used as a school until 1931, replaced by the Cole School, on whose grounds it stands. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The former Palmer School building

96-703: A corner of the Boxford State Forest, near Interstate 95 and the town's border with Middleton. Small farms are interspersed throughout Boxford. Stone walls, remnants of old farming land boundaries, meander through the area. One major farm located in Boxford is Small Oxx farm, a branch of the main farm, Smolak's, located in North Andover. Boxford is located near the geographic center of Essex County, with Boxford Center about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Lawrence and 24 miles (39 km) north of Boston . The town

144-609: A gap from Ipswich road diverging southeasterly from the road and the south edge of the Turner Hill Golf Club to turn north and form the west border of the Julia Bird Reservation thence meanders north through settled Ipswich neighborhoods and directly through town center passing under MA 133 (County Road, aka. South Main Street) where it gradually begins widening until a mile beyond main Street it passes Nichols Field and

192-494: A nominal fee through the Boxford Athletic Association (BAA). The adjacent ballpark and play area were recently designated by unanimous vote at Town Meeting as "Keith Koster Memorial Baseball Park" in memory of one of Boxford's beloved young people, a former Boxford beach lifeguard, baseball and football player who fell victim to a senseless act of crime in 2006. Baldpate Pond, and the adjacent state recreation area,

240-641: A play area for younger children. The Commons is located on Captain Cashin way, off of Middleton Rd near Harry Lee Cole School and the Boxford Fire Department. The fields are primarily used for sports for toddlers up to middle schoolers. The main field is a turf field used primarily for football and soccer. The fictional main character captain Ed Mercer of the American science-fiction television series The Orville

288-444: A relatively narrow, shallow channel that passes under Castle Hill and along Crane's Beach to the south. On the north, Sandy Point at the tip of Plum Island juts into the flow. In the days of sail, Bar Head, Bar Head Rocks, and Emerson Rocks posed some threat to sailing vessels trying to tack into or out of the estuary. The shallow waters often stranded vessels in storms, which would then be dismantled by severe breakers. The combination

336-400: A small eye window in the gable. The building was built in 1845, during a period of prosperity in the town, during which it updated all of its district school buildings. It was used as a school facility from 1845 until 1931. In 1918 it was named in honor of Dr. Julius Palmer, a jeweler who had retired to the town. Its window alterations date to the 1920s. In 1931 it was sold by the town, and

384-497: Is Ed Markey . One of the few communities in Massachusetts to have more registered Republicans than Democrats (as of 2012), Boxford is more conservative than the rest of the state. It was the only town not to vote to reelect Senator John Kerry in 2008. In 2012, Mitt Romney received 59% of the vote in Boxford compared to President Obama 's 40%. Hillary Clinton , however, became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win

432-531: Is Logan International Airport . As of the census of 2000, there were 7,921 people, 2,568 households, and 2,254 families residing in the town. The population density was 330.4 inhabitants per square mile (127.6/km ). There were 2,610 housing units at an average density of 42.0 persons/km (108.9 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 97.37% White, 0.34% African American , 0.11% Native American , 1.21% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 0.85% of

480-453: Is Preschool to 2nd grade, and Spofford goes from 3rd to 6th grade. Boxford State Forest, near Interstate 95 and the towns of Topsfield and Middleton, boasts numerous walking trails that weave through heavily forested areas. There are also smaller parks and trails like the Wildcat trail and Witch Hollow Farm trails located within the thick forests. Much of the open lands within town are managed by

528-657: Is also located in Boxford, and is attached to the high school. There are also three elementary schools in Boxford. The Harry Lee Cole School, which serves Preschool through Grade 2, is located near East Boxford center. The Spofford Pond School, serving Grades 3 through 6, is located on the western side of the town's geographic center. Boxford Academy, Preschool–5th grade, is located in First Church Congregational Boxford on Georgetown Road. Boxford also has two public elementary schools, Spofford Pond School and Harry Lee Cole School, Cole School as its commonly called

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576-505: Is another popular swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking location. Camp Rotary is a popular summer co-ed boarding camp located on Stiles Pond off Ipswich Road in Boxford. Danvers YMCA holds another popular summer day camp on Stiles Pond, next to the town beach. Recently constructed is the Boxford Commons. Boxford Commons is an outdoor sports recreation area that includes a football/soccer/field hockey fields. Boxford Commons also includes

624-436: Is bordered by Haverhill to the north, Groveland to the northeast, Georgetown and Rowley to the east, Ipswich and Topsfield to the southeast, Middleton to the southwest, and North Andover to the west. The eastern end of Boxford is crossed by Interstate 95 , with three exits lying within the town. Route 133 crosses through the northern part of town, from North Andover to Georgetown, and Route 97 crosses through

672-502: Is heavily forested and criss-crossed by various streams and brooks, many of which empty into the Ipswich River on Boxford's southern border. A number of ponds dot town as well, among them Stiles Pond, Cedar Pond, Spofford Pond, Lowe Pond, Four Mile Pond and Baldpate Pond. Throughout Boxford there are also a number of scenic hiking trails. The highest natural point in Boxford is Bald Hill, at an elevation of 243 feet (74 m). It sits in

720-476: Is led by a board of selectmen and a town executive secretary. Boxford has a police department, a fire department with two branches in the main villages, two post offices, a public works department and a library, which is isolated within the town hall. Boxford has no water department; all residents and businesses have wells and septic. A second library was located in West Boxford, but due to budget constraints it

768-577: Is located west of the Boxford village center, near the junction of Main Street and the south access road for the Harry Cole School. It is a single-story wood frame structure with a gabled roof. It has very minimal Greek Revival styling reflective of its construction date in 1845. The western gable end of the structure has the main door, flanked by windows, while the long side of the building has seven windows, although it previously had only four. The eastern end has three standard double hung windows, with

816-500: Is provided from Ipswich River. It is estimated that source of public drinking water for approximately 350,000 people comes from the river's watershed although most of these people live outside the area. There are some concerns about the quality of the water as the river dries up and some places become a dumping ground for tires. The river begins in the northeastern part of Burlington in northcentral Middlesex County Massachusetts and heading generally southeasterly, it passes through

864-553: The BBC's Nationwide program Sally's Dumptruck. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.2 km ), of which 23.6 square miles (61.0 km ) is land and 0.85 square miles (2.2 km ), or 3.46%, is water. Boxford is divided into Boxford Village (commonly called East Boxford) and West Boxford Village, corresponding to the respective East and West Boxford centers. It

912-558: The Boxford Trails Association/Boxford Open Land Trust . Boxford is also well known for its Apple Festival, happening each fall. The apple festival takes place on the streets near Waynes. "Witch Hollow Farm", (a.k.a. the Tyler-Wood House) built c.  1727 by Capt. John Tyler the son of Moses Tyler whose sister-in-law, Rebecca Eames was tried in the famous 1693 Salem Witch Trials , found at

960-597: The Salem Turnpike ), and thence, about a mile south, gains volume draining all of Harold Parker State Forest in the tri-town corner of Andover, North Andover , and Middleton — excepting the few acres draining to Ipswich tributary, Boston Brook along the other side of MA 114 . Both tributary creeks enter and mingle with the Ipswich proper in Middleton , proceed south into northern Peabody , then loop northwards through

1008-1080: The Agawam tribe, who lived in Essex County at the time of English colonization. Masconomet is a regional school, serving the towns of Boxford, Middleton , and Topsfield . The school was commonly believed to be in Topsfield because it had a Topsfield street address. However, the school, which is located on Endicott Road, lies entirely within Boxford. Students may also elect to attend Essex-North Shore Technical and Agricultural High School in Danvers. Nearby private schools include The Governor's Academy in Byfield; Pingree School in South Hamilton; St. John's Preparatory School (boys only) in Danvers; Phillips Academy in Andover; and Brooks School in North Andover. Masconomet Regional Middle School

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1056-528: The Ipswich or its tributary creeks. When Middlesex County was formed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony , only Salem and Charlestown across the Charles River mouth and Boston harbor's inner estuary from Boston's much smaller hill dominated peninsula were older settlements. The upper river runs through and drains at least parts of Burlington, the lower river forms part of the borders between

1104-669: The Second and Eighteenth Essex districts, in the Massachusetts House of Representatives , and as part of the First Essex and Middlesex district in the Massachusetts Senate . On the national level, the town is part of Massachusetts's 6th congressional district , and has been represented by Seth Moulton (D) since 2014. The state's senior Senator, elected in the 2012, is Elizabeth Warren (D), and its junior Senator, elected in 2013,

1152-457: The deep channels to small streams some often small enough one can hop across to fish elsewhere. The river is navigable upstream to nearly Ipswich center by small craft. There a sharper drop in elevation over some rocky areas upstream characteristic of Northeastern US streams in general and which prevents further navigation without portaging light boats. The river and riverlands currently suffer from diminished flow due to extensive withdrawals from

1200-515: The eastern part of the town, comprise the census-designated place of Boxford . Native Americans inhabited northeastern Massachusetts for thousands of years prior to European colonization of the Americas . At the time of contact, the area that would become Boxford was controlled by Agawam sachem Masconomet , but the Agawam would experience severe population loss from virgin soil epidemics , especially in 1617–1619, killing an estimated 50–75% of

1248-551: The eastern part of town, from Topsfield to Georgetown. The town does not have any means of mass transportation. The Newburyport/Rockport Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail passes through neighboring Rowley and Ipswich to the east, and the Haverhill/Reading Line passes to the north. The nearest small airport is Lawrence Municipal Airport , located in North Andover, and the nearest domestic and international air service

1296-461: The ground water in urban areas upstream. The upper third of the river may become a dry bed in the summer. Wetland reservations, for wildlife have been created along much of the lower river and the mean water level therein has been prevented from falling precipitously by Willowdale Mill Dam , a remnant of a 19th-century mill system. It is currently privately owned by a canoe-rental concession. The combined Ipswich River/Plum Island Sound exits through

1344-426: The indigenous population in the region. Although Boxford was settled by Europeans in 1646, it was not until 1700 that the selectmen of Boxford would pay Masconomet's grandson Samuel English nine pounds for the rights to the town land. Europeans first settled in Boxford in 1646 as a part of Rowley Village by Abraham Redington. When Boxford was officially incorporated in 1685, about forty families resided there. Farming

1392-517: The intersection of Main Street and Ipswich Road in Boxford. The house gets its name from a hollow that was on the Tyler property in the 1690s where Rebecca Eames claimed, in her trial, that she was bewitched by the Devil. It is a nationally recognized "Haunted House". Boxford's centrally located Stiles Pond is the site for the town beach, where membership can be purchased by Boxford residents only, each season for

1440-412: The lands along the river and exclusive fishing rights for 20 pounds sterling . Most of the land along the river is privately owned but in certain recreational areas non-motorized boats, fishing, and swimming are allowed. It is attractive to canoeists and birders. In the swampy and wetland areas a wide variety of birds and smaller wildlife species can be seen. Drinking water for many communities

1488-579: The municipalities of Danvers , Topsfield (crossing US Route 1 just south of the Topsfield Fairground , entering from the west turns northerly and runs the greater length of Teal Pond southwest to north, the east bank of which forms a part of the western border of Hamilton , and exits the lake turning easterly staying south of Ipswich Road to head through and between the Willowdale State Forest and Bradley Palmer State Park , then opens

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1536-432: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 2,568 households, out of which 48.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.0% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% were non-families. 9.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

1584-505: The region. The glacier 's recession created ridges , deposited sand and gravel , the dominant material of the riverbed , over which mud has been deposited. Low-gradient drainage created the meandering streams, which typically drop no more than 30–40 feet. The first written record about the Ipswich River is from 1638 when John Winthrop bought from Chief Masconomet and the Agawam tribe

1632-610: The river forms town boundaries and divides Essex County, Massachusetts on the coast from the more inland Middlesex County . It is 35 miles (56 km) long, and its watershed is approximately 155 square miles (401 km ), with an estimated population in the area of 160,000 people. Historically, the settlement of Essex County began at the oldest community there, the tiny seaport of Agawam (later renamed Ipswich, and not to be confused with present-day Agawam in Hampden County), and typically proceeded westward and northward along

1680-481: The salt marsh floodplain begins. From Nichols it traverses a bit over 2.5 miles (4.0 km) joins with Plum Island Sound in connecting with the Atlantic Ocean at Ipswich Bay. There is always some flow from the river into the bay. However, the lower Ipswich and Plum Island Sound, as well as the lower four other rivers flowing into it, and the much larger Merrimack River to the north, are all tidal estuaries, so

1728-486: The source of their town's name, ultimately deciding that the village of Boxford in the Babergh district of Suffolk , England, was likely the original source. Villagers from Boxford, Suffolk, were then invited to Boxford, Massachusetts, the following summer for two-week homestays with local host families. This second transatlantic exchange, which began in late July 1976, generated media attention from both Evening Standard and

1776-459: The town in the 21st century in 2016 . The former Secretary of State defeated Republican entrepreneur Donald Trump by 47.93–42.85 percent of the vote, with 5.80 percent going to Libertarian Gary Johnson . In 2020, Boxford's numbers were much more line with most other Massachusetts towns, as Joe Biden carried the town by a 15-point margin. Boxford has one high school, Masconomet Regional High School , named after Chief Masconomet , sagamore of

1824-424: The town was $ 113,212, and the median income for a family was $ 119,491. Males had a median income of $ 90,397 versus $ 48,042 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 48,846. 1.4% of the population and 0.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 0.8% are under the age of 18 and 3.1% are 65 or older Boxford employs the open town meeting form of government, and

1872-520: The towns of Wilmington (where once the important Middlesex Canal passed over it on an aqueduct), Reading , thence to North Reading , where it is joined by the left bank tributary Skug River — which originates in North Andover and Andover southwest of Boston Hill in a large Beaver Pond and marshland, situated north of Gray Road-jct.-Gray Street (very near the townlines of the two towns) where it crosses via culvert south of Rt. MA 125 and west of Rt. MA 114 (historically, and by street name,

1920-531: The towns of: The wide swamps along the river made it impossible to ford the stream anywhere east of Wilmington in colonial times. The only route north out of Boston to the northeast (today called the North Shore ) was via the Andover Road, an often muddy track, later made a wagon road which forded the stream just below the confluence of Lubbers and Maple Meadow brooks . The topography of eastern Massachusetts

1968-419: The water is brackish from mixing ocean born saltwater inland during flood tides, and the lands immediately along the banks, where not inundated some of the time, are nonetheless saturated by brackish water and support only hearty plants capable of tolerating the waters such as salt marsh hay . High tides cover all of Great Marsh and the flood plains of the lower rivers. Low tides uncover the mud flats, reducing

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2016-408: Was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.32. In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.2% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males. The median income for a household in

2064-666: Was closed in 2008. The nearest hospitals are Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill to the north, Lawrence General to the west, and Beverly Hospital to the south. On the state level, Boxford is under the jurisdiction of the Central District Court of Essex County, located in Haverhill. It is patrolled by the Newbury station of Troop A of the Massachusetts State Police . The town is represented by two representatives, from

2112-468: Was determined most by the fact that, at the maximum glaciation of the Pleistocene Era, it was the site of the edge of the last glaciation, at approximately 18,000 BC. This glacier had planed the land under it nearly flat. Gravel- and boulder-lined streams ran along its surface. From 18,000 to about 10,000 BC, the glacier receded, dropping its stony contents as eskers and moraines, the dominant features of

2160-584: Was erected in 1774. The town's largest industry—a match factory located on Lawrence Road—opened its doors just after the end of the American Civil War, and operated from 1866 to 1905. As part of the American Bicentennial celebrations which took place during the mid-1970s, residents of Boxford, Massachusetts, visited two villages named Boxford in England in 1975. The aim of their trip was to search for

2208-399: Was from Boxford in the late 24th century. Ipswich River Ipswich River is a small river in northeastern Massachusetts , United States . It held significant importance in early colonial migrations inland from the ocean port of Ipswich . The river provided safe harborage at offshore Plum Island Sound to early Massachusetts subsistence farmers, who were also fishermen. A part of

2256-414: Was moved to its present location for use as a community center, made as a gift of the purchaser, Edna Rich Morse. It was eventually donated back to the town, and has intermittently been used for a number of municipal functions, including for municipal offices, and as a kindergarten facility. Boxford, Massachusetts The original town center of Boxford, along with East Boxford and other areas in

2304-489: Was the primary occupation of the early settlers, although townspeople also counted craftsmen among their ranks. The original structure of Boxford's First Church was constructed in 1701 in East Boxford Village. As the population of West Boxford expanded, the legislature designated this section of town as precinct 2 in 1735. Town meetings then alternated between East and West parishes. The first West Boxford church building

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