The settlers who founded Newbury in 1635 emigrated from England due to declining economic opportunities. As the community grew, fishing became an important industry, as did small-scale shipbuilding, weaving, tanning and shoemaking. Farmers dealt in cattle and sheep and by 1791 there were 3,000 head of cattle grazing on town lands. About the same time, the town set a pattern of diversified industry, producing woolen goods and then cotton fabric. In the late 18th and early 19th century, industry rivaled agricultural employment in the town. The economy of the town swung back to agriculture and by the end of the 19th century there was a big shift to dairying in Newbury. Newbury has three distinct sections: Old Town, Plum Island and Byfield Village.

Newbury hosts a number of New England's most important examples of Colonial architecture, one of which is the Tristram Coffin House, built in 1654. Plum Island offers miles of public sandy beaches and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 800 species of birds, plants and animals on 4,662 acres. From the top of Old Town Hill, one can take in views of Castle Neck, Choate (Hog) Island, and Castle Hill to the south; Plum Island and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge to the east; the Isles of Shoals off Portsmouth, NH to the north-east; and the Merrimack River and Maine's Mount Agamenticus to the north.

Tendercrop Farm is one of a few businesses in Newbury. Newbury is primarily a rural, residential community.

You need to upgrade your Flash Player or your browser does not support Javascript. Click here to download Flash Player

Mass. Department of Revenue “At A Glance” report for Newbury

U.S. Census Demographic Data

Official Town of Newbury Web site

Triton Regional School District

Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School

Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce