Rowley, Massachusetts

The Town of Rowley was founded in 1639 and incorporated as a town that same year in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The land area of Rowley originally included what is now Boxford, Bradford, Georgetown, Groveland and a part of Middleton. The town has a varied terrain and is situated between two rivers, the Muddy Creek on the north and the Rowley River to the south and is heavily forested with several working farms.

Historically, Rowley is home to the nation’s oldest stone arch bridge and the "Turning Place" (now the Rowley Common), where in 1775 a battalion of Benedict Arnold's musket men encamped en route to Quebec. One of the town's most prized possessions is the Revolutionary War cannon, "Old Nancy", which was taken by Rowley soldiers from the British ship "Nancy" off the coast of Gloucester.

Today, Rowley is in transition from its historical farm roots to that of a residential community. However, the town maintains its historical charm with its 350th anniversary bandstand/gazebo on the town common green, several white steepled churches in the town village, and numerous colonial era homes like the Henderson-Knowles Building built in 1868 on Main Street.

Location: Northeastern Massachusetts. About 30 miles north of Boston, 14 miles north of Salem, 10 miles southeast of Haverhill, and 250 miles from New York City.

Transportation: U.S. Route 1, State Route 1A, State Route 133, Interstate 95 and the MBTA Commuter Rail.

Total Area: 20.59 square miles

Total Land Area: 18.72 square miles

Population: 5,500 (2000 U.S. Census)

2009 Tax Rate: $11.34 per $1000 value