Open Space and Recreation Plan - Town of North Andover

T O W N O F N O R T H A N D O V E R
O P E N S P A C E A N D R E C R E A T I O N P L A N 2 0 0 6
3.0 COMMUNITY SETTING
2 0 1 0 U P D A T E
This section discusses how North Andover evolved. The history of the Town's settlement, growth and
development will be presented. While each community is unique, growth and development occurs as a result
of interactions with other communities. The regional factors that have had an effect on the community’s
development are also presented. These factors may determine the future challenges that North Andover will
face.
3.1 REGIONAL CONTEXT
The Town of North Andover lies along the banks of the Merrimack River in the Merrimack Valley in the
northeast corner of Massachusetts. The historical map found in Appendix D shows the Merrimack River as the
community's most prominent natural feature. The river has undoubtedly driven the growth and development
of most of the communities in the Merrimack Valley. In the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century,
mills sprouted up along the river and its countless tributaries. The smaller tributaries were less prone to
devastating floods and were very valuable mill sites. Two of those tributaries, the Shawsheen River and
Cochichewick Brook were located within the original Andover settlement. These waterways saw intense mill
development, particularly in the 19th century, which transformed the community from an agricultural village
to a more diverse one of mills and farmland.
North Andover is a highland on the outer edge of the Merrimack Valley. The prominent hills drain into
numerous wetlands. These wetlands are the headwaters of three separate rivers: the Ipswich River, the Parker
River and Cochichewick Brook. The Ipswich River flows twenty miles to the sea through Boxford, Middleton,
Topsfield, Hamilton, and Ipswich. One emergency well and one weekend well are located along the Ipswich
River in Ipswich. The Parker River flows through Boxford, Georgetown, and Newbury twenty miles to the
sea. Along the way, this river supplies water to underground aquifers, which sustain four public wells in
Georgetown. Countless private wells are also served by underground aquifers in the Parker and Ipswich River
watersheds. The Town of North Andover has recognized the importance of the Ipswich River relative to the
water supplies by requiring the same minimum lot size in much of the Ipswich River watershed as in the Lake
Cochichewick Watershed District.
Cochichewick Brook flows from Lake Cochichewick, which is the sole source of public drinking water for the
people of North Andover. Lake Cochichewick watershed is approximately 2,732 acres in size, 378 acres (14%)
of which lies within the Town of Boxford. This part of Boxford is zoned residential and is sparsely developed.
The Town of North Andover must continue to keep a watchful eye on the future development of this portion
of the watershed since the Town has little control over it. Experience has shown that controlling growth has
been very difficult in the portion of the watershed that lies within North Andover; controlling growth in another
community will present even more challenges.
Today, regional transportation routes have a major impact on North Andover's character. Secondary highways
such as Routes 114, 125 and 133 have been important in providing local and regional transportation routes.
Route 114 brought goods to and from the bustling port of Salem. Route 125 was the direct route to the
prosperous mill town of Haverhill, while Route 133 was the major route to the mill centers of Andover and
Lowell. When they were first laid out, these early roads were the only dependable routes to the regional
8