Conveniently located, the Merrimack Valley region is referred to as the "Crossroads of New England" due to its easy accessibility via Interstates 93, 95, and 495 between the cities of Manchester, New Hampshire; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and Portland, Maine, to the north and Providence, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts, to the south. Downtown Boston is a mere 30 to 40 minutes from any point in the Merrimack Valley.
The Merrimack Valley communities are tied to this greater New England region through a strong network of public and private transportation services.
Bus Service Within the Valley
The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority is the primary transit provider in the Valley. Operates regularly scheduled bus service that is available in Greater Lawrence, Haverhill, Merrimac, Amesbury and Newburyport with connections to Lowell. Demand response service that is open to the general public is available in Boxford, Georgetown, Groveland, Salisbury, and West Newbury. Other services for the elderly and disabled are also available. Runs Monday through Saturday.
Bus Services to Boston and Other Points
C&J Trailways: Regularly scheduled bus service between Southern New Hampshire and the Newburyport Park and Ride Lot to downtown Boston and Logan Airport. Runs seven days a week.
The Coach Company: Service to downtown Boston from Amesbury, Boxford, Byfield, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, and Newburyport. Also offers bus service to Foxwoods Resort and Casino from Newburyport and Haverhill. Boston commuter bus runs weekdays, while the Foxwoods line runs seven days a week.
The Boston Commuter Bus: A commuter bus service from Methuen Park and Ride, downtown Lawrence, and Andover to downtown Boston. Runs weekdays. This bus is operated by the MVRTA.
Getting to the Airport
MassPort: Logan Airport and a whole lot more. Find out about airport shuttles, park and fly options and locations, and Logan Express Service.
C&J Trailways: C&J Trailways bus line out of Newburyport provides eighteen daily runs to and from Logan Airport - a round trip ticket is considerably less than a two days' stay at the airport parking garage, and kids ride free!
Other Ways to Get Around
MBTA: The Haverhill and Newburyport Commuter Rail Lines directly serve 35 stations within a robust network of other rail, road and water transportation services spanning 179 communities in Eastern and Central Massachusetts. Regional travelers can transfer to other key routes/services at three major intermodal stations: Anderson Station (Woburn); Malden Center and North Station.
MassRides: Ridesharing and Telecommuting MassRides is a great resource to contact if you'd like help in finding out about sharing a ride with someone or perhaps joining a vanpool and saving wear and tear on your car. They have a continuously updated database of others that would like to share a ride.
Amtrak Downeaster: The Downeaster, operated by Amtrak, provides five daily intercity rail trips through the Merrimack Valley Region. Downeaster trains provide direct service to/from Boston’s North Station; Anderson Intermodal Transportation Center in Woburn; Haverhill Station; Exeter, Durham and Dover Stations in New Hampshire, and Biddeford/Saco, Wells, Old Orchard Beach and Portland Stations in Maine.
Life in the Valley
Rich in history, brilliant in its architectural beauty and brimming with arts, culture, and recreation, the Merrimack Valley is a gem waiting to be uncovered. This charming region has everything you want: vast unspoiled parks, warm sandy beaches, magnificent harbors, fun-filled shopping, quaint historic villages and spirited heritage. Located only 30 minutes north of Boston, the Merrimack Valley is a delightful treasure chest just waiting to be discovered.
Thriving Industry
They come for many of the same reasons: Accessibility and convenience of transportation via Logan International Airport, Lawrence Municipal Airport, Manchester Airport, and major highways I-95, I-93 and I-495; low cost land; lease-supportive, business-friendly cities and towns; availability of public and private financing; a diverse, adaptable, and well-educated workforce; and a cooperative, welcoming atmosphere.
They stay because they succeed and grow. The Merrimack Valley supports many industry clusters such as telecommunications, biomed/biotech, textiles/apparel, and defense manufacturing. Each cluster attracts and supports its own business network, from specialized suppliers to providers of professional services such as law and finance. To obtain a comprehensive list of businesses and available properties for sale/lease in the region, please visit www.mvmb.biz
Public Schools
From preschool through elementary, middle, high school, and two regional vocational technical schools (Whittier Regional and Greater Lawrence) the area’s students benefit from some of the finest resources available. Teachers, libraries, arts offerings, special programs, athletics (which attract spirited community support)-all reflect the highest standards of quality in education.
Private Schools
Our highly reputable private schools attract students both locally and outside of Massachusetts. These include internationally renowned college preparatory schools: Phillips Academy, Andover; The Brooks School, North Andover; and The Governor's Academy, Byfield. The region is also home to several private schools at the pre-k through middle school grades and a number of prominent catholic schools as well, such as Central Catholic High School in Lawrence.
Higher Education
Four fine institutions of higher learning grace the community. Merrimack College, founded by the Augustinian Fathers, offers liberal arts and business degree programs for both day and evening students on a scenic 220-acre campus. Massachusetts School of Law provides a quality legal education from its campus in Andover. Located in both Lawrence and Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College offers a wide variety of liberal arts and professionally focused certificate and degree programs to meet the needs of students of all ages. Finally, located in a newly renovated mill building on the banks of the Merrimack River in Lawrence, Cambridge College offers a wide variety of degree programs.
Business Training and Development
Northern Essex Community College assists area businesses and individuals who need customized training and education through a variety of Workforce Development programs, including the Center for Business and Industry, Northeast Regional Training Center for State and Municipal Employees, Institute for Community and Workforce Development, NECC/HUD Community Institute for Business Education, and Small Business Development Center along with much community outreach, collaboration and partnerships.
Other area business training resources include the Workforce Investment Board (WIB). Created under the Federal Workforce Investment Act in 1998, the Merrimack Valley WIB helps put business in touch with employees and serves as the local hub for information regarding workforce development and business training. The board charters and oversees two "ValleyWorks" One-Stop Career Centers with one in Haverhill and one in Lawrence. These centers serve the entire Merrimack Valley region. The Valley is also home to many specialized job training entities that provide their services to area businesses and employees.
Medical
The region is home to a number of highly-respected hospitals and medical facilities.
Lawrence General Hospital
The largest acute healthcare system in the Merrimack Valley features the most sophisticated 24-hour emergency response service north of Boston; a newly renovated, family-centered, private rooms maternity program; and the entire range of diagnostic imaging technology including cardiac catheterization and MRI.
Holy Family Hospital
A Catholic healthcare system, the 282-bed hospital treats 10,000 inpatients and 150,000 outpatients each year. It offers expectant mothers the comfort of a single labor-delivery-recovery room; operates the area’s largest and most modern cancer management center; performs cardiac catheterization; and serves as the neurosurgical center for the Merrimack Valley.
Anna Jaques Hospital
The Anna Jaques of Newburyport, known for outstanding clinical expertise and personal care, offers a full range services from birth through geriatric care. Over 200 talented physicians affiliate with Anna Jaques and more than 500 nurses, technologists and other health care professionals assure area residents quality results in a caring setting.
Merrimack Valley Hospital
Merrimack Valley Hospital (MVH) has 108 acute care beds and 21 transitional care unit beds, all are private rooms. Their emergency department handles 25,000 visits per year. MVH's centers of excellence include: emergency department services, ambulatory and surgical day care, endoscopy, occupational health, outpatient rehabilitation therapy, and diagnostic services.
Other Medical Facilties/Services
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Haverhill provides comprehensive inpatient, outpatient and home health services by an interdisciplinary team of rehab professionals.
The Home Health Foundation Family of Agencies includes Home Health VNA, Merrimack Valley Hospice and HomeCare, Inc., delivering home and community-based medical and supportive care to patients in the Merrimack Valley.
The Greater Lawrence Family Health Center operates four neighborhood clinics in Lawrence, two school-based health centers, and the only federally funded Health Care for the Homeless program in the Merrimack Valley. Ten years ago, GLFHC developed the nation’s first accredited community health center-sponsored Family Practice Residency program, which attracts physicians committed to caring for underserved populations.
Treasures of the Valley
The entire Merrimack Valley region is designated a National Heritage Area, due to its impressive collection of historic sites, recreational areas, and annual festivals, making it a wonderful place to live and visit.
The Essex National Heritage Commission (ENHC) is the non-profit management organization for the Essex National Heritage Area. The Commission's mission is to promote and preserve the historic, cultural and natural resources of the ENHA.
For a list of "treasures" by community, visit: http://www.essexheritage.org/sites/index.shtml
