North Reading, Massachusetts

North Reading, Massachusetts
Name	North Reading
Settlement type	Town
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Massachusetts
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Middlesex
Established title	Settled
Established date	1651
Established title1	Incorporated
Established date1	1853
Government type	Open town meeting
Area total km2	34.6
Area land km2	33.8
Area water km2	0.8
Population as of	2020
Population total	15954
Population density km2	auto
Timezone	Eastern
Utc offset	-5
Timezone DST	EDT
Utc offset DST	-4
Coordinates	42, 34, 30, N...
Postal code type	ZIP Code
Postal code	01864
Area code	351/978
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	25-49970
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	0618380
Website	www.northreadingma.gov

North Reading, Massachusetts. North Reading is a town in Middlesex County, part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. Originally settled as part of the larger Reading community, it was incorporated as a separate town in the mid-19th century. The town is known for its residential character, significant conservation lands, and its highly-regarded public school system.

History

The area was first part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony grant to the original settlers of Reading in 1639, with permanent settlement beginning around 1651. For over two centuries, the northern parish of Reading functioned as a distinct agricultural and milling village, with early industries powered by the Ipswich River. Tensions over distance to the Old South Meeting House and infrastructure needs led to a formal separation, and the town was incorporated by an act of the Massachusetts General Court in 1853. The arrival of the Boston and Maine Railroad in the late 19th century spurred modest growth and connected local industries to wider markets. The 20th century saw a transition from agriculture to a primarily residential community, a pattern accelerated by post-World War II development and the construction of Interstate 93 and Route 128.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.6 square kilometers, of which 33.8 square kilometers is land and 0.8 square kilometers is water. North Reading is bordered by Andover, Middleton, Wilmington, Lynnfield, Reading, and North Andover. The Ipswich River flows through the town, and significant natural features include the Harold Parker State Forest and the town-owned Hood Pond. The landscape is characterized by wooded hills, wetlands, and several conservation areas managed by the North Reading Conservation Commission.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 15,954. The racial makeup was predominantly White, with growing communities of Asian and Hispanic residents. The median household income is significantly above the state average, and a high percentage of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Population growth has been steady since the 1950s, with the town evolving from a small farming community into an affluent Boston bedroom community.

Government and infrastructure

North Reading employs an Open town meeting form of government, led by a Board of Selectmen and a professional Town Administrator. Key municipal services include the North Reading Police Department and the North Reading Fire Department. The town is part of the Massachusetts House of Representatives's 14th Essex district and the Massachusetts Senate's Middlesex and Essex district. For federal representation, it lies within Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. Public utilities are provided by the North Reading Municipal Light Department, and the town is served by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's commuter rail bus service connecting to the Haverhill Line.

Education

Public education is managed by the North Reading Public Schools district, which includes the J. Turner Hood Elementary School, L.D. Batchelder Elementary School, North Reading Middle School, and North Reading High School. The high school's athletic teams, known as the Hornets, compete in the Cape Ann League. The district is known for high academic performance and extensive extracurricular programs. The town also hosts the Killam Elementary School, and there is access to vocational training through the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District.

Notable people

Notable individuals associated with the town include former Major League Baseball player and Boston Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy, National Football League quarterback Scott Zolak, and Olympic ice hockey gold medalist Katherine "Kathy" Sheehy. Inventor and entrepreneur Earl W. Sutherland Jr., who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, also resided in North Reading.

Category:Towns in Massachusetts Category:Towns in Middlesex County, Massachusetts