1535History
Merrill, Joseph, History of Amesbury, from the History of Essex County Volume 2 Chapter 125, pages 1495–1535, compiled by D.
1635Civil Rights
Since the first establishment of four courts on March 3, 1635, the General Court had found it necessary to multiply and distribute courts, so that the magistrates would not spen...
1638Economy
On September 6, 1638, the General Court of Massachusetts created a plantation on behalf of several petitioners from Newbury, on the left bank of the Merrimack, as far north as H...
1639Economy
In the early spring of 1639, approximately 60 planters took up residence on land cleared by the natives.
1640History
The town was originally named Colchester, but was renamed Salisbury in October 1640, potentially at the suggestion of Christopher Batt, from Salisbury, England.
1641Architecture
On January 12, 1641, a town meeting ordered the first roads north and west of the Pow-wow River to be built.
1642Military
The settlers of the plantation, who entered Massachusetts Bay Colony, were rebels in a cause that was settled by the English Civil War (1642–1651).
1643History
In 1643, the General Court divided Massachusetts Bay Colony into four counties: Essex, Norfolk, Middlesex and Suffolk.
1654Culture
On January 14, 1654, articles of agreement adopted at town meeting divided Salisbury into Old Town and New Town, each to conduct its own affairs.
1655History
The agreement went into effect on January 19, 1655.
1658History
On May 26, 1658, New Town petitioned the General Court for independent town status, but the Old Town denied the petition.
1660History
Another petition for separation was denied in 1660.
1666History
The court yielded to the petition of 1666, granting the "liberty of a township" to New Town.
1667History
It was named New Salisbury, but in 1667 the name was changed to Amesbury on the analogy of Amesbury, England, which was next to Salisbury, England.
1668Government
Amesbury was officially granted incorporation under that name on April 29, 1668.
1675Military
After King Phillips War (1675–1678), an effort by the natives to rid themselves of the colonists, the Royal Province of New Hampshire was created and took away several towns in ...
1741History
Newton, New Hampshire, was set off from Amesbury in 1741, when the border between the two colonies was adjusted.
1794History
1794 Map of Amesbury.
1795History
1795 Map of Salisbury.
1800Architecture
Beginning around 1800, Amesbury began building carriages, a trade which evolved into the manufacture of automobile bodies.
1830History
1830 Map of Amesbury.
1849History
Amesbury Vital Records to 1849.
1856Government
The Merrimac Hat Company was founded in 1856 and became one of the top hat producers in the nation.
1872History
1872 Atlas of Essex County, Massachusetts Amesbury.
1876History
In 1876, Merrimac was created out of West Amesbury.
1880History
Merrill, Joseph (1880).
1884History
1884 Atlas of Essex County Massachusetts 1884 Map of Amesbury.
1886Government
In 1886, West Salisbury was annexed to Amesbury, unifying the mill areas on both banks of the Pow-wow River.
1909Architecture
The current version was built in 1909, but was predated by the 1810 suspension bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the country.
1929History
It was dedicated November 11, 1929.
2000History
== Demographics ==
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,450 people, 6,380 households, and 4,229 families residing in the city.
2011Government
Voters approved a charter amendment in November 2011 changing the city's official name to the "City of Amesbury" and removing references to the old "Town of Amesbury" name.
2012Civil Rights
The name change took effect in March 2012.
2013Military
The city's seal still bears the name "Town of Amesbury", although the City put forth a bill in 2013 to correct the seal with the new name.
2024Education
Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, all K-5 students were housed on the same property and divided by age between the Shay Memorial Lower Elementary School and the preexistin...