About Cape Ann

 

Cape Ann is located about 30 miles north of Boston. It is a rocky outcropping consisting of four communities: Essex, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-sea, and Gloucester. Cape Ann was formed 30,000 years ago during the last ice age. As the glaciers reached the ocean, they began to withdraw. What were left behind were huge granite boulders. These boulders contribute to the unique beauty of the Cape Ann coast (beautiful granite outcroppings with sandy beaches nestles in between).

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Essex lies at the Northwestern end of Cape Ann. It is a rural community of 3,267 today that retains much of its original natural splendor and small town character. Essex is a quaint and friendly coastal community that proudly welcomes visitors and new residents.

Long noted as one of the original shipbuilding centers of New England, Essex maintains strong ties with its heritage by way of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. Today, Essex is known for its seemingly endless supply of antique shops and restaurants as well as for the Essex clam, which is a recognized symbol of pride and quality. Clamming remains one of the town's principal industries and there is a celebration for the bivalve in September at the annual Essex Clamfest.

 

Rockport is a small. Picturesque community in the northeast corner of the Cape. It has a population of about 7,000. Rockport is often referred to as “quaint”. It is know for its beaches, its small shops and its large community of artists. Rockport is the home of the Shalin Liu Music center, a spectacular musical venue.

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Manchester-by-the-Sea is a small community of about 5,500 residents. It is a picturesque community with quality beaches. Many residents commute to the greater Boston area for work.

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The anchor of Cape Ann is its only city, Gloucester. Gloucester is a city of about 30,000 year-round residents, although that number grows in the summer. It is the oldest fishing community in the United States. Gloucester was founded in 1623, and was incorporated as a city in 1873. Gloucester is best known for its fishing fleet, its beaches and its thriving art, theater and music communities. Gloucester is a diverse city, economically and culturally. It is home to wealthy individuals who love the city’s beauty. It is also home to immigrant populations (Italian, Portuguese, Brazilian, Central American) who come to its shores to fish, work on the waterfront and build independent small businesses. It is also home to the descendents of the Europeans who settled here back in the 1620s. Gloucester is a vibrant city with restaurants, music venues, community theaters, art galleries, and, of course, beaches. The center of Gloucester is undeveloped woodland called Dogtown Common. It is the site of the original settlement, and has hiking trails where colonial cellars can still be found.

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Housing costs on Cape Ann vary widely, depending on the size and location of the property. Large, oceanfront homes are priced in the millions of dollars. More modest two bedroom homes start around $300,000. Rentals also vary widely. A typical two-bedroom apartment would rent for about $1,500.