Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Town
The First Parish Church in central Manchester-by-the-Sea
Seal
Location in Essex County and Massachusetts.
Coordinates: 42°34′40″N 70°46′10″W / 42.57778°N 70.76944°W / 42.57778; -70.76944
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Essex
Settled	1629
Incorporated	1645
Government
• Type	Open town meeting
Area
• Total	18.3 sq mi (47.3 km2)
• Land	9.2 sq mi (23.9 km2)
• Water	9.0 sq mi (23.4 km2)
Elevation	30 ft (9 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,395
• Density	300/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	01944
Area code	351 / 978
FIPS code	25-37995
GNIS feature ID	0619451
Website	www.manchester.ma.us

Manchester-by-the-Sea (also known simply as Manchester, its name prior to 1990) is a coastal town on Cape Ann, in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is known for scenic beaches and vista points. According to the 2020 population census, the population is 5,395.^[1]

The town lies on the southern side of Cape Ann, at the point where the peninsula meets the mainland. The North Shore was populated by the Agawam people prior to European settlement, which began in 1629, about a decade after an epidemic killed much of the native people. Fishing was the major industry in the town almost from its incorporation in 1645, but in the mid-19th century it began to grow as a popular seaside resort community. The town has appeared, either by name or as a filming location, in a number of films and TV shows, notably the eponymous 2016 film Manchester by the Sea.