Rockport Real Estate
The town of Rockport is a small New England community located on the easternmost point of Cape Ann. With a population of just over 7,000 residents, Rockport offers a quiet charm that you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Rockport offers residents the true New England seaside lifestyle with ample opportunities for boating, fishing and incredible views.
It was originally founded in 1623 as part of the nearby community of Gloucester; the town later became independent. Historically, the area was known for the excellent quality of its timber used for ship building but by the beginning of the 19th century, the first granite quarries were developed, and by the 1830s, Rockport granite was being shipped to cities and towns throughout the East Coast of the United States. Both the iconic Customs House and the Longfellow Bridge in Boston incorporate Rockport Granite in their structures.
The town hosts the Rockport Art Association,one of the oldest art organizations in the United States. It is also known for its charming downtown that includes shops, restaurants and Bear Skin Neck. There are amazing views of Thatcher Island with its twin lighthouses, Halibut Point State Park with its exceptional quarry with the ocean just beyond, and Rockport’s most recent significant addition, the Shalin Liu Performance Center, a state of the art music facility attracting world renowned musicians.