Nahant, Massachusetts
Nahant, Massachusetts is a very small coastal town in Essex County, about 14 miles northeast of Boston. It is the smallest town in Essex County by population (3,334 people in 2020) and the smallest by land area in Massachusetts (about 1 square mile of land). The town sits on a peninsula made of two tiny islands, Little Nahant and Big Nahant, connected to the mainland by a narrow sandy strip called Nahant Road. There are ten beaches along the coast, with Long Beach and Short Beach being especially popular on the eastern side of the causeway.
Nahant is connected to the city of Lynn by a causeway and is surrounded by Nahant Bay, Nahant Harbor, and Lynn Harbor.
History: Native peoples lived in the area long before Europeans arrived. English settlers began to settle in 1630. Nahant was part of Lynn and became a separate town in 1853. Famous visitors included the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In the late 19th century it had early amusement parks and was a popular summer retreat. During World War II, East Point housed a coastal gun battery. Today, the Marine Science Center at Northeastern University is in Nahant.
Government and services: Nahant uses an open town meeting form of government with a Town Administrator (as of the provided data, Alison Nieto). The town covers a total area of 15.5 square miles, most of which is water.
Amenities: There are several beaches, small parks, and the Kelly Greens Golf Course. The Nahant Community Center hosts local activities and events. The Calantha Sears Gazebo was rebuilt in 2005 on Bailey’s Hill.
Getting here: The nearest main road is Route 129. The MBTA bus line 439 connects Nahant to Lynn Station. The closest major airport is Boston Logan International Airport.
Education: Preschool through sixth grade attend Johnson Elementary School in Nahant; students go to Swampscott for grades seven through twelve.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 15:05 (CET).