Beverly was eventually separated from Salem and incorporated as a town in 1668. Beverly has staked a claim as the “birthplace of the United States Navy.” The first vessel commissioned by the US Navy, the schooner Hannah, first sailed from Beverly Harbor. Marblehead, MA disputes Beverly’s claim and says that it is the birthplace of the US Navy.

Beginning in the mid 1800’s and continuing through the early 1900’s, Beverly experienced a surge in population growth fueled primarily by extensive immigration. The origin of immigrants was varied but included substantial numbers from Ireland, Italy, Canada, Russia, England, Scotland, and Sweden.

The establishment of the Boston and Maine Railroad (1835), which built a Boston to Portland route and later laid tracks to Beverly, also led to numbers of Maine residents moving to Beverly, Massachusetts. Railroads also allowed residents of Beverly to commute farther and led to residents of Boston purchasing summer homes in Beverly. President Taft was a notable summer resident.

Beverly, MA was incorporated as a city in 1894. In 1903, the United Shoe Machinery Company moved into Beverly, becoming the city’s largest employer and creating numerous new jobs. Eventually a substantial percentage of Beverly residents would become employees of the United Shoe Machinery Company. The company went out of business during the 1970’s and its buildings are now the modern day Cummings Center (home of the RE/MAX Advantage Real Estate headquarters).

Modern day Beverly, Massachusetts is the home of Endicott College, the North Shore Music Theater, Beverly Hospital, and Beverly Municipal Airport.