Government

The North Reading Board of Selectmen has five members who are elected to serve three-year overlapping terms. As specified in the Town Charter and the Massachusetts General Laws, they are the chief elected officers of the town. The board may enact rules and regulations in a variety of areas, as well as establish town policies and procedures on many issues, unless such issues are delegated by law or vote of the town meeting to another officer or board. The board appoints a Town Administrator who supervises and is responsible for the day-to-day operation of town

History

The area was first settled in 1651 when the town of Reading received a special land grant north of the Ipswich River. It was officially incorporated as the separate town of North Reading in 1853. North Reading borders Andover, North Andover, Middleton, Lynnfield, Reading, and Wilmington.

"Original grants of large farmsteads along the river during the mid-17th century brought six families to the settlement before 1680. The economy of the town in the 17th and 18th century was based on subsistence farming with limited hop production. There was a sawmill on Lob's Pond by 1694 and grist and saw mills at the village center by 1794. Some small scale boot and shoe making was underway by 1820, and by 1850 small sheds or shops to make shoes were attached to almost every house in town. These shops produced cheap footwear that was sold south to clothe slaves, and the Civil War destroyed the town's industry. The principal products of the town in the early 20th century were milk, apples and fruits.

Today the town flourishes; it has a beautiful town center showcased by a recently completed state of the art High School, historic buildings still standing, and proximity to Boston which makes it a desired location for suburban families.

• William Taylor Adams, (1822–1897), author under the name "Oliver Optic"

• Jonathan Bird, Emmy-winning television producer

• Edward J. Collins, Jr., government official

• Jon Favreau, (1981–Present), Director of Speechwriting for Barack Obama, co-founder of Crooked Media, and co-host of the popular political podcast Pod Save America.

• Ryan Fitzgerald, Ice hockey player at Boston College, picked in the 4th round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins.

• Tom Fitzgerald, Assistant General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins

• Art Kenney, retired principal of North Reading High School and one of the oldest living former Major League baseball players.

• Frank Reardon, (1974–present), Poet and author.

• George Frederick Root (August 30, 1820 – August 6, 1895) was an American songwriter, who found particular fame during the American Civil War.

• Alexandra Carpenter is an American Ice hockey player at Boston College Eagles women's ice hockey, a member of the 2014 United States Olympic team.

• Jimmy Vesey, ice hockey player for the New York Rangers. Vesey attended and played for North Reading High School, Belmont Hill School, and Harvard University prior to signing with the Rangers in 2016

• North Reading High School

• North Reading Middle School

• E. Ethel Little School

• J. Turner Hood School

• L. D. Batchelder School