Newburyport is a small coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, Unite States, 38 miles (61 km) northeast of Boston. The population was 17,189 at the 2000 census. A historic seaport with a vibrant tourism industry, Newburyport includes part of Plum Island. The mooring, winter storage and maintenance of recreational boats, motor and sail, still contribute a large part of the city's income. A coast guard station keeps a watchful eye on boating activity, especially in the swift tidal currents of the Merrimack River.