Answer
The Hawthornes settled in Concord, Massachusetts, after their European sojourn, drawn by the town's intellectual and literary community. Concord was renowned for its transcendentalist movement and its association with prominent writers and thinkers of the time, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. The town's natural beauty and proximity to Boston further enhanced its appeal to the Hawthornes, providing inspiration and a stimulating environment for their literary pursuits.