The necklace that Dawson wears in every episode was actually made by actor James Van Der Beek's mother. The wardrobe people center every outfit Dawson wears around it.
It is set in Massachusetts, but most of the episodes until the characters went off to college and even then some are filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina as well as some in Southport.
The character of Joey is inspired by Fannie Norwood, a long-time friend of Kevin Williamson. According to Williamson: "If Fannie watches, she will know exactly where I got some stuff. It's nice because only she will know."
Most of the artists/songs featured in the two-part series finale, were songs that were intended to be featured in the original pilot, but whose licensing proved too expensive at the time.
Meredith Monroe's character, Andie McPhee, left the series in November 2000 almost halfway through the 4th Season. Her name remained in the opening credits until the end of that season, even though she wasn't in any of those episodes.
Although they both have important roles throughout the course of the series, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps never appear in a single episode together.