Needham, Massachusetts | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location in Norfolk County in Massachusetts | |
  Needham  Needham  Needham | |
| Coordinates:42°17′00″N71°14′00″W / 42.28333°N 71.23333°W /42.28333; -71.23333 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Massachusetts |
| County | Norfolk |
| Settled | 1680 |
| Incorporated | 1711 |
| Named after | Needham Market |
| Government | |
| • Town Manager | Katie King |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.7 sq mi (32.9 km2) |
| • Land | 12.6 sq mi (32.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.077 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 32,091 |
| • Density | 2,542/sq mi (981.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Codes |
|
| Area code | 781 |
| FIPS code | 25-44105 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0618325 |
| Website | needhamma |
Needham (/ˈniːdəm/NEED-əm) is a town inNorfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb ofBoston, its population was 32,091 in the2020 U.S. Census. It is the home ofOlin College of Engineering. It’s also home to 4 commuter rail stations along theNeedham Line.
 | This sectionneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Needham, Massachusetts" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(March 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Needham was first settled in 1680 with the purchase of a tract of land measuring 4 miles (6.4 km) by 5 miles (8.0 km) from Chief Nehoiden for the sum of 10 pounds, 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land, and 40 shillings worth of corn. It was officially incorporated in 1711. Originally part of theNorth Parish of Dedham, Needham split fromDedham and was named after the town ofNeedham Market inSuffolk, England.
Just 15 months afterasking for their own church, 40 men living on the north side of the Charles River suddenly asked the General Court to separate them from Dedham. Their petition cited the inadequate services provided, namely schools and churches.[1][2] They also said that, if they were simply to be made a precinct instead of a separate town, that they would suffer political reprisals.[3][1]
Dedham agreed that the services were inadequate and did not oppose the separation, but did try to reduce the amount of land the separatists were seeking.[3][4] Dedham also asked for a delay of one year.[4] The General Court agreed with the petitioners, however, and created the new town of Needham with the original boundaries requested.[3][4]
Those who remained in Dedham still held rights to the unallotted lands in Needham, however, and any decrease in taxes would be offset by a decrease in expenditures.[3] There may have also been some satisfaction in separating themselves from those on the other side of the1704 power struggle.[3]
By the 1770s settlers in the western part of the town who had to travel a long distance to the meeting house on what is now Central Avenue sought to form a secondparish in the town. Opposition to this desire created conflict, and in 1774 a mysterious fire destroyed the existent meeting house. Some time afterwards the West Parish was formed.
In 1857, the City ofBoston began a project to fill in the Back Bay with landfill by filling the tidewater flats of theCharles River. The fill to reclaim the bay from the water was obtained from Needham, Massachusetts from the area of present-day Route 128. The firm of Goss and Munson, railroad contractors, built 6 miles (9.7 km) of railroad from Needham and their 35-car trains made 16 trips a day to Back Bay.[5] The filling of present-day Back Bay was completed by 1882; filling reachedKenmore Square in 1890, and finished in theFens in 1900. The project was the largest of a number ofland reclamation projects, beginning in 1820, which, over the course of time, more than doubled the size of the originalBoston peninsula.
In 1865, William Carter established a knitting mill company in Needham Heights that would eventually become a major manufacturer and leading brand of children's apparel in the United States. The site of Mill #1 currently houses the Avery Manor assisted living center, while Mill #2 stood along the shores of Rosemary Lake. By the 1960s, the company owned seven mills in Massachusetts and the south. The Carter family sold the business in 1990, after whichCarter's, Inc. moved its headquarters toAtlanta, Georgia.[6]
In the late 1860s William Emerson Baker moved to Needham. A notably wealthy man due to his having improved the mechanicalsewing machine, Baker assembled a parcel of land exceeding 800 acres (3.2 km2) and named it Ridge Hill Farm.[7] He built two man made lakes on his property, including Sabrina lake near present-day Locust Lane. Baker turned part of his property into an amusement park with exotic animals, tunnels, trick floors and mirrors. In 1888 he built a sizable hotel, near the intersection of present-day Whitman Road and Charles River Street, called the Hotel Wellesley which had a capacity of over 300 guests. The hotel burned to the ground on December 19, 1891.[8]
In 1891, George Walker, Boston owner of a lithograph company, and Gustavos Gordon, scientist, formed Walker-Gordon Laboratories to develop processes for the prevention of contamination of milk and to answer the call by enlightened physicians for better babies' milk formulas. This plant was located in the Charles River Village section of Needham with another large facility in New Jersey. The scientific dairy production facilities of the Walker-Gordon Dairy Farm were widely advertised and utilized modern advancements in the handling of milk products.[9]
In 1881, the West Parish was separately incorporated as the town ofWellesley. The following year, Needham and Wellesley high schools began playing an annualfootball game onThanksgiving, now the second-longest running high school football rivalry in the United States[10] (and longest such contest on Thanksgiving). Also the longest running public high school rivalry. In 2024, Needham defeated Wellesley 20-13, which leaves the series' all-time record at 66-62-9, Wellesley leading. This 2024 win capped off their undefeated season, which ultimately ended with a loss in the Division 1 Super Bowl.
With the loss of the West Parish to Wellesley, the town lost its town hall and plans to build a new one began in 1902 with the selection of a building committee. The cornerstone was laid by the Grand Lodge of Masons on September 2, 1902, and the building was dedicated on December 22, 1903. The total cost for the hall was $57,500 including furnishings. Because it was located on the town common, the cost did not include land as none was purchased.[11] In 2011, the town hall was extensively refurbished and expanded. In the process, the second-floor meeting hall was restored to its original function and beauty.
Needham's population grew by over 50 percent during the 1930s.[12]
In 2005, Needham became the first jurisdiction in the world to raise the age to legally buytobacco products to 21.[13]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.7 square miles (32.9 km2), of which 12.6 square miles (32.7 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) is water.
Needham's area is roughly in the shape of an acute, northward-pointing triangle. TheCharles River forms nearly all of the southern and northeastern boundaries, the town line with Wellesley forming the third, northwestern one. In addition to Wellesley on the northwest, Needham bordersNewton and theWest Roxbury section ofBoston on the northeast, andDover,Westwood, andDedham on the south. The majority ofCutler Park is in Needham and is located along the Charles River and the border with Newton and West Roxbury. Elevations in Needham range from 85 feet above sea level at Rosemary Meadows to 180 feet at Needham Square and 300 feet at Bird's Hill.[14]
Needham has awarm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb under theKöppen climate classification system), with highhumidity andprecipitation year-round.
| Climate data for Needham, Massachusetts | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) | 67 (19) | 74 (23) | 82 (28) | 91 (33) | 95 (35) | 100 (38) | 97 (36) | 97 (36) | 87 (31) | 77 (25) | 66 (19) | 100 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) | 34.7 (1.5) | 43.4 (6.3) | 54.9 (12.7) | 66.4 (19.1) | 74.7 (23.7) | 80 (27) | 78 (26) | 70.9 (21.6) | 60.5 (15.8) | 48.9 (9.4) | 37.4 (3.0) | 57.0 (13.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 26 (−3) | 26 (−3) | 33 (1) | 42 (6) | 53 (12) | 62 (17) | 68 (20) | 66 (19) | 60 (16) | 50 (10) | 39 (4) | 30 (−1) | 46 (8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18.3 (−7.6) | 18.8 (−7.3) | 27 (−3) | 36.5 (2.5) | 46.4 (8.0) | 55.4 (13.0) | 61.5 (16.4) | 60.3 (15.7) | 53.4 (11.9) | 43.4 (6.3) | 33.7 (0.9) | 22.8 (−5.1) | 39.8 (4.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −14 (−26) | −21 (−29) | −5 (−21) | 6 (−14) | 27 (−3) | 31 (−1) | 44 (7) | 32 (0) | 28 (−2) | 20 (−7) | 5 (−15) | −19 (−28) | −21 (−29) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.2 (110) | 3.9 (99) | 4.6 (120) | 4.1 (100) | 3.7 (94) | 3.6 (91) | 3.7 (94) | 4.1 (100) | 4 (100) | 4 (100) | 4.4 (110) | 4.4 (110) | 48.7 (1,228) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 16.1 (41) | 16 (41) | 12 (30) | 3.1 (7.9) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 2.7 (6.9) | 11.7 (30) | 62 (157.81) |
| Average precipitation days | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 135 |
| Source 1:Climate Summary for Dedham, Massachusetts | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:Monthly- All Data for Dedham, Massachusetts | |||||||||||||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,944 | — |
| 1860 | 2,658 | +36.7% |
| 1870 | 3,607 | +35.7% |
| 1880 | 5,252 | +45.6% |
| 1890 | 3,035 | −42.2% |
| 1900 | 4,016 | +32.3% |
| 1910 | 5,026 | +25.1% |
| 1920 | 7,012 | +39.5% |
| 1930 | 10,845 | +54.7% |
| 1940 | 12,445 | +14.8% |
| 1950 | 16,313 | +31.1% |
| 1960 | 25,793 | +58.1% |
| 1970 | 29,748 | +15.3% |
| 1980 | 27,901 | −6.2% |
| 1990 | 27,557 | −1.2% |
| 2000 | 28,911 | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 28,886 | −0.1% |
| 2020 | 32,091 | +11.1% |
| 2024* | 32,931 | +2.6% |
| * = population estimate. Source:United States census records andPopulation Estimates Program data.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] | ||
As of the 2020census,[26] there were 32,091 people, 10,801 households, and 8,480 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,546.9 inhabitants per square mile (983.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 82.6%White, 2.9%Black orAfrican American, 0.1%Native American, 8.9%Asian, 0.5% fromother races, and 2.4% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.2% of the population.
There were 10,801 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% weremarried couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.5% were non-families. Of all households 23.4% were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the town, the population was laid out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.[27]
According to a 2007 estimate,[28] the median income for a household in the town was $116,867, and the median income for a family was $144,042. Males had a median income of $76,459 versus $47,092 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $56,776. About 1.6% of families and 2.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Needham uses the old style town government, with a representative town meeting. Also, the populace of Needham elects a Select Board, which is essentially the executive branch of the town government. The town is part of theMassachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district.
Needham is primarily abedroom community andcommuter suburban district located outside of Boston.
The northern side of town beyond theI-95/Route 128 beltway, however, was developed for light industry shortly afterWorld War II. Many restaurants and food companies are based in Needham. More recently, Needham has begun to attract high technology and internet firms, such asPTC andTripAdvisor, to this part of town.
The Town of Needham operates one high school,Needham High School, which underwent a $62-million renovation that was completed in 2009;[29] two middle schools: William F. Pollard Middle School, for seventh and eighth grade, and High Rock School, for sixth grade only; and five elementary schools for grades K–5: John Eliot Elementary School, Sunita L. Williams Elementary School, William Mitchell Elementary School, Newman Elementary School, and Broadmeadow Elementary School. Needham recently finished building the newest elementary school,Sunita L. Williams Elementary School, to replace the aging Hillside Elementary School. The newest school opened in the fall of 2019.[30]
Needham is also home to Catholic schools such as St. Joseph School, which supports co-education for students from preschool to 8th grade, andSt. Sebastian's School, a Catholic school for boys in grades 7–12. St. Sebastian's is part of the rigorousIndependent School League.[31]
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is also located in Needham.
TheI-95/Route 128circumferential highway that circles Boston passes through Needham, with three exits providing access to the town.Massachusetts Route 135 also passes through the town.
Commuter rail service fromBoston'sSouth Station is provided by theMBTA with four stops in Needham on itsNeedham Line: Needham Heights, Needham Center, Needham Junction and Hersey.
Needham is part of the GreaterBoston media market and acts as anantenna farm that houses many of thetransmitters for local media.
In addition toThe Boston Globe (and its Your Town Needham website[32]) andBoston Herald newspapers, there are two local weekly newspapers, theNeedham Times[33] (published by Gatehouse Media, Inc.[34]) andNeedham Hometown Weekly (published by Hometown Publications, LLC), and a website owned by AOL calledNeedham Patch.[35]
The studios of television stationsWCVB-TV (5 Boston,ABC),WBTS-CD (15Nashua, New Hampshire,NBC),WUTF-TV (27Worcester,UniMás),WNEU (60Merrimack, New Hampshire,Telemundo), andWUNI (66Marlborough,Univision) are located in Needham, as are the transmitters of WCVB-TV,WBZ-TV (4 Boston,CBS),WGBH-TV (2 Boston,PBS),WGBX-TV (44 Boston,PBS),WBTS-CD (15Nashua, New Hampshire,NBC),WFXT (25 Boston,Fox),WSBK-TV (38 Boston,MyNetworkTV), WUTF-TV,WNEU (60Merrimack, New Hampshire,Telemundo), andWFXZ-CD (24 Boston, Biz TV). The television towers are also the sites of FM radio stationsWBUR-FM,WKLB-FM, and several backup facilities for other stations. NBC also opened up 160,000 square foot studio facility and operations center in Needham, in 2020. In addition to the stations listed above, the facility is also home toNew England Cable News and NBC Sports Boston.[36]
The Needham Channel[37] providespublic-access television tocable TV subscribers in Needham. PEGPublic, educational, and government access programming is produced and delivered through three channels—a community channel, a municipal channel and an educational channel. The three channels are available on the channel lineups of each of the three franchised cable TV providers provided—Comcast,RCN, andVerizon. Selected content is also available for streaming through The Needham Channel's web site.[38]
Programming on The Needham Channel includes:
Boston radio stationWEEI (850 AM) transmits from a three-tower site south of the townrecycling transfer station. Needham has two radio station studio locations, that ofConcord-licensedWBNW (1120 AM) located at 144 Gould Street, andCambridge licensedWNTN (1550 AM) located at 31 Fremont Street, across I-95 from WCVB-TV.
Needham High School also released several forms of media to its students and members of the town, including its student newspaperThe Hilltopper, the students news video broadcast NHSN, and "NHS News from the Hill", which is released by members of the administration.[39]
william emerson baker.
Municipalities and communities ofNorfolk County, Massachusetts,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other villages | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
