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Needham is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States.
History
Needham was first settled in 1680 and officially incorporated in 1711. Originally part of the Dedham Grant, Needham split from Dedham, Massachusetts and was named after the village of Needham Market in Suffolk, England, a neighbor of the English town of Dedham. 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 second parish in the town. Opposition to this desire created conflict, and in 1774 a mysterious fire destroyed the extant meeting house. Some time afterwards the West Parish was formed.
In 1881 the West Parish was separately incorporated as the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts. The following year, Needham and Wellesley high schools began playing an annual football game on Thanksgiving, now the second-longest running high school football rivalry in the United States (and longest such contest on Thanksgiving). (It was about this time that the basic American football rules which differentiate the game from rugby were established.)
During the great religious division among churches descended from the Puritan congregations that took place in New England in the late 18th century and early 19th century, the First Parish in Needham became Unitarian, like many others in eastern Massachusetts, following the lead of the divines at Harvard University. Self-defined orthodox Congregationalists had to form a separate church, though for a period they may have attended the church in Dedham which remained Congregationalist.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 32.9 km² (12.7 mi²). 32.7 km² (12.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.71%) is water.
The town is the terminus of the Needham Line of the MBTA Commuter Rail.
Distinguished residents
- Frederick Lane - CEO Lane Berry (Boston-based investment banking firm)
- Jesse E. Lane - Harvard student, 3rd round NHL draft pick (Carolina Hurricanes)
- Frank Malzone- Former 3rd Baseman for the Boston Red Sox
- Eric Johnson- San Francisco 49ers tight end.
Education
Needham is home to Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, chartered in 1997. In the public school system, there are five elementary (Broadmeadow, Eliot, Hillside, Mitchell, and Newman), one middle (Pollard), and one high school (Needham High School) which is now under renovation. Newman also used to be a Jr. High, but it was converted to an elementary school. There are also several private schools, including Saint Josephs and Saint Sebastians.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,911 people, 10,612 households, and 7,778 families residing in the town. The population density was 885.2/km² (2,292.7/mi²). There were 10,846 housing units at an average density of 332.1/km² (860.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.82% White, 0.70% Black or African American, 0.03% Native American, 3.54% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.
There were 10,612 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 6.9% have a female householder with no husband present and 26.7% were non-families. 23.4% of all households 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 3.15.
In the town the population was spread 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 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $88,079, and the median income for a family was $107,570. Males had a median income of $76,459 versus $47,092 for females. The per capita income for the town was $44,549. About 1.6% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Media
Needham is part of the Boston media market. In addition to the Boston Globe and Boston Herald newspapers, there are two local weekly newspapers, Needham Times is published by Community Newspaper Company and Needham Hometown Weekly is published by Hometown Publications, LLC. The studios of television stations WCVB (5/20 Boston, ABC) and WUNI (27/29 Worcester, Univision) are located in Needham, as are the transmitters of WCVB, WBZ-TV (4/30 Boston, CBS), WGBH-TV (2/19 Boston, PBS), WGBX-TV (44/43 Boston, PBS), WFXT (25/31 Boston, Fox), WSBK (38/39 Boston, UPN), and WLVI (56/41 Cambridge, WB). Radio station WEEI (850 Boston) transmits from a three-tower site south of the former town dump. Needham has no local radio or television station of its own. A local cable television channel provides local news such as town meeting information, school announcements, and local high-school sports.
Local interest
- The actor Harold Russell lived in Needham.
- The portrait artist Pietro Pezzati lived in Needham for about thirty years.
- Artist N.C. Wyeth was born in Needham.
- Screenwriter Scott Rosenberg was born and raised in Needham.
- NHL Hockey Coach Robbie Ftorek was born in raised in Needham. He attended Needham High School and was considered one of the best high school hockey players in the history of the state.
- San Francisco 49ers tight end Eric Johnson was born and raised in Needham and starred in football, basketball and volleyball for Needham High School.
- ESPN Baseball Tonight anchor Karl Ravech was born and raised in Needham and attended Needham High School.
- Needham is mentioned in the song "Roadrunner" by The Modern Lovers.
- American Dad writer Steve Hely is a native of Needham.
External links
Sources
"Needham, Massachusetts"