Norwood, Massachusetts Explained

Official Name:Norwood, Massachusetts
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Norfolk
Established Title:Settled
Established Date:1678
Established Title2:Incorporated
Established Date2:1872
Government Type:Representative town meeting
Area Total Km2:27.3
Area Total Sq Mi:10.6
Area Land Km2:27.1
Area Land Sq Mi:10.5
Area Water Km2:0.2
Area Water Sq Mi:0.1
Population As Of:2020
Settlement Type:Town
Population Total:31,611
Population Density Km2:1,166.5
Population Density Sq Mi:3,010.6
Elevation M:45
Elevation Ft:146
Timezone:Eastern
Utc Offset:−5
Timezone Dst:Eastern
Utc Offset Dst:−4
Coordinates:42.1944°N -71.2°W
Website:www.norwoodma.gov
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:02062
Area Code:339 / 781
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:25-50250
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0619460
Unit Pref:Imperial

Norwood is a town and census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Norwood is part of the Greater Boston area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 31,611.[1] The town was named after Norwood, England. Norwood is on the Neponset River,[2] which runs all the way to Boston Harbor from Foxborough.

History

The Town of Norwood, officially formed in 1872, was until that time part of Dedham, known as the "mother of towns", as fourteen of the present communities of eastern Massachusetts lay within its original borders. Long used as a hunting ground by Native Americans, Norwood was first settled by Ezra Morse in 1678. He set up a sawmill in what is now South Norwood, the part of town to which the first concentration of families, almost all of whom were farmers, migrated over the next half-century.

During the American Revolution, there was a Minuteman company organized in the area. Its captain, Aaron Guild, on learning of the British marching on Lexington and Concord to seize the munitions stored there, rode to join the fight and arrived in time to fire on the British at Concord Bridge and participate in the running battle that chased the Redcoats back to Boston.

Abraham Lincoln passed through the town during his pre-inaugural tour of New England.

The Oak View Mansion, located in Norwood, was built by Francis Olney Winslow. Construction began in 1868 and was completed in 1870. Oak View was the scene of almost constant socializing. Some of the most prominent figures hosted in Oak View were President and future Supreme Court Justice William Howard Taft and President Calvin Coolidge.

The town shares its name with a town in the borough of Croydon, South London, England. When Norwood separated from Dedham, they considered naming the new community Balch, after the Rev. Thomas Balch.[3]

Geography

Norwood is located at 42.1858°N -71.2014°W (42.185974, −71.201661).[4]

The Town of Norwood is located 13 miles southwest of Boston, placing it in the Boston Metropolitan Area.[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.6 square miles (27.3 km), of which 10.5 square mile (27.1 km) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km) (0.66%) is water.

Demographics

See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income. As of 2023 Norwood’s racial demographics are[6]

As of the census[7] of 2010, there were 30,602 people. The racial makeup of the town was 80.92% White, 8.01% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 9.57% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.58% of the population. 27.3% were of Irish descent.

As of the census of 2000, there were 28,587 people, 11,623 households, and 7,380 families residing in the town. The population density was 2727sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 11,945 housing units at an average density of 1139.5sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 90.51% White, 2.31% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 5.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population. 34.7% were of Irish, 14.8% Italian, 5.4% American and 5.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 11,623 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,421, and the median income for a family was $70,164 (these figures had risen to $66,743 and $80,292 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[8]). Males had a median income of $50,597 versus $34,312 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,720. About 2.7% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Norwood Public Schools operates seven schools, and an additional two school institutions, Little Mustangs Preschool Academy and The Willett Early Childhood Center (serving kindergarten children). The public elementary schools located in Norwood include: Balch, Callahan, Cleveland, Oldham, and Prescott.

Norwood has one public middle school, the Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School (serving 6th through 8th graders)[9] (formerly Norwood Junior High South), where all five elementary schools combine. Norwood also has a public high school, Norwood High School (NHS),[10] (serves grades 9–12).

Higher education

The Fine Mortuary College in Norwood includes a one-room museum featuring antique embalming tables and centuries-old wooden coffins.[11]

Business

Businesses in Norwood have access to the most educated workforce in the nation, ample venture capital, and several other advantages that help lay the foundation for regional clusters and Norwood's target industries, like advanced manufacturing and life sciences.[12]

Norwood's top employers include Moderna, FM Global, Home Market Foods, MS Walker, and many other manufacturers and businesses engaged in research and development.[13]

Moderna opened its state-of-the-art clinical development site in 2018, employing over 1,400.[14] Moderna's Norwood facilities serve as its primary manufacturing facility and is responsible for producing its COVID-19 vaccine. The facility in Norwood has been expanded to increase the production capacity of Moderna's vaccine and to support the company's research and development efforts. Additionally, Moderna has established partnerships with local organizations in Norwood to support the community, including funding for education and workforce development initiatives.

A large cluster of automobile dealerships on Route 1 is known as the Norwood "Automile." The concept of having competing dealerships join together to publicize the "Automile" as an automobile shopping center was largely the work of Ernie Boch, famous in the Boston area for his ads urging people to "Come on down!"

The Skating Club of Boston moved to Norwood in 2020. The facility, located on University Avenue in Norwood, is a state-of-the-art skating rink home to the Skating Club of Boston's training and development programs for figure skating, ice dancing, and synchronized skating. The Norwood High School hockey teams play at the facility. In addition to the rink, the facility features a fitness center, a pro shop, and a cafe. The Skating Club of Boston has a rich history in figure skating and has produced many world champions and Olympic medalists.

Architecture

Art

Norwood was the long-time home of photographer and publisher Fred Holland Day. As a photographer, Day at one point rivalled Alfred Stieglitz in influence. The publishing firm of Copeland and Day was the American publisher of Oscar Wilde's Salome with illustrations by Aubrey Beardsley. The Day House is now a museum and the headquarters of the Norwood Historical Society. F. Holland Day Historic House Museum is located at 93 Day St.

Transportation

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census - Geographic Profile: Norwood town, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. United States Census Bureau . September 18, 2021 .
  2. Web site: Welcome to the Neponset River Watershed . Neponset.org . July 31, 2012.
  3. News: Balch School to celebrate its centennial . Brad . Cole . March 5, 2013 . July 11, 2019 . Norwood Transcript . July 11, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190711185045/https://www.wickedlocal.com/x930806506/Balch-School-to-celebrate-its-centennial . dead .
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  5. Web site: The Norwood, MA Advantage .
  6. Web site: Norwood, Massachusetts Population 2023 . September 27, 2023 . worldpopulationreview.com.
  7. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  8. Web site: American FactFinder . https://archive.today/20200216124104/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US2502150250&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US24%7C16000US2432025&_street=&_county=norwood&_cityTown=norwood&_state=04000US25&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry= . dead . February 16, 2020 . Factfinder.census.gov . July 31, 2012 .
  9. Web site: Welcome to the Dr. Philip O. Coakley Middle School. www.norwood.k12.ma.us . https://web.archive.org/web/20090302162014/http://www.norwood.k12.ma.us/cms . March 2, 2009.
  10. Web site: Welcome to Norwood High School in Norwood Massachusetts. www.norwood.k12.ma.us . https://web.archive.org/web/20090204034119/http://www.norwood.k12.ma.us/nhs . February 4, 2009.
  11. News: DYING TO VISIT? FUNERAL INDUSTRY FASCINATION GROWS: Mortuary school in Norwood opens museum to the public. Patriot Ledger. January 20, 2006. July 6, 2006. Brad Kelly.
    College website
  12. Web site: Clusters/Target Industries .
  13. Web site: Top Private Employers in Norwood . February 14, 2023 . www.norwoodma.gov.
  14. Web site: Our Story .
  15. http://www.towerbells.org/data/MANORWOD.HTM Towerbells.org database
  16. http://www.carillon.org/eng/fs_carillon.htm World Carillon Federation
  17. http://norwoodlibrary.org/norwood-historical-records/municipal-department-records/ Norwood Library: Norwood Historical Records
  18. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2013/07/06/years-old-and-counting-historic-norwood-town-hall-keeps-running-gets-facelift/s8KGmNJ8ZlpTcFoNbkwRgM/story.html Boston Globe, South Regional edition 7/6/2013
  19. Web site: System Map . Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
  20. Web site: MyFoxBoston . September 30, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071018223326/http://community.myfoxboston.com/blogs/Gene_Lavanchy . October 18, 2007 .
  21. News: The Automatic Life: Billionaire Ernie Boch Jr . Huffington Post . February 14, 2014.
  22. The Long-Lost Tale of the World's Longest Book . July 20, 2015 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230629035537/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/27/joe-goulds-teeth . June 29, 2023 . live .
  23. News: . The Coolest Cruciverbalist . Billy . Baker . June 24, 2007 . April 16, 2019.
  24. Web site: GS Web Mistress . Home . Godsmack . July 27, 2012 . July 31, 2012.
  25. Web site: 5 Things You Didn't Know About New 'Red Eye' Host Tom Shillue. June 22, 2015. June 19, 2018.
  26. Web site: Robert Sullivan.
  27. Web site: Charlie Bowles Statistics and History . Baseball-Reference.com . July 31, 2012.
  28. Web site: Marty Callaghan Statistics and History . Baseball-Reference.com . July 31, 2012.
  29. Web site: Allen Doyle Official Profile . PGATOUR.com . July 26, 1948 . July 31, 2012 . September 30, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035555/http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/72/67/ . dead .
  30. Web site: Alfred Fincher . Alfred Fincher, LB at . Nfl.com . January 1, 2012 . July 31, 2012.
  31. Web site: Ultimate Mets Database - Richie Hebner . Ultimatemets.com . July 31, 2012.
  32. Falla, Brian (2006), "Norwood's Natural", The Norwood Bulletin, October 5, 2006, p. 2. "Hebner's ties to Norwood remain a backbone of the story", a description of the making of a two-hour documentary on Hebner
  33. Web site: Joe Allan Hulbig . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160315145049/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10679 . March 15, 2016 . www.legendsofhockey.net.
  34. http://www.aagpbl.org/index.cfm/articles/linehan-rhoda-nicky--leonard--1-31-1928--10-21-2015/311 Rhoda Leonard Obituary
  35. Web site: Skip Lockwood Statistics and History . Baseball-Reference.com . July 31, 2012.
  36. Web site: Ray Martin Statistics and History . Baseball-Reference.com . July 31, 2012.
  37. Web site: Allen Ripley Statistics and History . Baseball-Reference.com . July 31, 2012.
  38. Web site: Mike Smith Statistics and History . Baseball-Reference.com . July 31, 2012.
  39. Web site: Honorable George SULLIVAN Jr.. Sullivan. George. February 18, 2020. Legacy.com Obituaries. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200218082002/https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/george-sullivan-obituary?pid=183270475. February 18, 2020. February 18, 2020.
  40. Web site: Bill Travers Statistics and History . Baseball-Reference.com . July 31, 2012.

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