MetroWest Villages & Towns - Needham, MA
Named after Needham Market in Suffolk, England, Needham was first settled in 1680 and later incorporated in 1711. Saw and grist mills were opened along the Charles River through the 18th century. In 1857, two railroad builders, N.C. Munson and George Goss, (Goss and Munson) won a contract from the Commonwealth to fill in the fetid mud flats of the Back Bay receiving basin. The fill to reclaim the bay from the water was obtained from Needham from the area of present-day Route 128. Goss and Munson, built 6 miles of railroad from Needham and their 35-car trains made many trips daily to Back Bay. It was thought the waters rushing in and out of the area would power the mills. Unfortunately, the dam prevented the daily tidal flushing of the Muddy River, clogging the operation of the mills and creating an immense swamp. The project was the largest of several land reclamation projects more than doubling the size of the original Boston peninsula. Extension of the rail and land speculation encouraged settlement, and the town saw the growth of industrial employment and production at the same time during the mid-19th century. 1
Land speculation, housing development and knitted underwear continued to be the foundation of Needham's economy into the 20th century. The construction of Route 128 in 1951 opened portions of the town to development as part of the high-tech highway in the post-World War II electronic industrial boom. The creation of one of the nation's first industrial parks in 1950, the later addition of high technology firms, the improvement of access to Route 128 and Boston have contributed to the town's emergence as one of the more desirable suburbs of Boston. 2
Today, with a population exceeding 32,000 people, Needham is ranked the 55th largest community in Massachusetts. Needham’s household income is more than double that of the national average which provides support for the real estate values. In fact, 77% of the approximately 11,000 homes in Needham exceed $900,000 in value. In the last two years, home values in Needham have grown by nearly 5% annually. Much of this recent growth is attributable to the family focused environment coupled with Needham’s proximity to Boston and the lack of available homes for sale in Needham and the surrounding towns. 3
Needham public schools consistently rank among the very top in Massachusetts and in the United States as a whole. There are 8 school districts educating approximately 5,500 students. Needham averages thirteen students per classroom which is one higher than the state average of twelve students per classroom. Student proficiency in both reading and math far exceed state averages.
With a true New England village feel, Needham is a very comfortable environment in which to live, work and play. The many restaurants, shops and ongoing activities create a sense of community that appeals to families that love to call Needham home.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Needham,_Massachusetts
needhamma.gov/1092/History
neighborhoodscout.com/ma/needham/demographics
