Braintree, Massachusetts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Braintree, Massachusetts
City
Town of Braintree
Braintree Town Hall in 2009
Flag Seal
Location of Braintree in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Braintree, Massachusetts Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
County	Norfolk
Settled	1625; 400 years ago (1625)
Colonized	1635; 390 years ago (1635)
Incorporated (town)	1640; 385 years ago (1640)
Incorporated (city)	2007; 18 years ago (2007)
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• Total	14.56 sq mi (37.72 km2)
• Land	13.76 sq mi (35.64 km2)
• Water	0.80 sq mi (2.08 km2)
Elevation	90 ft (27 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	39,143
• Density	2,844.28/sq mi (1,098.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	02184/02185 (Braintree Highlands)
Area code(s)	339 / 781
FIPS code	25-07740, 25-07665
GNIS feature ID	0618316

Braintree (pronounced "BRAIN-tree") is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Even though it's called a "town," Braintree is actually a city with a mayor-council system. This means it has a mayor and a city council. In 2020, about 39,143 people lived there.

Braintree is part of the larger Greater Boston area. You can easily get to Boston using the MBTA Red Line. The current mayor of Braintree is Erin Joyce, who was elected in 2023.

Discover Braintree's Past

Braintree was first settled by colonists in 1635. It officially became a town in 1640. The town got its name from Braintree in Essex, England. Over time, parts of Braintree became new towns. These included Quincy in 1792, Randolph in 1793, and Holbrook in 1872.

Braintree was part of Suffolk County until 1793. That's when Norfolk County was created. In 1888, Braintree and South Braintree were distinct communities within the town. In the 1920s, Braintree's population grew by more than 50%. A very famous legal case, known as the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, also took place in Braintree during this decade.

Explore Braintree's Geography

Braintree is located in Massachusetts. It shares borders with several other towns. To the north is Quincy. To the west is Randolph, separated by the Cochato River. Holbrook is to the south, and Weymouth is to the east.

The town covers about 14.5 square miles (37.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Parks and Recreation in Braintree

Braintree has great places for outdoor fun. These include Pond Meadow Park, Sunset Lake, and Blue Hills Reservation.

What is Braintree's Climate Like?

Braintree has a climate with warm to hot, humid summers. Winters can be cold, with both rain and snow. Spring and fall are usually mild.

The hottest month is July, with an average temperature of about 70°F (21°C). January is the coldest, averaging around 26°F (-3.9°C). Temperatures can go above 90°F (32°C) in summer. They can also drop below freezing in winter. However, these extreme temperatures usually don't last long.

Braintree gets about 48.6 inches (123.5 cm) of rain each year. It also gets about 61.1 inches (155 cm) of snow per winter. Most snow falls from December to March. The amount of snow can change a lot from year to year. For example, one winter might have only 24 inches (61 cm) of snow. Another winter might have over 150 inches (381 cm)!

Fog is common, especially in spring and early summer. Sometimes, tropical storms or hurricanes can affect the area. Thunderstorms happen from May to September. They can sometimes bring strong winds or heavy rain.

Braintree's Population and People

In 2000, Braintree had 33,828 people living there. There were 12,652 households. About 29.6% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.61 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 22.5% were under 18. About 18.1% were 65 or older. The average age was 40 years old.

Many people in Braintree have Irish family backgrounds. In fact, in 2014, Braintree had the second-highest number of Irish Americans in the entire country!

Braintree's Economy

Thayer Public Library

Braintree is home to several large companies. These include Altra Industrial Motion, Greater Media, and TopSource LLC.

From 1964 to 1991, Braintree had the biggest Valle's Steak House restaurant. It was very popular and could serve over 5,000 customers a day! Even former presidential candidate Ronald Reagan gave a speech there in 1980.

Arts and Culture in Braintree

Fun Places to Visit in Braintree

General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace

• Blue Hills Reservation: A large park with hiking trails and great views.
• General Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace: The historic home of a famous military leader.
• Hollingsworth Park: A local park for recreation.
• Monatiquot River: A river that flows through the town.
• Pond Meadow Park: Another beautiful park with trails and nature.
• South Shore Plaza: A large shopping mall.
• Sunset Lake: A lovely lake for outdoor activities.

Education in Braintree

Braintree has many schools, both public and private.

Public Schools in Braintree

The public schools in Braintree are managed by Braintree Public Schools (BPS). The system includes:

• One kindergarten center
• Six elementary schools
• Two middle schools
• One high school

Public High School

• Braintree High School

Public Middle Schools

• East Middle School
• South Middle School

Public Elementary Schools

• Flaherty Elementary School
• Highlands Elementary School
• Hollis Elementary School
• Liberty Elementary School
• Morrison Elementary School
• Ross Elementary School

Private and Other Schools

Braintree also has private schools like Thayer Academy and Archbishop Williams High School. CATS Academy is another option.

Braintree's Transportation and Utilities

Getting Around Braintree

Braintree is part of the Greater Boston Area. This means it has good access to trains, planes, and highways. Major highways like Interstate 93 (which is also U.S. 1) and Route 3 pass through Braintree. These roads connect the town to Boston and other areas.

Sunset Lake offers fun for residents. The church steeple is visible in the background.

You can catch a commuter train to South Station, Boston, from the Braintree Red Line/Commuter Rail Station. The MBTA Red Line subway also stops there. The CapeFLYER train, which goes to Cape Cod, also stops at Braintree Station. Another train line, the Greenbush Line, can be accessed from the Weymouth Landing/East Braintree station.

Braintree used to have its own airport. The Braintree Airport was a small airport used by private pilots from 1948 to 1968. It closed due to new homes being built nearby and safety concerns.

Water and Sewer Services

In 2020, Braintree teamed up with Randolph and Holbrook. They formed the Tri-Town Water Board. This group helps manage the drinking water supply for these towns. Braintree has its own water treatment plant.

Famous People from Braintree

Many notable people have connections to Braintree!

• Abigail Adams: Wife of President John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams.
• John Adams: The second President of the United States.
• John Quincy Adams: The sixth President of the United States.
• Jim Calhoun: A famous college basketball coach.
• Priscilla Chan: A pediatrician and philanthropist, married to Mark Zuckerberg.
• John Hancock: A signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and a former Governor of Massachusetts.
• Peter Kormann: An Olympic gymnast who won a bronze medal.
• William Rosenberg: The person who created the Dunkin' Donuts restaurant chain.
• Sylvanus Thayer: Known as "the father of West Point" (the U.S. Military Academy).
• Mo Vaughn: A professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox.
• Donnie Wahlberg: A singer, actor, and member of the band New Kids on the Block.
• Mark Wahlberg: A famous actor and producer.
• Thomas A. Watson: The main assistant to Alexander Graham Bell in inventing the telephone.

Movies Filmed in Braintree

Braintree has been a filming location for several movies!

• 1969: Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon
• 2008: Paul Blart: Mall Cop (filmed at South Shore Plaza)
• 2009: What Doesn't Kill You
• 2016: Stronger

See also

In Spanish: Braintree (Massachusetts) para niños